RockShox Reverb AXS MY26 goes up to 250mm, contains a new air-over-air design, new battery location and it’s cheaper than the outgoing model.
- Brand: RockShox
- Product: Reverb AXS MY26 (200mm/30.9mm tested)
- Price: £535.00
- From:Zyro Fisher
- Tested by: Benji for a month
Pros
- Fast to extend, smooth to compress
- ActiveRide feature will be of benfit to some riders
- Cheaper than the previous Reverb AXS (and any of its current wireless rivals)
Cons
- More stack height than a cable actuated post
- Would prefer a dropper-specific remote (with a hinged clamp also)
- Still significantly more expensive than a cable actuated post
This is the new wireless dropper post from RockShox. It’s still called the Reverb AXS but I’ve suffixed the name with MY26 (model year 2026) for reasons of clarity (and Google).
The big news is that the Reverb AXS MY26 is available in longer travel options. Whereas the previous Reverb AXS only went up to 170mm travel models, the new post goes all the way up to 250mm travel. Oof.
Having said that, I’d be surprised if we see very many of those around on the trails because a 250mm travel wireless dropper (and its attendant extra stack height) is a heck of a lot of post sticking out above a bike frame’s seat tube collar.
The complete range available will be 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm, 200mm, 225mm, and 250mm travels posts in either 30.9mm, 31.6mm or 34.9mm diameters.
The model that I’ve been testing is the 200mm travel in 30.9mm diameter (so it can be shimmed out to fit 31.6 or 34.9 test bikes). The overall length (bottom to saddle rail) comes in at 552mm. The distance above the bike frame (seat tube collar to saddle rail) is 262mm. The amount of post insertion (everything below the collar/battery/electronic module thingy) is 290mm.
All of these numbers basically mean it’s par for the course for 200mm travel wireless dropper posts, but similarly has more stack than a cable post. As an example, on a bike that was happily running a 230mm* travel post, this 200mm Reverb AXS MY26 was a smidge too long above the frame’s seat tube collar.
(*240mm OneUp V3 shimmed down 10mm)
I think potential dropper post purchasers will have to decide between cable-actuated-post-with-more-travel or a wireless-post-with-less-travel. FWIW I think I miss the extra travel more than I appreciate the wireless-ness. YMMY. It will depend entirely on each user case scenario.
To help, here’s a link to RockShox’s dropper post compatibility calculator: https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox/series/reverb-axs/calculator
The next big news is that it’s not as expensive as you may expect. At £535.00 it’s only a bit more than the shorter travel, rather laggy Magura Vyron MDS V3 at £499. And it’s significantly less than the albeit excellent 200mm travel KS Lev Circuit post at £699. So kudos to RockShox for that. Obvs it’s still way more than a decent cable actuated dropper.
The insides of the RockShox Reverb AXS MY26 is completely new. Called an ‘air-over-air’ design, it claims to be more durable and robust than previous Reverb AXS posts. And it has something of a trick up its sleeve; the new Reverb AXS is also a little bit of a suspension seatpost. Well, when its not set any of the extremes of its travel.
RockShox explaineth: “At top out, the air-over-air design puts the rider atop a specially designed air spring
chamber with virtually no negative air spring. This delivers a firm and supportive platform for the rider. Once the valve is activated and the post moves into its travel, ActiveRide is engaged. ActiveRide introduces a negative air chamber that balances pressure with the positive chamber, enabling enhanced comfort and control during technical climbs.”
To be honest, during initial test riding I didn’t even notice this ActiveRide aspect. It wasn’t until I read about it that I went over the bike in question, dropped the saddle into its travel a bit and hey presto, yes… there is a small amount of firm squidge to be had by pushing down on the saddle.
To be even more honest, I’m not sure it does a whole lot if you’re already on a full suspension bike with 2.4in tyres but it doesn’t do any harm either. The saddle/post is rock solid at full extension (and full compression). I can see this ActiveRide thing having more of an effect – and use – on hardtail or firm AF short travel XC race bikes.
