Dropper posts permit us to regulate our saddle top with the push of a lever, serving to to reinforce consolation, effectivity, and, most significantly, management whereas out on the path. Many individuals would argue that dropper posts are one of the vital improvements in mountain bike know-how — primarily remodeling the way in which we trip.
The flexibility to regulate the peak of your saddle on the fly ensures that it’s all the time positioned completely for the terrain you might be driving, and dropper posts have change into a staple on practically all new mountain bikes and are working their approach onto gravel bikes today as properly. With their meteoric rise to changing into a normal half, we now have extra nice choices to select from than ever earlier than.
Our knowledgeable testers rounded up 9 of the highest choices out there in 2024 and put every mannequin by way of its paces whereas assessing vital efficiency traits just like the smoothness of journey, saddle clamps, set up, adjustability, weight, serviceability, and design.
From the ultra-premium wi-fi RockShox Reverb AXS to the value-packed OneUp Parts V3, we’ve discovered a dropper to swimsuit each want and funds. To see the specs of all of the fashions we examined at a look, take a look at our comparability chart. If you wish to study extra about dropper posts, you’ll be able to seek advice from our detailed shopping for recommendation and value & worth sections.
Editor’s Observe: We refreshed this information on October 3, 2024, after testing the just lately up to date variations of the Bike Yoke Revive, Fox Switch Manufacturing facility, and Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper posts.
The Greatest Dropper Posts of 2024
Greatest Total Dropper Submit
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Accessible journey Lengths
125, 160, 200, 242 mm -
Total Lengths
373, 443, 523, 607 mm -
Accessible Diameters
30.9, 31.8, 34.9 mm -
Dimension Examined
31.6 x 200 mm journey -
Measured Weight
Submit: 565 g (2.82 g/mm journey), Lever: 39 g
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Comparatively light-weight -
Tremendous clean -
Self-bleeding cartridge – by no means develops sag -
Adjustable journey in 5mm increments to dial in good size -
Quick stack top and insertion depths -
Person serviceable – all elements out there
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Pretty costly -
Extra delicate to seatpost clamp torque and air stress than most
Greatest Worth Dropper Submit
-
Accessible Journey Lengths
90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 mm -
Total Lengths
295, 350, 415, 480, 545, 610 mm -
Accessible Diameters
30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm (additionally a 27.2 mm choice in 90 mm and 120 mm lengths) -
Dimension Examined
30.9, 210 mm journey -
Measured Weight
Submit: 515 g (2.45 g/mm journey), Lever: 42 g
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Nonetheless fairly priced -
Smoother than earlier model -
Lighter weight – lighter than most “light-weight” posts -
Very low stack top -
Six journey lengths and 4 diameters provided -
Adjustable journey for ideally suited match -
Straightforward upkeep
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Barely costlier than the V2 -
New sealed cartridge has fastened return pace
Greatest Funds Dropper Submit
-
Accessible journey lengths
125, 150, 170, 200 mm -
Total lengths
385, 440, 480, 540 mm -
Accessible diameters
30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm -
Dimension examined
31.6, 150 mm journey -
Measured weight
Submit: 529 g (3.53 g/mm journey), Lever: 49 g
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Nice efficiency at an reasonably priced value -
Straightforward device free journey regulate -
Primary however purposeful and ergonomic lever -
Straightforward to make small changes to saddle top
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Rubber items get soiled very simply -
Taller stack top
Smoothest Dropper Submit
-
Accessible journey Lengths
125, 160, 185, 213 mm -
Total Lengths
381, 451, 501, 566 mm -
Accessible Diameters
30.9, 31.6 mm (34.9 mm Revive Max additionally provided) -
Dimension Examined
31.6 x 213 mm journey -
Measured Weight
Submit: 633 g (3.97 g/mm journey), Lever: 32 g (Triggy Alpha Lengthy)
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Smoothest journey in the marketplace -
A number of notable enhancements over the Revive 2.0 -
Adjustable journey in 5 mm increments -
Triggy Alpha distant is tremendous good -
Do away with sag shortly and simply with Revive valve
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Costlier -
Not the lightest – however not precisely heavy both -
213 mm is longest model
Greatest Wi-fi Dropper Submit
-
Accessible journey lengths
100, 125, 150, 170 mm -
Total lengths
340, 390, 440, 480 mm -
Accessible diameters
30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm (Reverb XPLR AXS is available in 27.2 mm) -
Dimension examined
31.6, 150 mm journey -
Measured weight
Submit: 655 g (4.37 g/mm journey), Lever: 54 g
