[Closed] Which dropper - OneUp or Brand-X?

No experience with the One-UP, but have ran a 120MM Brand X for 12 months problem free, and have recently upgraded to the 150MM flavour.

I also use a Wolf Tooth remote which makes this a truly excellent post for the money.

Beyond the height adjust shims and some brand specific bits, they're the same post. As is the Pro Koryak and the PNW dropper. Probably others too.

I have both, prefer the one up but the brand x works well. One up feels a little smoother. My brand x sometimes didn’t extend fully and needed little persuasion. Both are up for sale if you want a 30.9! Sorry haven’t got round to making an ad yet! Full stealth ad!

150mm?

Thanks for the offer @marksnook but need 31.6.

Will also look at the Pro and PNW droppers.

I have both, although I haven't fitted the Brand X yet. But remember that the One Up doesn't come with a lever, so factor that cost in. It's why for my Tarn I went with the brand X, £115 with a lever.

I have both, one up would be my choice by a mile!

You can fit shims to the Brands X too.

Not a total surprise as the internals are patently identical from the various threads on these droppers.

Sorry for the hijack, does anyone have a spare bar clamp for a oneup lever that they’re willing to sell or even swap for a Shimano ispec II mount?
I messed up and ordered the wrong one.

Do be aware that the OneUp dropper works differently to other droppers. It moves the cable *outer* to actuate the post. So, if you have a hardtail - where the outer enters the frame at an angle - then the outer can't move, and neither can the dropper.

Every other dropper doesn't work like this, great customer service, but an inherent design flaw that needs to be made clear.

You just need some extra cable housing pushed into the seatube.

Thanks all.
Not sure I understand the outer cable housing moving?
The lever is attached to the inner and the out is up against the lever cable adjuster - how does the outer move?

dirkpitt74

Subscriber
Thanks all.
Not sure I understand the outer cable housing moving?
The lever is attached to the inner and the out is up against the lever cable adjuster – how does the outer move?

I'm tired but I think I'm describing this right.Lol

By pulling on the inner cable that effectively lengthens the outer which then pushes on the dropper mechanism as the inner cable is on a fixed point at the dropper.

I think that's right?!

It's a slightly odd method to activate a dropper but I'm assuming One Up have a reason for it?

The post is actuated by the cable not the outer.

I'd get the OneUp.

I really like how it clamps at the lever, not the post.

Oh and it's been brilliant in use.

Does it have a lower stack height? Could you squeeze a 170mm in?

Will also look at the Pro and PNW droppers

I picked up a PNW Bachelor few weeks ago, really nice post and the loam lever is lovely too. I ordered sunday night from there website and it arrived wednesday from the states with no extra charges!

Jaysus, if its the same post PNW/Brand X (which I am absolutely convinced it is, seeing as how I serviced my brand x with PNW instructions), thats a hell of a markup on the PNW site for the post. Seems to be more than double the price, or am I missing something?

I like the one up, has a lower stack height than most. I can run a 170mm dropper on a large Mojo HD4 in terms of length, just hampered by the frame/cable routing. So with the spacers I can run 165, perfectly. I’m on my second one up lever, it’s nice but a little fragile

The PNW does seem expensive compared to the others.
Lever isn't a problem as I have a wolftooth remote already which clamps the cable.

it's not so much a mark up by PNW as a heavily discounted price by CRC/B-X
The £280 one seems to be because of it including their "Loam" remote lever.
Plus the 3 year warranty.
That'd probably mean 5 or 6 free replacement posts for me.

Appreciate there will be haters but I just got the Crank Bros Highline post and it’s lovely.

Was £142 at CRC last week but seems to have gone up again now. 160 drop.

I have a OneUp post, was an early adopter & got it as soon as it came out. It's been great, had zero issues with it. Popped the collar off not that long ago & greased it up, & it's still going great. I can't say I had noticed the cable moving thing being an issue until someone pointed it out, it's been a total non issue on the 3 different frames it's been on 🙂

if its the same post PNW/Brand X (which I am absolutely convinced it is, seeing as how I serviced my brand x with PNW instructions)

I have used both and the PNW does feel nicer, so maybe its slightly refined. For me it was the best 34.9 diameter option in a 170mm.

Appreciate there will be haters but I just got the Crank Bros Highline post and it’s lovely.

I bought the PNW to replace my hated CrankBros highline 160, the internal cable routing didnt play nicely with it so for the first few compressions when riding it would creep up at 15-20mm until "warm" then it might start behaving it might not...

Saw right through your stealth ad Marksnook, could I have details of both posts for sale please? 🙂

I have used both and the PNW does feel nicer

I have 4 brand x posts (2 are warranty replacements so i've had 6 in total) and i also had one of the first one-up posts.

