Review: TranzX EDP01 Wireless Electronic Dropper Post

Sep 21, 2023
by Mike Kazimer  
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Wireless electronic dropper posts have been in existence since 2017, when Magura's Vyron post debuted. RockShox released their Reverb AXS dropper two years later, and in the years since it's become the most commonly seen housing-free option. There's just one problem – there's still no 200mm version, and no clear answers as to if / when we'll see one. That hole in the marketplace is slowly starting to fill with alternatives, including the TranzX EDP01 reviewed here.
EDP01 Dropper Details
• Travel amounts: 150, 170, 200mm (tested)
• 30.9 or 31.6mm diameters
• Weight: 767 grams / remote: 52 grams
• Two-year warranty
• MSRP: $499 USD (includes battery + remote)
• More info: na.tranzx.com

The EDP01 is available in 31.6 and 30.9mm diameters with either 150, 170, or 200mm of drop. The post is powered by a rechargeable 7.4 volt battery, and the remote uses a CR2032 battery. TranzX claims the post can be activated 6,000 times before needing a charge, although my fear of being stuck out on the trail with a non-functioning dropper caused me to charge it every handful of rides just to be safe.

photo
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INSTALLATION

There isn't any performance aspect of a wireless dropper post that makes it a must-have over a cable-actuated version, although the ease of installation does count for something. There's no cable and housing to deal with, and getting it up and running is as simple as putting the post in the frame, pairing it with the remote, and hitting the trail.

TranzX touts the post's short insertion depth, and while it is low at 290mm, the total length of the EDP01 from the bottom to the rails when fully extended is 545mm, while a 200mm OneUp dropper measures 530mm – the distance from the bottom of the collar to the seat rails is longer on the EDP01, due to the motorized mechanism. That means that to achieve the same seat height, the TranzX would need to be inserted further into a frame than the OneUp.

The post uses a one bolt design to clamp the seat into the rails, with another bolt at the front of the post that's used to adjust the seat angle. It's a convenient system, and I found it to be quicker to use than some of the more fiddly two-bolt options out there.


photo
The remote comes with a standalone split clamp, and it's also compatible with SRAM's Matchmaker clamp design.

PERFORMANCE

Initially, the EDP01's return speed was on the slower side, that is until I increased the air pressure in the cartridge to 350 psi (the maximum recommended) via the air valve on the bottom of the post. That helped speed things up, and while it still doesn't extend as quickly as a RockShox AXS, that faster return rate was an improvement. The effort it takes to lower the seat is fairly average – it's not as silky smooth as a BikeYoke, for example, or even the aforementioned Reverb AXS.

The good news is that it didn't develop any squishiness during the test period – the cartridge is still going strong. TranzX also sells replacement cartridges separately, and should an issue arise they can be swapped out in a matter of minutes. They may look and function similarly, but TranzX is adamant that the cartridges are not manufactured by Wintek, the company that makes the internals for many other dropper posts.

The remote lever is easy to access, and while it may not be the most elegant looking component, I don't have any complaints about its functionality.

As for the run time of the post, I did have the battery die on me partway through a ride. I'd left the battery installed during a three-hour drive with my bike on a vertical hitch rack, and then forgot to check its status before my next ride. It's a good reminder to take the battery out when driving longer distances; otherwise the road vibrations can potentially cause it to constantly try to pair with the remote and run the battery down, at least I'm assuming that's what happened.

That was the only hiccup I experienced, although I'd be tempted to purchase a spare battery to bring along on mega-rides, just in case (they're available for $49 USD). It's wishful thinking, but it sure would have been nice if the EDP01 battery was compatible with SRAM's AXS batteries, and vice versa.

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photo

ISSUES

After a few months of use the post started making a knocking noise when the seat was lowered and I went over chattery sections of trail. I eventually narrowed it down to the nut that attaches to the cartridge at the base of the post. That had loosened slightly, and was allowing the cartridge to move up and down and make a racket. I snugged it down, and it's been smooth sailing since.

photo


Pros

+ Very easy installation
+ No need to worry about cable routing or contaminated housing
+ Easy to disassemble for basic servicing

Cons

- Going wireless isn't cheap
- Not the fastest return speed
- Heavier than cable-actuated posts, even when factoring in the weight of cable + housing




Pinkbike's Take


bigquotesFor riders dead set on a wireless dropper, the EDP01 could fit the bill. It's still more expensive (and heavier) than the sea of fully functional cable-actuated options out there, but it's also not as pricey as a RockShox Reverb AXS, and it's available with 200mm of drop. I am glad of its existence, mainly for the ease that I can install it when a review bike inevitably arrives with a dropper that's too short. That said, I'm not entirely convinced that needing to remember to charge a battery is worth the tradeoff for a cleaner-looking cockpit.— Mike Kazimer




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Reviews and Tech Reviews Seatposts Tranzx Tranzx Edp01