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Nice lever ergonomics and simple actuation -
Precision management -
Tremendous-easy put up and seat set up -
Fast return pace -
Digital -
No cable or hose
-
Very costly -
Heavier weight -
Digital — want to recollect to cost battery -
Greater stack top with massive collar -
170 mm is longest size
Greatest Up to date Dropper Submit
-
Accessible journey Lengths
120, 150, 180, 210, 240 mm -
Total Lengths
374, 439, 504, 569, 639 mm -
Accessible Diameters
30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm -
Dimension Examined
31.6 x 210 mm journey -
Measured Weight
Submit: 667 g (3.18 g/mm journey), Lever: 46 g
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A significant enchancment over the earlier model -
Easy journey -
Adjustable air spring/return fee -
Damped really feel at backside of stroke -
Can scale back journey in 5 mm increments
-
Heavier weight -
Lengthy actuator and longer total lengths might restrict fitment for some
Better of the Relaxation
-
Accessible journey lengths
80, 100, 125 mm -
Total lengths
400, 420, 445 mm -
Accessible diameters
30.9, 31.6 mm -
Dimension examined
31.6, 125 mm -
Measured weight
Submit: 451 g (3.61 g/mm journey), Lever: 45 g
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Quick return pace -
Easy, managed motion -
Fairly mild -
“Tech climb” function went unnoticed (in a great way)
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Max journey of 125 mm -
Longer total size and stack top -
Weight is low, however weight per mm/journey is larger than different SL mannequin examined
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Accessible journey lengths
100, 125, 150, 170, 200 mm -
Total lengths
364, 414, 465, 504, 577 mm -
Accessible diameters
30.9, 31.6 mm (Highline XC Gravel out there in 27.2 mm) -
Dimension examined
31.6, 150 mm journey -
Measured weight
Submit: 577 g (3.85 g/mm journey)
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Very clean journey -
Straightforward to make use of pivoting bolt seat clamp -
Simply person serviceable (all the things however the cartridge) with very commonplace instruments -
Straightforward set up
-
Slower, fastened compression and extension pace -
Longer total size and stack top -
Heavier weight
-
Accessible journey Lengths
50, 70, 75, 100, 125, 150 mm -
Total lengths
350, 370, 355, 380, 430, 455, 480 mm -
Accessible diameters
27.2, 30.9, 31.6 mm -
Dimension examined
31.6, 150 mm journey -
Measured weight
Submit: 441 g (2.94 g/mm journey), Lever 46 g
-
Lightest put up examined -
Wide selection of shorter journey choices for XC riders -
Drop bar lever out there -
Very quick return pace -
Extraordinarily mild motion
-
Two positions — you’ll adore it or hate it -
Much less controllable than infinitely adjustable posts resulting from extraordinarily mild motion -
Longest total size within the check
Dropper Submit Comparability Chart
Dropper Submit | MSRP | Accessible Lengths | Accessible Diameters | Dimension Examined | Measured Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OneUp Parts V3 | $270 | 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 mm | 27.2, 30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm | 30.9 x 210 mm | Submit: 515 g, Lever: 42 g |
PNW Parts Loam | $199-209 | 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 mm | 30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm | 31.6 x 150 mm | Submit: 529 g, Lever: 49 g |
Wolf Tooth Resolve rev2 | $350-396 | 125, 160, 200, 242 mm | 30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm | 31.6 x 200 mm | Submit: 565 g, Lever: 39 g |
Bike Yoke Revive 3.0 | $350-410 | 125, 160, 185, 213 mm | 30.9, 31.6, 34.9mm | 31.6 x 213 mm | Submit: 633 g, Lever: 32 g |
RockShox Reverb AXS | $861 | 100, 125, 150, 170 mm | 30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm | 31.6 x 150 mm | Submit: 655 g, Lever: 54 g |
Bike Yoke Divine SL | $320 | 80, 100, 125 mm | 30.9, 31.6 mm | 31.6 x 125 mm | Submit 451 g, Lever: 45 g |
Fox Switch Manufacturing facility | $339 | 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 mm | 30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm | 31.6 x 210 mm | Submit: 667 g, Lever: 46 g |
Crankbrothers Highline 7 | $300 | 100, 125, 150, 170, 200 mm | 30.9, 31.6 mm | 31.6 x 150 mm | Submit: 577 g |
Fox Switch SL | $399 | 50, 70, 75, 100, 125, 150 mm | 27.2, 30.9, 31.6 mm | 31.6 x 150 mm | Submit: 441 g, Lever: 46 g |
How We Examined Dropper Posts
It’s truthful to say that the group at GearJunkie is obsessive about all issues outdoor-related, and that features mountain biking. That is very true of merchandise like dropper posts that improve our driving expertise and efficiency out on the path.
Whereas there have been some reservations about adopting this new-fangled know-how once they initially got here out, you’ll discover droppers on just about all of our mountain bikes and even a few of our gravel bikes today. And we’ve tried a number of them. Whether or not for product launches, particular person opinions, or on check bikes, we’ve had the possibility to strive practically each mannequin in the marketplace.
