KS Lev Integra (2020) dropper post review

KS's lightweight Lev Integra dropper post has been around for a good few years and its short stack height and short overall length, for the travel, make it compatible with a wide variety of frames.

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As a result, there are a lot out there and plenty of our test team have been parking their backsides on a Lev Integra for a long time now, so we have a good track record for reference.

KS Lev Integra set-up

In the past we've loved it, but with newer dropper designs now providing far easier set-up I can’t help but feel the Integra is slightly getting left behind.

KS still relies on the fiddly system of grub screwing a barrel onto the cable at the post end, needing an accurate trim of the inner and outer cables to get the cable travel correct.

Believe me, after the third or fourth try of fumbling the minuscule barrel and grub screw onto the workshop floor I was over the experience.

Far simpler is the system of using the cable nipple in a recess at the post end, pulling the cable through at the remote and nipping it up with the seatpost in position.

That process, in itself, has me grumbling, setting up the likes of the Crankbrothers Highline, and takes half the time.

However, setting up the post only needs to be done once in a blue moon, so I wouldn’t let it affect my appraisal too much.

KS Lev Integra impressions

Straight away the standard over-the-bar-routed remote felt a little on the small side, with fractional side-to-side play and a short lever that leads to a spongy and less than positive feel to the trigger action.

It did make it possible to run with a left-hand shifter, though, but if you are sporting a 1x setup I'd highly recommend switching to the excellent Southpaw lever. This is a KS option for an extra £37, but well worth the outlay.

Fortunately, Jungle (the UK distributor) sent one with my test post and it really did transform the action, with that bigger shifter-style paddle.

On the bike, the infinite adjustment of the post was smooth and the return was controlled rather than gunshot fast.

I also appreciated just how low the stack height allowed the saddle to sink towards the frame (50mm from the bottom of the collar to the centre of the saddle rail, minimum extension).

This means that some riders will be able to go up a travel notch – where they might only have managed 100mm before, they could fit the Integra with 125mm and have room to spare.

Ditto the short overall length. With frames restricted by kinked seat tubes or hardware bisecting the seat tube you may have less room for dropping the post in, but the Integra was noticeably shorter than equivalent travel posts overall as well.

Historically, one complaint we've seen with the LEV Integra is the seat clamp. When undone, the lower clamp is free to spin on the head of the post, only gripping when the saddle is securely clamped.

Not a problem in itself, but over time we have seen them develop nails-down-the-blackboard creaks, presumably when grit gets in there. If this happens, clean the lot out carefully and it should be fine.

KS Lev Integra overall

The Lev Integra is a great functional post with a long track record of durability and will fit a wide range of frames.

Just change out that remote for a Southpaw or similar that takes the nipple end of the cable (the PNW Loam takes the cable from either direction) and if you can see past the fiddly fitting process you'll have a solid performer on your hands.