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217 Comments
  • 143 96
 If you've ever had a dropper fail on a ride, it can be a pretty dramatic fail, so adding in a battery which increases the potential for failing is not my idea of a good time. Good luck with all your electronic doodads, I'm good with mechanical stuff.
  • 231 60
 If your battery isn't charged that's not the post failing, that's you failing. If you can charge a cell phone battery every day you can charge a dropper post battery once a month.
  • 60 31
 But you are removing cables and housings that can fail. 6 of one, half dozen of the other I suppose. I've had mechanical droppers fail on me multiple times. I've yet to have my AXS have any issues. On long rides I have a pack too, so putting a 20g battery as an extra isn't the end of the world, however, I've yet to have the thing die on me with reasonable charging schedule. aka once every couple of weeks regardless if I see a red light.
  • 59 29
 @warmerdamj: you’ve clearly not worked on enough AXS equipped bikes to know the contacts on the batteries fail, and the derailleurs, Flight Attendant modules, and seatposts can go braindead and need full replacement. On top of that, unlike a mechanical part that can usually be Macgyvered enough with a multitool and zip ties to keep you going, the electronic stuff often ends up being stuck in position which sucks if you’re way out there or on a trip without credible shop nearby.
  • 82 18
 @nation: I've had AXS posts and drivetrains for years but you're right I've never worked on them. Because they've never needed work. The stuff is solid and I'm sure this post is too.
  • 17 7
 @nation: exactly right. I had this exact thing happen to me at Trestles Bike park—long story, but I had a mechanical dropped fail on me and was able to rig up a method to make it work well enough not to mess up my day. If a control module, wire, batter lead, etc. craps out mid ride there’s nothing you can do.
  • 48 11
 Been 4 years now, never had Axs fail… but enjoy what you will.
  • 17 17
 @bmied31: even easier, if you also have AXS drivetrain, in a pinch when you screwed up and failed to charge a battery, you can shift the battery back and forth as needed to get home.

pretty impossible with a broken cable....
  • 5 5
 @Mtbdialed: yup, I'm in this boat. Nice to have a spare. Unlikely I will have both die at same time.
  • 19 7
 Yeah, I don't get the angst over batteries at all. It's just another thing that needs some form of maintenance just like every other part of the bike. It has failure modes and failure rates like everything else. Whether it's mechanical, electrical, chemical, or wizard magic makes little difference to me.
  • 45 6
 My dearest SRAM: Kindly make an AXS GX post for $399. Thanks.
  • 16 0
 @Uberbox: Just carry your soldering kit in your bike storage compartment.
  • 15 43
flag DustOnCrust FL (Sep 21, 2023 at 9:15) (Below Threshold)
 @sanchofula Did all of these e-Apologists miss the part where this hot e-Garbage post fails *during the drive to the trailhead*? Are toy fetishists in this sport really that desperate to have their wallets emptied by e-Pimps? The mind boggles...
  • 5 0
 @warmerdamj: great point - that's two extra modes of failure, then.
  • 9 1
 one of the bigger reasons i can see to use this (along with 200mm drop) would be to avoid headset cable routing. This plus axs shifting, and you could reroute a brake line externally and be done with cables and headset routing.
  • 38 7
 Are you guys really pretending you had a dropper cable or housing fail? Or that's even close to the likelihood of a battery losing charge or the seal that you're opening every day to charge your battery leaking?

And you couldn't figure out a way to move your post to get home after your cable "failed"? Really? That's what you're claiming happens to you regularly enough to justify spending more than 2x the price of any cable post?
  • 2 1
 @PHX77: you might start to find axs reverb heavily discounted now
  • 8 6
 @Weens: my current bike let's water down the seat tube. So since May I've replaced the housing 3 times and cable about 5, it also seized once. So while I'm sure I'm in the minority to have a crappy manufacturing tolerance on my frame a wireless post would fix this problem
  • 5 1
 @DustOnCrust: yeah, it's a bit of a disaster if any time the bike moves it wakes the battery powered everything, somehow draining the battery (but just Bluetooth pairing shouldn't exactly use energy compared to moving mechanical bits, so frankly, can't see how it got drained). Would be really useful if there was a little cable you could use to just suck a few joules out of a phone battery to get enough juice to get you home
  • 8 6
 Pretty easy to carry a spare cable, too. Weighs nothing and coils up small. I’ve carried one for years and never needed it, but should be able to swap a broken dropper or derailleur cable out in about 5 minutes trailside if needed
  • 3 0
 @nation: and how long have you owned AXS for?
  • 6 3
 @warmerdamj: exactly, I really don't understand the whole 'charging' s@@t up argument. Smart watch, smart phone, toothbrush blah, blah, blah......
  • 7 12
flag piaccarino (Sep 21, 2023 at 11:29) (Below Threshold)
 Ok boomer.
  • 8 0
 @piaccarino: Na I'm 45.
  • 11 0
 @warmerdamj: when my phone doesn’t work, I can still ride my bike and smile!
  • 7 4
 @Weens: LOL exactly. MTB industry is really grasping at straws these days to develop new product people actualy need.
  • 3 1
 @Weens: yes it always fails where the cables clamped as water runs down your seat tube and directly into your cable. Still going to keep buying £90 brand X droppers and just replace them when they need a service. It’s a no brainer at those prices.
  • 4 1
 still waiting for wireless brakes!!! Smile
  • 3 0
 “Battery which increases the potential” did you leave it charging?
  • 4 8
flag piaccarino (Sep 21, 2023 at 13:24) (Below Threshold)
 @chriss78: That was for @sanchofula - I guess I'm the boomer now.

I have some AXS shifting and droppers, some completely mechanical, and some a mix of AXS shifting and mechanical droppers. AXS droppers are the best I have ever used, two quick taps and it drops 10mm for better tech climbing, brilliant. I change batteries every few rides and carry a couple with me mostly for my kid that never charges his... never had an issue. I don't understand the "back in my day" attitude either. Buy it or don't, hope he has fun with his Model T.
  • 1 0
 @PHX77: it'll weigh a bit over a kilo tho.
  • 4 0
 @Weens: LOL, it really is comical.
  • 11 10
 Wow, lots of replies Smile

I guess I just don't get the "thneed" for certain things, so I totally get wanting a long dropper, I run 200+ on all my bikes, but it's hard to justify something when what you have works well.

Have I ever broken a cable, yeah, like once on a dropper and I got home fine cuz I know how to operate it without a cable.