Our Skilled Testers
For the needs of this purchaser’s information, we rounded up 9 of one of the best dropper posts out there in 2024 to check and evaluate. Assessment writer Paul Clauss spent months testing these posts in a variety of climate circumstances on technical northern Vermont trails that require a number of elevating and reducing of the saddle. A mechanical engineer by commerce and a talented bike mechanic, Paul enjoys scrutinizing totally different designs, tinkering with changes, and is adept at differentiating delicate efficiency variations within the workshop and out on the path.
Paul has an affinity for technical options and rock slabs, and thankfully, the terrain close to his house in northern Vermont is a perfect testing floor for dropper posts with loads of ups, downs, and rocky, rooty challenges that require frequent modifications to saddle top. Along with testing dropper posts, Paul has additionally contributed to our greatest mountain bike flat pedals and mountain bike flat pedal shoe opinions, together with bike restore stands and bike pumps.
GearJunkie editor Jeremy Benson additionally contributed to this information. Benson has been testing and reviewing bikes, equipment, and parts for 8 years and has personally examined greater than twelve totally different dropper posts. As an obsessive rider and racer, he’s all the time looking for out the highest-performance merchandise he can discover and appreciates parts that make his bike as mild as attainable.
He’s additionally skilled the evolution of dropper posts firsthand and acknowledges that just about each dropper in the marketplace is significantly better than any choices we had a decade in the past. A few of the different guides that Benson has contributed to incorporate mountain bike footwear, mountain bike shorts, mountain bike helmets, and hitch bike racks.
Our Testing Course of
After weighing every put up and distant for consistency and comparability to the producer’s specs, Paul and Jeremy put in them on one in every of their a number of mountain bikes. Putting in every put up ourselves gave us the chance to evaluate the relative issue of doing it by yourself, and supplied useful perception into the saddle clamps and distant levers. It additionally gave us the chance to evaluate fitment-related issues when putting in — and choosing the proper dimension to start with.
As soon as every put up was put in, we carried out quite a few hand exams within the workshop to check the smoothness of journey and return speeds. We made any vital changes after which took to the paths. On the path, Paul and Jeremy each targeted on key efficiency attributes like actuation power on the lever, compression power, return pace, and smoothness whereas making frequent changes to saddle top. From the technical trails of Vermont to the tough and dusty trails of the Lake Tahoe area, these posts had been ridden arduous to find out their relative strengths and weaknesses. Paul and Jeremy additionally switched between posts typically for extra direct comparability of their efforts to search out one of the best dropper posts.
Shopping for Information: The right way to Select a Dropper Submit
There are quite a few causes you must use a dropper put up in your mountain bike, however it may be difficult to search out precisely what you want. Right here, we break down among the vital issues which will impression your buy choice.
Why Experience With a Dropper Submit?
Utilizing a dropper put up will permit you to increase and decrease your seat with the contact of a handlebar-mounted lever or distant. When your saddle is on the applicable top for pedaling and climbing, it may get in the way in which when making an attempt to maneuver your physique and bike whereas descending. However when your saddle top is ready low for descending, it’s not within the correct place for pedaling.
Dropper posts permit you to regulate your saddle top on the fly whereas driving, making certain you will have the correct seat top for the terrain you encounter. With a dropper put up, you’ll expertise:
- Improved maneuverability: A dropper put up permits you to decrease your seat when descending steep or technical terrain, creating extra clearance between you and your saddle This makes it simpler to shift your physique and maneuver the bike. It’s notably useful for bike/physique separation when cornering and when leaping.
- Higher effectivity: At full extension, your saddle needs to be within the ideally suited place for seated pedaling so you’ll be able to all the time take advantage of your pedaling effort.
- Extra comfy driving: A dropper put up permits you to regulate your seat top primarily based on the terrain, making for a extra comfy trip total. Outdoors of reducing the put up for descending, this may be vital on technical climbs — generally, having solely 20mm or so of saddle drop may also help you place down the facility or maneuver the bike by way of difficult sections.
The right way to Dimension a Dropper Submit for You and Your Bike
When buying a brand new dropper put up, the match for you and your bike is your first precedence. Not solely does it want to suit your body to be suitable, however you need it to fit your physique dimension and wishes as properly.
Seat Tube Diameter
This is likely one of the best steps — simply be sure you choose a put up that matches the seat tube diameter of your body. Most trendy mountain bikes have 30.9 mm or 31.6 mm seat tubes, and dropper put up producers typically present choices for much less commonplace choices like 27.2 mm (for gravel and a few XC frames) or 34.9 mm diameters. If you’re uncertain of your seat tube diameter, you’ll be able to sometimes discover it printed on the seat put up that’s at present in your bike, or you’ll be able to look it up on the producer’s web site. Whilst you ought to have the ability to discover a put up that matches your seat tube diameter, you’ll be able to generally buy a smaller one and shim the seat tube in a pinch.
