Drop it like it's what?!

johnny

I'll tells ya!
Staff member
There are so many dropper brands and models out there.

All I've ever had is a reverb (first one carked it under warranty, replacement has been fine for 8 years with only a single service), so the range out there these days is a little bewildering to me. So I'm looking for advice/suggestions. I don't really have a budget - don't need to go cheap, but don't want to needlessly burn cash either.

It's going into the Pyga Hyrax, which is 34.9, unsure what the max insertion length is on the frame, I know the mantra is to get as much travel as possible, I guess that's what I'll do. Riding style is all mountain/trail/marketing term.

What should I be thinking about, looking for, staying away from? Is there much difference from a $300-500+ models?
 

Jrok

Likes Dirt
From my limited experience I can only say spend the most you can and buy something that you can service yourself, to try and recuperate the initial remorse :)

Sent from my Redmi Note 8 Pro using Tapatalk
 

slimjim1

Fat boomers cloggin' ma leaderboard
Any of the cartridge types you can do a basic service on at home would be my choice. I have a fox transfer which is lovely and all that, but the other bikes have a PNW rainier and crankbrothers highline which work just as well (require a touch more weight to drop than the transfer).

The highline and PNW were cheap and I can service them at home. The PNW in particular has been bulletproof.

I would never buy a reverb or a transfer aftermarket when the cheaper ones seem more reliable and are user serviceable.
 

ozzybmx

taking a shit with my boobs out
We had 7 Reverbs at one stage, now got 3 x OneUps, 1 x race face, 1 x bontrager, 1 x Giant, 1 x KS and still 1 Reverb.

I reckon the OneUp are the best bang for buck post.
 

frenchman

Eats cheese. Sells crack.
Bikeyoke.
Had it for 3 years. Regular lower tube service keeps it running fresh. Haven’t had to bleed it yet.
It’s expensive but there’s no sagging and parts for a rebuild are readily available.
also had a KS lev + integra which were great but, requiring a rebuild and bleed for picking up the bike by the seat was annoying.
Avoid the reverb though
 

Oddjob

Merry fucking Xmas to you assholes
Bikeyoke Revive is pretty much the top of the pile. Get a Ztto trigger from Ali and you're pretty much set.

The Fox Transfer is second best. But it's no cheaper than the Revive and harder to service.

The Xfusion Manic is surprisingly good for the price. I have a 34.9 x 150mm that I can sell cheap if you want to pm me.

Then you have a bunch of mid tier options. I've got a PNW Bachelor which I like. Never got on well with the Oneup.

At the cheap end the Brand X and the Xfusion Manic are good.

Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
 

komdotkom

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I've had quite a few over the years and rate the X Fusion Manic as the best user experience provided you change the remote to a Ztto. Cheap, reliable and smooth.
The Revive was ok but not worth the extra over a One Up in my opinion, it was good but not $200 better. I've got a Transfer and a 210mm one up at the moment, not a fan of the Transfer at all but the newer One Ups seem pretty good. The only downside to the One Up is they do rattle a bit when un weighted which suits me but its not a hard fix.
There are plenty of 34.9 Manics around too, that's what I'd get
 

goobags

Likes Dirt
I have two Revives and they’re so easy to work on. I can do a lower service in about the same time it take to pull the post out of the bike and put it back in. Damper service takes about 45 minutes (depending on what needs replacing) and the only ‘special’ tool is a 7mm spanner but if you service shimano brakes you should have one anyway.

I have had to do a damper service on both but it’s nice when it only costs you an hour and a bit of oil.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

mike14

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I've been impressed with the PNW bachelor and loam lever combo and that's normally my go to. The Altitude came with a RaceFace dropper that hasn't missed a beat yet.
I put a brand-x on a hardtail I built up a while back and it was ok (only used about a dozen times before I sold the bike). They seem to have increased in price a fair bit though.

Outside of something like a reverb I'm assuming they're all pretty goo and it just comes down to user preference
 

kten

understands stuff moorey doesn't
AXS Reverb is fantastic but expensive and the stack height is pretty large.
OneUp posts are great. I have two and apart from a teething issue with a cartridge (replaced under warranty) they have been flawless with a Wolftooth lever.
X Fusion Manic is good if a little slow. A bit like a diesel this one...just keeps trucking.
Bikeyoke Revive.....very smooth action but needed to be revived constantly which annoyed me.

If they shrunk the AXS stack height to match the OneUp it would be the best post ever.
 

Ultra Lord

Hurts. Requires Money. And is nerdy.
Bikeyoke Revive.....very smooth action but needed to be revived constantly which annoyed me.
Mine hardly needed touching.
After being driven around upside down for a couple hours to canberra from sydney it would need it, but otherwise nope.
And it stayed smooth for the few years I had it.

What did you do to yours? Why did it hate you so haha
 

yuley95

soft-arse Yuley is on the lifts again
I've got a PNW Bachelor which I like.
I've been impressed with the PNW bachelor and loam lever combo
I’ve got a PNW Bachelor with Loam lever too and it’s been solid for a couple of years with just basic service that I did myself. Didn’t really need it but I felt like cracking it open to have a look. Very easy to do.

Worth noting they no longer have the Bachelor in their lineup though. It’s been replaced by the Loam. Can’t see why you wouldn’t just get the Ranier though. Cheaper and only a smidge heavier. Same features with adjustability to the drop.
 

EsPeGe

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I reckon the OneUp are the best bang for buck post.
Agreed. Easiest to install, can be user serviced (all the info provided on their site), can be shimmed to change the drop and bomb proof. I've got 2 and a third on the way. I've used a heap of different KS droppers, a Giant command post and a few others. Never a Reverb, the whole idea of a hydraulic actuator always bothered me.
 

kten

understands stuff moorey doesn't
Mine hardly needed touching.
After being driven around upside down for a couple hours to canberra from sydney it would need it, but otherwise nope.
And it stayed smooth for the few years I had it.

What did you do to yours? Why did it hate you so haha
lol it was the first generation Revive, maybe they improved it? I couldn't go a day without having to fix it....too many flips?
 

beeb

Dr. Beebenson, PhD HA, ST, Offset (hons)
I have a first-gen BikeYoke Revive. The thing is superb. I used to transport the bike(s) it was on upside down on a 45 minute drive to the trails weekly - never had an issue. Could (and regularly did) lift the bike by the seat, and it didn't go spongey. Ran that dropper for a year or more, it's sat for probably another year in the garage, still haven't serviced it (oops), and it's still smooth. I had to Revive it once, after the several hour drive from Melbourne metro up to Falls Creek. I changed to a Vecnum Nivo back when BikeYoke where insistent they'd "never" do a post with more drop than 185mm.

@kten - sounds like your one was faulty.
 

Scotty675

Cable thief
I had no luck with reverb, bought bleed kit would run fine for a ride or 2 then back to sticking to no activation. Have tried specialised command, they worked for me for a short time and only sold for more drop. Got plenty of transfers and never had a problem. One ups are good and the short length is a bonus. Had a problem with a v1 but changed cartridge and to new actuator and has been fine. I just bought another one up this morning because they are decent bang for buck. Also got a crankbrothers high line and so far no dramas there.
I would recommend YEP levers as an option
 

Rusty_68

say no to ooogamaflap
I've got a brand new 34.9 x 150mm Manic X fusion dropper that I took off my ebike. Never been used. Comes with the lever. Just sitting in the workshop doing nout. Not the best, but it is new?
 
Top