I've got a xfusio hilo at the moment which I've had since February and was running grsat over the summer, but it needs quite a bit of TLC over the winter months (2nd service tonight). So I'm thinking of swapping it over for a Reverb or Thomson.
Reverb seemed the obvious choice but I've seen many of these on ebay for spares/repairs. The two year service intervals on the thomson are drawing me that way (even though it'll cost £75 more).
So what's it like to live with, have you had to service yours and have you had any issues?
Thanks.
I've had mine since early last year, although I bought it second hand from here.
After a month or so the top collar came loose and it developed a little play. I tightened the collar with a strap wrench and the play disappeared, but every now and then it comes loose and I have to tighten it. Talking once or twice not every ride.
Mine also developed an issue whereby it wouldn't return under its own steam to the top of its travel, and would sag slightly when I sat on it.
I had a bit of a game getting the importer to answer contact, and eventually went through Thomson in the US who told me that it was a known issue with some of the very early ones and that it needed to go back to be fixed.
I eventually got a returns number from the UK importer but they seemed to be struggling with the concept that I wasn't the original owner and couldn't supply proof of purchase but that I wasn't expecting the fix for free.
I kinda gave up, and just run it 5 mm ish higher than it would be so that when it says that little bit it's at the right height.
The return was also improved by fitting a good quality cable and paying extra attention to the routing.
Still no play other than that mentioned above and within the parameters of its 'faulty' state it works perfectly. If it develops any other issues I will get it sorted, but will probably then sell it and buy a covert version.
Had one since last September, once set up correctly it is great. I had problems with it being a bit sticky and generally temperamental due to poor cable routing. This resulted in an intermittent performance when the cable snagged on a part of the rear shock. Not easy to spot but once re-routed it has not missed a stroke.
Cool thanks guys. I've a whyte 129 which has a pretty straight cable route to the post so that should be ok.
After a month or so the top collar came loose and it developed a little play. I tightened the collar with a strap wrench and the play disappeared, but every now and then it comes loose and I have to tighten it. Talking once or twice not every ride.
I had this (early batch). The chat I was given was that the threads had been greased, not threadlocked, and simply threadlocking it should sort it. I don't know whether that is true, mine went back and was replaced.
I've found it rather good apart from that. The action is nice and smooth, the lever is very, very well designed in my view. Obviously it prefers to have a good quality cable, kept lubricated and swapped periodically. That operation is a doddle though, so no biggie. Since the warranty replacement it's not been serviced or shown any signs of wishing to be.
Went for the Thomson rather than a Reverb as an expperiment, and because Reverbs seem to fail at such a staggering rate. It's definitely rather good, but I've not done back-to-back tests.
🙂
because Reverbs seem to fail at such a staggering rate.
Really? Any evidence for that? (Genuinely interested.)
Mines been working well for about 6 months now and it's seen some fairly foul weather - still working smoothly though.
Very occasionally (every other month or so) it sticks about 10mm into its stroke but only rarely and pulling it up seems to sort it.
I use an under-the-saddle lever to make swapping between bikes easier - obviously avoids any issue with sticky cables.
Virtually no side to side play either and no sign of the collar loosening.
Any evidence for that?
No, purely anecdotal, YMMV. In my riding group (dozen people maybe), we've had:
- 1 seized solid after one ride;
- 1 remote snapped with little provocation, GBP50 replacement cost
- 1 seized solid after a couple of months use, diagnosis of problem requiring a saw
- 1 seized solid after 6 months of terrible maintenance and steadfastly ignoring the problem
- 2 x random intermittent air loss leading to them defaulting to the "down" position
I get that they're the most common dropper, that they're widely available, readily serviceable and not murderously expensive, so of course there will be failures, and there are bound to be clusters of failure rather than an entirely even distribution. But as anecdotal evidence is all I have to go on, that rash of uselessness was quite enough to persuade me to experiment with spending a bit more. 🙂
Ah, OK. I'm in the camp of all is well across multiple bikes. If all my mates' failed though, can't say I'd be buying either whatever the bigger logic.
I'm on my fifth Reverb, although one got stolen, another got sold with the bike and only two actually failed, one lost pressure the other leaked oil replaced / repaired under warranty, so not as bad as it sounds.
Current one needed servicing after 6 months and has been very temperamental since, until yesterday when I unscrewed the top cap and regreased the top seal and bush, seems OK now. Still I digress, this is a Thomson thread not a Reverb one but I am interested in trying a Thomson out once my Reverb goes again, probably in the next 6 months 🙂
[i]Really? Any evidence for that? (Genuinely interested.) [/i]
All the guys I ride with have them and seem to also have lots of warranty issues too - so when I wanted a Stealth version I made sure I bought from a decent UK retailer.
FWIW I've an XFusion one on my HT and it is still working perfectly after +13 months of use and no servicing.
Bought a thomson, fitted at the weekend, first ride today.
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Thanks guys.
I've had one for 6 months now.
It a really nice bit of kit. I can't compare to a reverb (never had one - that hydraulic cable is a shite idea and you hear more stories of them breaking than any other post) , but it's light years ahead of any of those cheap t-mars etc.. versions.
It's been covered in mud/grit on almost every ride, but is just as smooth as the day I bought it.
The bar lever is great, although it does send the cable straight forward and creates quite a big loop of cable out front. I've seen photos of some people using a v-brake noodle to make it neater.
Only issue I have is it has developed a tiny bit of side to side play, but nothing that bothers me. One day I'll get around to tightening the collar as mentioned above.
I also think dropper aren't quite as comfy as a standard seatpost for big days in the saddle. They have a lot less flex built in when compared to a decent normal post.
Overall I'm glad I went with the Thomson instead of anything else, and would easily put it top of the pile when it comes to droppers.