[Closed] Wireless droppers

I don't see the point for most people.

It requires a lot of extra work to make it actually work and this will result in a higher price...a lot of intricate bits that could then go wrong and need support on.
The idea of charging batteries or 'flat battery' when riding will put a lot of people off; the price will put more people off.
I suspect in the grand scheme of things the effort involved in making a wireless dropper will make it economically bad for most companies. At guess, RockShox have got the numbers in their favour so can afford to push it and whilst it is the only real player in the game, they can dictate the price.
I'm coming to the conclusion that I need a 170mm drop instead of the 150mm that I have so I'll be looking to buy a new post in September and will look to sell my existing one on...but as I don't tend t sell stuff, I've no idea what the market is like or how easy it will be to sell - given the low numbers I see being ridden, I suspect it won't be selling quickly.

As thols2 above. What problem are they solving? Wireless shifting is and step up from cable, can't really see how it helps a dropper. I have been banging on for years about integrating dropper controls with suspension. Having an uphill, downhill and middling setting that tunes your shocks depending on dropper position and it could work well with that I suppose. I believe systems like this are now happening. For a stand alone dropper a cable works just fine.

The only real issue it solves is where frames have tight routing for the cable, im thinking santa cruz here as i know there was a problem with their frames being compatible with one up droppers, it also cleans the cockpit up and stops the maintenance of having to change the cable.

Im interested in one, but cant justify the price, ill take reliability from the cable over the new tech.

The second hand market for droppers is good, especially anything 150mm plus, i sold a 125mm dropper a while back for about £20 less than i paid for it. (that was a 50% off sale)

What problem are they solving?

Mainly aesthetic I guess - in which I include the mess of internal cable routing on some bikes, or retrofitting them to older bikes not designed for them.

but the upcoming integration with suspension is potentially interesting, but does then probably limit you (at least initially) to posts from SRAM or Fox/shimano to match your suspension, and having your groupset match too.

Personally, I have 2 bikes with the same seattube, and hate having a misbehaving dropper. If this latest version has sorted out the sagging issue then I'd be game.

I won my AXS dropper in a competition a few years ago, I was more than happy with my 1X reverb at the time, and planned to sell the AXS, but after 1 ride decided to keep it and am still genuinely wanting more me for my other bike. The speed and accuracy of the drop is a total game changer.

Whyte G170 and T130 are 2 more where the frame design means that running a new dropper cable or heaven forbid a new outer means removing the bottom bracket (if you want a much easier life).

Price of the Reverb rules it out for me unfortunately.

What problem are they solving?

All those people with bikes without "stealth" routing can have droppers without the ugly external cable; changing a dropper becomes like changing a normal seatpost; seat tubes with obstructions can have a longer dropper, can easily swap dropper between bikes (with the same seattube diameter obvs).. yeah, nothing really.

but the upcoming integration with suspension is potentially interesting, but does then probably limit you (at least initially) to posts from SRAM or Fox/shimano to match your suspension, and having your groupset match too.

I really don't see the point of any of this stuff for most people. Sure, if you're racing at a serious level, it will help a bit, but the simplicity of cables for shifting and dropper posts is a big plus for everyone else.

I currently have a Magura dropper but 3 bikes, so just swap over to which bike I want to ride 2 minute job, I now don’t need 3 droppers

I currently have a Magura dropper but 3 bikes, so just swap over to which bike I want to ride 2 minute job, I now don’t need 3 droppers

Well this for me swapping dropper for weight on my race setup although see my Redundant Dropper thread today... 🙁

just swap over to which bike I want to ride 2 minute job

that's actually pretty simple with external cable droppers too. You need a lever and cable for each bike and just unhook the cable and swap the post and saddle over. Might be possible with internal ones too if you had enough slack in the cable to get the post out of the frame to unhook the cable.

yeah, nothing really.

It was a genuine question but given the points you raise I do agree with your conclusion.

I get wireless is not for everyone but i love it on my road bike, ive been running Shimano Di2 since the first incarnation (Dura Ace 7900) and currently have the latest Dura Ace Di2 and Ultegra Di2 on my road bikes, the battery charging thing is never a problem, press one button and it shows me if i need to charge soon, ignore that then the front mech will stop shifting whilst the rear will keep going for 200 odd more gear changes

A wireless dropper would mean i would only need one seatpost, saddle and saddle mounted tool strap for 3 bikes, plus the added bonus of not having to deal with internal routing

Im quite surprised FOX have not come out with one yet to counter Sram's AXS

Next time im looking to replace my rear mech and shifter ill be going Sram GX AXS and if the AXS dropper comes down to around £400 ill get one then

but given the points you raise I do agree with your conclusion

Benefits rather than solving problems. No way I can afford one, but those benefits almost make it worth the cash.
But as always, if YOU don't see the benefits.. don't ****ing buy one. Simple innit.

