MTB Oppos: Help

"Tripper" (tripe46) 10/22/2018 at 14:46 • Filed to: None

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Do any Mountain Bike O ppo’s have a dropper post? If so, which one? I want one but there is so much info out there it’s hard to choose.

AestheticsInMotion > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 14:51

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I’m a huge fan of the people and review process at outdoorgearlab.com.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/biking/best-dropper-seatpost

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:00

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Yes. I use a specialized dropper because it came with my bike. That being said if I was buying one I would buy a KS lev or Race F ace T urbin R.

DO NOT BUY A CHEAP DROPPER POST YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!!

Sorry TMI :

T he Reverb by RS is very popular but uses a hydraulic acuator so it’s impossible to install by yourself. They are also not the most reliable so.... not recommended.

Specialized droppers are very reliable but have a swift rebound that will take your nuts off. If you can find a deal it would be well worth it.

KS Lev is very good with a reasonable rebound and a cable actuation.

Race Face Turbin R is basically a re-badged Fox so it is very very high quality and has cable actuation.

http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/mountain-bike-reviews/race-face-turbine-r-dropper-post

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 10/22/2018 at 15:03

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The only two from that list I would buy are the KS Lev and the Fox. Thompson is nice but too spendy.

The Ghost of Oppo > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:08

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The KS LEV Integra is pretty much bullet proof as far as I can tell, and go with their Southpaw or similar style lever. Overall I’d personally recommend getting a cable actuated one, and staying away from hydraulic ones, but people still seem to like them.  

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:09

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I had no idea these were a thing. Where was this shit 10 years ago?

PyramidHat > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:10

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Uh, that’s a riser post in you gif...

Tripper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/22/2018 at 15:13

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I dunno but they’re awesome. All of the guys that I ride with have them and I’m the only one catching my d n bs on the back of my seat after a steep decent.

Tripper > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/22/2018 at 15:16

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“DO NOT BUY A CHEAP DROPPER POST YOU WILL REGRET IT!!!!”  

Not even the second time I’ve gotten this advice. It’s going on my birthday/Christmas list, so I’m not worried about the price :) I probably won’t get it anyway.

You don’t like the 9point8 Fall Line?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:17

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Don’t forget that most new bikes are internal routed for the cable per this photo of my bike, and yeah droppers turn a normal bike into a party bike. Way more fun going down hill with a dropper.

Tripper > PyramidHat 10/22/2018 at 15:18

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Hah, you’re not wrong.

Tripper > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/22/2018 at 15:20

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Yea mines ready to go for an internal cable.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:21

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I run a KS Lev, and it’s been great for me. But when they start aging they can stick in the down position a little bit. Two friends had the same issue on theirs but worse than mine. It’s only happened to me once. But a butt tap will knock it loose and then you’re usually fine for the rest of the ride so it’s not that big of a deal.

Another guy had a Thompson on his old bike. Completely problem free, quality part. But expensive.

The two who used to have Levs now have the Fox ones and they say they’re way better than the Lev.

The Lev is well priced and easy to install, some of the others tend to be factory equipped on some models because they’re higher end bikes or harder to install.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:21

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The only ones I have experience with are the ones I mentioned. I have never heard of the 9point8 before. I would stick to a more well known manufacturer like race face, KS lev, fox, thompson or specialized.

Also crank borthers is absolute garbage.

RallyWrench > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:25

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I’ve got a Joplin 4r that’s been great. Sometimes takes a couple of stabs of the lever to get full extension, but i haven’t bled it since install so maybe that’s in order . It does have a small amount of play that’s kind of annoying, but I’m used to it. After holding out for years, I now don’t know how I ever rode without one. I have no idea what the current hot setup is though, most of my stuff is bro deal hand-me-downs from bike industry buddies and I’m still riding a 26er so I’m behind the times.

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 15:29

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I have a 150mm TranzX that came on my bike and a couple months ago we put a 125mm BrandX from chain reaction cycles (same dropper just different branding ) on my wife’s bike for $116 on sale . No major issues with either. The only problems I’ve had with mine is that the lever stretches out and eventually breaks the cable, and mine has a slow air leak but when I say slow I mean slooow. And I can pump it back up in 6 months with a shock pump and it will be as good as new.