But to take a dropper post which is already a potential weak leak (failed cartridges happen), then add a second weak leak, AND make it weigh a bunch more, wow, I just gotta wonder what folks are thinking.

I have a dropper and a QR binder so I can tweak it up or down, so simple, not much different from the days when a QR binder was your dropper.

You guys with your doodads are kinda wierd, like Strava users, it's the "keeping up with the Joneses" that allows manufacturers to keep selling us the goods, and you guys are driving this market.

How about putting your energies into something worthy, like a gearbox? Talk about beneficial and low maintenance, only cost is initial expense and the weight ... and if you use an electric dropper then clearly you don't care about that )
  • 3 2
 @sanchofula: Gearboxes are cool too, few companies working on those - even wireless shifting versions - just like companies that are making wireless components. Imagine that, we can have both.

Waiting for a rigid single speed rider without a dropper to swoop in here and complain about your "gears and dropper post doodads..."
  • 4 0
 @briain: can you talk to the NZ suppliers please, they want $1900 for one, just checked bike-components.de and they're 570 euro so just over a grand NZ. Bend over fellow kiwis and don't expect lube.
  • 1 0
 @warmerdamj: you CAN but SHOULD you though?
  • 1 0
 @briain: put an old dust wiper seal from a shock on the seatpost.
  • 3 1
 @bmied31: If this is what you're worried about, you should have spent the extra dollars on a Revive rather than an electronic dropper. Bikeyoke very unlikely to have issues, and if there is a cable issue, you can easily let it up and down with a 4mm allen key and the bleed functionality. And you'd get to enjoy the sublime action the 99.99999 . . . % of the time there is no issue with the housing and cable.

Buy electronic if you like, but not sure it dresses up well as a practical purchase.
  • 2 0
 @briain: Wut? Electronics like water even less than cables...
  • 2 1
 I had a mechanical dropper fail while racing the Windrock National at the top of a 10+ minute stage on the steepest part of the mountain. Wish I had AXS because it was the mechanical actuator that failed
  • 1 0
 @nilswalk:

You're advocating for _more_ maintenance, when the aim should be _less_ maintenance.
  • 2 0
 @briain: my Capra let water in and caused the actuator on my oneup to seize. I replaced the cable but first sprayed a ton of WD-40 silicone spray into the housing then fed the cable through. Cleaned up the actuator so it was smooth again and gave it a good bath with the same silicone spray. Lasted for another year and a half no issues, moved the dropper over to my la sal and still running a year later. Not guaranteed to work for you, but maybe something worth trying.
  • 3 1
 @warmerdamj: I hear you but as an owner of Fox live valve I can attest charging a phone nightly is easy but remembering to charge the bike which may need it anywhere from 2-6 weeks apart is near impossible. The upside for me is it still works ok if the battery dies but the same could not be said for a failing dropper. I wouldn't buy electronic suspension again but I got a killer deal on the bike and figured why not try it.
  • 2 0
 @PHX77: I'm waiting for the SX version, when it fails after 1 week of use it can become the fixed post on my DH bike.
  • 1 0
 @sanchofula: my feeling is there should always be a backup "get you home" option on these things. A mechanical mech has a couple of bodge options. A cable seatpost can be operated by hand/tool where the cable goes in (would get tedious, but would be fine for race stages etc). Pretty sure a Reverb can't be operated without a remote - I managed to pull the hose out in a crash, fortunately with the post down. I was at a race where the guy in front of me managed to somehow knock his AXS remote off, I think in a fall. Not going to find that again, and would have been a looong way with no way of operating the post
  • 1 0
 @dancingwithmyself: The issue is the cutout on the seatpost is way too long and lets water through there. I need to do something so I might try using heatshrink or just tape it up
  • 1 0
 @p0rtal00: Heard it said a few times that Kiwi's get screwed on price but that's ridiculous. It's probably equivalent to an Irish shop which is retail plus 10% but thankfully it's easy to get shipped from Germany. I'm honestly surprised the market hasn't been flooded with Chinese copies already
  • 1 0
 @Otago: Depends on the sealing. My watch, phone and axs derailleur seem pretty unbothered by how sweaty or wet I get them
  • 1 0
 @FaahkEet: Actually that's a good idea. The issue seems to be the cutout was cut too deep and water is getting past the dropper at the relief hole. Hasn't affected the actuator yet but the outer and inner cables end up orange furry messes and that through the summer. Presume it is not good for my BB either
  • 2 0
 @briain: At that point, I'd put a neoprene cover in there. The BB has a hole to keep the water from pooling in there?
  • 1 1
 You can check a battery status with a button press (AXS Reverb anyway) - how easy is it for you to check your cable condition?
Regularly 40 hours riding with the Reverb before hitting the 'low' battery warning. As @warmerdamj says if you can manage a cell phone you can manage AXS and it is by far the best dropper I have ever used (equal to BikeYoke and 9pointCool .
  • 1 0
 @andrewbikeguide: guess why it is equal to BikeYoke? LOL
  • 2 0
 @andrewbikeguide: My cable condition is checked every time I press the lever. After 4 years on a KS lev, one teardown to lub things up, nothing else was done. Not even charging a battery.
  • 1 0
 @Weens: I mean I have had two mechanical dropper remotes fail though. I don't have any plan or desire to swap to a wireless dropper but it certainly can happen.
  • 1 0
 @warmerdamj: in fairness, though my sample size of hundreds of AXS parts is large, the total failure rate is quite low hovering at or lower than 5/100.
  • 1 0
 @nickfranko: don’t own it, and probably won’t for as long as I can avoid it as it doesn’t really meet my needs or improve my experience on the bike. I do however work on AXS equipped bikes five days a week since the original release in 2019 so am intimately familiar with the problems it can face and SRAM’s warranty protocol when it does fail.
  • 2 0
 @briain: That makes sense. My Titan is a little like that and I had some seat post creaking after I first built it up, despite sufficiently greasing the post. Put a few wraps of electrical tape around the seat tube to cover the cutout and the post hasn't creaked since. I
  • 1 0
 @briain: yes, as we all know water and electrical are a perfect match
  • 1 0
 @bmied31: I can definitely see a cable failure on something like my bike yoke droppers that use those stupid end pieces that you use a 2.5mm and 3mm wrench to tight that piece that fits into the actuator. Though I've never had it happen.
  • 1 0
 @Uberbox: A dropper fail at a downhill park???!!! The agony! (:
  • 1 0
 I've had a Magura Veyron for 5 years, and it's never failed me. I re-charge it once every 4-5 months, whether it needs it or not. Plus I can easily swap it out for a rigid post to save weight on certain XC races.
  • 2 0
 @briain: Sixpack recently released a seatpost clamp with a cover for the cutout. Whyte have also done one for the past few years. Probably easier to get hold of the Sixpack one though as the Whyte has never been on their website
  • 1 0
 @IronWheel: Smile even wider than normal if your phone's not bothering you
  • 2 0
 @sanchofula: I'm with you. Really don't get the need to electrify everything that has worked almost flawlessly forever with something that can stop working just because you forgot to charge it. I like my bike because with very minimal maintenance it's always ready to just jump on and ride - no need for prompts or prep first.

