[Closed] Am I unlucky with droppers?

Buy a Gravity Dropper

I do like the idea of the Magura Vyron wireless jobby but don't think that'll be available 'til March (ish) so I could plod on with the Thomson until then and then fix/sell it?
What would you do?

Well I certainly wouldn't be taking on the new, untried, product if I'm having issues with established kit.

My 2nd reverb is starting to play up.

My Reverb has just cost me £114 in repairs. All seals needed and top cap. It had pretty much seized.

I had similar problems with a Lev Integra, and persevered with it for a few months, but gave up after it's fourth trip back to Stif (who were very good it must he said).

Got a Specialized Command Post now, as there are no hydraulic bits in it, so hoping it will be pretty reliable. Comment on here was pretty positive. It's been good so far.

Stuck with the Command posts from when they first came out, got them fitted to all our bikes, various ages and external/internal routing, even lent a spare to a mate.
Never had a problem with any of them.

As above - Command Post. Never felt like I've needed any more positions than fully up/35mm down/fully down. Less than half an hour to strip and service too.

They are all massively unreliable, apart from the command post. some people hate the 2 fixed position thing (somewhat mitigated with the new IRCC version) but i find its nigh on perfect. i only ever put the saddle all the way down or all the way up even with infinite travel

I have a Reverb that's getting on for 4 years old, never had it serviced, aside from cleaning the exposed surface every ride. It's been covered in sh!te and under water on river crossings.
Just starting to think that I should get it serviced, but it hasn't developed any fault of any kind. Though now I've said that it will probably explode next time I use it.

I've Been running a Thomson post for 2 years now, it did get a v slight bit of rotational play after 2 years but sent it back to Thompson who fixed it free of charge so no complaints, i would send it back its got a 2 year warranty i think.

My £35 Decathlon jobby has been faultless for the last 6 months. Chuffed to bits.

Gravity droppers, starting to get hard to find? They were the 1st dropper and still the most reliable, specialised have a similar setup with their command post

Hydraulic feels best in use but if you want reliability and ease of servicing mechanical still has the edge

You can get them direct from GD in the states, I asked them a couple of months ago - maybe a VAT risk though?

Some here at CRC

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/gravity-dropper-turbo-lp-seatpost-multi/rp-prod108189

RSP Plummet does the job for me. similar to the GD and Spesh post and easy to strip down and rebuild

gonzy - Member
RSP Plummet does the job for me. similar to the GD and Spesh post and easy to strip down and rebuild

Yep, also badged as the Satora, Satori Pro. Great, cheap, 100% mechanical and so, so reliable. Basically a gravity dropper copy really.

£70 to about £76 if you get a shim with it. Not great looking but who cares?

2nd reverb going back for leaky seals tomorrow

I'm slightly scared of selling my venerable Gravity Dropper Classic now that I've acquired a Reverb with the new bike. Still, I've got a Gravity Dropper Turbo LP on the other bike, which has had nothing more than a cable change and a few clean and lubes in two years of filth, so I can always swap that in.

If I was spending my own money, I'd still buy Gravity Dropper - they just work 99% of the time. And the other 1% they're dead easy to fix/service yourself and Gravity Dropper's customer service is excellent.

Yep, also badged as the Satora, Satori Pro. Great, cheap, 100% mechanical and so, so reliable. Basically a gravity dropper copy really.

£70 to about £76 if you get a shim with it. Not great looking but who cares?

i agree. its the cheapest mechanical dropper and seems to be one the the better ones
one thing thats particularly good is the design of the cable entry into the post...it keeps the cable out of the way unlike the Spesh and GD....ive not had to replace the cable yet so i'm not sure if this design will cause issues with cable replacement.

My RSP was pretty hopeless, to balance things out. Failed mid-ride a few times, then catastrophically mid-ride. Ditched it for a Thomson. Bit of play, but not noticeable while riding, and a weird squeak when raised occasionally which stops if you drop the post and let it back up. Other than that, perfect!

Fox doss best for me had multiple reverbs go back, have 2 mates struggling with command posts at the minute. Luck of the draw a little bit in my opinion.

Gonzy
i agree. its the cheapest mechanical dropper and seems to be one the the better ones
one thing thats particularly good is the design of the cable entry into the post...it keeps the cable out of the way unlike the Spesh and GD....ive not had to replace the cable yet so i'm not sure if this design will cause issues with cable replacement

Ive changed cable on both of mine as its a little short. At same time ran the cable to the unused left gripshift (gone 1x11) and works great using that to control it.

Are there really reliable droppers ? I think not. Expensive too.

I've never been tempted to go dropper, I tried a demo bike with a gravity one and kept nealry crashing when trying to work it (saddle operated level) and most people with a reverb I know complain its frequently broken. Plus I ride places with are up for 20 min down for 5/10 or just undulating xc when adjustment isnt required.

My Gravity Dropper is over 7 years old. Many years of Peak District all weather riding.

A couple of easy home strip and lubes, a new cable just because, and one replaced shuttle spring (arrived in 3 days from the states with a a bag of other small spares for a fiver).

Still going strong.

A bit of rotation but don't notice that when riding.

Wouldn't use anything else.

Stealth reverb shat itself after 6 months, replaced without question. Hoping the second one behaves. Seems pot luck if you get a good one