ISO 4210-9:2023

Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles — Part 9: Saddles and seat-post test methods

This document specifies saddle and seat-post test methods for ISO 4210‑2.

Cycles — Exigences de sécurité pour les bicyclettes — Partie 9: Méthodes d'essai des selles et des tiges de selles

Le présent document spécifie les méthodes d'essai de la selle et de la tige de selle pour l'ISO 4210-2.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 10-Jan-2023
• ICS: 43.150 - Cycles
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 149/SC 1 - Cycles and major sub-assemblies
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 149/SC 1/WG 13 - Revision of the series of ISO 4210:2014 and ISO 8098:2014
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 11-Jan-2023
• Due Date: 12-Sep-2022
• Completion Date: 11-Jan-2023

Relations

• Revises: ISO 4210-9:2014 - Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles — Part 9: Saddles and seat-post test methods
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Overview

ISO 4210-9:2023 - Cycles: Saddles and seat-post test methods specifies laboratory test methods for saddles and seat-posts used to demonstrate compliance with ISO 4210‑2 (requirements for city, trekking, young adult, mountain and racing bicycles). Published as the second edition in 2023, this part of the ISO 4210 series focuses on strength, durability and safety test procedures for saddle assemblies and seat-posts rather than component standardization.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and setup: Tests are performed with the seat-post inserted to the minimum insertion depth (per ISO 4210‑2) and clamped at the manufacturer’s recommended torque. Many tests require the seat-post axis set at 73° to the horizontal.
• Saddle/seat-post security test: Vertical and lateral loads are applied 25 mm from the saddle front/rear to produce maximum clamp torque. Typical forces: 650 N vertical and 250 N horizontal (varies by bicycle type).
• Saddle static strength: 400 N applied under the saddle nose and rear for 1 min in specified positions; symmetric loading if required by saddle design.
• Composite saddle rail static test: 1 200 N applied at 50 mm from the rear using a cylindrical load head (300 mm × 80 mm); rubber padding permitted if unpadded.
• Saddle + seat-post fatigue: Repeated vertically downward force of 1 000 N for 200 000 cycles using a 300 mm × 80 mm pad to avoid local damage.
• Seat-post fatigue and static tests:
  • Fatigue stage: dynamic vertical loading for 100 000 cycles with forces typically 1 000–1 200 N, depending on bicycle type and whether the post is dropper/suspension.
  • Static stage (composite posts only): higher static forces (typically 1 500–2 000 N per Table 3) held for 1 minute with displacement monitoring.
  • Suspension seat-post static test: tensile force 400 N for 1 min.
• Test fixtures and padding: Specific pad sizes and rigid-mount geometry are defined to avoid localized damage and ensure repeatable results.

Practical applications and users

ISO 4210-9:2023 is intended for:

• Bicycle manufacturers and OEMs validating saddle and seat-post designs
• Component suppliers (saddles, rails, composite posts) for product development and QA
• Test laboratories conducting conformity and durability testing
• Certification bodies and compliance engineers demonstrating safety against ISO 4210‑2 requirements
• Design and safety engineers assessing failure modes (fatigue, static strength, clamp security)

Using these standardized test methods improves product safety, supports market access, and reduces warranty risk.

Related standards

• ISO 4210-2:2023 - Requirements for specific bicycle types (normative reference)
• ISO 4210-1 - Vocabulary
• ISO 4210-3 - Common test methods

Keywords: ISO 4210-9:2023, saddle test methods, seat-post fatigue test, bicycle safety standards, saddle static strength, composite saddle rail test.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 4210-9
Second edition
2023-01
Cycles — Safety requirements for
bicycles —
Part 9:
Saddles and seat-post test methods
Cycles — Exigences de sécurité pour les bicyclettes —
Partie 9: Méthodes d'essai des selles et des tiges de selles
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Test methods . 1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 Saddle/seat-post — Security test . 1
4.3 Saddle and saddle rail — Static strength test . 2
4.3.1 Saddle — Static strength test . 2
4.3.2 Saddle rail (composite) — Static strength test . 3
4.4 Saddle and seat-post assembly — Fatigue test . 4
4.4.1 General . 4
4.4.2 Test method . 4
4.5 Seat-post — Fatigue test and static strength test . 5
4.5.1 General . 5
4.5.2 Test method for stage 1 (fatigue test). 5
4.5.3 Test method for stage 2 (static strength test) . 7
4.5.4 Suspension seat-post — Static test . 8
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 149, Cycles, Subcommittee SC 1, Cycles
and major sub-assemblies, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
Technical Committee CEN/TC 333, Cycles, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation
between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 4210-9:2014), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— improvement of 4.3.1;
— addition of 4.3.2;
— improvement of 4.4;
— addition of test condition for dropper/suspension dropper seat-post in 4.5;
— 4.5.3 has been changed to be only applicable if the seat-post is known to be constructed from
composite materials;
— addition of 4.5.4.
A list of all parts in the ISO 4210 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
This document has been developed in response to demand throughout the world, and the aim has been
to ensure that bicycles manufactured in conformity with this document will be as safe as is practically
possible. The tests have been designed to ensure the strength and durability of individual parts as well
as of the bicycle as a whole, demanding high quality throughout, and consideration of safety aspects
from the design stage onwards.
The scope has been limited to safety considerations and has specifically avoided standardization of
components.
If the bicycle should be used on public roads, national regulations apply.
v
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 4210-9:2023(E)
Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles —
Part 9:
Saddles and seat-post test methods
1 Scope
This document specifies saddle and seat-post test methods for ISO 4210-2.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 4210-1, Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles — Part 1: Vocabulary
ISO 4210-2:2023, Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles — Part 2: Requirements for city and trekking,
young adult, mountain and racing bicycles
ISO 4210-3:2023, Cycles — Safety requirements for bicycles — Part 3: Common test methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 4210-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
4 Test methods
4.1 General
If a suspension seat-post is involved, the test may be conducted with the suspension system either free
to operate or locked. If it is locked, the pillar shall b
...