A couple buddies of mine have a CrankBrothers Highline that has been universally recommended by mechanics locally because it’s easy to service. They’re a little bit more on the pricey side but seem to be well made. I’m not a fan or the force needed to actuate the lever or the return speed. I also have another riding buddy who has a KS Lev, I haven’t heard of any issues with that one either.

I’d also look into the OneUp Components dropper. Its designed to be able to fit in frames with short seat tubes but also be adjusted so you can maximize the amount of stroke for your frame, and seems to be easy to service like the Highline. Starts at $200 if you want to buy your own remote or $250 with their remote.

BeaterGT > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/22/2018 at 15:51

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The steps mountain bikes have made over the past 10 years is incredible, from entry level all the way up to the pro  rigs .

Tripper > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back 10/22/2018 at 16:06

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I saw the OneUp ones. They have decent reviews. Mixed bag on crank brothers. The fox racing ones get great reviews and that is the way that I’m leaning but they are expensive and you have to buy all of the components separately. I’ve heard that the a “stretchy cable” is a pretty common occurrence with almost all of them.

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > Tripper 10/22/2018 at 16:19

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Yeah I know CrankBrothers has managed to irreparably cock up their reputation for a lot of people, however over the last couple years   I haven’t seen anything wrong with their stuff personally , but I’m one dude.

If I was buying a new dropper and cost wasn’t a factor I’d be very tempted by the Fox Transfer Factory, but I’m just a slut for kashima coating. Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford something with it lol

nermal > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back 10/22/2018 at 18:37

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I have the BrandX one. Works fine, but the lever is a bit wonky as noted.

nermal > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/22/2018 at 18:39

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I bought the $120 BrandX one from CRC, and it works fine. Could use a better lever, but that’s a cheap fix if / when it breaks.

I don’t see the value in spending $500 on one that does the same thing.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > nermal 10/22/2018 at 18:55

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Sometimes these components like brand x are great, sometimes they are not. I like being able to get my gear serviced and fixed at my local shop and if the brand x needed fixing I would probably just buy a new one.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/22/2018 at 18:56

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They didn’t exist 10 years ago. I got one in 2012 on a bike and it was very very new at the time.

nermal > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/22/2018 at 20:44

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I prefer not to set foot in a local shop unless I absolutely must. All of the ones near me are wankers and I treat them as such.

Ordering through CRC ends up being significantly cheaper, despite the fact that things need to be shipped from the UK. Just make sure you order less than $500 at a time so Customs doesn’t bother you.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > nermal 10/22/2018 at 20:46

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That’s too bad. Of the 5 local shops in my area there are only two that I shop at. The rest are over priced or over snooty. I can totally relate tho. When I lived in Sacramento one of my buddies was a top notch mechanic. I just took my bikes to him regardless of where he was working.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Tripper 10/23/2018 at 01:57

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If it fits both in terms of the frame and the actuator mounting then the BikeYoke Revive would be what I’d go for.

The OneUp is also a good choice but only if the frame is suitable for internal cables but the fact that the actuator is a separate item to be purchased is annoying.

Cheaper option is the KS Lev which is also available in more options to fit different frames...

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Tripper 10/23/2018 at 08:46

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I’m currently running a RockShox Reverb that is on it’s third season . It’s been good, though this summer developed a little bit of “squish” at the top of the stroke. It will settle about 1/4" or so, but it probably just needs to get bled . I believe it’s a 150mm drop, but I’m not sure. The bike is a Trek and was supposed to come with a 125mm drop Bontrager, but the bike shop threw the Reverb on at no charge.

Before this I had a bike with a KS eThirty Integra for half a season.  I didn’t put enough use on that to get any idea of how well it would hold up, but for half a season it worked perfectly.  The guy I sold the bike to hasn’t mentioned any issues with the dropper, and he’s had it for the past three seasons and put a ton of miles on the bike.