RockShox Reverb Review
Dropper posts are quickly becoming the norm for many riders, especially those who frequent rolling terrain and want to avoid stopping to adjust their saddle height when the trail gets dicey. Even pure cross-country riders are seeing the light as they realize that the handling advantages in tricky terrain easily outweighs the additional weight over a standard post. There are now many options to choose from, but RockShox's Reverb is the only telescoping post that makes use of a hydraulic hose to control its movement. The Reverb offers either 100 or 125mm (tested) of hydraulically controlled travel, along with infinite saddle height adjustments anywhere between full extension and completely dropped, and is controlled by their XLoc bar mounted remote. The Reverb is available in 30.9mm and 31.6mm diameters, and retails for $370 USD.
The Details
The Reverb is available in two different travel options, either 100 or 125mm of drop, to best suit your riding, height and seat tube length. While a lot of riders will question the reason for going with the 100mm version, it will make sense for shorter riders thanks to its 355mm total length. The 125mm version that we review here can be had in either 380 or 420mm lengths, with my long legs requiring the taller of the two options. A dual bolt head without indexing offers infinite saddle tilt adjustments, and the bolts thread into steel inserts to prevent heavy handed home mechanics from causing any fatal damage.
![RockShox Reverb]()
The post is activated with RockShox's XLoc remote - the very same that controls their fork's lockout function - by pushing 2.5wt hydraulic fluid down the line and opening the Reverb's main oil flow valve. The setup is not only slightly lighter than a more traditional steel cable and housing, but should also offer the advantage of not being susceptible to contamination when riding in the rain and mud. It also features an aluminum dial that is used to adjust the post's return speed. Turning the dial alters the oil volume within the remote system, raising or lowering the height of the main valve within the post. Different heights allow you to use more or less of the taper on the valve, dictating the amount of oil flow that is allowed to move between the inner and out tubes.
![RockShox Reverb explained]()
One of the key design features hidden within the Reverb is that its 2.5wt hydraulic remote fluid, post oil and air springs are all kept completely separate from each other. The remote fluid is contained within the XLoc trigger, hose and the post's head, while the air spring is enclosed at the bottom of the outer tube. The post oil that allows the Reverb to travel up and down, and also be held firmly in place, flows between the inner and outer tubes, and is backed up with an internal floating piston (IFP) to keep the Reverb from becoming soft if the saddle is raised by hand.
Installation and Bleeding
The Reverb installs like any other seat post, with the addition of routing the hydraulic line and mounting the XLoc remote. The Reverb's remote is available in both left and right options, and can be attached to the same clamp as the brake lever and shifter via their MatchMaker X mount, or run separately for a more independent position. Many riders, including myself, have found that using a right hand XLoc remote mounted to the underside of the bar in place of a front shifter offers the best ergos, but that choice obviously won't be ideal for a lot of riders out there. While using the MMX mount will make for a clean cockpit, we'd suggest going with the independent Discreet clamp to allow for maximum adjustment. The saddle's rails are supported by longer than average clamps, and tilt adjustments are a cinch thanks to the angle of the head's opposing bolts that allow for easy access with a full sized hex key. This may sound like a simple point, but you'll appreciate it if you've had to struggle with a sawed off hex key to make angle adjustments, as required with some of the competition.
![photo]()
Some riders are likely intimidated by the Reverb's hydraulic hose, so with that in mind we set about shortening the hose and performing a bleed to see just how tricky the process actually is. The answer: it's less complicated than swapping a shift cable, especially considering that everything you need is included in the box - a torx key, syringes with fittings, instructions and the required 2.5wt hydraulic fluid. In fact, trimming the post's hose will likely not even require you to perform a bleed unless you make a mess of it. If that's the case, bleeding should be an easy, drip free affair thanks to fittings that screw into place. It does need to be stressed that only 2.5wt hydraulic fluid should be used, and never the DOT brake fluid that is employed in Avid's brake systems. Three of the four Reverbs that equip our rotating test fleet came from RockShox ready to roll, but one unit did require a bleed before it would function properly. We've heard of others who have had the same issue, and while the process is simple, we'd like to see them all come out of the box in working order.