Dropper Journey Size
Dropper posts are available in a variety of journey lengths to swimsuit various wants, preferences, our bodies, and bikes. For mountain bikes, they sometimes vary between 100 and 200 mm, with some outliers on both finish. For instance, the OneUp Parts V3 Dropper is available in probably the most dimension choices, with 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 mm journey lengths out there. Not surprisingly, as post-travel will increase, so does the general size of the put up.
Whereas many individuals attempt to match probably the most drop attainable on their bike to extend mobility, some riders might favor a shorter drop size for varied causes. How a lot drop you need is often a matter of private choice, but additionally it might be a operate of what’s going to match in your body and work in your physique dimension.
Happily, some manufacturers are doing their finest to attenuate the general lengths and stack heights of their posts, which makes it simpler to suit an extended journey dropper. Some manufacturers/fashions additionally present the choice to cut back journey with changes to make fitment a lot simpler than it was. On the similar time, many trendy bikes are being designed with decrease stand-over heights and shorter, straighter seat tubes that assist make it simpler to suit longer journey dropper posts.
Figuring out If a Dropper Will Match Your Body
Most producer’s web sites have a device that can assist you appropriately dimension a put up in your bike to maximise journey (and the OneUp web site will even present you which ones opponents’ posts will match with their Dropper Submit Size Selector). To make use of these instruments, you’ll take two measurements out of your body and contemplate a couple of put up measurements:
- X – your Measured Experience Peak: from the highest of your seat collar to the middle of your seat rails (not the highest of your saddle). For instance, on the small Santa Cruz Bronson used for testing, that is 260 mm.
- Y – the utmost seat tube insertion size in your body. On the small Bronson, that is 210 mm.
With these numbers, use the instruments out there on most producers’ web sites to find out the utmost journey for his or her put up in your body. To double-check if a dropper put up will match by yourself, make it possible for:
- Your Measured Experience Peak (X) is GREATER than the Stack Peak (prolonged) of the put up, measured from the underside of the collar to the middle of the seat rails of the seat at full extension.
- On the check Bronson, the Measured Seat Peak of 260 mm is larger than the 150 mm Journey PNW Loam put up’s Stack Peak of 200 mm. This implies the put up will be positioned at the popular top, assuming the opposite two measurements beneath are true.
- The Total Size minus your Measured Experience Peak (X) is LESS than the utmost seat tube insertion size in your body (Y).
- For the PNW Loam put up at 150 mm journey, the Total Size is 440 mm. 440 – 260 = 180 mm, which is the size of the put up I count on to be within the seat tube at full seat top. That is lower than the measured seat tube insertion of 210 mm, leaving 30 mm of clearance on the backside of my seat tube with the put up on the measured seat top.
- The Insertion Size (from #2) falls between the minimal and most insertion lengths of the put up. The insertion size have to be between the utmost/minimal insertion lengths for the put up.
- The minimal insertion of 90 mm is lower than 180 mm (from #2, the anticipated insertion size with the put up), which is lower than 210 mm (the utmost insertion depth). On the anticipated insertion on the Bronson body, the insertion size falls between and most and minimal insertion lengths of the put up.
Kinds of Dropper Posts
Most dropper posts out there at the moment use a cable to actuate an inside floating piston (IFP) to launch a pressurized chamber, sometimes an adjustable air spring or a sealed hydraulic cartridge, to boost and decrease the seat. Whereas all of them carry out the identical activity of elevating and reducing your seat on the fly, dropper posts are available in a wide range of totally different designs.
Adjustable vs. Fastened Price of Return
Many dropper posts have an adjustable fee of return. Usually, this includes an air spring, the stress of which will be raised or lowered (inside a really helpful vary) to hurry up or decelerate the speed at which the put up compresses and extends. This provides the person better management over the put up and the flexibility to dial in its efficiency to fulfill their wants or preferences. The Bike Yoke Revive 3.0, Fox Switch Manufacturing facility, Wolf Tooth Resolve rev2, Bike Yoke Divine SL, and the PNW Loam all function adjustable air springs.
Some posts use sealed cartridges which have a set fee of compression and extension. These posts have a predetermined spring fee chosen by the producer that often goals to hit the completely happy center floor of compression power/return pace. The OneUp Parts V3 and Crankbrothers Highline 7 are two examples of droppers that wouldn’t have adjustable air springs.