Not sure we'll ever get a gearbox for the masses because the main players make money from new mechs, hangers, shifters etc every few years. It's one of the few old school things that probably could be improved, but isn't.
  • 2 0
 @JiminOz:

Agree.

Consider this also: you're replacing a steel cable and spring with a secret/proprietary radio communications protocol.
  • 1 0
 @JiminOz: I'm with you brother. Over 30 years riding I've broken one chain, one shift cable, and one derailleur (all on road bikes). I've had no mtb drivetrain failures. I'd say drivetrains are darn reliable.
  • 1 0
 @foggnm: I agree - I'm genuinely struggling to remember the last time a mechanical wrecked a ride. I don't ride like an animal, but I race enduro mid-pack. I've broken the odd spoke, had to replace wobbly worn out mechs, and pulled the dropper hose out in a crash, but it was down, so I finished the ride. I'm sure if you ride park hard every weekend, stuff seems less durable but I've no complaints nowadays
  • 1 0
 @p0rtal00: I’ve done a little bit of business with NZ. Other than the distance of shipping and relatively small market, NZ has some laws that massively favor consumers - there might be some allowance for that. And the high cost of living - gotta pay the sales and customer service staff a local wage.
  • 1 0
 @foggnm: I've started using brake cables from V brakes works a treat
  • 1 0
 @warmerdamj: you have a sample of 1 as opposed to a mechanic who deals with this everyday
  • 1 0
 @shredddr: I get what you mean and mostly I'd agree but an extra $900 NZD is a tad OTT. That's around $1100 USD for the post, how much is it where you live?
Odd segue here, we pay $6.50 ish USD for 10 mixed grade eggs, how much where you live?
  • 1 0
 The thing is, as I'm sure others have pointed out, that running out of battery power on a wireless post mid-ride is as easy as swapping out the battery for a freshie, whereas a cable snapping or getting kinked can be the end of that post's functionality for the whole ride. I doubt you'd be swapping out a dropper cable on the side of the trail.
  • 1 0
 @zmcfadden28: I always have a spare gear cable in the pack, so if I did snap a dropper cable somehow, I could do it I guess. Genuinely can't remember the last time I broke a cable - perhaps on my never maintained commuter a decade ago? No use on my reverb, mind! I was at a race last year where a rider knocked his AXS remote off in a crash and didn't notice till the bottom of the stage. Never going to find it - would have if it had a cable attached
  • 1 1
 @zmcfadden28: Already did that for a friend. The cable had not been tightened all the way. easy pizzi
  • 1 0
 @mountainsofsussex: another scenario is that his shifter breaks off and dangles off of his bar, then gets tangled up in his front wheel and causes a crash. See, there's two sides.
  • 48 3
 Electric?!?! Pssshhhh, I want my dropper running on steam power like the good lord intended.
  • 11 2
 what about some other hot gas, that may or may not be available near a seat post????


#PoweredByFarts
  • 19 0
 Steam? What kind of sorcery is that?
I want my dropper to work using the labour of slaves that run beside me and my bike on the trail.
Like the Sun God intended.
  • 9 0
 @nozes: flag checks out
  • 9 0
 @mick06: I was going for ancient Egipt,but...fair play.
  • 33 3
 I would pay 100 dollars more for a dropper to be wireless. Get out here with 500+ dropper posts. Wake me up in 8 years when they make a 300-dollar one.
  • 22 4
 This post is a pretty solid move forward from the price of a Reverb AXS.

I bought a used bike that came with an AXS post and I’ll never go back to cable actuated. It just works perfectly with zero maintenance ever.
  • 5 0
 @Chondog94: It sounds pretty nice, I've got a rat nest in front of my bike, and I would love to get rid of the housing. Just not worth doubling the cost of a dropper personally, they will come down eventually.
  • 12 1
 I agree. I've had a Reverb AXS for about a week (came with my new bike). It's a nice dropper, but I don't see any tangible benefit over a traditional dropper, apart from setup (which I didn't have to do). After a few rides, I came to the same conclusion as you--I might be willing to pay up to $100 extra for the wireless, but nothing more.
  • 8 7
 @Chondog94: almost nothing is "zero maintenance ever", especially not a dropper post... and you have to refill your battery often, which is a kind of "maintenance" we don't have on a mechanical dropper.
  • 4 0
 There are $60 droppers on the market that are "wireless", they just are not remote. Operated with a lever below the seat.
  • 4 4
 @danstonQ: no, instead you have to fiddle with cable tension and lube a cable.

