You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I’ve currently got a Oneup 180mm dropper with a Bontrager dropper lever. It works but the lever throw is quite stiff.
I previously used the same lever with a Brand X and it wasn’t stiff - it was just easy and smooth (similar to my other brand x post with their standard lever - only the Bonty feels nicer).
So I’m wondering if either the Oneup is just generally stiffer to actuate or whether the Oneup / other levers have more leverage that makes it easier to push?
I’ve ordered a ZTTO lever from
eBay which seemed to be recommended on here by a few people but it’s not going to arrive until June according to the listing. Left China this morning according to the tracking (assume this is coming by sea rather than air - otherwise it’s the slowest aeroplane ever).
I have a Bonty lever and OneUp combo. Not “stiff” at all. Which version of OneUp post do you have? If not V2.1 then make sure the cable housing outer is free to move in the seattube.
I’ve ordered a ZTTO lever from
eBay which seemed to be recommended on here by a few people but it’s not going to arrive until June according to the listing. Left China this morning according to the tracking (assume this is coming by sea rather than air – otherwise it’s the slowest aeroplane ever).
My recent experience with stuff from China via ebay makes me think it's mostly re-sellers are ordering stuff from suppliers then shipping them on. I've ordered stuff with 28 day delivery, and it's arrived on day 28 with a postmark from 72h earlier, that or they're gaming the "pay after delivery" system to avoid chargebacks.
OneUp post & lever here, lever has a very light action.
Check your cable routing and the condition of your cables.
It’s got new cables as I fitted it to a new bike. All external except the final bit where it enters the bottom of the front of the seat tube.
Newest actuator I believe (at least that’s what I was told I was getting and it looked like the outer was stationary and the inner moves)......
On the eBay / gaming front I just paid PayPal normally (not after delivery option) - and the postage tracker on eBay has showed various stages through China so far
I’ve used brand x 120 and 150 drop with both a brand x remote and a ZTTO remote. The zero is way nicer but not really any easier to push. But it’s smoother and way nicer build quality.
I’ve also got a 180 V2 oneup with the v2.1 actuator. The ZTTO remote feels identical On both the oneup and brand x droppers. Same feel.
I do find the oneup dropper a little harder to push down with my ass and trickier to get the height exactly right if I just want to tweak it slightly. The brand x is super smooth up and down, but comes with the typical brand x wobble after a year of use.
Weird, I found the Brand X (with ZTTO lever) much harder to fine tune the height with my bum than my OneUP (with OneUp lever).
Replaced with a Crank Bros Highline, now THAT has got a stiff lever action.
I’m not having height adjustment issues or any trouble with it being difficult to go up or down - it’s actually really positive on that front.
It just seems to require more force to push the lever than the previous brand x posts. It’s not awful but would be nice if it could be made a little easier.
Using Teflon coated cables already and reasonable quality outer (but nothing special) - the cable moves through that easily on its own with almost nil resistance.
Will see how the new lever is when it arrives I guess!
Try stripping and smearing grease on the moving bitz of the lever. My ztto felt sticky when new but after a 'service' its smooth enough you can feel the bite point in the post.
Dunno if thats the grease or it's just run in a bit.
ZTTO one arrived quicker than expected and no charge through customs (unlike the one I got stung on for something of similar value from the US in the last couple of weeks).
Fitted tonight and it feels much easier than the Bonty one. It looks like it has more leverage on the cable from the angle it goes into the lever. Pleased so far - apart from the really cheap plastic adjuster on it. Hey ho!
I should have ordered my ZTTO from China!
I thought it would be quicker to get mine from an English based seller even though it was more money. Ten days after my account being debited there is still no sign.
My experience of the Bontrager lever (well, the one that’s been around for a few years, rather than the new one just out) was, there’s a reason why it was £15 quid - it was rubbish!
It was ‘stiff’ on multiple different posts. Apart from the egonomics of being rubbish compared to pretty much every other trigger shifter style lever I’ve used.
I use the Wolf Tooth LA lever on the OneUp V2 post. No issues here.
Disconnect dropper from cable to see how free cable feels. Should move very easily and smoothly. Could be the end of the outer is tight where it was cut.
If V2 is anything like v1 then it will be a doddle to dismantle and grease. Could improve the actuation.
Good luck!
The cable and outer were new anyway - fitting the ZTTO I had to put in another new cable though. Moves fine through the outer - the actuation on the post is definitely stiffer than the brand x.
ZTTO has sorted it though - really nice smooth / easy push. Went on an early morning ride today and it was much better than the Bonty one. Funny, as now it’s off the Bonty lever has no resistance at all - it must just be the angle it pulls at isn’t as beneficial as the new one.
As a bonus the ZTTO one has some red anodised bits in it 😝
ZTTO is a great lever nice smooth action.
it’s arrived on day 28 with a postmark from 72h earlier
A lot use a post consolidator / forwarder - for example packages get sent to the consolidator in China, then there's a bulk shipment to Uk where it gets relabled with a Royal Mail sticker and posted. Works out cheaper and provides delivery confirmation. A tell tale sign is multiple barcoded address lables.