Aenomaly SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo Review

Key Details – Aenomaly SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo

• Product: Aenomaly SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo
• Weight: 158g (excluding hardware)
• Material: Billet 7075-T6 Aluminium
• Price: $225 CAD
• Buy From: aenomalyconstructs.com
• Function: On-the-fly seat angle adjuster (forward-neutral-rear tilt positions)
• Compatibility: Most seatposts (except single-bolt designs like RockShox Reverb AXS)
• Adjustments: +12° rearward / -10° forward from neutral
• Improvements vs V1: Lighter weight, stronger frame, better engagement, lower price
• Best For: Riders tackling steep climbs and descents regularly
• Stack Height Added: ~10mm

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Aenomaly first introduced the Aenomaly SwitchGrade seat angle adjuster early in 2022 to a small wave of critical acclaim. Anyone who has used one (including myself) has nothing but praise for this little accessory, which manages to pack a host of tangible benefits for riders who enjoy both steep climbs and steep descents. Increased climbing comfort, leg clearance and seated rear wheel traction are all benefits which Aenomaly claims and I can confirm, as written in my review of the first iteration. Now Aenomaly are back with the new SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo. As the name suggests this revised version is more about evolution than it is revolution, with new features focusing on increased compatibility, decreased weight and improved functionality all while coming in at a lower price. 

Out of the box

At its core, the Aenomaly SwitchGrade is a billet aluminium seatpost accessory that allows you to adjust your seat angle between two or three fixed positions on the fly. Once installed, you can toggle your seat forwards 10 or 12 degree rearwards from its neutral position by activating a small lever tucked away under your seat. The Aenomaly SwitchGrade is compatible with most seat post and seat combinations, excluding those who are using a one-bolt style dropper post (TransX ED01 and Rockshox Reverb AXS). While looking nearly identical to the untrained eye, the new version also has a stronger base frame and additions to simplify installation, all while decreasing the weight by 7%.  

Installation itself is a fairly straightforward affair and is easily achievable by any home mechanic. The only key step is to carefully read and select which ‘compatibility pack’ you require prior to purchasing your Aenomaly SwitchGrade. This will ensure you have the appropriate shims and bolts required to mate the Aenomaly SwitchGrade to your seatpost of choice. From there, you simply need to follow the installation documentation provided to get your Aenomaly SwitchGrade up and running, a 10-minute task. Note that pending which seatpost you have, the Aenomaly SwitchGrade can add around 10mm of overall post stack height once installed so it’s best to measure your neutral saddle height before and after install to ensure consistency. 

On the trail

My first ride with a Aenomaly SwitchGrade is reminiscent of the first time I rode with a dropper post or with tubeless tyres, such is the gravity of its benefit. After toggling it forwards I pointed my enduro bike straight up a nasty steep fire road climb, something that my rides consist of almost exclusively. Thanks to the 10 degree forward tilt to my seat my actual seat angle was as if I was riding along a flat grade, all while grinding uphill in my smallest gear. This meant that I was not having to fight to stay on my seat or keep my front wheel down and I was less fatigued through my arms and back as a result, while also experiencing increased power through my legs thanks to the more open angle of my hip flexors. 

Out of curiosity, I rolled half way back down the climb and repeated it with my seat in the neutral position. This time, my shoulders burned from holding myself on the bike, and my front wheel was skating around, barely staying on the ground. I then knew the Aenomaly SwitchGrade was something I would happily get used to. Inversely, the increased leg clearance you gain when the seat is adjusted to the 12 degree rearward position is also very noticeable. When your thighs do make contact with your seat during a rowdy descent or jump, they are primarily hitting the sides rather than the underside of your seat, which is much more comfortable and less likely to snag on your shorts. 

Toggling the SwitchGrade is fairly simple and easy to do on the fly, with a more positive engagement from each position on the 2.0 Evo in comparison to the original version. This was a welcome change as I would previously struggle to return my saddle to the Neutral position in some scenarios, something which is no longer an issue with the 2.0 Evo. The only time I found the adjustment difficult or prohibitive to the overall flow of my ride was when a trail quickly transitioned from a long steep descent into a steep climb. In this instant I tended to find myself having to shift a whole cassette worth of gears, actuate my dropper post and also toggle the SwitchGrade back to the forward position; quite the juggling act that I would occasionally get wrong. 

Our take on the Aenomaly SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo

To me, the SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo is a must have for anyone whose rides primarily consist of long steep climbs and steep descents. While the cost of an arguably unnecessary accessory such as this can be hard to justify, it takes just one steep climb to make it all seem worthwhile. Unlike some products, the SwitchGrade delivers on every performance benefit its creators have claimed and has done nothing but improve my riding experience during testing. 

Pros and cons of Aenomaly SwitchGrade 2.0 Evo

Pros
– More comfortable climbing position 
– Increased saddle clearance when descending 
– Quality construction

Cons
– Fiddly to actuate in undulating terrain