Far more tedious than a quick charge.
  • 4 4
 @nickfranko: if "fiddling with cable tension and lubing a cable" is maintenance for you, I don't imagine what an inner maintenance must be.
I know your answer: "I just pay someone to do it 'cos I'm lazy and left-handed".
  • 2 1
 In 8 years they'll cost $700+. Because "inflation". You heard it here first.
  • 5 0
 @danstonQ: hey don't hate on the left-handed!!! some of us do our own maintenance....
  • 4 2
 @danstonQ: You’re right. I have to swap in a charged spare battery every once in a while.

But outside of that, I have literally never had to touch the thing in the 100’s of rides I’ve used it on.
  • 1 0
 @mi-bike: Why is inflation in quotes?
  • 2 0
 @nickfranko: once every 3 years or so.
  • 1 0
 @Chondog94: This is why I like AXS. I rode both bikes 1000km each this year and charged my AXS twice. Had to mess with my xtr as the cable stretched and the clutch wore out and then when I tightened it too much so it is quiet at Whistler it is hard to shift to the easiest gears. The more I ride them side by side the more I think AXS is ok. I didn’t like it at first. It took all of BCBike Race plus 700km to get a good understanding of how it is different/better/worse.
  • 1 0
 @boozed: It's in quotes because the price of a single product can fluctuate for multiple reasons, not just inflation. People tend to blame price hikes on inflation although it could be (partly) something else.
  • 19 1
 I don't think I've ever touched the cable on my dropper in like 3 years/3k miles. Including a lot of wet. I don't see any advantage of the AXS.

Also EDP is a terrible name for anything haha
  • 7 0
 EDP

Eventual DP - when the battery fails
Extra DP - the cost of the battery
Envy DP - your friends think the grass is greener
Exotic DP - Transx?
  • 5 0
 @CobyCobie If only you commented earlier and solely on EDP plus with a better joke around it, this could be a wonderful PinkBike thread. Now I think the chance is lost, sadly. Agree on the cable, btw Smile
  • 3 2
 That's lucky, I've been on the other side of the coin. Man I've had bad luck with droppers. I have one now that's stuck down. I just leave it there and shuttle/park only with that bike now. My wife has a Repeater with headset routing, which sucks on it's own. When she turned left, slightly sharp, it'd activate the dropper and the seat would go up. She ate shit hard descending a trail up at Sun Peaks because the saddle popped up. when she crashed the cable ripped out from the bottom of the dropper and busted the mech on the bottom so it was stuck up. I had to take the saddle off and purge all the air so she could get back. Not say a wireless one wouldn't have its risks but dude cables activating stuff can suck.
  • 4 0
 @los36:

www.distractify.com/p/what-happened-to-edp445
  • 1 0
 @daugherd: What are you running? My PNW droppers have been incredibly reliable. I did have an actuator back out once and it got stuck in the low position, but it took 2 minutes to fix. That trip was also an incredibly abusive whistler weekend that saw a broken shifter cable, a backed out thru axle (?????), and a shock body unthread itself. I've seen the cables rust, which is one of the reasons it isn't a good idea to spray them with a hose.

My reverb was garbage and my non-cartridge 9.8 was not great but my coil sprung PNW droppers have been dead reliable. I just grease every few months, which takes all of 1 minute.
  • 2 1
 @CobyCobie:
I have a fox transfer, Bike Yoke, YT Postman and a PNW on my bikes and my wife have OneUp on both her mtbs.

Fox failed in Golden, lever broke, so not a post failure but it was the shit fox transfer lever
YT most recently got stuck down
PNW had bad seals and would sag.
Wifes OneUp was the one that broke in Sun Peaks.

The only one a wireless dopper would have been good would have been my wives here. I just tend to have shot luck with these things. Oddly my old KS Lev with external routing never had a single issue.

All have been fix with the exception of the YT because it’s on my capra. Oldly the YT had the best feel.
  • 10 1
 I'd be a lot more tempted if they could make it compatible with the AXS batteries I already have. The last thing I need is Yet Another Battery System. AXS for me has hit a sweet spot with size, longevity, and with AXS on a couple bikes already I already have a spare.
  • 7 0
 Something tells me SRAM isnt keen on sharing that interface. But it sure would be nice to have a universal standard for all things electronic on the bike
  • 5 0
 I am sure Sram patented the battery shape/interface. so that's a nonstarter really.
  • 3 0
 @Mtbdialed: It will probably be a short time before you can buy a conversion plate from TransX to SRAM. Just eBay a conversion plate for power tools, for different battery usage.
  • 1 0
 @mtmc99: AA's?
  • 6 0
 @Assclapp: DD's?
  • 1 0
 @Mtbdialed: That's the reason the Campagnolo wireless transmission has different batteries for the front and rear mech, some weird shapes and anchoring shit.

Even if you make a completely new battery format, you can't use it for the front and rear mechs, because sram has the patent for that.