A wireless dropper would mean i would only need one seatpost, saddle and saddle mounted tool strap

but the simplicity of cables for shifting and dropper posts is a big plus for everyone else.

Current cost penalty aside...

I think you are overestimating the number of riders who have the skill and inclination to do cable and hydraulic hose swaps and adjustments on internally routed frames, but not set up and operate an integrated wireless system.

I'm fairly new to droppers .
It seems silly to have to sit down to lower your dropper just at the point you need to be standing.
I assume a wireless dropper will get round this problem.

I assume a wireless dropper will get round this problem.

Nope, they don't.

Nope, they don’t.

There's something for someone to fix.

At the moment, no chance I'll be buying one

When brandx are knocking em out for £100 on black Friday 2023 I'll be all over it

I'm in the market for a dropper. Haven't even considered wireless. I don't like the Magura and the AXS is too expensive. For me it doesn't solve any problems and the benefits aren't worth the price hike.

I'm  more likely to buy a Brand-X than anything fancy even though I've got a relatively posh bike.

I think droppers in general are from perfect and I'd rather go cheap but functional than expensive but disposable.

I assume a wireless dropper will get round this problem.

nope. defies the laws of physics.

the motor is only releasing the clamp so that you can drop it by putting in energy (by sitting on it) that loads up a (usually air) spring, so that energy can be utilised to raise the post automatically.

to input the required energy to physically raise and lower the seat*, and repeat for many hours without recharging, the motor and battery would have to be significantly larger.

*plus account for all the ham fisted dickheads who will try to operate it with their weight on it

I’d rather go cheap but functional than expensive but disposable.

whats disposable about the AXS? If anything, you'll be more likely to pay for a service, than with a brand X that just gets replaced when it finally goes.

Sure, if you’re racing at a serious level, it will help a bit, but the simplicity of cables for shifting and dropper posts is a big plus for everyone else.

SRAM's AXS stuff is by far and away simpler than anything with cables. I'm not a SRAM fan-boi, but AXS is great. the AXS reverb is brilliant, and gets swapped between 3 bikes currently, in about 30 seconds, and without having cables flapping along my top-tube...

pricey, sure. but spread over 3 bikes, not so bad.

It seems silly to have to sit down to lower your dropper...
I assume a wireless dropper will get round this problem.

Now, [i]that[/i] definitely isn't a problem. well unless there's something very wrong with your legs. 😀

First time I'd ever even heard of wireless droppers was a year or so ago.

The controller pinged off the handlebars somewhere on a trail and the whole group spent 15 minutes riding up and down slowly looking for it before admitting defeat.

On a cable/hose it would remain hanging off.

Expensive ride for him...

Routing dropper cables is a pain, even on a bike with a simple layout. If it wasn’t for the very silly pricing, I’d get an AXS.

Waiting on wireless gears that turn around by themselves

kelvin

Routing dropper cables is a pain, even on a bike with a simple layout.

Trying to get the rubber grommet seated on my BfeMax near drove me insane

I love my magura, there is a half second delay but you get used to that.
In defence of the cost here's my story.
2 years in a seal failed and it stopped working. Magura sent a new one free of charge.
I kicked the battery off in a crash and magura fixed it free of charge.
The battery received what magura suggested was some water damage and the fixed it free of charge.
5 years in I had an issue where it wouldn't drop. Sent it to RSF for a service, They then sent it to magura who replaced it free of charge.

All in magura have been epic in their customer service and while initially expensive I have had 3 droppers for the price of 1.

In all that time I've only had it run out of charge twice.

have a magura myself, awesome bit of kit, can just take my seatpost out whenever i want to check and top up air pressure, can adjust height whenever i feel like it, and as others have said i can swap it between my bikes as i see fit

I've got a Magura. I bought it after my cable dropper stopped working one time too many.

It's great and means I can easily switch with a fixed post which I quite like doing, as well as never needing to worry about it when packing it up for a flight.

jonnyrockymountain
Full Member

I currently have a Magura dropper but 3 bikes, so just swap over to which bike I want to ride 2 minute job, I now don’t need 3 droppers

That'd make more sense if the Magura wasn't max 150mm, and as expensive as 2 droppers.

^ that plus I’d get fed up with adjusting the saddle angle between bikes

I like the idea of a wireless dropper for drop bars, where cable routing also involves bar tape... could be tjst the market might increase on the back of gravel?