Quantcast

RS Reverb vs KS Lev

herbman

Monkey
Feb 16, 2011
104
8
North West Tasmania
hi

I'm looking at replacing the stock giant dropper post on my new reign.

It's between the reverb steath and the lev integra.

Not sure which way to go as I currently have a reverb on the ht and had a KS dropper on the fully that the reign replaced. Both have worked well with out any major issues other than the cable and casing on the KS gritting up in winter riding, which the internal routing should fix.

They both cost about the same so which way should I go monkeys?
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
Any reason you're not considering the Thomson? It's easily the best dropper post I've used. No play at all, you can pull up on the seat without fucking it up, the lever is nice, and I much prefer a cable to the hydraulic system on the Reverb for simplicity.
 

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,195
4,419
Thompson is the business. 2 flawless seasons on it, finally sending it in for service.
 

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
448
I was looking for a 6" drop, which ruled the Thomson out for me, not sure about the OP...

Does look like a nice unit though
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!
My 1st Reverb crapped the bed 11 months into service. SRAM replaced it with a newer model that has been very reliable for almost two years now. I pull on it all the time, the remote does not need to be bled, it works pretty well without much wobble. I must be doing something wrong.
 

yetihenry

Monkey
Aug 9, 2009
241
1
Whistler, BC
I just bought a Lev Integra. I replaced the Giant Post with my old Reverb but wanted internal routing. For me it was the 150mm option on the KS, and no longer having to worry about breaking the remote when I flip my bike upside down.
 

boostindoubles

Nacho Libre
Mar 16, 2004
7,839
6,145
Yakistan
I've had the Reverb and the Lev and sold them both. Well the Reverb I sold was a warranty in the box. The Lev was finicky. Right now I am on the X fusion hilo stealth. Just put it on but so far so good... I like the baseball bat actuator, it sits tucked away under the grip. I figure it cost me cheap through my team deal, how can I go wrong?

I hear Thomson is working on a 150mm drop post. Hopefully this x fusion posts makes it that far.
 
Last edited:

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
Have also been told good things about Thomson but the extra $150 dollars over the lev and reverb are hard to get past SWMBO*






* she who must be obeyed

I haven't looked in a while, but I got mine for $300 BNIB on eBay. It's worth poking around.
 

csermonet

Monkey
Mar 5, 2010
942
127
Friend has a Thomson and loves it. I have tried it out, and came away impressed. Shame they don't offer a 6in drop yet
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
Whichever one is 50 grams lighter. I just learned how important that is.
I know you're just being a tool because that's the only thing you're really good at on here, but dropper posts weigh ~600g and don't affect ultimate performance in the same way tires and suspension do (for example); so it actually is nice if you can get a lighter one with all else being equal (i.e. price, performance) because it means you can "spend" that 50g on a tyre that is more flat resistant or a fork/shock that maintains traction better.

Don't get me wrong, I think dropper posts are not only brilliant and useful - but actually the only significant innovation to happen in MTB in recent years (unlike 142x12, 650b, 35mm etc). However it's also a 600g part replacing a 200g one in a genre where you have to climb hills, so I think KS are doing a very reasonable thing by continuing to weight-optimise.
 
Last edited:

herbman

Monkey
Feb 16, 2011
104
8
North West Tasmania
Ok so the Thomson is the first choice but may be our of my price range at the moment as I also need some new Spd shoes etc....

So if I had to chose between the lev and the reverb which way should I go ?
 

Josef

Monkey
Apr 17, 2013
108
11
My experience is that the stealth reverb is a pain in the ass to bleed. I am not really sure you get much benefits from it being hydraulic actuated either. I would go lev.
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
So if I had to chose between the lev and the reverb which way should I go ?
The standard lev is 50g+ lighter than the reverb, has the benefit of a mechanical cable instead of a hydraulic one, and from what I've seen it's just as (if not more) reliable. So this one's a no-brainer - get the KS. I don't think the reverb is bad at all, it's just not quite as good.
 

aenema

almost 100% positive
Sep 5, 2008
305
111
Have both and I prefer the KS LEV. Less saddle play and like the cable actuation for maintenance/repair/routing tweaking vs the hydrolic. Though KS warranty is ridiculous in how long it takes, the LEV hasn't needed it like the older 950 models.
 

Josef

Monkey
Apr 17, 2013
108
11
Wydopen- I am curious why? The hydraulic cable on my reverb was nothing but a pain to me. I started wondering why they went that route. The only thing I could think of is if the cable was going to be routed in some extremely weird manner inside a frame that would kink a standard cable. Other than that it just seemed like a PITA without much gain.
 

