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I’ve tried lots of dropper posts and the Fox Transfer is easily the best. Not cheap, but if you want a dropper that just works then this is the one for you.
If you don’t need any more than 125mm drop then the Specialized Command Post is also very good. I had zero problems with mine.
The Reverbs I’ve had have all developed one problem or another. I still have one on my hardtail, but it’ll be replaced with something else when it fails. The Brand-X ones might be worth a look it seems at the price CRC have been knocking them out.
They service a lot of droppers and have never had this before so I’m trusting them!
Took it in last night and we found a little kink in the hose right at the connector to the lever. Going to replace the hose and conectamijig just to rule it out.
See, this is why I gave up ... it start to feel like good money after bad and the result is a not particularly nice dropper when compared to other offerings that's a sod to maintain...
As mine got worse the internal hose was in and out like a government minister at a brothel... if only trying to see if a bleed works... so I looked at replacing it ... then the seat post developed (more) play so I knew I'd need to look to new bushings or keys ... etc.
Looking for parts they and tools they were pretty much getting to the same cost as a new Reverb ...
The answer is Xfusion manic. Its cheap (£170) you can replace the cartridge cheaply and its well made. Only negative is the weight. It weighs 100g more than most posts.
I've had zero hassle from my Fox Transfer which has been thoroughly abused and never serviced (used for about 2 years and counting). If you can find Marzocchi or newer Race Face droppers cheaper they're also rebranded Foxes.
My Fox Transfer has been faultless so far, as was my Thomson that has been the same on my mates bike for the last few years.
My current Reverb has been fine except when I over tightened the seat clamp, which to be fair didn’t seem overly tight. Had others that have been less so.
I have used Reverbs on my full suspension bikes ( not hardtail) for quite a few years . I have needed to only replace 1 . I don’t use the “stealth version” as that makes maintenance difficult so is pointless in my view . After each ride I wipe the post and oil the seal with fork oil from a precision oiler. That keeps the seal good. I do the same on forks ( wipe stanchions and oil seal) each ride. Ocassionaly I have needed to add air but I have maneged years of service from each post . One thing I will admit is that I stop using reverbs in very cold & muddy conditions and just use a solid post on my hardtail. That makes a big difference. I would say that reverbs like all adjustable posts are really fair weather equipment and not up to constant mud wet and snow.
Sounds like a mixed bag for all makes then...
I'm about to try a magura one on Thursday, wish me luck 🙂
Slight hijack OP sorry but what's the ball park cost for a reverb service and places recommended to send to?
Tft is on the list but others that get the thumbs-up too?
Thanks
It was around 100 bucks, being a new post is 250 ish with 1x lever it’s just not throw away money. Hoping once the hose is replaced it just starts to be fine. They said there was nothing actually wrong inside the post when they serviced it
I have used Reverbs on my full suspension bikes ( not hardtail) for quite a few years . I have needed to only replace 1 . I don’t use the “stealth version” as that makes maintenance difficult so is pointless in my view . After each ride I wipe the post and oil the seal with fork oil from a precision oiler. That keeps the seal good. I do the same on forks ( wipe stanchions and oil seal) each ride. Ocassionaly I have needed to add air but I have maneged years of service from each post . One thing I will admit is that I stop using reverbs in very cold & muddy conditions and just use a solid post on my hardtail. That makes a big difference. I would say that reverbs like all adjustable posts are really fair weather equipment and not up to constant mud wet and snow.
For me the internal routing was definitely a factor.
I look after my forks and shocks... both cleaning and lowers/air cans but the Stealth on my Whyte was more trouble to simply get out and bad in than forks and shocks...
Every time it did come out it would seem the base was rusty and it was prone to not working at all in the cold or after being wet. I'd clean it and grease the bottom... but the whole thing just was a lot of time and effort compared to doing a fork or shock.
I'm convinced your right and an external one cleaned both ends and dried each ride would be fine... but I'd be hardly using it if I only used it in fair weather... (This summer being a bit of an exception)
I also carry the bikes on the back seat upside down and dropper down... (at least my bike needs dropper down) and that probably doesn't help when the bike gets back wet ... thing is Jnr's dropper is now a year old and has been treated the same and has no signs of rust... or anywhere for water ingress like the Reverb with the surclip and holes around it.
I feel I should contradict the advice on the command post - they are fairly simple and fairly smooth when they work, I had one on a 2nd hand bike that stopped working for no known reason (Everything inside was fresh and clean, cable moving fine, it just started dropping when I wasn't asking it to).
Replaced with second hand Reverb and everyhting has been fine since. I asked a mechanic in a well regarded Specialized dealer about the post after I'd pulled it to bits and basically they weren't keen to do much on it as they have had similar experiences on a number of posts - they stop working, even when clean with nothing looking remotely worn out inside, they just mysteriously misbehave after a service and then it's up to them to try and sort it out. In his exact words the way to sort it was "Find a bin, put that post in the bin, buy a Magura or a Rockshox one"...
I've successfully pulled reverbs to bits and got them working very well again. Replacing bushes really isn't a big job, same goes for the keyway pins. Bit of a knack to refilling the post with fluid though. And there are about a hundred steps to follow, but that's the price of a fully serviceable post.
I'm going to regret saying this I think, but I bought a bike (second hand) nearly three years ago which had a KS Lev Integra in. I don't know how old it was at the time, but I've not serviced it, other than a wipe down and a little lube, in all the time I've had it. It still works.
Of course, now it's going to disintegrate the moment I sit on it, isn't it?