Why has no one just made a seald enclosure for an omnious 18650, I'll never understand.
  • 8 0
 Dropper post have come a long way since I first introduced them in 2001 (Hurricane Elevator Shaft) where the first models had indexed drops within 75mm of total drop, accessed by a pull knob on the shaft to raise/ lower it. Our later and last version had a lever on the handlebar similar to current designs.
I love seeing all the advancements and appreciate that companies are not resting on just cable( or hydraulic) activation.
  • 8 0
 I have no idea why companies continue to put the battery behind the seat. Plenty of realestate in front, and you gain more tire clearance. Some sized bikes already rub the seats at full compression.
  • 5 0
 One of the EWS(EDR) guys has an reverb axs where they made him custom rails so he can run it backwards to protect the battery
  • 5 0
 Maybe they put it in back in case people hang their bike by the nose of the seat?
  • 2 0
 @briain: Seth from Berm Peak/Bike Hacks did the same thing. Due to his height he was having an issue on his Revel bike where the rear tire would make contact with the battery and pop it right off. He rigged it so he could have it in the front of the post. It was a hackjob though.
  • 1 0
 @bmied31: Yeah I remember that. As far as I know Seth is a really short guy so that where the issue seems to be. I'm also sure it would only effect certain frame suspension layouts
  • 1 0
 Drag lifts/ T-bar lifts are quiet common in small bike parks in germany. You propably can't use them with that post or with axs...
  • 3 0
 Better idea: put the battery on the handlebar in the control and run a derailleur cable to the post.
  • 10 1
 Good on companies like Tran X, Brand X etc etc for keeping cycling affordable in these days.....
  • 1 0
 Shimano Cues will be big too.
  • 10 0
 Holy stack height batman!
  • 5 0
 Mike has picked this up in his copy, but it would have been worth a mention in the "cons" bit
  • 5 0
 I honestly see an electric dropper in my future from the stand point of I have young kids and being able to pull the post out quickly to install or remove a tag along adaptor quickly. I don't want to have the adaptor on all the time and its kinda a pain the in the arse always disconnecting everything to pull the post to install the adaptor.
  • 2 0
 Tag along adapter on a dropper post seems like it's asking for problems. Removing and using a dedicated rigid post seems like a better idea and I have done that in the past and a wireless dropper would make easier
  • 1 0
 This is a use case I hadn't considered for wireless and it's a great point
  • 2 0
 @Cerps: Seems like the way to do it is have the tagalong permanently mounted to a cheap fixed post, and swap in the dropper when you're not towing your kids.
  • 5 0
 I use one on my Specialized bike as it's the only way to get the post 'almost' fully inserted. The internal cable routing causes an extra inch below a normal post. More of a negative on Specialized bikes than a plus for e-droppers but they offer a good solution.
  • 22 18
 I would argue there is absolutely a performance advantage from a wireless dropper over a cable actuated one. Cables get dirty, they stretch and can start to give resistance to the lever. Remote droppers avoid all this. And in regards to a regular reverb they eliminate the housing full of fluid which gives more opportunity to get air in there. Remote droppers are honestly just so much better and it's great to see more options.
  • 17 12
 That’s not performance, that’s maintenance (or lack thereof)
  • 10 3
 @notthatfast: It is maintenance too, but when your lever starts to feel like shit it's performance imo.
  • 3 3
 All you have to do with this one is remember air cartridges and hope the vibrations don't cause the remote to constantly pair, killing the battery.
  • 1 1
 Regular reverb Big Grin
  • 12 10
 I think most people can agree that a quick-release seatpost clamp with a rigid post would be a better option than a hydraulic Reverb. So if that's all AXS has to compete against, the bar is low.
  • 5 6
 And when my mechanical dropper fails, i can service it myself. When any of this wireless sh*t fails all you can do is sit there and stare at it.

The E-grift has gotten out of hand.
  • 16 6
 Y'all are on something, as an electrical engineer who works on consumer electronics the last thing I was in my dropper is a circuit board and motor as additional failure points.

A dirty housing isn't going to leave you with a stuck high dropper on the trail, but a blown IC or fried motor definitely will. And if you think the long term reliability of a brushed motor and plastic gearbox is higher than that of a Bowden tube (shifter housing) then I'd just straight up disagree.
  • 6 3
 @warmerdamj:
Maintain your shit then goddamn it
  • 3 5
 @notthatfast: I don't need to because all my shit is electronic and functions perfectly.
  • 2 1
 @ATXZJ: It has an electronic module there the same mechanically so it's the same to service
  • 1 4
 @briain: I understand some of the mechanicals are the same but thats where the issue ends with a standard dropper. I've pulled multiple brands of droppers apart and serviced them. Including some that were "non serviceable" like some of the KS stuff. Seems every BT device or app needs constant updating and fiddling with. Patches, bugs, and glitches are things I don't want to bother with.

When we've gotten to a point that not even a bicycle can survive an EMP, then we're up in the night as a society.

Middle aged rant off
  • 3 2
 @ATXZJ: Patches, bugs and glitches have nothing to do with AXS. This isn't windows 95.
  • 2 0
 @warmerdamj: It was windows 98.

That's also fine and it's not a condemnation on anyone's choice to accept AXS into their life, so take solace in that.

In my experience when it comes to tech, nothing seems to works right without a fight. Every patch has a patch to fix the bugs in the previous patch. Daily life is over complicated enough by tech that supposed to make our lives better. How anyone would want an app to ride their bike is beyond me.
  • 1 1
 @ATXZJ: lol fine, windows 98.
  • 2 3
 @warmerdamj:
LOL that's rich. Sram's AXS components have TONS of bugs and glitches. As does this tranz-x dropper.
  • 1 0
 @ATXZJ: I guess each to their own. I've serviced plenty of droppers and suspension so an extra electronic module doesn't faze me. I think the bigger issue is the availability of parts
  • 5 0
 @warmeramj

> Cables get dirty, they stretch and can start to give resistance to the lever.

