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School me on droppers?

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
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3 position would be fine for me, but frankly the post is nearly always slammed or in climb setting (all the way up or all the way down). I have meniscus issues that mean seated pedaling is terrible if the post isn't at proper full extension.

I occasionally use an in-between setting for either rolling XC sections where I'm going to pop a few rollers or super technical climbs where a wheelspin, missed dab, or tip over would result in falling off a cliff.
But even for those situations, I prefer the positive and stable in-between height of the E.13 rather than wasting seconds fiddling around getting it "just right" with an infinite position post like the OneUp.

Next time I need to buy a post, a mechanical like the E.13 will be at the top of my list.
i'm a fan of it too. unfortunately e13 discontinued the trs dropper.
 

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
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El Lay
Oops, I'm out of the loop. Was there ever a 200mm version?

Understandable really. E13 seems to have a bad rep in general these days, and a mechanical dropper is decidedly non-sexy.

How many MTBR freds do we suppose would pay $200 to PUSH their Reverbs?

i'm a fan of it too. unfortunately e13 discontinued the trs dropper.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
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Oops, I'm out of the loop. Was there ever a 200mm version?

Understandable really. E13 seems to have a bad rep in general these days, and a mechanical dropper is decidedly non-sexy.
Nah, 170mm was the longest version. It's a bummer really, it was a super reliable post, and works equally flawlessly in cold weather too. Nice remote too.

How many MTBR freds do we suppose would pay $200 to PUSH their Reverbs?
None, they're probably broke from buying the axs version
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
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Infinite adjustable height, all the time. I had a 3 position and hated that.
 

6thElement

Schrodinger's Immigrant
Jul 29, 2008
15,827
13,063
I have an E13 on one of my bikes, out of the box I had to get a stronger spring from E13 to help it return to fully extended and it still doesn't always do that. So I have to pull it up via the saddle while standing on the pedals.
 

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,010
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El Lay
I had the version after that didn't have that issue... but yeah, that was part of what doomed the product.

I have an E13 on one of my bikes, out of the box I had to get a stronger spring from E13 to help it return to fully extended and it still doesn't always do that. So I have to pull it up via the saddle while standing on the pedals.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
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borcester rhymes
Hmmm...seems I traded my vertical play for horizontal movement. The bontrajay is rigid vertically but does have some nose movement. we'll give it a shot on trail and see if it sucks.
 

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,069
3,779
sw ontario canada
BY Revive for me as well - Just over 18 months in at this point and very happy. Smoooth.
Got mine out of Germany for a decent savings.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
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My bikeyoke's are "in the middle" as far as lateral wobble, it's not bad, they've been in use far longer than any other droppers I have and are on my primary bikes. That means they've each seen seasons of use, IDK, like 4 or so? My transfer is the best in this regard, but I've used it the least, I used it for a few weeks, it crapped out, I got the first bikeyoke, got the transfer rebuilt, only used it over the summer on a fatbike that I don't ride much/hard during the summer. Now it's in it's winter use...where it doesn't come up fully when it's -F evidently, but whatever, it's lateral play is the least. The PNW I bought this year is by far the worst, after just two months, it was worse than the bikeyoke's I'd been abusing for years.

AFAIK, the bikeyoke uses slightly "curved" brass pin bushings. The slight curve/warp helps to eliminate play, but obviously wears out.
 

Andeh

Customer Title
Mar 3, 2020
996
973
I've been using BikeYokes since June 2017. I would still be on the same original post except last year I got a great deal on a 185 version, so I sold my 160. They have a tiny bit of lateral wobble on the stand, but I've never noticed it riding. I do the basic maintenance (with the kit that includes a new foam ring and brass pins) once a year whether it needs it or not. I've had to use the reset lever maybe 3 times, usually after I bump the dropper lever while the bike is vertical (wheeling it into my garage, for example). They just plain work, and are smoother than OneUps. I see no reason to use anything else unless you're heavily budget limited.
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!
I've been using BikeYokes since June 2017. I would still be on the same original post except last year I got a great deal on a 185 version, so I sold my 160. They have a tiny bit of lateral wobble on the stand, but I've never noticed it riding. I do the basic maintenance (with the kit that includes a new foam ring and brass pins) once a year whether it needs it or not. I've had to use the reset lever maybe 3 times, usually after I bump the dropper lever while the bike is vertical (wheeling it into my garage, for example). They just plain work, and are smoother than OneUps. I see no reason to use anything else unless you're heavily budget limited.
Another advantage of the BY is a simple conversion between various seat tube diameters without having to use a seat post shim. I think I paid ~$30 for mine when switching from a Canfield frame to a SC.
 

