looks like i may be in the market for the above
reverb command etc etc
you expert advice is duly sort before i commit funds
good and bad points please
Bike Forum
Best Dropper seat post??
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Posted 3 months ago #
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Not sure there is a clear 'best' yet.
Gravity Droppers are simple to look after and fix but come at you like a rocket when you press the button. Need looking after?
Reverbs are very slick to use, but can often be delivered in a non-working state meaning you need to bleed them. No bleed kit, you're screwed. Questionable reliability.
DSP, possibly somewhere in the middle (this is what I run). Controlled action, but not user servicable. Slick action and the cable-hydraulic system works well. Too new to have proven their reliability yet.
Cranks Bros. Possibly the worst reputation of the bunch?
KS. Mixed reports, but a lot of that is due to the customer service of the supplier. Don't know too much about this one.
This is what I think I know anyway.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I've owned and extensively used:
Gravity dropper (two of them), Crank Brothers Joplin and two Reverbs.
My mates, with whom I ride regularly and therefore I have good knowledge of the relative merits of their kit, have covered the Command Post and the KSI.
There IS a clear winner in my view and it seems in the view of quite a few of the magazines. It's the Reverb.
Yes, they do sometimes need bleeding from new. It takes about 5 minutes and after that they are more or less bomb proof.
If anything does go wrong, they are usually turned around in about three days from Fisher. I have had a problem with one that lost some pressure and a mate had one that came unstuck at the seat clamp. Both were dealt with within three days.
In terms of performance, the Reverb is light years ahead of everything else. It works, it carrys on working and it works really well.
Posted 3 months ago # -
My Ksi is 17 months old now and needs to be warranty replaced.
For 15 months could not fault it, just change the cable every now and then.
2 year warranty is mint, but will probably upgrade to a reverb when I get the Ksi back.Posted 3 months ago # -
they are more or less bomb proof.
I have had a problem with one that lost some pressure and a mate had one that came unstuck at the seat clamp.
That's your definition of bomb proof?
Posted 3 months ago # -
I think an element of the decision depends on whether you want fixed positions or infinite variation. For me the GD and Command Post win, as you have fixed drops at 1" and 4 or 5". Much less hassle in my opinion. I rated my GD and my new Command Post seems very similar but a lot better looking.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Ive had three so far.
Specialized Commander- fantastic, smooth and reliable. 3 position might turn people off but its reliable.
Gravity Dropper Classic- Very industrial and makes plenty of clunking noises but its light, cheap and reliable. Simple.
X-fusion (current) Hilo- Got it rather cheap and infinitely adjustable so thats nice. Rather weighty but its held up well over the muddy season.Posted 3 months ago # -
The X-fusion only travels 100mm is that enough?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Gravity Dropper - either the Classic or Turbo. They just work. And when they get sticky, quick wipe clean and lube and good as new. A lever, cable, pin, spring and a post running in some bushes - so simple, so maintainable, not even heavy.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Reverbs are a fairly new product but have had quite a few issues, and as yet we don't really know anything about long-term performance. They seem to have fixed some of the issues in the new version though.
KS i950 and i900 had huge early issues but have been around for long enough to have sorted most of those. Still not perfect though. Seals are surprisingly excellent IME. Very good.
Gravity Dropper's been around forever and there's nothing more proven. Still the lightest, I think, too. Properly hands-off reliable, and when they do need attention you can service them with a rock. But, not that big a drop, which is a big downside.
But all these 3 are worth considering, personally I reckon if a trouble-free life is most important to you then it's the Gravity Dropper Turbo in a non-multi-drop version.
Posted 3 months ago # -
If you have a 30.9 (or bigger) seat tube, then Gravity Dropper do a 5" drop version. Very helpful customer service - when I wanted to buy a righthand remote (I've recently gone 1x9 so now my GD remote can go upside down under the bars, instead of on top), rather than selling me the whole unit they just told me the handful of parts needed to convert the item (clever engineering - lots of common parts). I hate faffing around with bikes, just want to ride it and have it work properly all the time and other than one broken cable (easily fixed and still workable on the ride) it's been great for a year in all conditions on my lone MTB.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I looked at them all and bought the Giant version as it was a decent price from my lbs, with the warranty and service that goes along with this . I'd normally be happy to buy stuff mail order but for this I wanted easy warranty backup. Cons (for me) of the others.
Gravity Dropper - Ugly
Joplin - Crank Brothers so sure to break
Command post - To expensive for what it is
KS - Superstar
HiLo - Looks a bit cheap and very exposed to dirt
Reverb - Expensive, unless bought mail order, which would increase the hassle of getting warranty work done when it breaks.Posted 3 months ago # -
Despite Superstar's reputation I've generally found them to be good with servicing and warranty work on my KS posts. They've done warranty work that's been quick and quibble-free. They've been good value on out of warranty work too, though they were poor one time at letting me know about delays. Communication appears to be more of a problem for them than the service they provide.
Northwind's had more stereotypical dealings with Superstar about his KS post but since then he seems to have gotten along with it.
I find that after a few hours riding in gritty conditions the KS remote can become a bit draggy. I've fitted Middleburn cable oilers to the outers of my two KS posts to aid in cleaning the crud out.