Cables do not get dirty. I don't know which cable actuated droppers you have used but mine has full housing from the lever all the way to the dropper. There is no room for dirt to enter.

Cable do stretch mostly at the beginning of their life...and that is what barrel adjusters are for. You typically only use them once a few days after installation and...that's it. I can't recall the last time I had to adjust the cable tension, I think it was + 3years ago.

Cables do age and get corroded as do housing but it literally takes years, especially for a fully routed cable. It is not like the exposed derailleur cable of an old road bike. The cable on my dropper is I think 4 year old.
  • 1 0
 @git-r-done-bud: For all their bad reputation, my hydraulic actuated Reverb has worked perfectly for 3 years.
  • 1 0
 @dsut4392: You've done well to get 3 years. Although if it's not in cold weather I think it helps. I don't actually think a reverb is a bad post learn how to do the rebuild yourself and it's an hour once a year to rebuild
  • 13 9
 Heavier, less reliable, marginal performance, and far more expensive.....but heeeeeyyyy it's electronic so you really need to buy one. What a heap. My original trans-x is running perfect after three years. No battery charging, no problems. Only a sucker buys this product.
  • 7 6
 Fortunately the mountain bike market is full of suckers.

Just look at the comments in here: there's people stumbling all over themselves to point out how it's totally worth it to add 200 grams of weight, a bunch of extra complexity, and a battery that needs charging. But at least there's no cable!
  • 5 0
 I have arthritis in my thumb and sometimes the cable actuation hurts my thumb. I'm guessing this would help. Has anyone else experienced pain in their fingers/thumbs and found electric makes a difference?
  • 3 0
 If cable, you should try the Wolf Tooth Remote light action. I have been using it for several years. Much easier on the thumb.
  • 2 0
 It's actually the main reason I use an AXS post. It solved my issue 100%
  • 4 0
 "I'm not entirely convinced that needing to remember to charge a battery is worth the tradeoff for a cleaner-looking cockpit"
^^^
Still my overarching opinion about electronics and batteries on MTBs in general.

[I've ridden AXS and it's really good... so I'm glad it's out there for folks who want it. But I still prefer cheaper and simpler mechanical solutions on my personal bikes]
  • 3 0
 Been running one since June and never had a problem with the battery. My battery actually seems to hold a charge longer than my SRAM AXS battery. I probably charge it once every 20 hours of riding and have never had it run out of juice. Like Kaz mentioned, it's a bit slow to extend, but think a dropper's ability to compress is more important than it's extension speed. I have a Fox Transfer on my other bike and the KLUNK sound it makes along with the speed is impressive, but I haven't noticed it being that advantageous over the Trans X. For the price, it's a great dropper and keeps your bars clean. I hate internal routing, so it was a no-brainer. I've had a Reverb AXS on my old bike and couldn't justify the price difference for recreational riding.
  • 7 0
 AXS Reverb has left the chat
  • 7 0
 Drop it like it’s Watt.
  • 3 0
 Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I present to you
  • 2 0
 I always get Amped up for a PB pun thread.
  • 4 0
 It may be double the cost off the cheapest dropper out there but compared to a Fox factory or a rockshox reverb its only $100 to $150 more.
  • 4 2
 Don’t be a jelly belly, homies. Thousands of riders here on a wide variety of bikes- just fit your bike with what… well.. fits. Are you going to put a wireless dropper on a steel bikepacking rig? Probably not. But what about a full sus with an AXS drivetrain? Hellz yes. The clean cockpit is so nice. What I found is the reverb Axs has some squishy extra suspension built in, which is a nice bonus for your Heinie
  • 4 0
 I"m sorry. Remind me why we have 30.9 and 31.6? They're so close it's ridiculous to have them both. We should have 27.2, 30.9 and 34.9 - three distinct sizes. That's it.
  • 2 0
 i'm not even sure a battery operated dropper is what most people need.

just from the comments it would be rad if mechanical droppers had a secondary (manual) means of operating the dropper, say, a lever under the seat if the main mechanism failed, or cable broke.
  • 1 0
 bikeyoke revive
  • 2 0
 What no one has noticed is that there is a deep State conspiracy to spilt the mountain bike community to prevent it from taking over the world.

First it was Lycra - or not. We argued that one within the community for years.
Then
Helmets - or not.
Then
Suspension - or not.
Then
26 - or not.
Then...

There’s a pattern here. Now remote droppers or not.

Mountain bikers of the world unite!
Stop arguing - it’s what the deep State wants!

Unite! Ride! Scrub!

