Just like mountain bike suspension, you get a wide variation of dropper post travel to choose from. Some brands go as high as offering 210mm of dropper post travel, and as low as 60mm. Deciding on travel length, comes down to your preference. If you want the saddle to disappear completely, then going for a longer travel dropper post would be best. But if you still want to feel it a little, then the shorter travel is better suited for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What we tend to see, is that XCO riders opt for the shorter travel dropper posts, since they are lighter, and quicker in response. However, for adventurous trail riders, a good choice is anywhere between 100mm and 180mm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat should you consider when buying a dropper post?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you did not already buy a bike with a dropper post included, and you are now considering purchasing an off the shelf dropper post, there are a few factors to look at. Your bike\u2019s frame design. Your seat-post dimeter. And your stack height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frame design:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMost modern mountain bike frames will have provision for internal cable routing to run a dropper post and attach the cable at the bottom of the dropper post. Especially dual suspension bikes. Otherwise it is possible to run the dropper post cable (if its not wireless that is) on the outside of the frame. However, you would need to look for a dropper post that allows the cable to attach to the top of it, just below the saddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second thing to look at on your frame is the insertion depth. How far the dropper post can go into your seat-tube without hitting an obstruction. Once again, most modern bike designers would have thought about this. How you measure it, is simply by taking a measuring tape (or a small rod), and run it down into seat-post tube until it hits something or cannot go any further. This is the limit for how far the dropper post and any seat-post in fact, can slide down into the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seat-post diameter:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnother very important factor to consider, is your seat-tube diameter. The standard for modern bikes is either 30.9mm or 31.6mm. However, some hardtails and older bikes may have the smaller 27.2mm seat-tube. So be sure to check the diameter of the dropper post to ensure it does indeed fit your seat-tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stack height:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nYour stack height is the measurement between your saddle rails and the edge of the seat-tube. Simply use a measuring tape to get the exact number. Then subtract around 40mm or 50mm from that number (to account for the dropper post collar). Do this to see how far the dropper post should peak out of the frame, to achieve your desired saddle height. But be careful not to hit the minimum post insertion limit, which is normally defined on the dropper post outer shell itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Value<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDropper seat-posts are primarily offered in cable or hydraulic actuation versions. However, the RockShox Reverb AXS is offered as wireless \u2013 expect to pay anywhere over 15k for that. Cable versions are a lot easier to maintain and at less risk of fatally disabling your dropper post in a crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With most dropper posts, the higher the price, the better the performance. Some good value buys that I have come across are the KS LEV Si, RockShox Reverb, Specialized Command IRCC and LYNNE Contour. What makes a good quality dropper post is its reaction speed, and weight. However the cheaper the dropper post, the more likely it is to require some TLC on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three recommended dropper posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most modern mountain bike frames will have provision for internal cable routing to run a dropper post and attach the cable at the bottom of the dropper post. Especially dual suspension bikes. Otherwise it is possible to run the dropper post cable (if its not wireless that is) on the outside of the frame. However, you would need to look for a dropper post that allows the cable to attach to the top of it, just below the saddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second thing to look at on your frame is the insertion depth. How far the dropper post can go into your seat-tube without hitting an obstruction. Once again, most modern bike designers would have thought about this. How you measure it, is simply by taking a measuring tape (or a small rod), and run it down into seat-post tube until it hits something or cannot go any further. This is the limit for how far the dropper post and any seat-post in fact, can slide down into the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seat-post diameter:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another very important factor to consider, is your seat-tube diameter. The standard for modern bikes is either 30.9mm or 31.6mm. However, some hardtails and older bikes may have the smaller 27.2mm seat-tube. So be sure to check the diameter of the dropper post to ensure it does indeed fit your seat-tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stack height:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your stack height is the measurement between your saddle rails and the edge of the seat-tube. Simply use a measuring tape to get the exact number. Then subtract around 40mm or 50mm from that number (to account for the dropper post collar). Do this to see how far the dropper post should peak out of the frame, to achieve your desired saddle height. But be careful not to hit the minimum post insertion limit, which is normally defined on the dropper post outer shell itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dropper seat-posts are primarily offered in cable or hydraulic actuation versions. However, the RockShox Reverb AXS is offered as wireless \u2013 expect to pay anywhere over 15k for that. Cable versions are a lot easier to maintain and at less risk of fatally disabling your dropper post in a crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With most dropper posts, the higher the price, the better the performance. Some good value buys that I have come across are the KS LEV Si, RockShox Reverb, Specialized Command IRCC and LYNNE Contour. What makes a good quality dropper post is its reaction speed, and weight. However the cheaper the dropper post, the more likely it is to require some TLC on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three recommended dropper posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nValue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n