Infinitely Adjustable vs. Fastened Interval Journey
The overwhelming majority of dropper posts function what known as infinitely adjustable journey, which means they are often adjusted wherever throughout the out there journey vary between full compression and full extension. Whereas it’s commonest to trip with the put up all the way in which up or all the way in which down, there are many circumstances the place dropping the put up just a bit bit is good, and infinitely adjustable posts permit you to take action.
A number of posts in the marketplace have fastened interval journey, which means they cease solely at sure spots inside their journey vary. Usually, this model of put up makes use of an easier mechanical spring to regulate the journey. The one put up we examined that adjusts at fastened intervals is the light-weight Fox Switch SL, which stops in solely two positions, totally compressed and totally prolonged.
Inner vs Exterior Routing
Most trendy mountain bikes are designed for use with dropper posts and often function inside cable routing. Consequently, most droppers are additionally designed for use with bikes which have inside cable routing. The actuator the place the cable connects is on the backside of the put up contained in the body. All the droppers we examined are made for inside cable routing, aside from the RockShox Reverb AXS, which is wi-fi.
Many older bike frames and a few gravel bikes wouldn’t have ports for inside cable routing. Fortunately, there are some externally routed droppers in the marketplace, although they’re much less widespread. PNW parts make a number of fashions of externally routed droppers, and you’ll typically discover comparable choices from Model-X and PRO in the event you go searching.
Actuation Kinds
Cable-Actuated
The vast majority of trendy dropper posts are cable-actuated, which means {that a} cable connects between the distant lever and the actuator on the backside of the put up. Once you press the distant lever, it pulls on the cable, which in flip actuates the put up and permits it to maneuver up or down. Cables are comparatively simple to take care of and cheap to exchange.
Hydraulically Actuated
This model of actuation is way much less widespread than cable-actuated posts, nevertheless it works in an analogous approach utilizing hydraulic fluid. The RockShox Reverb (not AXS) is the one put up in the marketplace that makes use of this technique, and it really works pretty properly. The principle disadvantage is that it’s tougher to put in and take away your put up, given the presence of hydraulic fluid within the hose and distant lever, and it may be fairly messy. Older fashions had been additionally fairly delicate to chilly temperatures, though the newest Reverb posts work higher in that regard.
Wi-fi/Electrical
Given the fast tempo of technological improvement, it comes as little shock that increasingly more merchandise are digital. Wi-fi or digital posts forego the cable or hose altogether and as a substitute use a small management unit on the handlebar that pairs through Bluetooth to a small motor on the put up to boost and decrease it. The RockShox Reverb AXS was the primary electrical put up to essentially acquire a foothold out there. Extra manufacturers are making wi-fi parts, and Fox just lately launched the Switch Neo (which we might be testing quickly).
Dropper Options
Journey Discount
Some posts permit you to lower the utmost put up journey, making certain you may get the utmost drop out there in your bike. For instance, on the bike used for testing with a stack top of 260 mm and most seat tube insertion of 210 mm, the OneUp dimension calculator exhibits the utmost drop for my setup as 170 mm, achieved by decreasing the journey of their 180 mm put up by 10 mm.
The PNW Loam Dropper makes use of a tool-free system to lower the utmost journey by as much as -25 mm (in 5 mm increments) with a built-in nylon shim. The OneUp V3 Dropper makes use of an analogous system however limits journey adjustment to 10 or 20 mm and makes use of pins and information slots slightly than a nylon shim. The Bike Yoke Revive 3.0 additionally permits as much as 20 mm of journey adjustment, however the set up course of is a bit more concerned.
Equally, the Wolf Tooth Resolve rev2 can have most journey lowered, and they’re going to set up spacers for you whenever you order the put up, or you should purchase journey discount shims after the very fact and set up them your self or deliver your put up to a store to have it carried out for you.
Reset Valves
All hydraulic dropper posts can expertise air ingestion into the inside tubes over time, which can lead to a saggy or spongy really feel when sitting on the saddle. To fight this with out requiring a full rebuild of the put up, the Bike Yoke Revive 3.0 makes use of a reset valve, and the RockShox Reverb AXS makes use of the “Vent Valve” to reset the hydraulic circuit. Whereas Bike Yoke solely expects Revive customers to make use of the reset valve a few times a 12 months, this can be a good function to make sure constant efficiency of the put up while not having to drag it out of your body.
Different posts, just like the Wolf Tooth Resolve rev2 and the Bike Yoke Divine SL, have “self-bleeding” cartridges designed to purge any air from the system each time the put up is totally dropped.
Saddle Clamp
The saddle clamp on the seatpost head is the place your saddle rails connect to the seatpost. Good saddle clamps are quiet, keep on the applicable torque, and make saddle set up/removing fairly simple. A lot of the posts on this check used a normal two-bolt head design to regulate saddle angle and fore/aft place. A number of fashions have clamp designs that assist make the set up and removing course of barely simpler.
