Considering a dropper seat post....

Jonesinamilion

Any recommendations?

Looking for min 125mm drop, remote, cheap, light, reliable, externally routed, don't mind waiting for delivery I.e imported. Would consider 2nd hand I'd the price & condition is right.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Thewaylander

You can have all those things if you drop the cheap bit..

Rookie1986

How much are you looking to spend? Also after reading several post/threads with people suffering problems and needing to return their dropper seat I wouldn't recommend second hand unless it was your only option.

Droppers start anywhere from around £50 (TMARS) and go up into the hundreds (RockShox Reverb Stealth) obviously there are big differences between these, the TMARS isn't hydraulic, it has three preset heights, external routed cable etc etc

Unfortunately I don't own one myself so can't give any recommendations on what to pick but the lads that I know who have them say it's a game changer and worth spending the extra money to get one of the decent ones.

JGTR

I have the RS Reverb, £180, best money I've ever spent. Think KS have just launched a cheaper dropper, and there are others, but I failed to find any consistent positive feedback on cheaper posts. Reverb pretty much got full marks very where, plus spares are stupidly easy to get hold of.

bigmitch41

I wouldn't go second hand, get a new one then at least you have warranty with it. Rockshocks reverb is my recommendation, ive got the stealth on my Whyte 129s and I bought the Wife one for Her Giant Trance. Brilliant piece of kit that I couldn't do without now.

trek_dan

For a few quid the Ebay special (RSP Plummet / Satori) style mechanical ones aren't bad at all. They are cheap but think only 100mm.

HardrockRob

Reverb - not cheap but seems to be the most reliable out there. Had two (on different bikes) and no problems whatsoever. Dropper posts are one of those things that once you have had one you can't do without.

Jonesinamilion

Thanks all for the replies, keep them coming!

It's a luxury and I've never tried one so don't want to be spending a couple of hundred, maybe £100-120 max ideally.

Will not buy used based on your advice.

What's main differences / benefits / cons between hydraulic & cable? Can't see it being as important as on say brakes.

Just measuring my seat post etc... I could just live with 100mm but 125 would be preferred; as I see it if you want the seat out of the way, you want it out of the way!

Jonesinamilion

Review of the tmars post if it's any use to anyone.

http://www.pinkbike.com/u/swayze88/blog/an-average-riders-review-of-the-tmars-dropper-post.html

Think I've talked myself out of this one.

JGTR

Defo 125 if you can, if your going to drop your saddle you want it as low as possible.

M9DBO

I'm about too get a dropper too (Rock Shox Reverb). Been thinking of doing it for a good few months. Can I go for the bigger drop on an Orange Five? Not sure how to work this out, been digging online too. I'd like to drop a low as possible.

Another question; can you only ride with the seat in either fully dropped or extended positions? Or can you release and set the post to ANY extension and ride on it? This might be a stupid question, but I have form with that!!

smep

Any views on the specialized dropper.
Steve

rockmonkeysc

I would recommend hydraulic operation over cable. It's more reliable, needs less maintenance and isn't effected by mud and dirt.

Jonesinamilion

Any opinion / experience with these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/301735609024?adgroupid=13585920426&hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=aud-133395220626%3Apla-142405555266&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fipn%253Dicep%2526icep_id%253D67%2526mtid%253D1673%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D50600204586_563391%2526icep_item_id%253D301735609024%2526itemid%253D301735609024%2526icep_meta_categ_id%253D888%2526icep_etrs%253DN%2526icep_epid%253D-999%2526icep_ctlg%253D-999%2526icep_cond%253DNew%2526targetid%253D142405555266%2526rpc%253D0.00%2526rpc_upld_id%253D0%2526device%253Dt%2526icep_msku_flag%253Dn%2526icep_cbt%253Dy%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D1007121%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D207297426%2526adgroupid%253D13585920426%2526rlsatarget%253Daud-133395220626%253Apla-142405555266%2526gclid%253DCLSdqdacicsCFfAy0wodwOcEUw%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvr_id%253D985635213014&adtype=pla&ff3=1&lpid=122&poi=&ul_noapp=true&limghlpsr=true&ff19=0&googleloc=1007121&device=t&chn=ps&campaignid=207297426&crdt=0&ff12=67&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff14=122&viphx=1&ops=true&ff13=80

As you can tell, I'm desperate to avoid spending circa £200!

rockmonkeysc

You said you want minimum 125mm drop, that ones only 110mm.
Buying cheap often works out more expensive. Buy a Reverb, it might cost you around £180 but it's got a two year warranty and rarely goes wrong and you can buy service parts to keep it running smoothly.
My Reverb had a problem a few weeks before the two year warranty expired and they just swapped it for a new one.
Cheap could be a false economy. You can't get service kits, they don't have as good warranty and they aren't as well made.

JGTR

Best thing I ever bought for my bike, Reverb can be ridden in any position.

Jonesinamilion

Anyone had any experience with the nukeproof oklo?

Can be had for just under £130

Crazyjenkins01

It's on,y 100mm but my KS eTen is the best money I've spent. About £120 price mark

Angus Young

Crazyjenkins01 wrote:

It's on,y 100mm but my KS eTen is the best money I've spent. About £120 price mark

That'a the one I've got on my Kona. Has worked pretty flawlessly for the most part and, for a relatively cheap post, does the business well. Plus, the back up is first rate. The one time is did go squiffy it was off, fixed and back on the bike within three days! Thank you to Jungle Products for an example of customer service as it should be done.

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I would recommend hydraulic operation over cable. It's more reliable, needs less maintenance and isn't effected by mud and dirt.

While it's certainly true that mud and dirt can affect the cable it's only a problem in winter months once it gets properly sloppy and, once I'd figured out what the issue was the maintenance was very easy. When it first got sticky I was unnecessarily all over the post looking for complicated gremlins but once I twigged what the issue was it was less hassle than lubing a chain. So while hydraulic is better, I wouldn't worry too much about cable operation if you're on a budget.

Droppers in general are the best thing since sliced bread.

Crazyjenkins01

Agree totally Angus. Pretty cheap (I got mine for a smidgen less) and great post. Very little play, works well and so far no issues!

Angus Young

Crazyjenkins01 wrote:

Very little play, works well and so far no issues!

Yes, solid as a rock and doesn't have the 'play' that I've seen in a lot of more expensive posts. The only negative is that it's quite heavy compared to something like a Stealth.

Crazyjenkins01

Haven't compared it to others as I was on a budget when purchased! Also didn't want preset drops so this was the best option and has improved my riding massively. Now to just get properly fit so I cant attack the trails a bit more than I do!

Jonesinamilion

Thanks crazyjenkins & Angus, I'll take a look at it.

How does the 100mm drop work for you?.. Was hoping to be able to go for 125mm.

Crazyjenkins01

125 would be nice but even 100 is better than fixed height!

.blitz

Jonesinamilion wrote:

Anyone had any experience with the nukeproof oklo?

I had one of the original ones. When it was new it was OK in a Deore kind of way but it was always obtrusive - heavy, klunky to operate and the action was unpredictable. After relatively little use the seat clamp started to come loose which I understand is a common problem but CRC fixed it under warranty and I sold it on. apparently the new ones are better but even heavier

cubedean

I'm suprised no one has asked what diameter the post is.

I have a 27.2mm KS lev integra which is great. The Eten is available fairly cheap too.

If like me you have a frame with a smaller diameter post you are limited on choice as the reverb is only 31.6 iirc.