No wires, no weighting. Welcome to the future.
We all knew it was coming. With wireless technology becoming ever cheaper and more reliable, we have already seen wireless remotes for our cameras, lights, and forks. Today, the technology is applied to the bike industry’s most pressing cable problem: dropper posts. Details are sparse, but what we do know is that the TranzX JD-YSP06’s uses a 2.4GHz wireless signal to communicate between the remote and post. While that bit was inevitable at some point, what is surprising: the post “retracts by wireless command,” with an electric motor (as opposed to the rider’s buttocks) compressing the internal air spring and reducing length. Speed and battery capacity will be critical if this is to be effective, but it’s an interesting development for those caught out by the time and coordination required to compress a standard dropper in the rough.
TranzX’s wireless, arse-less dropper technology is being presented to the OEM market, which means that one might expect to see cable-free posts popping up in any number of brands’ catalogues in coming years. Both 80/350mm and 100/400mm lengths (travel/overall) are being offered, with models rated for (racer-only) 70kg/154lb/11st or 90kg/198lb/14st rider weight limits.
Of course, anyone who hates technology will be better served by one the traditional JD-YSP02 or internally-routed JD-YSP03. The latter (above) looks to have found inspiration in Syntace’s excellent P6 seatpost head and Specialized’s Command dropper post remote. Or it could just be a coincidence. In both cases, models will again be available for both lightweight and mid-weight riders in 80/350mm and 100/400mm lengths, while the internal model adds a 120/420mm option.
Comments (8)
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The fun that could be had if you could sync a remote to your mates seatpost 🙂
With a lot of electrical components I wonder about cold weather issues. The kind of cold that makes cables stick is surly going to have a detrimental effect on batteries, nd you can’t piss on them to free them (I presume)!
its December, not April isn’t it ?
£39.99?
None of the manufactureres can make a reliable manual one, what are the chances of that actually working long term?
“those caught out by the time and coordination required to compress a standard dropper in the rough”
You’ve still got to reposition your thumb to actuate it, pushing a saddle down with your bum when you’re already sat on it is hardly a problem ime
With KS’s I’ve had more of a problem is getting it to return when its been down a while (do other dropper do this?). Being motor driven if it gets stuck down for some reason I presume you won’t be able to bum-tap/hit it to come back up again?
Electric motors to adjust your seating position!! Sounds like something out of a retirement home furniture catalogue.
“Ride On” bladder bags from camelback coming shortly so we don’t have the inconvenience of tramping through the ferns for a discreet trailside wee. Not forgetting the Stannah uplift.
14st weight limit? That’ll alienate 95% of weekend warriors!