The Crankbrothers Highline 7 has {hardware} that swivels, whereas the OneUp V3 dropper has slotted plates. Although we don’t sometimes set up/take away our saddles often, these seemingly trivial design options are actually fairly useful when testing dropper posts again to again.
Distant Levers
Each dropper put up makes use of a distant to actuate the journey up and down. Whereas many posts used to come back with a lever, most posts are bought with out one today, which means you’ll be able to often select no matter distant you want. Most levers for cable-actuated dropper posts (that clamp the free cable finish on the lever) are suitable with any put up, permitting you to decide on the lever that works finest together with your ergonomics and cockpit setup.
The arrival and proliferation of 1x drivetrains freed up some house on the left aspect of the handlebar the place the entrance derailleur shifter was, so nearly all of dropper remotes are 1x levers that resemble a shifter paddle that you just press together with your left thumb. Examples of 1x distant levers embrace the Wolf Tooth Distant Professional, Fox Switch 1x Distant, Bike Yoke Triggy Alpha, PNW Loam Lever, and OneUp V3 Lever.
Many have textured metallic surfaces to supply thumb traction, whereas some use replaceable rubber pads for grip. Moreover, some manufacturers offer you colour choices to customise your trip. For instance, Wolf Tooth sells its machined aluminum distant levers in a variety of anodized colours. Equally, PNW and OneUp Parts promote their rubber thumb traction pads in varied colours, too.
Some manufacturers nonetheless make distant levers designed for use with 2x drivetrains and/or suspension lockout levers, and drop-bar levers have gotten extra widespread as droppers acquire recognition on gravel bikes.
Like every other handlebar-mounted management, you will need to contemplate ergonomics, lever really feel, and actuation power when deciding on a dropper put up lever. Moreover, you’ll wish to contemplate how your lever will mount to your handlebar. Whereas most lever producers do present choices for Shimano i-Spec or SRAM MMX shifter/brake mount connections, additionally they supply primary 22.2 and 31.8mm handlebar clamps. Usually you’ll find adaptors for different brake configurations like Magura, Hayes, Hope, and so forth.
As a result of most levers have a number of attachment factors to regulate the horizontal place of the lever, it’s often pretty simple to place the distant in a great place in order that reaching it together with your thumb feels pure and intuitive. Some levers have further changes that permit ergonomics to be custom-made even additional.
The exception to the cable-actuation rule is the RockShox Reverb AXS, which comes with its personal digital management unit. This distant runs off battery energy and connects to the put up through Bluetooth.
Weight
Dropper posts will all the time weigh greater than a normal seatpost, however most riders (and more and more, even aggressive cross-country racers) are prepared to take a weight penalty for the improved dealing with and management advantages of utilizing a dropper put up. In fact, all different issues being equal, lighter is usually thought of higher, assuming efficiency isn’t compromised within the title of weight financial savings.
For this check, we weighed the put up solely, realizing that the burden of the cable housing will range barely relying on the size required in your body, and that may also typically be constant in your bike no matter which cable-actuated put up you select. It’s also value noting that longer journey posts weigh greater than shorter journey variations of the identical put up as a result of further supplies wanted to make them longer. And, since our testers used totally different lengths of posts, it’s difficult to get an ideal weight comparability.
Whereas a heavier dropper put up received’t be as noticeable on the path as a heavy set of tires or wheelset, it’s going to add to the general weight of your bike and could also be a consideration for you. All of the posts on this check weighed between 441 grams (Fox Switch SL) and 655 grams (Rockshox Reverb AXS). For the cable-actuated droppers, the OneUp V3 is constantly one of many lightest weight choices, weighing in at 515 grams within the 210 mm journey size (433 grams for the 150 mm model).
The Wolf Tooth Resolve is shut behind at simply 514 grams at 160mm of journey (with 10mm extra journey). For these tremendous acutely aware about weight, like XC racers, there are some “superlight” choices in the marketplace these days, just like the Fox Switch SL and the Bike Yoke Divine SL. These light-weight fashions do save a good quantity of weight, coming in at 441 grams and 451 grams, respectively, however they’re provided in a narrower vary of drop lengths. To not be outdone, the OneUp V3 droppers are actually lighter than the SL fashions we examined (in the identical drop lengths).
Set up
If you buy a brand new dropper from a motorbike store, it’s common that they’ll set up it for you. If you buy a dropper from an internet retailer, you’ll be able to deliver it to an area store and pay to have it put in. Should you like wrenching by yourself bike, doing it your self is comparatively easy, assuming you will have cable/housing cutters and affordable mechanic abilities. A high quality restore stand doesn’t damage, both.
The set up course of is essentially the identical whatever the actuation methodology. Most manufacturers have detailed directions and/or tutorial movies to information you thru the method.
