Posted by: UFO
How long have you had the Hilo and were you generally happy with it? The obvious but unsexy answer to me would be to have it serviced/rebuilt. It will probably cost you 1/3 of any of the other replacement options.
And if you were to pick up a new ride that's likely stealth compatible you're not weighed down by your new post.
This is a very good point. My Hilo history is as follows:
1. Had the original Hilo 100 27.2 for about 3 years and it worked fairly well, had to top up the air on occassion, and it would get sticky sometimes, but overall it did the job and was dirt cheap compared to other products. I moved it to a Chromag with 31.6 seat-tube diameter and used a shim with it. Eventually a plastic part broke off of it, I think it might have been a part of the crappy single bolt seat rail holding mechanism.
2. Then, either late 2016 or early 2017, I bought the Hilo 125 (mentioned above) and it worked great until one fine day it started pogo sticking on me. Thinking I just needed to add air (which is a bit of a pita, but I followed all of the procedures on their website) I tried topping it up to the recommended 25 psi. It just wouldn't hold air in it for longer than 30 seconds and it would pogo stick again. Anyway, I for the first time in my life actually took advantage of the MEC warranty last week. Got a full refund.
3. Needed a new dropper ASAP though as I just went up to whistler and those valley trails would not be nearly as fun on a rigid post (it could be my lack of skills but hot damn does dropping and raising a post at will make everything more fun, safe and efficient.) Checked out what was available locally as far as external cabled ones and saw my choices were small unless I ordered something in (was thinking strongly about the Fox Transfer...still am.) So being desperate, and fairly happy with the Hilo 125 (despite it's short life) and it's affordable price, I got a new one at MEC and a fun time was had at Whistler. Not sure what I will do when this one gives up the ghost but if it lasts as long as my first Hilo 100, I'll be more than satisfied.