You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
So I like the sound of the new sram XPLR dropper but it's a canny slice of wedge for a paltry 75mm of travel. So I'm considering going ghetto with a 27.2 mtb dropper on the stigmata for a fraction of the cost(I mean there is an empty frame port to fill anyway).
Anybody been down this road with success? Reccomndations please, pics would be a boon. TA.
I've got a 50mm drop X-fusion Manic which came stock on my Fugio, paired with the GRX dropper specific LH brake lever.
Its not missed a beat in 12 months and has just enough drop to make a difference. Fully down is still moderately comfortable for some pedalling, but there's enough extra room to move around the bike fully and get a wee bit sendy with it.
Sometimes a bit more drop would be nice, but I'm not gagging for it.
OK cool cheers. Things do get a tad steep near me and I'm hoping to get a post that I can slam to the clamp tbh. I've got the axs set up as a mullet on the SC so need a carefully positioned thumb lever etc.
Any cable actuated dropper that fits plus a Pro Dropper Post Lever that tucks away under a hood works great.
Brand-X CX is what I went for. Comes in 27.2mm and 80 or 110mm (I think) travel. Can also be picked up cheap via Tri Sports Resort (Wiggle outlet) on eBay if you keep an eye out, mine was £60
The one on the Fugio I had worked well but the actual drop was comically short. I’d go for bodging one with a decent drop
I use the PNW components dropper and drop bar lever on my gravel bike. Pretty sure it’s got the most drop you can get 27.2 with 125mm drop. Great bit of kit and sensible price.
I fitted a crank brothers xcg 60 at the weekend, I was going to get an xplr AXS but looking into it sram don't do a compatible dedicated lever so unless you are running an AXS groupset already it's not gonna work.
@fooman hadn't seen that lever before - great idea.
Saves having to fork out for a new brake lever.
I run a Brand-X Ascend II 27.2mm dropper with 105mm of travel connected to a Pro Discover drop bar lever on my Gravel bike, cost £150 all in
Great for when you want to get off the back of the bike on real steep stuff
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/PRO/Discover-Dropper-Seatpost-Dropbar-Lever/PDQ8
Tick
I'm considering a dropper for my (alloy) 2021 Specialized Diverge which, I believe, can run cable internally (spare port by head tube). Is there anything I need to be aware of in terms of insertion limits?
It's a 61cm frames so appears to have plenty of seat tube but (obviously?) it's drilled (and used) for bottle mounts...
Oh, and do you need to retape bars when installing the dropper lever?
KS Lev 27.2 (125mm I think), connected to a modified RS505 lever. Worked well, but was quite sensitive to cable tension as the lever pull is a little low.
As it's not been mentioned, Wolf Tooth offer a bar end dropper remote which looks pretty cool. Not used one myself because GRX, but that's the one I'd go for if not. You'd be getting in the drops if you need the seat down so a better location IMO.
Thanks all for your input. How much travel is enough travel on a gravel bike dropper? It just needs to give enough clearance to shift your Cog backward and move freely ideally?
Not used one myself because GRX,
Are you implying the GRX shifters (somehow) can also control a dropper post? I have GRX 400 shifters so that would be useful...
@markgraylish You can buy a left hand, 1x specific, dropper remote/brake lever 'brifter'.
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/grx-11-speed/ST-RX810-LA.html
No gutting ratchets out of front shifters. Tiny bit more faff than setting up a normal dropper. Works an absolute treat.
@Tomahawk More travel is more fun. 150mm for me.
@markgraylish You can buy a left hand, 1x specific, dropper remote/brake lever ‘brifter’.
Ah...I'm running 2x so I guess I'll need a separate lever.
I still run a 27.2mm Gravity Dropper on my Stooge. It has 100mm of drop. Probably lighter than fancier and more expensive ones.
Seems that they don't sell them over here anymore though. Would be £200 plus to get one from the states.
Shame as their simplicity means they work for ages with minimal maintenance.
Cog= Centre of gravity
X-Fusion on my digger with the GRX shifter. It's brilliant. Not sure what the drop is, maybe 100mm. It's slammed into the frame so couldn't get anything bigger
I really like the GRX shifter. But even if I had to bodge something I'd do it. Opened up loads more trails for me to ride (or want to ride) than on my previous gravel bike.
Looks sweet mate, slammed is what I'm looking for... Does it have a dedicated drop bar shifter? Pic please... 😊
Hmm. Anyone converted the LH shifter on a SRAM Rival 2x11 set up to run a dropper? I've just gone 1x, so the left hand shifter has an unused paddle which I was hoping I could connect to a dropper.