[Closed] Dropper Posts, what's the difference?

I’ve only had 3 brands: Rock Shox, Bontrager and BrandX.
Brandx has been the best (and the cheapest).
Maybe, just maybe it’s all about the pretty logos and pretty gold shafts... Can’t be though, can it?!

Some go up and down longer with less hassle than others, they may also look better or worse, they may fall apart or not, you decide

Not based just on price but user servicability...
Some are nice engineering .. others nice design but poor engineering/QC...

Least reliable for me is Reverb ..
Most disappointing is fox that had wobble from day one and the remote exploded 2nd ride
Most engineered and designed Thomson
Best value goes up and down - Brand X though I'd like to try a one-up

Just waiting on delivery today of a new cartridge for one of the brand-X's that is way cheaper than sending away a fox or thomson out of warranty

As brand X are cheap, light and reliable, then unless you want a wireless electronic one, it's hard to justify the more expensive ones.

At the moment, we have two brandX droppers, a Kore and an SDG Tellis, I’ve also had a Rockshox Reverb (Ok but a bit glitchy at times). The brandX have been good, although not the lightest action, which was helped by swapping the levers. The Kore has been great excepting a few cable issues (people have had issues with these though) and I think the SDG Tellis is easily a step above all of them. Incredibly light and smooth, feels better quality mechanically and a year on it still feels like new. Next new post I get will be an SDG but all are pretty good!

I bought a GravityDropper when they first came out. (Cable activated, either up or down, tended to bend or break).

Then I used a Reverb. Much, much better. The hydraulic activation and infinite adjustability was much better than the GravityDropper. That worked faultlessly until the circlip at the bottom did the vanishing trick.

I replaced it with a Brand X. They are perfectly functional and reliable. I have them on multiple bikes. Don't see any any point paying any more. Never had a problem apart from cable adjustment.

Best value goes up and down – Brand X though I’d like to try a one-up

Nothing really too add to whats already been stated, however i have a Crankbrothers Highline and a OneUp V2.

Reason i went for a a OneUp is the big drop, 210mm, however i have found it to be a bit more sensitive to seat clamp pressure when fully slammed to the collar.
Some people have issues some dont, i resolved mine by lowering to 190mm drop (You get some shims in the pack to lower the travel by 10mm and 20 mm)
The issue seems to stem from the plastic shim inside the dropper which invariably gets pinched when the seat is slammed.
There are other ways round this such as removing said shim and sanding ever so slightly to make it a little thinner - however i believe oneup have sorted on newer posts.
Overall im pretty happy with it only other thing is that it is sensitive to air pressure, it needs topping up quite a bit which is a bit fiddly as you have to remove your saddle and if you forget like me it stops returning to full travel, which is a nice reminder.
Return speed is also really good and is a lot quicker than the CrankBrothers.

CrankBrothers on the other hand have been fit and forget, had a 125mm drop which i then replaced with a 170mm, the 125 is still going strong on my mates bike nearly 3 years later and the only thing we did was put a new cable in when we fitted it to his bike.
Return speed isnt quite as quick as other posts out there however for the simplistic hassle free nature of it i have no complaints.
I got both my CB ones in the sale and paid around £150 - i wouldn't pay full whack.

Overall i dont think theres much to choose between any of the posts out there apart from whether its hydraulic or air/cable operated.

Reverb solved the problem of external cable runs getting grimed up by using hydraulic but there's been no benefit over cable (unless you've got cable run with tight bends) since internal routing came along. The original reverb button is pretty poor ergonomically as well, and the newer lever style is bulky (and bloody expensive). The hydraulics mean it's sensitive to cold.

Brand X seem to work reliably and for the price hard to argue - especially since the cartridges are so cheap. Get a Ztto or Bonty lever as the OEM one just feels crapy (although looks like there is a new design)

Fox Transfer has worked really well for me for 3 years, serviced once and didn't need it. Original Fox lever is expensive and fragile (broke a couple with my knees) - as above - better, cheaper, levers available. Feels somehow a bit more refined than the BrandX or OneUP but should be for the money. The clamp on the newest one is pretty. Can't believe *anyone* pays for Kashima aftermarket on a seat post.

Less time on a OneUp but it works.

Can’t believe *anyone* pays for Kashima aftermarket on a seat post.

Only if it matches their forks 🙂

Only if it matches their forks 🙂

Which it never does anyway as Kashima seems to come in a wide range of shades...