Andeh

Customer Title
Mar 3, 2020
996
973
Another advantage of the BY is a simple conversion between various seat tube diameters without having to use a seat post shim. I think I paid ~$30 for mine when switching from a Canfield frame to a SC.
Yup, forgot to mention that. I had a 31.6 and converted to 30.9 for my GG.
 

Changleen

Paranoid Member
Jan 9, 2004
14,335
2,448
Hypernormality
I have an E13 on one of my bikes, out of the box I had to get a stronger spring from E13 to help it return to fully extended and it still doesn't always do that. So I have to pull it up via the saddle while standing on the pedals.
That’s just actually broken. Are you sure it’s not over-clamped? I’ve heard of that on a few dropper models...
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
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You don’t need to service the cartridge; it’s a sealed unit. When it eventually dies you just replace it for ~$30. Probably less in the US I would guess.
Ah, so not serviceable. Examples of the cartridge for sale? I'm skeptical.
 

Changleen

Paranoid Member
Jan 9, 2004
14,335
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Hypernormality
It's not specific to SDG, it's a standard gas cartridge, made by a company called Wintek. They supply Giant, Bontrager, SDG, that I know of, probably others...
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
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borcester rhymes
SDG Tellis with the replaceable cartridge. Super easy to service too:

View attachment 152181
Interesting. My bonty is virtually identical internally to the tellis...I did not know that. Took it apart last night and fiddled with the keys, including flipping them both. That seemed to improve the wobble, and a little extra grease smoothed out a little stickiness at the top. I think I can add a little spacer behind the keys to get it even firmer, but it might be good enough not to rattle now. This post is a huge improvement over the complete lack of user servicability of the thomson.
 

Changleen

Paranoid Member
Jan 9, 2004
14,335
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The SDG keys, despite being plastic, have an obvious 'way' they go in, they are rounded at one end and pop perfectly into machined slots of the same shape in the shaft. Seems to work pretty well.
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
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My PNW has some wiggle, but I dont let it bother me. Only time I notice is when I'm off the bike, otherwise, it has no apparent impact whilst riding, or in operation.

Is this not the case? Is amount of play indicative of some other performance measure? Or is it just a preference thing?
 

canadmos

Cake Tease
May 29, 2011
20,190
19,156
Canaderp
My PNW has some wiggle, but I dont let it bother me. Only time I notice is when I'm off the bike, otherwise, it has no apparent impact whilst riding, or in operation.

Is this not the case? Is amount of play indicative of some other performance measure? Or is it just a preference thing?
All the posts I've had or used have all had play.

Maybe solid at first, but everyone had play after use. Which I guess is expected given how most are designed.

This is play as in wigging or twisting. Not the entire upper portion pivoting around the bushing or something. If that happens, I'm sure its not good.
 

CrabJoe StretchPants

Reincarnated Crab Walking Head Spinning Bruce Dick
Nov 30, 2003
14,163
2,484
Groton, MA
No twist/rotational play in my KS Lev at the shaft at all....but there is a tiny amount of twist at the head/clamp if I really wrench on it. Have tried many times to make it go away and can't. Honestly pisses me off more that the play is there and not at the shaft/body interface.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
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My PNW has some wiggle, but I dont let it bother me. Only time I notice is when I'm off the bike, otherwise, it has no apparent impact whilst riding, or in operation.