Performance
The Reverb has very little play at its head out of the box, with roughy a millimeter or two at the nose of the saddle - not enough for even the most sensitive of riders to feel under them. Despite the relatively tight tolerances, the post cycles up and down smoothly and freely when new, something that can't be said about all of the competition. There is slightly more wiggle after a full season of use, approximately another millimeter, but it is still nothing to be concerned about. Rocking the saddle front to back with your hands can produce a small knock as the stanchion rocks slightly in the outer tube, but this is eliminated once the saddle is weighted.
Pushing the remote's button with your thumb and weighting the saddle will lower the post to the desired height, and regardless of whether the post is traveling up or down, letting go of the button stops the saddle from moving at whatever position you'd like. The XLoc remote takes less thumb pressure to activate than most cable operated versions, a trait that many lady shredders and younger riders will appreciate. A dial on the remote allows you to control the return speed as the post extends, although I found myself preferring to leave it at the fastest setting. Wy would you want to run it slower? Riders who consistently lower the saddle a touch for technical climbs will find that the slower return speed will make finding that perfect height much easier.
![photo]()
![photo]()
While most other dropper posts offer a "cruiser" postion that is slightly lower than full extension, the Reverb's ability to stop it at any point in its travel - the adjustment is infinite - allows you to lower it to the exact height that you're looking for. This is great for those fast, rolling sections of trail that still require some pedal strokes, but are enjoyed that much more by getting the saddle out of the way. It has been said before, but a telescoping post can also actually help your climbing as well: dropping the saddle slightly can aid steep, technical climbing where you might be worried about committing fully and not being able to get a foot down if it all goes South.
![RockShox Reverb]()
Why hydraulic?
While the idea of using a hydraulic hose to activate the post instead of a standard steel cable may intimidate some riders, it proved to be both reliable and easy to work on. We never once damaged or pulled a hose out, despite a full season of crashing and abuse. In fact, the Reverb's hydraulic operation is what puts the post head and shoulders above the competition. Whereas other designs use a shift cable that will need to be adjusted as it and housing settles in - with some posts being headache inducingly sensitive to cable tension and require that it be spot on to function properly - the Reverb has no such issues. On top of that, unlike a steel cable that can quickly become contaminated and require much more lever pressure to operate, mud and water will not effect the Reverb's action, with it being indifferent to nasty trail conditions. All four of our Reverb posts that are in the test rotation have performed nearly flawlessly in this regard, with consistent lever and post action that refuses to change regardless of how shitty the weather becomes or how often we hose off the bikes. Only now, after a year of solid use, is one unit moving slightly rougher than when it was new. That is a reliability record that other designs can only dream of at this point.
![SRAM in Les Gets France. Photos by Sven Martin.]()
Issues
With it's proven reliability and smooth operation the Reverb is head and shoulders above other options on the market, but some of the competition does have it beat in a few specific areas. While the post's XLoc remote is bound to remain smoother in the long run than even the most well setup cable option, I'd like to see the button protrude less for better ergonomics - it can sometimes feel like a bit of a stretch to reach in the heat of the moment. With the XLoc remote positioned atop the bar as intended you should also refrain from flipping the bike upside down (when repairing a flat for instance) due to causing damage to the button. Having a more compact XLoc remote would adress this issue as well.
Although all posts shipping now are equipped with much sturdier hose fittings at the post's head, early models came stock with somewhat fragile pieces that could be easily damaged if one forgets that he or she should never clamp the upper tube in a repair stand. The damage caused should be put down to user error, but RockShox has addressed the issue and all newer models come fitted with burlier hose attachments that can take more abuse.
Are you a lanky rider who likes to run a post with an offset head? If so, you're out of luck. The Reverb is only available with its current zero offset head, although the long lower saddle rail clamp does allow you to slide the saddle back without worrying too much about bending saddle rails. Is it enough? Not for some riders out there.
