1) only needs to only drop a couple of inches
2) needs to be as light as possible
3) doesn’t necessarily need a remote cable
4) needs to be as cheap as possible

Point 4 can be relaxed to meet point 2 – I’m assuming that points 1 and 3 will help meet point 4.

Looks like Gravity Dropper is the only option.

Gravity dropper.

Are they solid and rattle free? I see spares are available, which is good.

Cheap GD copy’s which are a bit crap
Not so cheap KS and Xfusion ones which are still a bit crap
A Gravity dropper which isn’t that cheap but will work, and work, and work…
And possibly soon a Thomson, which might work and will cost more than the moon..

X-Fusion HiLow ?

GD is a fair bit lighter than xfusion.

I’ve had an xfusion Hilo, KS i7 and a GD
The GD was the best by a mile..

How?

Hilos are great. Well mine has been anyway.

Heavy though.

Ks lev is a good option if you have loads of cash and don’t mind having to send it off for a service when it needs re-pressurising.

Lev is very nicely put together and has been good so far.

Tmars is cheap, nasty but been reliable so far.

I like my hilo. Does exactly what I need it to. £140 with remote.

The GD just worked, for ages without any faff, the KS was broke out of the box and the remote was a faff to set up, and the Xfusion was a pita to pressurise and was heavy,
the GD was the lightest and most reliable and the easiest to self service

Can you save money by not having a remote?

I’ve run an X-Fusion since Xmas, using the lever rather than remote. Works well.

If I was really bothered about saving weight/money I wouldn’t bother with one.

My Hi-Low has been faultless. Does all you need.

Can you save money by not having a remote?

Yep but not worth it on my opinion. The whole point of dropper posts for me is the ability to drop your saddle while still in flow without stopping.

Otherwise its just a faster version of a QR lever, rather than something that really transforms your riding.

With only a couple of inches drop and no remote I wouldn’t bother.

4″ and a remote then I’d get a Gravity Dropper – they just work! And when they start being awkward (which takes a long time in nasty conditions) then they’re dead easy to strip, clean and lube. And if you manage to break anything they’re easy to fix and the warranty support is brilliant. I have a 4″ drop Classic 27.2 and a 5″ drop Turbo LP 30.9 on my two bikes.

Gravity Dropper.

I bought a 2nd hand one for £95 pounds – Turbo model, 4″ drop, remote lever. It’s been faultless for 2 years now, just starting to develop a little play, but nothing untoward.

I also have a X-fusion HiLo. That’s been ok. But needs more looking after, and after a year of medium use has some side to side and back to front play.

You need a GD like the one I have for sale (shameless plug)!!

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-gravity-dropper-with-remote?replies=1#post-5909507

I could reach for a lever easily enough – that wouldn’t require stopping. And I really just need a few inches, I don’t really like it dropped a long way at all.

Johnhe, if I hadn’t just bought a track bike I’d have had that off you… Email me if you haven’t sold it by September 🙂

A newer GD copy is the Satori Sorata Pro (on ebay for £74.99 new).

Well built, solid metal components unlike the plastic TMARS bits.

Very good for the price and not seen a bad word about it (lots of threads on here about them)

A dropper for your track bike? 😆

GDs always have a wee bit of play ime. But it just didn’t matter. Sold mine a little while ago, it’s already done heroic service and no reason to think it won’t continue for years. They are expensive mind but I’d find it hard to look at anything else really.

You might not think you need a remote – I convinced myself for a couple of years. You do – it is as much a part of the whole concept as the post itself.

GDs are good? But 180 is ridiculously expensive in anyones books for what it is.

Those Satoris on eBay are all £187, or am I missing something?

Didn’t get in with a GD.
All that having to load & unload the seat to make it move.
I just wanted to move a lever / press a button & have the seat up / down.
Also, the GD made the ride stiff.
(Steel HT).
So it got flogged.

Those Reverbs seem to work well.

Satori on my bike and working well despite the Scottish winter.
Excellent kit for the money!

Only two weeks before the 27.2 Thomson droppers hit the UK. 😀

El cheapo T-Mars here, been faultless for over a year and only 50 quid. Cheaper than some tyres.

Ha – the Satori Pros in ebay were £74 but the seller has mega up’d the cost because of interest!!

Try the RSP Plummet by Raleigh – shame post but only about £100

takisawa2 – Member

Didn’t get in with a GD.
All that having to load & unload the seat to make it move.
I just wanted to move a lever / press a button & have the seat up / down.

Seriously, they do another seatpost that doesn’t have that. Why would you buy the post with this feature then complain?