- Run a piece of cable housing (or hydraulic line) from the seat tube to the exit port close to the top tube. Which approach you pull the housing by way of can rely in your body, and it’s all the time a good suggestion to make use of current housing to drag by way of new housing each time attainable — this helps information the brand new housing by way of tight curves within the inside routing.
- Connect the cable to the actuator on the backside of the put up and run it by way of the housing. Place the housing within the housing cease on the base of the put up
- Push the put up into the body whereas concurrently pulling the cable/housing (or hydraulic line) out of the exit port close to the top tube.
- Connect the cable/housing to the lever after mounting it to the handlebars.
- For posts with hydraulic actuation, bleed the system. For cable-actuated posts, clamp the cable to the lever, trim the cable, add a cable finish, and use the barrel adjuster to realize correct cable rigidity.
Upkeep
Just like shifting suspension elements, most dropper put up producers advocate cleansing, inspecting, and lubricating your put up after each trip and performing their model of a full service between 100 and 200 hours of driving. Many posts are designed to be user-serviceable, and they are often taken aside, cleaned, and relubricated with commonplace instruments and somewhat time. Components for a lot of posts can be found for buy, and this may prevent cash whereas maintaining your dropper working properly in the long run.
Droppers for Gravel Bikes
Because the gravel bike market continues to develop and mature, some fashions are coming geared up with dropper posts, and/or the frames function inside cable routing to accommodate one. In fact, not everybody wants or needs a dropper on their gravel bike, however those that trip steeper, rougher roads or wish to enterprise onto singletrack trails might discover that the advantages outweigh the slight weight penalty.
Most, however not all, gravel bikes have smaller 27.2 mm seat tube diameters, and thankfully, many manufacturers now make droppers on this dimension to fulfill the rising demand. Typically, dropper posts made for gravel bikes have much less journey, starting from round 50 mm to 125 mm. On the extra reasonably priced finish of the spectrum, OneUp Parts makes the V3 27.2 in 90 and 120 mm drop lengths.
Crankbrothers presents one of many largest ranges of drop lengths with 60, 80, 100, and 125 mm choices for his or her Highline XC Gravel put up. Fox makes a 27.2 mm model of its light-weight Tranfer SL in each Manufacturing facility and Efficiency Elite in each 50 mm and 70 mm drop lengths. On the excessive finish of the worth spectrum, the RockShox Reverb XPLR AXS brings wi-fi dropper know-how to your gravel rig.
Worth & Worth
Dropper posts are virtually all the time costlier than inflexible posts, however contemplating the efficiency advantages they supply, we really feel they’re value their weight in gold. Like something in mountain biking, we now have fairly a couple of choices, and so they come at a reasonably big selection of costs. Fortunately, most trendy mountain bikes include dropper posts, however many individuals select to improve to one thing that works or suits higher than the inventory choice. So, how a lot must you spend, and what’s the distinction?
Observe: Most aftermarket dropper posts don’t include a distant lever. Most dropper posts will work with most dropper levers, so if you have already got one, you would possibly have the ability to use it with no matter put up you select. That stated, not all dropper put up remotes are created equal, and a few merely work, really feel, and look higher than others. When buying a brand new put up, you might also have to consider the price of a brand new distant lever into the equation. They sometimes price between $40 and $70, relying on the model/mannequin.
Funds
Today, you may get a purposeful dropper for round $150, however we expect most individuals including an aftermarket put up to their bike ought to count on to spend about $200. It’s not that cheaper droppers don’t work, however primarily based on our expertise, we expect you get a better degree of efficiency and sturdiness by spending just a bit bit extra.
For these working on a funds, the least costly mannequin on this information, the PNW Loam, will set you again round or simply over $200 (plus a bit extra for a distant in the event you don’t have already got one). This put up doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nevertheless it performs very properly and is an distinctive worth for anybody who doesn’t have extra to spend.
Mid-Tier
Shifting only a bit larger within the value vary, we expect most individuals will discover one of the best ratio of value and efficiency within the $270 to $400 vary. We understand that’s a reasonably large unfold, however that’s additionally the place many of the finest dropper posts in the marketplace land on the worth spectrum. Right here we frequently discover smoother journey, lighter weights, and particular options that set some fashions aside.
On the decrease finish of this vary, the $270 OneUp V3 Dropper is tremendous clean, has a brief stack top and brief total size, is available in probably the most drop size choices, and is likely one of the lightest fashions in the marketplace. The OneUp V3’s mixture of efficiency attributes makes it one in every of our absolute favorites and arguably one of the best worth you’ll find.