Pinkbike's take:
 |
| The Reverb offeres 125mm of drop, and is the only telescoping post that is activated with a hydraulic remote. RockShox Reverb details: - Hydraulically controlled telescoping seat post - 100mm and 125mm drop options (infinite height adjustment) - Full lengths: 100mm drop - 355, 420mm, 125mm drop - 380mm, 420mm - Zero offset, two bolt head - XLoc handlebar remote only - Diameters: 30.9 and 31.6mm - Weight: 520 grams (including remote, hose and hardware) - MSRP: $370 USD |
The Details
The Reverb is available in two different travel options, either 100 or 125mm of drop, to best suit your riding, height and seat tube length. While a lot of riders will question the reason for going with the 100mm version, it will make sense for shorter riders thanks to its 355mm total length. The 125mm version that we review here can be had in either 380 or 420mm lengths, with my long legs requiring the taller of the two options. A dual bolt head without indexing offers infinite saddle tilt adjustments, and the bolts thread into steel inserts to prevent heavy handed home mechanics from causing any fatal damage.
The Reverb's opposing saddle clamp bolts (left) make for easy saddle angle adjustments. New, burlier hose fittings at the head (right) should stand up to abuse better.
The post is activated with RockShox's XLoc remote - the very same that controls their fork's lockout function - by pushing 2.5wt hydraulic fluid down the line and opening the Reverb's main oil flow valve. The setup is not only slightly lighter than a more traditional steel cable and housing, but should also offer the advantage of not being susceptible to contamination when riding in the rain and mud. It also features an aluminum dial that is used to adjust the post's return speed. Turning the dial alters the oil volume within the remote system, raising or lowering the height of the main valve within the post. Different heights allow you to use more or less of the taper on the valve, dictating the amount of oil flow that is allowed to move between the inner and out tubes.
One of the key design features hidden within the Reverb is that its 2.5wt hydraulic remote fluid, post oil and air springs are all kept completely separate from each other. The remote fluid is contained within the XLoc trigger, hose and the post's head, while the air spring is enclosed at the bottom of the outer tube. The post oil that allows the Reverb to travel up and down, and also be held firmly in place, flows between the inner and outer tubes, and is backed up with an internal floating piston (IFP) to keep the Reverb from becoming soft if the saddle is raised by hand.
Installation and Bleeding
The Reverb installs like any other seat post, with the addition of routing the hydraulic line and mounting the XLoc remote. The Reverb's remote is available in both left and right options, and can be attached to the same clamp as the brake lever and shifter via their MatchMaker X mount, or run separately for a more independent position. Many riders, including myself, have found that using a right hand XLoc remote mounted to the underside of the bar in place of a front shifter offers the best ergos, but that choice obviously won't be ideal for a lot of riders out there. While using the MMX mount will make for a clean cockpit, we'd suggest going with the independent Discreet clamp to allow for maximum adjustment. The saddle's rails are supported by longer than average clamps, and tilt adjustments are a cinch thanks to the angle of the head's opposing bolts that allow for easy access with a full sized hex key. This may sound like a simple point, but you'll appreciate it if you've had to struggle with a sawed off hex key to make angle adjustments, as required with some of the competition.
Riders who don't run a front shifter can mount up a right hand remote on the underside of their bar in its place. We found that this provided the best ergonomics possible, as well as helping to protect the button from damage.
Some riders are likely intimidated by the Reverb's hydraulic hose, so with that in mind we set about shortening the hose and performing a bleed to see just how tricky the process actually is. The answer: it's less complicated than swapping a shift cable, especially considering that everything you need is included in the box - a torx key, syringes with fittings, instructions and the required 2.5wt hydraulic fluid. In fact, trimming the post's hose will likely not even require you to perform a bleed unless you make a mess of it. If that's the case, bleeding should be an easy, drip free affair thanks to fittings that screw into place. It does need to be stressed that only 2.5wt hydraulic fluid should be used, and never the DOT brake fluid that is employed in Avid's brake systems. Three of the four Reverbs that equip our rotating test fleet came from RockShox ready to roll, but one unit did require a bleed before it would function properly. We've heard of others who have had the same issue, and while the process is simple, we'd like to see them all come out of the box in working order.
Performance
The Reverb has very little play at its head out of the box, with roughy a millimeter or two at the nose of the saddle - not enough for even the most sensitive of riders to feel under them. Despite the relatively tight tolerances, the post cycles up and down smoothly and freely when new, something that can't be said about all of the competition. There is slightly more wiggle after a full season of use, approximately another millimeter, but it is still nothing to be concerned about. Rocking the saddle front to back with your hands can produce a small knock as the stanchion rocks slightly in the outer tube, but this is eliminated once the saddle is weighted.
