A bit out of touch with recent MTB products but my Reverb from 2016 has issues and I need a new dropper. Not planning on dropping a massive chunk of cash so looking at the more budget friendly end of things.
Seem to remember Brand X droppers being well thought of but think these are part of the Mike Ashley empire which I would rather not support. Looks like the Ascend Flight looks to be the spiritual successor to this? Reviews look thin on the ground so does anyone have any experience of this?
Cheers!
I have one on my Enduro bike, works great. A friend has the SL version, which also seems good.
Fantastic. £125 feels like a bargain.
Yeah, hard to argue with the price, I have a oneup post on the trail bike, but can't say it's worth the extra.
Just bought an SL for my new build. Ordinarily I'd go with a OneUp, but the V3 is over 2x the price
Fitted one yesterday. All seemed good on it’s maiden voyage this morning!
I've got an SL and it's great. SL is lighter so depending what you want might be worth extra £25 or whatever it is.
I need a new one on my other bike and will be buying another flight SL.
Just put one on the eldest's FS, goes up and down, looks just like the other brand-x I have. Ztto lever very light action.
Looks like I could get away with the SL actually. Had to run a 125mm drop with the reverb but looks like a lower stack collar on this would let me get to 150mm.
Any reason to go with the premium tune lever over the standard?
Would it not be cheaper to get the reverb serviced? 8 years is decent in-service so surely that could still be used?
Makes no odds if you are actually wanting a new dropper though...
Just read last reply before mine and sounds like you are after more drop, so that answers my query!
That's kinda what I'm debating. I don't like waste and buying new for the sake of it but remember all the issues people had with the original reverb and count myself fortunate I managed to avoid them. £60 for the service kit isn't exactly pocket change and don't want to spend that, and my time, just to end up with the issues seen by others originally.
I'm looking at one too.
My triggers broom magura Byron packed in on me today. When sat on it dropped, when out of the saddle it extended.
It's been serviced once and replaced twice so and bought in 2014 or 2015. The remote is still running well.
Top value post, with spares available. If you have a convoluted cable run add the super thin Jagwire cable and you're good to go.
I really like mine so far. Not been used much, but seems sturdy and you can't argue with the price.
they are good. I have 3 of them. and with https://ascendcomponents.com/ taking up the mantel spares are easy to come by.
One word of caution. I've found that these sealed cartridge style droppers can develop sag quite easily. I believe it happens if you force the dropper up after it's been compressed - something to do with air/oil getting the wrong side of an internal seal. The cartridge can't be serviced, and if the sag gets too bad, then it will need to be replaced.
Tips.
- don't pick the bike up by the saddle with it down
- always extend the post when you put it on a bike park lift, in case anyone else tugs on it.
That said. The posts are easy to service. And seem to last pretty well.
Brill. Thanks all. Pulled the trigger on an SL so will see how it goes.
Bought one of these last year , I also bought an External routed XLC before that for £50 basically they´re all the same thing (Brand-X/Ascend/TransX/XLC) a gas strut in a telescoping tube.
It´s well worth shopping about for all the brands that use the same basic platform to see which is cheapest (or includes a longer drop or remote option) there´s so many about...
Also got 3 (2x Ascend / 1x Brand-X) across 3 bikes. They're cheap and they work. Funnily enough, the Reverb on my youngest's bike has started playing up so I'm going to bin it and get another Ascend. TBF to the Reverb, its had a good innings - its 8'ish years old and has only needed servicing once in that time.
. . . they´re all the same thing (Brand-X/Ascend/TransX/XLC) a gas strut in a telescoping tube.
Similar, but:
My Giant OE one uses plastic shims to control the rotation. Utter junk.
My Canyon OE relies on the cable outer to release the valve. Pile of crap.
Ascend ones use brass pins like the Reverb I think? I've another one somewhere that is a similar set up to the Giant, but uses brass instead of plastic shims.
I have had three on various bikes and they have been fine. I had a couple of Reverbs beforehand but for the price they are hard to beat. The only thing I don’t like is the remote which I replace with the Shimano
Also got 3 (2x Ascend / 1x Brand-X) across 3 bikes. They're cheap and they work. Funnily enough, the Reverb on my youngest's bike has started playing up so I'm going to bin it and get another Ascend. TBF to the Reverb, its had a good innings - its 8'ish years old and has only needed servicing once in that time.
Decided at the weekend I wanted/could fit a 170mm dropper on my new build so bought a 170mm Flight SL yesterday and its arrived just now. Brilliant service. Will get that swapped for my 150mm later today and put the 150mm on the youngest's bike to replace the dead/dying Reverb.
Comment above about the remote - the "posh" ones they do are far better than the boggo standard ones and well worth the tenner or whatever it is to upgrade. That said, I quite fancy trying the Hope one as an upgrade as it looks rock solid.