DT Swiss launch underbar wunderbar L2 and L3 remotes

The new L2 and L3 remotes sit underneath the handlebar on the left. The L2 operates fork-and-shock simultaneously. The L3 operates dropper seatposts.

Before we all shout “woah, not on my bike mate”, we should point out that these remotes are not for everyone. These new remotes are aimed fairly and squarely at XC racers. XC racers don’t care so much about aesthetics (have you ever seen what they wear?)

What XC racers do care about is saving milliseconds and retaining as many of their hard-gained precious watts as possible. XC racers like lockouts. It’s why lockouts exist. Heck, even a lot of enduro racers like lockouts (or remote operated firmer compression settings to be exact).

Whilst the big bouncers (RockShox and Fox) are going down the route of automated electronic solutions, DT Swiss are putting their efforts into the more affordable, less daunting cable-operated options.

These new dropper remotes are intended to overcome a couple of the issues that often arise with remote levers. Namely, they are positioned on top of handlebar and they don’t factor in dropper seatpost.

The problem with having remote levers on top of the handlebars is two-fold. One, they are slower and less safe to operate because you have to let go of your grip temporarily. And two, they will hurt you a lot in your kneecap when you inevitably go over the handlebars.

The two lockouts that DT Swiss have come out with are the L2 and the L3.

The L2 is purely for on-the-fly suspension damping adjustment. The L2 sits on the left side of the handlebar and adjusts the fork and the rear shock at the same time. When paired with DT Swiss’ fork and rear shock offer three choices of damping: Open, Drive and Lock.

The L3 adds in a remote for a dropper seatpost.

The dropper remote can be added to L2 at a later date, to effectively turn it into the L3.

Compatibility speaking, DT Swiss only really state which of their products the L2 and L3 work with. Namely, their F 232 ONE fork, F 535 ONE fork, R 232 ONE rear shock and R 535 ONE rear shock.

Having said that, the L3 dropper remote is inherently suited to a lot of cable-actuate dropper posts because… cables. As a lot or riders already know, you can pair pretty much any cable dropper remote with any other cable actuated post.

What else? The remotes offer Matchmaker X mounting with bar clamp. The claimed weights are 35g and 68g. Price: €59.90 for the L2, €99.90 for the L3. (UK pricing TBC)

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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