[Closed] Brand X Ascend Dropper.... any good?

mines been good.

small notable amount of play out the box - side to side and back to front but not noticable when riding (well im sure some anally retentive people on here will notice it but i dont)

Mines not had any special treatment or servicing and still works well.

Main issue is the levers they come with are all shit.

mines got a bontrager trigger on now which has improved it no end.

I've had two on different bikes and it's worked very well.
As TR says, there's a small amount of play out the box which got a little worse in the following months, but a year on and it hasn't changed. I don't notice it when riding, just when moving the bike around.

I really rate them. I picked up a nasty scuff to the stantion on the 120mm and a year later, it's still working. No service done to either, other than a clean and silicon spray on the seals. I recommend them. In the sales they were around £100.

The 120mm came with a horrible leaver; difficult to set up, limited adjustability & horrible feel.

The 150mm came with a different leaver that is much nicer; better ergonomics, easier to fit, nice actuation and aesthetics.

Cheers guys. Thats really helpful. Just pulling the X-Fusion off the bike at the moment (to go with the other dead X-Fusion dropper I've already taken off the hardtail) and looking at your pictures I reckon I might well be able to use the lever off that, which is one of the few things I actually like about it.

The X-Fusion one had a bit of wobble on it from new as well so I'm used to that. Like you said; you don't notice it when you're riding

Thanks again chaps. I'll get one ordered

I think its the same as the one on my Cube ebike, its been brilliant. !8 months without a hitch, and I am no lightweight

Had mine a year & I am <70kg it's got an annoying amount of play now , I don't find the lever all that bad though 😋

Same lever as cokies on my 125mm

Mines 18 months old. Apart from snapped lever, I've had no problems or maintenance at all.
I replaced lever with old bodged 3sp left hand XT shifter.

My 150mm has been faultless for a year now, a lot more than can be said about the previous 3 Reverbs..

I've got the XL version and really impressed so far. No play and it's stood up to a load of pennines mud and water and also a -2 ride with no worries.

I have a 120mm one and it’s got lots of play in every direction, I wouldn’t have another. I am really impressed with my one up dropper though, solid as a rock

Had 2, BX droppers. Got the XL now.

Consensus seems to be that they are one of the most reliable droppers out there.

You can get a service kit to replace the copper(?) slider,erm, "things" to remove any play that might develops with age. There was a thread on here about it. I think you get the kit for the RSP Plummet, something like that.

I've got an internal and external, both have been excellent apart from the external cable freezing last winter but managed to get it to work after a while.
As others have said a little side to side movement but not noticeable when riding.
Would not go back to a reverb.

Great stuff! All pretty positive. Especially as they’re a lot cheaper than some that seem less reliable. I’ve had that much trouble with the X-Fusion droppers, I just want something I can fit and forget

Thanks all

I'd recommend them. Mine gets used on my hardtail, mostly in the worst conditions on the chase. Still works faultlessly after over a year. The only problem I had was after riding in the snow in really freezing conditions - it kept sinking down. Turned out it was my own fault as the end of the cable had popped out of the lever slightly and I hadn't noticed. Once fixed, I've not had any issues at all. I've got a reverb in my other bike, and the brand X is a bit slower up/down, but if that ever fails I'll probably replace that with a brand X too as it costs around the same price as a reverb service.

Have 2 bx droppers now - although both internally routed. One I’ve had over a gear and a half (120mm) with no maintenance done at all - other than wiping the stanchion down after muddy rides.

I actually thought the original trigger shifter was fine - until I stacked it and snapped the lever off with my knee (hard enough impact I got knee bursitis and then cellulitus). I now have a Bontrager trigger lever and it’s much nice than any other dropper post lever I’ve had a go with and cost under £20.

I’ve just fitted a 150mm dropper to my hardtail - the lever looks a bit nicer than the original 120mm lever and the whole thing was easier to setup. The original one clamped the cable and the post end (right faff) but the 150mm clamps it at the lever which is really easy to setup.

Had one for around 8 months, apart from the remote its been spot on. Swapped the lever for the Bontrager remote and I'd say its pretty perfect now.

As shown in cokie's pics above all the new BX droppers have a re-designed lever. It's a nicer lever than the bontrager.
The old one was fine but I improved mine by dremelling the lever shorter and replacing the pivot hardware with a button head allen bolt and button head nylock nut to allow me to remove the lever play.

Recently got a 150mm stealth one which has so far been fine. The only problem was purely operator error. My bike has no bottle mounts so I put on one of those strap on (!!??*^*%) bottle cage fasteners. It slipped down the seat tube and wedged the cable where it exited the seat tube so that the post would not stay in the 'up' position. It took a while to spot the problem but a very short time to rectify.