I have a reverb. Gf has a bike yoke.
Her bike yoke is faster slicker and feels nicer than my reverb.
However, fitted a brand x to a friends bike last weekend. Pending reliability i will buy one of those next time. Doesnt feel much different to the bike yoke, insanely cheaper

Anyone got a PNY one? They do a 27.2 with external cable, and the cable is attached to a collar on the fixed part so no cable rub issues.

Has anyone run into a dropper that doesn't develop rotational play (you can grab the saddle nose and considerably move it around horizontally)?

I've so far had rock shox, brand x, ks lev and race face droppers and they all suffered from this.

I have returned 3 BrandX 170mm droppers.

Love my new OneUp V2. Been on a month now and am not going back.

@molgrips - PNW - Got one on my hardtail - works well and lever action is good, Like the collar actuation as no cable rub on the frame. Only had it 6 months but no reliability probs or rotations etc.

Have an OneupV2 on the FS and that has been great, though my KS lev from 3 years ago has been fine too - that now on a mates bike and still going strong without a service.

For value both the PNW and the Oneup are very good IMO

Has anyone run into a dropper that doesn’t develop rotational play (you can grab the saddle nose and considerably move it around horizontally)?

I’ve so far had rock shox, brand x, ks lev and race face droppers and they all suffered from this

How much is 'considerably' ? My Vyron has about 2mm of play in it, maybe 3mm. It's nearly 5 years old.

Go for a brand X, or a OneUp if you want to be a little bit posher.

This is one of the very few occasions where the cheaper options are actually the better ones too.👍

OneUp v2: made weird noises that wouldn't go away.

Fox Transfer: had to go back to Silverfish twice, got completely overhauled, has worked all summer but is now 50-50 on fully extending.

Thomson Covert Elite: 4 years of utterly reliable up-and-down-ness, never serviced (just kept clean and lubed).

The Fox and Thomson are/were around the same price. So maybe you don't always get what you pay for.

Had probably half a dozen reverbs, they were fairly reliable, and any failure was replaced by a new post, even out of warranty on one occasion.

KS Lev integra was good for 2 years, swapped out for one up as I wanted to go for a longer drop (180mm)

One up 18 months old now, been faultless.

Maybe I just have lower expectation than some, but I've been pretty happy with all the brands I've had.

My experience:

Reverb - had 4, 3 failed. All with the c-clip disintegrating. All were slow in the cold and needed bled fairly often. Some more so than others. I would never want a hydraulic dropper again.

Oneup V2 - So far, so good. Sensible cable arrangement (clamps at lever) and has been reliable so far. Also most drop vs overall size.

Bike Yoke Revive - Has ability to purge air to remove sag....and just as well as it gets saggy pretty often. Probably needs a service. By far the lightest and smoothest action of any dropper I've used.

I am trying to buy another Oneup for my new bike, but they are tricky to find at the moment. Based on a friends experience, I'd happily go a PNW too.

I've had 5 or so reverbs and each of them has failed somehow... I then had two specialized command post which worked perfectly apart from being slow to return after washing the bike but a little bit of grease helped it, not a fan of the feel of them though. I'm now onto a Bike Yoke Revive and it is by far the smoothest post I have ever used, and was super simple to install, it is up there with fox for price though!

Had a Thomson for about 4 years through all sorts of conditions and never missed a beat, never needed to touch it, never needed to adjust the air, not a single mm of wiggle, stayed responsive and worked well with the wolftooth remote.

Have a OneUp now as seat tube diameter meant I needed a new post and stand over height meant longer drop so went for the oneup. I'm not impressed. It's developed tiny bit of play when fully extended which I can feel, when dropped any distance at all the side to side play is INSANE!!!! and has already been replaced once and is identical. Plastic shim near the top needs constant greasing to stay smooth and I've already had to top up the air twice in a years intermitten use with 3 other bikes, at 300 PSI it's still not snappy as I'd like and I have to wait a fraction of a heartbeat to make sure it's fully extended. Reasonable price and self servicable it may be, and it better be for the amount of itmes I'm going to need to tweak it!

Has anyone run into a dropper that doesn’t develop rotational play (you can grab the saddle nose and considerably move it around horizontally)?

Thomson - I have 2, both several years old and neither has ever had any detectable play. Certainly under 1/10th of a mm at the end of the saddle.

I've only had ones that came on the bike. 2 of which were Reverbs. Both have suffered top squish. But they do seem repairable at home. I think if I was buying one I'd go brand x as they seem simple and i could get a remote to fit a matchmaker.

Brand x always have rotational play - I’ve found it doesn’t really get any worse from new and they just keep going and going with zero maintenance. If the cartridge inside goes pop you can buy a new one for £50. No special tools required as far as I’m aware.

