[Closed] Brand-X dropper

Brand-X internals are used in the much loved OneUp post, and quite a few others, especailly own-brand ones from some of the bigger bike companies. It's a solid option for a cheap dropper.

Tend to be very cheap on Start Cycles too, especially when their START10 discount code is in play (I think it's usually Fridays when they run that code)

I got a Brand X as it was £9 more than a service of my Reverb and a quicker turnaround! Plan was to buy the tools needed to service the reverb but I've not got round to it.

Brand X is every bit as good as the Reverb from my perspective. Had it around 8 months or so (?) and it's worked fine. There is a small amount of rotational play, I never notice it when riding though. Prefer the thumb lever on the Brand X to the old push button on the Reverb.

AFAIK the Brand X is identical to a lot of other rebadged stuff - maybe with a different lever.

HTH.

Si

Is the BrandX just a re-branded generic model that other companies also use?

As I understand it, yes. I have them on three bikes. They work fine. They aren't flashy, not lightweight, but they seem to function perfectly well. Kinda like the Deore of dropper posts.

Edit. Four bikes, now that I think about it.

The Reverb push button is a horror. :). My main bike now has a KS Lev but I may need a different length one for my new bike, and the new bike can also take internally routed, so I'm on the market. Nothing wrong with Deore! 🙂

Very tempted by the 200mm version to replace my 150mm Transfer. The Transfer works perfectly but I still can't go from full pedalling height to fully slammed DH height.

Anyone want to buy a kashima Transfer???

I went from Reverb > BrandX > OneUp and would happily have another BrandX now they do a 200mm version.

Me and the boy have Brand-Xs from Startfitness. All good. Fiddle to fit, but then I'm rubbish at that sorta thing 🙂 The 200mm will have a lot of post in the tube, so if going for that, make sure you got enough room!

Brand X with a premium lever (I use a Wolf Tooth one) is the way to go. I've had more expensive droppers in the past that haven't been worth it in my opinion.

As DezB says, brandx 200mm needs a lot of seat tube.
I’ve been doing the measurements on my hardtail which currently has a 125 brandx external from a previous frame. It’s been faultless and I’d happily have another.
However, 210 one up will fit in the frame with the collar all the way in. May need to shim to 200 to get the right seat height, 200 brandx no chance, Would be forced to have 20mm out the frame making it too tall, so ruled out for me. I’d need a 170 brandx. Still a great post though and I’ve had no issues with the lever.

Really very easy to service yourself too

droppers just need to go up and down when you want... its not like suspension IMHO.
I have Fox, Thomson and several brand X and I'd keep buying brand X now.

I have Reverbs on 2 bikes and Brand X on the other. I am just about to push the button on a new Brand X to replace one of the Reverbs.
Partly the change is to get more drop but I never even considered getting a bigger drop Reverb.

You can give them a ghetto service by just removing the top collar, actuating the post so it lifts the top bushing split ring out of the bottom section. Clean and Teflon/PTFE polish that and the post shaft, then put some light grease in and push the seat down to get it inside. A bit of grease on the back of the split ring (I prefer Teflon/PTFE spray) for the working face, push it back on and screw the collar back down and your done!

You'll be surprised how much of the drag on the post is down to the collar seal, with it off it blasts up!

I thought I'd posted earlier about the nice solid feel at the saddle with the BX, but it ain't here!
No saddle wobble on either of ours, unlike the Reverbs I've had.

I’d say the Brand X is fine - I’ve had two. I marginally prefer my Oneup v2
As it has less rotational players - but the internal cartridge is the same as Brand X as far as I’m aware.

I've just bought a Promax (don't laugh) hydraulic dropper from Ebay, as I needed a 27.2mm post. 100m travel.

Do you know, its incredibly impressive for the money. £75 or thereabouts, was easy to fit, and feels in action exactly the same as the Lev on my Whyte. Time will tell how good it really is of course, but I wouldn't rule them out as well.

Looking for a 170mm/180mm dropper in 31.6mm

Brand x is £160 with remote
One Up is £180 with out remote.

Is it worth paying the premium? How much shorter is the insertion depth on the One up as can't find all the dimensions of the brand x to compare

I got a Brand-X 170 for my Triple B and its ace. Cant fault it so far, set up was easy, and it just works.

For the price, I cant see much else that can touch it.

Personally I wouldn't spend double the money (at least) on the other big brands other than a logo there's almost zero performance gains.
I've had reverbs, Thomson, xfusion and KS in the past - non were a patch on the brand X for function, reliability or value.

Goodness quite a bump in RRP and available prices. The used to regularly be 80-90 quid, obviously not the longest ones!

Brand-X coupled with a Zitto dropper lever is the dogs.The lever on the Brand-X has improved from the original models but only marginally.

Echo above. Brand X dropper and then ZTTO lever from AliExpress. I ordered two and they arrived within a couple of weeks. Fitted them using the barrel adjuster from the Brand X remote (nicer than the ZTTO part) and job done. I think I paid about £23 for two remotes incl delivery!

Keep the old Brand X in the Camelbak along with spare inner cable for an easy trailside repair/replacement.