Review: Crank Brothers Highline Dropper Post

In Issue #109 of Singletrack Magazine, we put 10 different height-adjustable seatposts through the grinder as part of our Dropper Post Group Test.

If ever there was a product with the future of the company riding on its success, then the Highline has to be right up there. To date, Crank Bros has had a pretty turbulent relationship with dropper posts, with models plagued by reliability issues and design flaws that have impacted performance and the company’s reputation.

And so it is that we have the hotly anticipated Highline. Redesigned from the ground up and weighing in at 580 grams, this cable-actuated, stealth-routed post offers only 125mm travel, but boasts some well-thought-out features.

The ball clamp remote allows the lever to be infinitely positioned on the bars and a super-slick cable and outer from Jagwire connects tool-free to the bottom of the post, activating the post via a rotating valve, two keyways are used to keep everything lined up and rattle free, a high-quality Trelleborg seal keeps things clear of mud and grit, while the head of the post is a low-profile affair (50mm) with two bolts holding your saddle securely in place. The post measures 400mm long and is available in 30.9mm and 31.6mm diameters, and comes with an unheard of three-year warranty.

Other than the cartridge, Crank Bros has designed the Highline to be fully user serviceable using only basic tools, and it recommends that the post is lubricated once a year to keep things running sweet.

Following the instructions, installation was a breeze, yet as soon as I sat on the post it collapsed on me! Crank Bros has since revised the instructions to avoid any confusion, but in my opinion they still aren’t quite right – after lining up the arrows on the actuator with the bottom of the post, you then need to twist it ever so slightly until you feel the smallest amount of resistance. Getting this right is important – twist the actuator too far one way and the post won’t move, while not far enough and it won’t stay up.

Once set up properly though, the post has worked perfectly, and I’ve been fairly rough with it, deliberately avoiding cleaning it to test the seals. It is a little slow on the return stroke, and unfortunately you can’t adjust that.

Durability Notes

Overall

A tight, well-sealed dropper with an excellent remote. I’m seriously impressed, and really don’t have a bad word to say about it. In fact, my only complaint during the group test for Issue #109 was that the Highline only has 125mm of travel. However, Crank Brothers has since added a longer 160mm travel option, and I’m currently putting that through the wringer as we speak. Stay tuned.

Review Info