Oh yeah, and it almsot goes without saying that the RockShox Reverb AXS MY26 integrates into the other parts of the SRAM/RockShox AXS ‘ecosystem’.
Initial ride impressions
In terms of on-trail use, the new Reverb AXS post is a winner. It’s as fast as cable. It’s easy and smooth to lower. It extends at a just-right velocity. It’s as intuitive as cable; you can precisly get it to stop where you want it to stop. No over- or under-shooting. It’s great.
I am going to once more moan a bit about the ‘Pod’ remote control. It just isn’t as good as a horizontal trigger in my opinion. It may grown on me. I might find a ‘eureka!” location/orientation but so far, not a fan. Though I will say I’m intirgued as to the potential of being able to actuate the post with an index finger from the front of the handlebar via the little arm nub thing. Again, I think this may find more of a home with XC racer types who want to raise saddles as they honk-sprint over the handlebars after a tech section.
And while I’m in full spoil brat mode, having to (at least) remove your grip (potrentially also your brake lever and ebike remote, as shown here) in order to remove/install the Pod remote from your handlebar isn’t great. I won’t be alone in being someone who rides multiple bikes who wants to quickly swap this post from bike to bike.
Please SRAM/Rockshox can we have a dropper specific remote with a hinge clamp soon?
Overall
Stay tuned. Far more test riding is required to get an idea of reliability and real world battery life and so on. So far though, despite my petty foibles with the Pod remote ergonomics, I think I’d already be bold enough to say that this is comfortably the best wireless dropper currently available.
Review Info
| Brand: | RockShox |
| Product: | Reverb AXS MY26 |
| From: | Zyro Fisher |
| Price: | £535.00 |
| Tested: | by Benji for 1 month |
Replies (13)
Comments Closed
At last!!! I’ve only been waiting about 4 years for a proper sized AXS reverb!
250mm! It’s funny when you go back to older reviews
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/crank-brothers-joplin-review-2008.html
“The Joplin’s 3″ of drop made a massive difference in my speed and confidence over a fully extended post, but 4″ would have been perfect."
I’ll never forget how much I was mocked for buying a dropper back then omg. I still carry the mental scars..
Does it come with the pod?
“Does it come with the pod?"
Pretty sure you buy the remote separately (extra cost) and have the choice of pod or old style ‘more like a shifter’ version for cheaper
Been waiting for one of these, but the extra stack and the shocking ugliness put me off.
so, basically 4x the price of a oneup v2 / 3x a v3(when they go on regular sale), extra weight, extra stack, and only works as well as a mechanical post. Also makes you look like a pauper with an externally routed dropper… I do not understand SRAM products at all.
Reverbs have been plagued since the beginning by vertical play/sponginess. Now we’re being told this is a design feature for technical climbing traction and compliance. Just not at top-out. Guffaw! Marketing at it’s finest.
Just checked the measurements on my current G1 and probable next bike (Canyon Spectral on:fly) and a 250mm will fit both! On the G1 it’ll need to be slammed though.
It’s a shame you can’t shim these down by 10 or 20mm, but I’m happy with that. Currently running a 240mm one-up on the G1 and had been waiting for a longer reverb AXS for years!
bit confused, is the controller included in the price? if not, its not really any cheaper than the ks
The controller is extra.
@paul Just be wary, you can’t fully slam posts in the G1 – my 240 Oneup fully slammed has a couple of inches of lower post exposed
Damn. You are correct. On my extra longest G1 with a 475mm seat tube, I can’t get my 240mm one up (337mm max insertion) all the way down, 35mm left showing is the lowest it’ll go. So the 335mm insertion, 250mm reverb is a no go. 225mm it is, then!
And you’ll have more of the reverb above the line too, compared to a OneUp, so 225 might be too long also