As costs climb, we begin to see options like the flowery Kashima-coated stanchion on the Fox Switch Manufacturing facility ($339), the bleed valve on the Bike Yoke Revive 3.0 ($350 – $400), or the self-bleeding cartridge on the Wolf Tooth Resolve rev2 ($350 – $396). Typically talking, we additionally see a rise in smoothness and high quality, and these posts are supposed to be user-serviceable and supply a few years of devoted service. Most manufacturers additionally promote small elements so at-home mechanics can maintain them working easily while not having to shell out more money to get it repaired at a store.
Premium
Above the mid-tier value vary, the price of dropper posts jumps approach as much as greater than $800. There are solely a small handful of fashions approach up right here within the value stratosphere, with a lot larger prices related to wi-fi know-how. RockShox was the primary to market with the wi-fi Reverb AXS ($861) dropper, and it made a really massive splash each by way of value and a significant development in wi-fi know-how on mountain bikes. It additionally occurs to work very, very properly, albeit a tad heavier than wired choices.
Fox arrived a bit later to the wi-fi dropper put up occasion however has developed its personal wi-fi protocol in an try to achieve the higher hand. Launched in the summertime of 2024, the Fox Switch Neo ($839) was the model’s first wi-fi part — and a positive signal they’re growing many extra — and it capabilities equally to the Reverb AXS. We haven’t examined Fox’s wi-fi put up but, however we hope to get our arms on one within the close to future.
Does anybody really want a wi-fi dropper on their bike? Completely not. Is it cool that we now have the choice? We predict so. Nonetheless, until you’re swimming in disposable revenue, we expect the added price of upgrading to wi-fi is difficult to justify when cheaper choices carry out simply as properly (however with cables).
Regularly Requested Questions
Mountain bikes can actually be ridden with no dropper put up, and for a few years we didn’t even have the choice. Whereas many riders had been gradual to undertake this new know-how resulting from weight and reliability issues with early fashions, they’ve since change into ubiquitous on most bikes for a lot of causes.
Over the previous decade, dropper posts have change into lighter, extra dependable, and extra sturdy. The flexibility to boost and decrease your seat for the terrain in entrance of you permits you to all the time have the suitable saddle top, whether or not you might be driving up or downhill. Adjusting saddle top on the fly makes it simpler to maneuver concerning the bike and transfer the bike beneath you, leading to better management.
Whereas some posts are fairly costly, there are additionally extra reasonably priced choices that work very properly. Worth is much less of a limiting issue than it as soon as was.
So, sure, until you might be an elite-level XC racer who’s making an attempt to have the lightest bike attainable — and should go for a lighter inflexible put up — you must completely be driving with a dropper put up in your mountain bike. The efficiency advantages far outweigh the burden penalty of including one to your bike.
Leaving your bike’s dropper put up compressed for an prolonged time period isn’t really helpful. When the dropper put up is compressed, the interior air stress is elevated, which might put further stress on the interior parts of the dropper put up, probably resulting in untimely put on and failure.
Moreover, leaving your dropper put up compressed could cause the hydraulic fluid to change into trapped on one aspect of the put up, which might have an effect on its efficiency the subsequent time you employ it. This might result in harm to the seals and different inside parts over time.
To maximise the lifespan and efficiency of your put up, it’s finest to retailer it within the totally prolonged place when not in use. This can assist to make sure that the interior parts are usually not subjected to pointless stress or stress and that the hydraulic fluid is distributed evenly all through the put up.
That’s to not say you shoudn’t go away your dropper put up compressed for shorter durations of time. For instance, we frequently journey with our bikes on hitch bike racks for a lot of hours at a time with our droppers compressed to maintain the bikes from interfering with one another. We’ve by no means had any points.
It’s typically not really helpful to hold your bike by the dropper put up for prolonged durations of time, as this may put extreme stress on the interior parts of the put up and probably trigger harm.
Whereas clamping to the dropper put up stanchion in a bike restore stand isn’t ideally suited, and a few producers advocate in opposition to it as a result of it’s attainable to crush the stanchion tube with clamping stress, we’ve had no points doing so constantly for brief durations of time with any put up.
You’ll, nonetheless, wish to clamp frivolously and wrap the put up in a rag or use rubber jaws to keep away from scratching the dropper put up stanchion. Like with suspension parts, scratches on the dropper put up stanchion could cause untimely put on on seals and introduce filth and mud into the dropper internals.
Drilling a gap in a body with out inside dropper put up cable routing is not really helpful and will certainly void any warranties in your body. It could additionally compromise the structural integrity of the body, which may trigger severe harm. If in case you have a body with out inside routing, buy a put up with exterior cable routing.
Externally routed droppers are much less widespread, however there are a number of fashions in the marketplace to suit bikes with out inside dropper routing. On some hardtail frames, you MAY have the ability to route cable housing by way of the seat tube water bottle mounts, however this may be fairly difficult.
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