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,863
4,160
Copenhagen, Denmark
Wydopen- I am curious why? The hydraulic cable on my reverb was nothing but a pain to me. I started wondering why they went that route. The only thing I could think of is if the cable was going to be routed in some extremely weird manner inside a frame that would kink a standard cable. Other than that it just seemed like a PITA without much gain.
Agree also a the cable on the LEV is needs nowhere the same attention as when adjusting your derailleurs so its pretty set it and forget it. The LEV also offers dedicated under bar lever or you can make it yourself from a trigger.

I have the integra which has been fine for the first year.
 

bdamschen

Turbo Monkey
Nov 28, 2005
3,377
156
Spreckels, CA
Wydopen- I am curious why? The hydraulic cable on my reverb was nothing but a pain to me. I started wondering why they went that route. The only thing I could think of is if the cable was going to be routed in some extremely weird manner inside a frame that would kink a standard cable. Other than that it just seemed like a PITA without much gain.
Currently have an old command post on my bike and a reverb on my wife's. For me the reverb was super simple to setup the first time and I haven't had to touch it since. I've had to replace the cable on my command post like 3 times so far because of mud and water and crap getting into the housing. At this point I prefer the reverb for simplicity.
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
I've had stealth and regular reverbs since they came out. The hydro line shouldn't be a big a deal if you're reasonably solid with a wrench - if you can bleed brakes, you can deal with it. If you run it on top of the bar, it's a little vulnerable, but I haven't had any problems under the bar (I.e., with a 1X setup.) Biggest issue is the fact that I needed to send mine in for servicing roughly every year, and that's just a pain, even though the turnaround is pretty good and they usually just send a new one.

The servicing issue and the fact that there is no reverb with 150mm travel that fits my bike caused me to go with a KS Lev about a year or so ago. So far so good. Super reliable, consistent, no problems.

I'd try a Thomson if I could get one in a 150mm.
 

Josef

Monkey
Apr 17, 2013
108
11
The stealth reverb is a pain in the ass to bleed unless you are Medusa with 8 extra hands. I dont think this would be an issue with the non stealth variant. Either way both are more of a pain to set up then the lev.
 

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,596
5,894
in a single wide, cooking meth...
I don't think Medusa would have any better luck bleeding a stealth reverb since she only has 2 arms


Now someone like Kali on the other hand, has moar hands for bleeding


My usual useless non sequitur contributions aside, I have a Reverb stealth that has been super solid for me (about 6 or so months), but I haven't had to bleed it yet. Had an old school, cable actuated KS950 prior to that and it was generally reliable other than the hilariously bad saddle rail clamp mechanism, but it did require replacing the cable fairly regularly to avoid a super sticky trigger. If I was buying one now, I'd follow HAB's suggestion and try to find a Thomson for a good deal.
 
Last edited:

wydopen

Turbo Monkey
Jan 16, 2005
1,229
60
805
Currently have an old command post on my bike and a reverb on my wife's. For me the reverb was super simple to setup the first time and I haven't had to touch it since. I've had to replace the cable on my command post like 3 times so far because of mud and water and crap getting into the housing. At this point I prefer the reverb for simplicity.
^This
only had to bleed a few bubbles out of the reverb once and it literally took 2min...not to mention the remote is way better than the KS, it's easier to push and the post feels smoother..
 

Josef

Monkey
Apr 17, 2013
108
11
I don't think Medusa would have any better luck bleeding a stealth reverb since she only has 2 arms


Now someone like Kali on the other hand, has moar hands for bleeding


My usual useless non sequitur contributions aside, I have a Reverb stealth that has been super solid for me (about 6 or so months), but I haven't had to bleed it yet. Had an old school, cable actuated KS950 prior to that and it was generally reliable other than the hilariously bad saddle rail clamp mechanism, but it did require replacing the cable fairly regularly to avoid a super sticky trigger. If I was buying one now, I'd follow HAB's suggestion and try to find a Thomson for a good deal.
Haha by bad. I definitely needed Kali's hands and not Medusa's snake hair.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
I've had stealth and regular reverbs since they came out. The hydro line shouldn't be a big a deal if you're reasonably solid with a wrench - if you can bleed brakes, you can deal with it.
I agree, it's not that hard. I'd still rather not have to bother.
 

rollertoaster

Monkey
Aug 7, 2007
730
179
Douglassville , PA
I have 2 levs and both have been great. I like not having to worry about breaking the actuator. And if the cable does fail, I can pop off the cover and manually put the post up
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,006
Seattle
I just bought a Lev because it was really cheap, and wish I'd gotten another Thomson. There are so many little design/manufacturing details on these things that are decidedly second rate. It's all stupid little shit, like the nuts for the seat clamp not being keyed, and therefore just relying on friction to not rotate. Or the little hook for the barrel on the bottom of the post being too thin, and bending easily (it was bent out of the box). The rotating seat clamp hasn't been thought well through at all either. It's borderline underconstrained, and a mess.