Pushing the remote's button with your thumb and weighting the saddle will lower the post to the desired height, and regardless of whether the post is traveling up or down, letting go of the button stops the saddle from moving at whatever position you'd like. The XLoc remote takes less thumb pressure to activate than most cable operated versions, a trait that many lady shredders and younger riders will appreciate. A dial on the remote allows you to control the return speed as the post extends, although I found myself preferring to leave it at the fastest setting. Wy would you want to run it slower? Riders who consistently lower the saddle a touch for technical climbs will find that the slower return speed will make finding that perfect height much easier.
The Reverb lets you choose the exact saddle height that you're looking for, whether that's slammed for a gnarly downhill, full extension for a long climb, or down a touch so you can charge that tricky up hill section or find the flow on some fast, rolling singletrack.
While most other dropper posts offer a "cruiser" postion that is slightly lower than full extension, the Reverb's ability to stop it at any point in its travel - the adjustment is infinite - allows you to lower it to the exact height that you're looking for. This is great for those fast, rolling sections of trail that still require some pedal strokes, but are enjoyed that much more by getting the saddle out of the way. It has been said before, but a telescoping post can also actually help your climbing as well: dropping the saddle slightly can aid steep, technical climbing where you might be worried about committing fully and not being able to get a foot down if it all goes South.
Riders with small hands and short fingers may find that the XLoc remote can be a bit of a stretch to reach. We'd suggest that if that sounds like you you're best off mounting it as a standalone unit up against your grip instead of using the MMX or brake lever mount option.
Why hydraulic?
While the idea of using a hydraulic hose to activate the post instead of a standard steel cable may intimidate some riders, it proved to be both reliable and easy to work on. We never once damaged or pulled a hose out, despite a full season of crashing and abuse. In fact, the Reverb's hydraulic operation is what puts the post head and shoulders above the competition. Whereas other designs use a shift cable that will need to be adjusted as it and housing settles in - with some posts being headache inducingly sensitive to cable tension and require that it be spot on to function properly - the Reverb has no such issues. On top of that, unlike a steel cable that can quickly become contaminated and require much more lever pressure to operate, mud and water will not effect the Reverb's action, with it being indifferent to nasty trail conditions. All four of our Reverb posts that are in the test rotation have performed nearly flawlessly in this regard, with consistent lever and post action that refuses to change regardless of how shitty the weather becomes or how often we hose off the bikes. Only now, after a year of solid use, is one unit moving slightly rougher than when it was new. That is a reliability record that other designs can only dream of at this point.
One of the biggest complaints with most dropper posts is their head mounted cables that create a surplus loop when the saddle is lowered. The Reverb Stealth routes its hydraulic line from the bottom of the post and down into the frame tubes, eliminating the issue. We've spent a bit of time on a 2012 Trek Slash equipped with the new Stealth model and loved its invisibility. The catch? They will only be available as original equipment on select '12 Trek and Scott models.
Issues
With it's proven reliability and smooth operation the Reverb is head and shoulders above other options on the market, but some of the competition does have it beat in a few specific areas. While the post's XLoc remote is bound to remain smoother in the long run than even the most well setup cable option, I'd like to see the button protrude less for better ergonomics - it can sometimes feel like a bit of a stretch to reach in the heat of the moment. With the XLoc remote positioned atop the bar as intended you should also refrain from flipping the bike upside down (when repairing a flat for instance) due to causing damage to the button. Having a more compact XLoc remote would adress this issue as well.
Although all posts shipping now are equipped with much sturdier hose fittings at the post's head, early models came stock with somewhat fragile pieces that could be easily damaged if one forgets that he or she should never clamp the upper tube in a repair stand. The damage caused should be put down to user error, but RockShox has addressed the issue and all newer models come fitted with burlier hose attachments that can take more abuse.
Are you a lanky rider who likes to run a post with an offset head? If so, you're out of luck. The Reverb is only available with its current zero offset head, although the long lower saddle rail clamp does allow you to slide the saddle back without worrying too much about bending saddle rails. Is it enough? Not for some riders out there.