Posted 3 months ago # -
^ chris have you got a link to these cables? also a good idea to make a cover for the lever under the saddle
Posted 3 months ago # -
ChrisL - Member
Northwind's had more stereotypical dealings with Superstar about his KS post but since then he seems to have gotten along with it.
<nods> Other vendors are available, but tbh despite Superstar being what they are I'd still go back to them, after all Fruit does have the distributor hat.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Middleburn Cable Oilers. Cut your outer halfway along its length, fit the oiler between the two ends. Slip off the o-ring and squirt in GT85 or WD40 until all the grit is gone from the cable.
Posted 3 months ago # -
So the outer cable butts up on each side?
Then you just pull apart and squirt GT85 into the cable.?Posted 3 months ago # -
http://www.middleburn.co.uk/access_cableoilers.php
liking these Posted 3 months ago # -
Good little things those cable oilers, I've had some for yonks!
Posted 3 months ago # -
They are nifty. But tbh, I just used quality cables when I restrung my posts, and they both work fine (a GD Turbo and a KS i900). Have to say the cable that came with my KS was absolutely crap.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I'm using a Giant contact switch - not had any problems qith it yet. Not sure how the cable remote lever mechanism will cope with the dusty summer crap but it's held up fine in freezing and rain.
Also a bargain at £145 from pedalon - I didn't want to go mad on a reverb and also needed a layback so it's worked well. A bit more play than i'd have thought there should be in the post but you don't notice this when riding. Long term not sure as it's only been on a month or so.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Reverb best, was best from start, cant understand people who have had issues, the thing usually runs from the box and dont give any bother , do people **** about with 'em?
PS how do we quote on here ?
Posted 3 months ago # -
HiLo - Looks a bit cheap and very exposed to dirt
Yebbut it costs £10 to fix up the exposed to dirt part, and it is, after all, a dropper post at a reasonable price point.Posted 3 months ago # -
cant understand people who have had issues
what's not to understand? Seatpost goes down, seatpost wont come back up - ****.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Put some air in and it'll launch your family jewels in to orbit.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Yebbut it costs £10 to fix up the exposed to dirt part, and it is, after all, a dropper post at a reasonable price point.
I would have probably got one other than for the fact that the Giant one offered similar performance, looked better and was a bit cheaper.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I love that. "Mine works, so I can't understand how anyone else's could not work". Should work in QC.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Been running a KS post for 2 1/2 years, I take it apart occasionally to give it a clean and a lube, when it sticks its always been cable related. The post has now developed a little side to side play but you don't notice this when riding.
Before the KS I used a Maverick post it mostly worked but developed loads of play and not just side to side!
Got a mate who has the Reverb, it's been back twice under warranty but have to say if I was going to buy one now thats where my money would be going.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Ks are shortly bringing out the lev version with the cable mount at the seat collar. Much tidier solution, although rumoured pricing is mega bucks.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I do like the way MBR reported that as an exciting new development in dropper posts. After all GDs have only been doing it that way for 9 years.
Posted 3 months ago # -
looking like reverb is favourite, bike radar gives 5 stars..
trip to LBS i think to look ,,,feel ,,,and test upy... downy
Posted 3 months ago # -
maxsatnav for what it is worth, I've just bought a Reverb, it worked straight out the box, comes with a bleed kit supplied (which extra fluid) and was pretty straight-forward to fit and didn't have any problem with cable routing.
The only real pain so far is the fear of breaking the handlebar remote every time I turn the bike upside down to remove wheels or fiddle with the mech.
For someone who never bothered moving my fixed seat at all, I've really enjoyed the infinite height adjustment, even on steep technical climbs it's great to tuck the seat in a bit. The recent weather has made it a bit hard to test it properly, but so far no regrets.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Reverb
Posted 3 months ago # -
Gothandy - flip the remote to the underside of the bars (albeit on the opposite side to where yours is presently, left or right), and you no longer have that worry.
Posted 3 months ago # -
i have had no issues with my hilo - limited to a 27.2mm one with frame, its been faultless so far (touch wood) and for 142 quid delivered from germany it cant be beaten on price really! its worked straight from the off and has endured working effortlessly at -7 degrees in frozen conditions, super muddy, snowy, rainy the only weather its not been tested in is sun!
i havent bothered to protect mine, i dont see the point, its like my suspension i dont put covers over them they are designed with mud in hand and if it fails it will get sent back for warranty, i clean it with a clean cloth an water after every ride (dont jet wash it) and spray some fork juice on to keep it smooth..
ok it may not look the greatest ( i think the only thing that makes it look slightly cheaper than any other is the fact the shaft is thinner in diameter, if they change that to match the actual insert post then i think it will be as good looking/ugly as any other!
the plus point for me and a few lads i ride with is the fact its a lever option too, dont get that with the reverb, just another thing to go wrong when out and about...
i had a gravity dropper turbo and it was shit, i sold it to someone on here for a loss of around 110 pounds, it had pissed me off that much i didnt care and went back to a normal seat post...the GD is just too mechanical for my liking, theres no way its worth 250 quid in my eyes, not when i managed to get a hydraulic version which looks nicer than a gd and performs better for almost half that price
ive had it about 2 months i reckon now, and so far so good, ive not actually heard of any bad reports yet from x fusion hilo (again touches wood)
Posted 3 months ago #
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