Nothing can hold us back from world domination!
  • 3 0
 Got 3 AXS Reverbs, all 3 years old, no problems out of any - absolutely the way to go. Say what will, but its an unbelievable product
  • 1 0
 I bought one of these, very easy to set up, but the little cover over the green light on the post keeps popping out when i activate the dropper.....wonder if there is a faulty seal somewhere and air is pushing it out. Anyone else have this issue?
  • 4 0
 “Not the fastest return speed” being listed as a pro is going to be a first for me.
  • 3 1
 Don't know, reverbs fastest setting is a literal nutcracker
  • 6 0
 @briain: I wouldn’t know, as I have balls of steel.
  • 2 0
 @Bikesbecauserunningsucks: I beg your pardon, I saved a few grams ‘cause mine are made of carbon.
  • 1 0
 If it did fail on a ride if you let all of the air out of the canister would the post just stay down? Could you then just pump it up with air to make it extend again? Lots of faffing about but just wondering if that would be a solution if needed.
  • 1 0
 No, the air provides the spring to extend the post. The oil inside acts like locking out your fork. When you activate a dropper, mechanical or electronic, you're opening a path for that oil to flow when you sit on the saddle. When you release the actuator, the oil path closes and the dropper is locked out again. So to answer your question, if you let the air out, you would still have no way to actuate the oil flow gate and you would still not be able to change the saddle's height.
  • 2 1
 Target audience: Cable tourists. It's the tail wagging the dog but if I have to drop my motor and remove my battery just to reposition my seatpost by God I'm ditching the bike or looking at wireless option. I'm looking at you Orbea Wild 2023. Absolute shit cable tourism.
  • 2 1
 Another plus of wireless is for travel. The ability to pull the whole post out quickly and easily and not have to worry about the cable disappearing inside the frame. Bonus is that if your bike and bag is pushing the weight limit, its easy enough to shove the post and saddle in your carry on. Price is still a bit of an issue - but non-wireless posts have been edging upwards so the gap is narrowing. I suspect at some point in the future, like drivetrains, there won't be cable options....
  • 2 0
 I think what you just mentioned is why the pro's all use them. I half remember some pro mechanic saying they insisted the rider use reverb axs as it makes their lives so much easier
  • 2 0
 I have a (loaded) question. I do not own any wireless bike parts. What happens to the AXS signal when you ride under some high-tension lines? I remember the wireless bike computers would stop reading clicks.
  • 2 0
 In my experience, no effect.
  • 2 0
 When I built the next bike, after the one I had with an AXS Reverb, I didn't buy another seatpost, just another AXS controller, and I swapped the post between the bikes. Took about a minute to swap and pair.
  • 4 0
 $700.00 CDN for a dropper post,
  • 5 5
 Running cable and housing for a dropper is a huge pain in the ass in some frames, so I kinda get it, but I think this is one of those "the cure is worse than the disease" times.

Bike Yoke Revive = ~$350
Get a bike shop to install it for you = $100 at most

So, for $50 LESS, you get a smoother dropper, less stack height, easy post recharging, zero battery recharging needed, and a zero-hassle install (because you're not doing it yourself). I guess you might be in for slightly more maintenance in the future but as long as there's cable/housing in the frame already, replacing it is really not bad.
  • 1 1
 @charliewentoutside: I like my BikeYoke fine, but the clamp on the lever isn't the greatest. I had issues with it pulling out of the mounting point. Mostly the fault of the shop that assembled bike, but it's not a great design. Also sucks that the Allen bolt is smaller than every other one on my bike and only some multi-tools have an Allen that small. I'm carrying a separate single Allen just for that dumb bolt.
  • 3 3
 I'd have to agree with a bunch of other comments in this thread. I'd be willing to pay $100 for the wireless upgrade. But double the price when comparing apples to apples (Reverb vs AXS or standard Tranz X vs this post). I just don't see where it's worth that kind of money.
  • 1 0
 There's really one use case IMO, which is putting a dropper on a frame that literally has no way to route a cable, like a carbon gravel frame with zero internal cable routing ports left that you can't tape a cable to.
  • 3 0
 You technically get a free lever which is another 50-100 bucks
  • 2 0
 Even if this fails there is no cables connected to it I’d put my whole post in my shorts for descending and put it back in when I have to climb lol
  • 1 0
 Now that's too practical...thumbs up!
  • 3 0
 When is Fox going to make a Golden E-Post!?!? I want GoOoOoLD!!!
  • 1 0
 This review came out a week to late. I Couldnt find any reviews on this post so i just got a Fox transfer post on sale. I love the ease of a wireless dropper.
  • 4 1
 Bike Yoke Revive or nothing.
  • 7 6
 The irony of some using an electronic device to complain about electronic devices is completely lost on some of these commenters :/
  • 3 2
 This word you keep using, I don't think it means what you think it means.
  • 2 1
 @bmied31: I don't think you mean what you think you mean.
  • 1 0
 I do like the lever on this post more then the other wireless options.....although I haven't tried it yet, it looks like a better design.
  • 1 0
 This product also means that we're gonna see OEM electronic seatpost in first mount. TransX makes the generic dropper seatposts that brand put thei name on
  • 1 0
 Competition is good and will hopefully drive down prices! I have the AXS post and its been flawless- wish it was a bit lighter but I've been nothing but impressed with it.
  • 1 0
 Don't trust TransX / JD Components to warranty their product.they won't replace the defective dropper I received new with a bike.
  • 2 0
 Is that a red rockshox zeb i see?
  • 2 0
 I'd still get a Bikeyoke instead
  • 1 0
 Check out that WTB Devo saddle with a functional handle on it! It's beautifully functional.
  • 1 0
 I'm looking forward to seeing Bike Yoke's new e-dropper. Should be pretty sweet.
  • 1 0
 since the market is going full electronic why not just get a bloody surron at this point
  • 3 2
 I've seen better, for cheaper.
  • 2 3
 Good idea for those who have too much money and want to throw it by the window so as to get more weight on their bike for zero gain. ... and that's why Sunday Joe wants it
  • 1 1
 Look I get the appeal but man mechanical stuff works so well for so much less I cant justify this stuff lol
  • 3 2
 Heavier, slower, less reliable and more expensive? Well sign me up!
  • 2 0
 But is it less reliable?
  • 3 2
 Call me old school, but I do not want any electronic shit on my bikes.
  • 3 1
 but barspins.
  • 1 0
 The edp445 is coming for MY24, comes with a free cupcake
  • 3 3
 F##king batteries because everyone is too lazy to pedal...or thread a f##cing cable.
  • 4 6
 Wireless droppers, can't wait until hackers find a way to control my seatpost and launch me into space at the worst possible time.....
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