Pinkbike's take:
 | The Reverb is the clear leader when talking about telescoping posts. While some riders may shy away from the hydraulic hose, this is the very thing that puts the RockShox dropper ahead of the field. No rusty cables or constant tension adjustments, just reliable action from the get go. A layback head would be a great option for some riders, and we'd like to see the remote ergos tweaked slightly. Still, the Reverb's reliability and install-and-forget nature make it our first choice when riders ask us which dropper post they should consider. - Mike levy |
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Dropper is tons of fun, really squeezes all juices of XC trails, that you normally wouldn't extract in ondulating terrain, but if my it fails again (I broke the piston), I repair it and sell it right away. Slightly lowered regular post isn't that bad if you have the power in the legs.
sent it to the UK Sram distrib. for warranty and back in my hands within 3 days, complete with a free service. awesome service
really missed the post once it went away as I was going on a big mountain ride the next day and having to use a Q/R seatclamp with regular seatpost totally sucked, my left thumb kept going for the remote trigger (it becomes a habit..) and nothing to push!
a new inclusion with 2012 Reverbs is a neat machined aluminium rockshox clamp which fits the stanchion so you can preset the drop height, as some riders prefer to set a minimum seatpost length. riders had been doing "homebrew" fixes with plastic seatpost reflector clamps and whatnot, so RS came out with their official clamp which looks real nice and is easy to install
in my opinion (after all the cr*p dealing with customers with faulty Gravity Droppers, Command Post, KS and Joplins), the RS Reverb with its fully hydraulic system is a "game changer" for the serious trail and all-mountain rider
its basically a hydraulic fork leg with a hydraulic remote, and RS have been in that game a long, long time (my first RS fork was 1992)
When I got home I let it warm up and it didn't get any better, so I removed it and plugged in a shock pump. 0psi. That's odd because I didn't hear an air leak or anything blowing up while riding. Once it was full of air, it cycled through the travel but it was choppy and noisy. It looks and sounds like some air got into the oil circuit, I guess I'll have to bleed it. For the record, I had a full maintenance on it when the season started so it wasn't neglected and it worked flawlessly before I left home.
I rode it around -5 with no problem before so maybe I was unlucky but from now on I would advise refraining from bringing one outside when its below -10.
First thing I thought when it happened was "I guess that's a good argument for cable actuated droppers" but after looking around on the web a little, some people claim their cable droppers seized when it was cold enough.
I've had my Reverb for about 9 months now and it has performed very well and I have been quite happy with it. Last week I was riding in -16 and after about 20 min the Reverb would not hold it's position. I could raise it up it's full travel but as soon as I released the lever it would quickly drop back down to it's lowest position. I ended up having to raise the seat post to continue the ride, which was less convenient because parts of the ride were on a frozen river and it would have been nice to quickly drop the seat down to keep your feet close to the ice when things got sheer. After getting it inside and letting it warm up it behaved normally again.
This is not a complaint, considering the conditions, just adding my feedback that cold temp does seem to cause issues. Maybe (as suggested above) a thinner fluid would help?
A review is an opinion. We share our experiences with said product and then readers have to weigh the pros and cons to decide if it's for them. The only FACTS are the tech specs, weight and price. Reviews that are this positive will always catch heat, that's understandable, but I stand by my words: the Reverb puts the rest to shame.
I would suggest people get the left side control if they run front and rear gears and ride back brake right. It seems a lot safer to go for the lever and unguard your grip of bar and brake on the front than the back brake. Cuz when you want that thing down at speed, you really want it down.
that said, my reverb also failed after 6 rides. but was warranty repaired in 4 days.... no complaints there. when it is working, it is by far the best i have had, KS included (a close second).
