1992 Merlin Titanium

[Once A Hero]

@TreaderSteve not just me having issues with a USE post then!
I have found in the past that post diameters vary by fractions of a millimetre, and even if they are marked as the correct size for a frame, it can actually be the difference between fitting or not. I had the same trouble with my now departed Yeti Ultimate, whereby the post needed to be comfortably below 26.8mm in order to fit without a fight, see here
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/yeti-ultimate.420017/post-3157728

For this Merlin I've just pulled the trigger on an XT post (27.2 dia), and am waiting for it to arrive. I plan to attach my XT groupset, and found an XT post for a better price than Syncros items I was focusing on. I've got a Syncros post on my other Merlin and felt this one was becoming a clone, so made the decision to go XT.

I'll report back when it arrives...

I'm also flip flopping on the front end. I'll build it with suspension for now, but have a rigid set-up to try too.

 

[TreaderSteve]

Syncros is great, but something different is definitely a good way to go! My 27.2 post I borrowed off the tourer to test-fit is not swish enough so forging on with the post that came on it.
Not sure what brand my Ti post is, but for a tenner or so I've got another Cane Creek shim coming - 25.4 to 27.0 (not 27.2). I tried to measure the thickness of the shim itself - there appeared to be 0.1mm difference in thickness of material. Fingers crossed - otherwise the much shorter shim goes back on

 

[d8mok]

I've always been worried of using a shim. Especially on a nice frame.

 

[Once A Hero]

XT post arrived and installed. Quite snug so ample grease applied.