Oneup V2 has noticeably less rotational play for me on a 180mm travel one. However it needs more maintenance - I’ve found after say 8 months old I’ve had to periodically unscrew the top cap / wipe out the gunk and regrease - other wise it’s slow to fully extend. My guess is they’ve compromised the top seal to get a lower collar height to squeeze in more drop in a given space. I’ve just done the full service kit on it (really easy) and bumped it up to 300psi. Will see how it goes this time.

I’m happy with that compromise in height though vs brand x - meant I can squeeze a 200mm dropper onto my full suss now (gone for the 210 and had to put in 1 set of 10mm spacers) and the 180 is going on the new hardtail.

I’d give reverbs a proper swerve from what I’ve seen - everyone I’ve had a go on has either been slow to return or been a big saggy at the top of the travel.

Fox sounds like it’s decent until it needs a service - but they aren’t home serviceable as Fox won’t sell the tools. So it’s expensive come service time.

Right off to find a Brand-X 150mm.

i`ve had the giant switch, brand x and KS lev. the brand x is, by far, the best.

the KS needs a strip and re-grease after every wet 2 rides the sealing is so bad!

the switch lasted 1 yr before the slider was knackered. (still works though - just crunchy).

From my experience:

Specialized Command. Basic but reliable.

Rockshox Reverb. Never had a huge problem with the 2 or 3 I've had but take a bit of looking after and don't feel premium.

Thomson Elite. Beautifully made and the best looking + feeling post I've had. Never missed a beat in all the time I and then my mate had it. Worth the price tag IMO.

Fox Transfer. Bought in the Mojo sell off and has been great but now needs a service as it's not very smooth. Not had that happen before. Build wise it's better that the Reverb but miles off the Thomson.

My next will probably be a sub £200'er as only the Thomson has been significantly nicer to own than a cheapy and I don't think I'd pay the extra these days. Back when I bought mine all the decent posts cost around £300, the cheap ones were mince.

Brand x always have rotational play – I’ve found it doesn’t really get any worse from new and they just keep going and going with zero maintenance. If the cartridge inside goes pop you can buy a new one for £50. No special tools required as far as I’m aware.

£30 ish for the cart.... waiting on delivery 2-4 today.

Fox sounds like it’s decent until it needs a service – but they aren’t home serviceable as Fox won’t sell the tools. So it’s expensive come service time.

As are Thomson but inside warranty the service is free and it is "like new" (including no corrosion)

Difference is the Fox (Marzocchi) had play from day 1... a horrible amount when lifting the bike though not noticeable in use AND the lever fell apart and the screw disappeared 2nd ride. About the same to service as a new brand-x ..

I have returned 3 BrandX 170mm droppers

Useful, erm... post that. Wrong shade of black or something?

Brand x always have rotational play – I’ve found it doesn’t really get any worse from new

Mine and my son's Brand-X have zero play. Pleased to hear it won't get any worse 🙂

DezB

Mine and my son’s Brand-X have zero play. Pleased to hear it won’t get any worse

It doesn't make any difference riding anyway.

I've got 2 in front of me RIGHT NOW... a brand new never even mounted 200mm (for the HT) and just refurbed the 125mm that was on. Both have some play compared to the Thomson's but its less than 1mm at the end of the saddle.

The Thomson's (we have 2) you can't feel ANY PLAY but kinda "so what" when you're riding they both work the same. Indeed the Brand X have a ZTTO remotes .. so feels better where you can feel it...

As you can tell... I just bought another Brand X..even though the Thomson's are engineering porn.

Yeah, my Reverb was wobbly as hell, til I sat on it, then there was no wobble (noticeable) 😊

Thanks everyone! Now just to find a 31.6 150mm that is in stock!

https://www.startfitness.co.uk/brand-x-ascend-dropper-seatpost-150mm-black-brndxdrp012345.html

Had reverb. Developed issues and was replaced under warranty 3 times. Sold on after the last replacement, but was ok when it worked.

Got 3 brandx posts. Well, 2, and a mate has the other. 150mm on son's bike (he loves it) and a 170mm on the hard tail (picked up for £25 as it had issues, which were sorted with a service kit). They just work.

Had a Kashima Transfer which came with the HB160. It was lovely bit only 150mm with a big stack height. Ended up slow to return so needed at least a nitrogen top up which can't be done DIY, or a full service.

Now on a one up v2 210mm shimmed down to 190mm. It's nicer than the brandx, not as nice as the transfer- harder to compress, slower to return in the cold (probably the bush in the top cap a little tight). But i get more drop.