Y'know what?
Every one felt very slightly different out the box. some were tighter with less rotational wear from new some not so much. Some wear faster than others. some feel smoother than others.

it's just tolerance differences and build quality.

They're clearly made in the same factory and share exactly the same parts (not all the parts obvs)

Anyone know if the saddle clamp from the OneUp will work on a BrandX? Might allow me to squeeze a 170mm in at some point (I'm one of the people that couldn't get a OneUp working with my frame).

I'm fairly sure the one up and the brand X aren't the same, they work differently, the saddle clamp is better in the one up and the one up is smoother in operation than the brand X too. I had a brand X on my old bike, but I went for a large frame for my new Marin and would have struggled to get the 120mm to fit.

As it happens I bought a NOS 170mm one up and I'm running it slammed into the frame shimmed to 160mm (ish).

There zero play in the one up too, and I had a little in the brand X from new.

I loved the brand X and would have another without question, but the one up is better.

Y’know what?
Every one felt very slightly different out the box.

true - I've got 1x150mm (retired, now a fully functional spare) and 2x170mm brandx, same experience.

Beyond the height adjust shims and some brand specific bits, they’re the same post.

I have both and they're not the same. Different machining, finish, action, feel, etc...

IME the Brand X is slightly less well finished with some play but functionnaly very good with no maintenance. The One Up is very tight, fine tolerance and zero play (I have had 2). The plastic collar thing needs regressing once in a while but I happy with both.

Like I said, beyond some brand specific bits. Seat clamp is different, top seal and cable guide on the bottom is different.

If you spend any time looking at the service instructions, you'll see that inside they are the same.

One Up just announced a 210mm! That's one louder!

I have two One Up 170s which work nice and smooth but both creak, one just a minor, the other at the level of throwing the bike off a cliff. Noise is coming from the bottom of the post from what I can make out and when you put pressure on the front or rear of the saddle, does it regardless if it is fully extended or lowered, it's not the cable as I took that out. Only done 100 miles so I will give the noisier one a service first and see what happens. Both of mine have some play but no more than a Reverb etc.

chakaping

Subscriber
I’d get the OneUp.

I really like how it clamps at the lever, not the post.

I'm 99% that Brand X posts now clamp at the Levett too. They changed that some time back I believe.

Yeah they changed the clamp location just after the first batch of XLs came out.

Looks like OneUp have changed their lever to aluminium as well now which is good having heard the v1 was a bit fragile.
Hoping the 210mm and new lever will be out in time for the new build!

Will also look at the Pro

I wouldn’t bother, it’s a good post I ran mine for 2 years trouble free but the things that make it different to the Brand X are worse than the Brand X (silly Shimano saddle clamp) it’s 125mm only and more expensive.

The best part about the Pro is that they produce easy to follow YOuTube videos for servicing and cheap service kits, both of which work perfectly well on the Brand X version.

I replaced my Pro with a Bird branded post that’s identical to the Brand X

Thanks all.
Leaning towards the Brand-X at the moment.

I've got a One Up with a Wolftooth remote and my missus has got a Brand-X (with the newer standard remote).

The One Up has zero play in it and is probably the best post I've had so far (Spesh command post, Vyron, Revive, reverb etc.).

It isn't the lighest action with the Wolftooth remote, but it's very sturdy. Missus really likes her Brand-X too and it was only £100. The remote action is very light which suits her tiny thumb and has sown no signs of slowing down or crudding up.

There's very little in it between the two, but I'd probably get another Brand-X if the need came about just because of the price.

Well I've ordered the OneUp as they've just knocked $30 off the price - so comes in at £129 now.

https://int.oneupcomponents.com/products/dropper-post

Does that include the remote?

Which bits exactly are the same? The bits of metal visible externally look different in photographs.

@Poopscoop no it doesn't, but I have a wolftooth to reuse.

if anyone would like another clone, my riding group also has a couple of these from ze germans.

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/shop/tranzx-1355

OneUp for me. Year later it still works great and it’s been through all seasons and very very muddy rides. Had to put air in it twice but it’s been flawless otherwise.

Could only fit a 125 in the Trek before and now I have a 150 so happy!

greyspoke

Member
Which bits exactly are the same? The bits of metal visible externally look different in photographs.

Check here - all internal parts the same.

Pro (shimano) Korak

One-up (V1)
https://can.oneupcomponents.com/pages/dropper-service-instructions

Merida
https://youtu.be/gCpk86vQBAU

Bachelor/PNW
https://youtu.be/_0Ztxr-jplU
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1081/9866/files/Bachelor_Service_Manual.pdf?633143640978840437

Brand X
Refers you to the PNW service instructions.