Is this not the case? Is amount of play indicative of some other performance measure? Or is it just a preference thing?
Mine is/was loose enough that it was rattling on the trail. Like, I could hear it when going through rock gardens. Lots of people ride bikes that sound like garbage cans filled with nails and bees, but I've made a lot of effort to make mine quiet, which makes noise like this extra obnoxious. My thomson was mostly preference- a few mm of vertical play is not a deal breaker on the bike, but it was extremely obnoxious in the stand. I reversed the keys in my bontellisger and the play is dramatically lessened. If it's quiet on the trail, I'll be happy.
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
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Mine is/was loose enough that it was rattling on the trail. Like, I could hear it when going through rock gardens. Lots of people ride bikes that sound like garbage cans filled with nails and bees, but I've made a lot of effort to make mine quiet, which makes noise like this extra obnoxious. My thomson was mostly preference- a few mm of vertical play is not a deal breaker on the bike, but it was extremely obnoxious in the stand. I reversed the keys in my bontellisger and the play is dramatically lessened. If it's quiet on the trail, I'll be happy.
Fair enough. After a season on it, my PNW isn't noticeably noisy while riding, but I can see how it might get annoying if it was.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
My PNW has some wiggle, but I dont let it bother me. Only time I notice is when I'm off the bike, otherwise, it has no apparent impact whilst riding, or in operation.

Is this not the case? Is amount of play indicative of some other performance measure? Or is it just a preference thing?
My PNW wiggle is easily the worst and sloppiest out of my posts, especially alarming considering it’s seen less use.
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
8,767
Crawlorado
My PNW wiggle is easily the worst and sloppiest out of my posts, especially alarming considering it’s seen less use.
There any sort of remedy for that? Or is it just the way that it is?

I've never taken a dropper apart, so I'm not familiar with the insides.
 

iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
Could somebody rich try the Vecnum?

I have the AXS, don't really like it.
I have the Moveloc 2 and am happy with it. Besides it being super sensitive to clamping forces (I needed to buy their specific seatpost clamp, otherwise it would bind, could be the frame as well) and sometimes the lockring at the seal loosening a little it is super reliable. A re-grease once in a while and you are good. I like the fast action/movement and predefined heights.
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,628
5,443
I have the Moveloc 2 and am happy with it. Besides it being super sensitive to clamping forces (I needed to buy their specific seatpost clamp, otherwise it would bind, could be the frame as well) and sometimes the lockring at the seal loosening a little it is super reliable. A re-grease once in a while and you are good. I like the fast action/movement and predefined heights.
Yeah I really like the simple design, I stripped down a Thomson Elite today and did not enjoy pulling it apart, assembly will be less enjoyable. My Vryron was simple in comparison but needs a fancy bleeding tool when the seals poop out, our importer is an E-bike specialist, and needless to say, they can't do anything.
Vecnum next time.
 

iRider

Turbo Monkey
Apr 5, 2008
5,648
3,089
Yeah I really like the simple design, I stripped down a Thomson Elite today and did not enjoy pulling it apart, assembly will be less enjoyable. My Vryron was simple in comparison but needs a fancy bleeding tool when the seals poop out, our importer is an E-bike specialist, and needless to say, they can't do anything.
Vecnum next time.
Customer service was top notch for me as well. When I had the issue with binding after the initial install, they were super quick in helping over e-mail. Even gave me a special price for their seat post clamp (I hadn't ordered it initially because I thought I had a good one)! :thumb:
I am toying with the idea of buying a Vyron so I can move it between the bikes that I less often ride, but I am a bit scared with the reports of slow reaction times and it staying open for a moment before locking. I use the dropper a lot as we have quite a few of these short 10-15 sec downs, followed by an uphill.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
Customer service was top notch for me as well. When I had the issue with binding after the initial install, they were super quick in helping over e-mail. Even gave me a special price for their seat post clamp (I hadn't ordered it initially because I thought I had a good one)! :thumb:
I am toying with the idea of buying a Vyron so I can move it between the bikes that I less often ride, but I am a bit scared with the reports of slow reaction times and it staying open for a moment before locking. I use the dropper a lot as we have quite a few of these short 10-15 sec downs, followed by an uphill.
Even a slight delay of a second would be way too much. Think about coming up on a steep rock or a tree to duck under, you don't want to be lowering the seat before you need it and many times that decision is on the fly, not planned. I just can't see any delay being good.
 

Bikael Molton

goofy for life
Jun 9, 2003
4,010
1,146
El Lay
In case anyone else is waiting for one, Bike Yoke told me they will have the 213mm drop available in 34.9 MAXX size sometime in Q2.

I recently rebuilt my OneUp V2 again, this time with slickoleum, and it's less sticky for now. I got all the wear parts for free from their awesome customer service, though unfortunately the v2.1 actuator is not actually compatible with my v2 post. But, the new collar / dirt seal they sent me is noticeably less stiction-y than the original it replaced. IMO there was something faulty with the rubber on the original.