Ive got 2 brand x. A 120 and a 150. Both stealth and both working great. The 120 is over a year old and the 150 is only about 5 rides old.
I’ve also had 2 x fusion droppers. One was ok (sold on a bike) and the other is in the bin! Kept blowing seals.

I found that if you tighten the small Allen key on the brand x remote, it firms up the lever a little. Also, the newer levers are a little better than the original ones. My 150 came with the newer style lever where the cable clamps at the lever end (not the post end).

I found that if you tighten the small Allen key on the brand x remote, it firms up the lever a little.

The original pivot hardware is a stepped bolt and recessed nut and the two bottoms out on each other before the lever play is taken up. tightening it any further will shear the bolt. I found this out by stupidly trusting some dweeb on here's advice that the play could be removed by tighteing the bolt. hence fitting my own nut and bolt soloution which actually does remove the play.

They're great and easy to service

Got an xl one. First ride 2 days ago in muddy slop and it was faultless. I feel like a mug paying for reverb and levs in the past!

My boys have the external 120mm version on their bikes and I have been really impressed to be honest. So much so I have one ready to go on my bike for when I can be arsed to swap out the sagging reverb that's on there now. I paid 90 each for ours and they have the new lever.

I found this out by stupidly trusting some dweeb on here’s advice that the play could be removed by tighteing the bolt.

Unlucky Geex !
I found the same advice on here and it worked a treat for me. Much less play after tightening a little.

Same as everyone else, got an XL 150mm version, great post with no issues. It has developed a tiny amount of rotational play but nothing to worry about.

As with the others I've replaced the terrible remote, I went for a PNW loam lever which is 1000x better.

I have one, not had any issues yet with it. A mate DannyH has had one for a lot longer than I, he's rebuilt his. Dead easy he said.

"I have a 120mm one and it’s got lots of play in every direction, I wouldn’t have another. I am really impressed with my one up dropper though, solid as a rock"

In all functional ways, same seatpost innit. Both are good.

Had an XL, developed sag after just 6 months. Warrantied it but Wiggle didn't have any stock so got a refund. Bought a OneUp and love it, it just feels 'nicer'.
Wouldn't have minded another BX at all though. Both more reliable and nicer to use than my Reverb.

100% recommend. Love mine. It’s been faultless for over a year, and with a Wolf Tooth lever it really is an excellent post. Genuinely don’t know why people buy the likes of Fox, RS, other than being brand snobs.

I have the 120mm model but will be changing soon for the 150 flavour.

Buy one 👍🏻

Righty ho... Brand X post ordered. Thanks for the advice all.

I’ll see how I feel about the lever when it arrives. I reckon I’ll probably stick with the X-Fusion one as it’s really good. It’s dinky and you can activate by just shoving or pulling it in any direction (great for those ‘oh shiiiiiit!!!’ Moments) 😂. About the only positive thing to say about the X-Fusion post

Sweet. You’ll love it mate. Great post.

I’m waiting for CRC to reduce the 150mm model and then I’m ordering one. They always seem to have them reduced.

Afternoon all.

I had a package arrive from Wiggle earlier today containing my new dropper (and some new pedals I accidentally bought as well... ahem). Just fitted the dropper and for a start: what a doddle to fit? Even for a mechanical gibbon like me. No hammers required. Always a bonus.

First impressions are that it just feels like a much more solid and quality piece of kit than the X-Fusion one it replaced (which cost quite a bit more). Theres no play at all in any direction (again: unlike the X-Fusion one it replaced). Nice. I really like the action. It came with the later model lever as standard so I've gone with that instead of trying to bodge another one on from the start.

Going to take it out on the axle-deep filth of the moors and give it a proper workout over the weekend and see how we get on

Thanks again for your words of wisdom oh wise and knowledgable STW ones 😀

Don't worry if a little play does develop. After a small amount, it should then stay stable.

Great droppers. 👍

Got the 120 on my Nukeproof Scout - been impressed with it so far, couldn't get the lever to work with my Shimano brake levers so put the Bontrager Drop Line lever on instead.
Just picked up a 150 to replace the KS post on my Mega that's bust - cheaper than a repair/service.....

+1 on the X-Fusion remote, I have mine setup in front and slightly above the brake lever. A cool story is that even if I'm caught out with a unforseen down, a bend of the knuckles activates it without loosening grip on the bars.

My son has a BX external and it seems okay, but the return is a lot slower than my previous KS Lev Integra, there is also more movement in the BX.

Personally I think I’d look for something else - KS Lev integra if I could find one in the size I need and not for silly money.