IMHO
It may sound weird - but with the Reverb it felt like my bike has more travel. I think it's because I am able to absorb more of the trail (pumptrack style). Yes, I could get the same feeling by lowering my seatpost - but the fact of the matter is that I wasn't doing this on anything but really long descents. Now, I'm constantly adjusting things and really getting the most fun out of even the shortest downhill. Now that I've been riding the Reverb for a season I really can't see myself ever going back to a mountain bike without one. If you're serious about how your bike handles you need to atleast try one out. My 2 cents.
personally, I have only ridden a couple of rolling super technical trails and don't race on anything super gnarly, so I will lets these dropper post companies beat the shit out of each other even more as the product improves.
good to see a 400mm+ length. I mean, most people undersize their bikes a little in the 6"+ range (or at least I had to because the max size was only 19") for better handling and it's a shame there aren't more longer posts out there!
every time I want to work on my Devinci Dixon with its Reverb, I have to cut the zip-ties on the frame's cable guides and RS plastic clamp, raise the post enough in the frame to fit the workstand clamp head
then lower the post and install new zip-ties once the work is done
kinda annoying compared to a regular seatpost where the bike goes straight into the stand, but the advantages of the dropper post completely outweigh this workshop issue
I hope my fellow at Sram now use a stronger bond lock tite!
I have a 2012 125mm 30.9 version on my Marin hardtail and a 2012 125mm 31.6 version on my Scott Ransom full suss.
They haven't had a long term testing yet, but they already look, fit and work better than the Joplin I was running before...
I got to say there's no finer feeling than rolling up to the edge of something steep, rocky and rooty... Pushing that button to drop the seat well out of the way and then cleaning the downhill section...
Well, apart from maybe after you've finished the downhill section with your thighs and lungs burning...
To effortlessly at a push of a button, have your saddle slide up comfortably under your butt, to the perfect climbing hieght, letting you to just peddle off up that next rise...
If you get a chance to try one out... Do it!
It'll open your eyes/minds and definitely change your perceptions/opinions...
And if you can afford it then just buy one... It'll change your riding for the better! IMHO
To me it's like a $150 saddle. It's great to have one. But really some $30 saddles are actually pretty good. I ride for the exercise, and I don't mind spending 5 seconds to drop a seat post when I'm having a rest anyway.
I'd rather have a skiing holiday than a dropper post, but hey, if you got the money for both, why not?
Until I can afford one, I'm rocking my Joplin!
Let the haters hate!
Add a simple receiver and driver for the piezo circuit. Battery access on the bottom of the post. Add a handlebar mounted transmitter with one button. No wires, cables, or hydraulic lines! Easy to remove and replace with a standard seatpost for racing, etc,....or to install a standard seatpost to put it on a workstand.
I'm not sure what problems you had with the process, but bleeding the Reverb is pretty damn simple.. far easier than bleeding their brakes. Have you watched this vid: www.youtube.com/user/SRAMtech#p/u/8/MsRlj_JJ8t0 It shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes after you know the steps.
Though I must say that if someone is looking to buy one, don't waste time and thoughts to try to choose "the most reliable one". Dropper post is a complicated piece of equipment (comparing to normal seat post) and that means it will fail in one place or another; the only question is when. The button sucks, it is easy to break, due to shtty material of the piston and plastic ring holding it in place (CNCd stainless please - doable, a great lad from Aus fixed me one). As Mike pointed out it's too long as well - my take, if you ride baggy pants, it's easy to catch them on it, I've done it several times. Even though I run mine inder bars, it broke off. Availability of spares is none at the moment. Thinking about that "button snap" issue, I have one thing to say to potential owners of FOX dropper with enormous trigger mounted over the bars - buy 3 spares with the post and good luck!
I like that they made 100mm version for 2012, I think I would like 80mm one or shorter to reduce the leverage and increase bushing spacing. I doubt if a person with some fundamental skills really needs to drop it all the way to the bottom with 125mm version. Mine developed ugly back/fwd play after half of a year and I rarely drop it to the end, and if so only by mistake. The limiting spacer for 2012 is cool as well.
My "incentive", as you put it, is to provide a detailed analysis of how the product performed, something that I take a lot of pride in and not in anyway something that can be leaned on by any companies. I'm a massive tech nerd and I straight up enjoy putting these reviews, not "product promotion", together. This is especially true when it is a product that I've had the opportunity to use for a year and have had four different samples of it to beat on. Positive reviews take heat, but I'm OK with that because I'd much rather write the review as I see it instead of adding in negative feedback to simply look like I'm not bought off. I liked the product, move on.
Mike.
treat a Reverb just like your forks and rear shock - adding a little dry lube or silicon spray to the stanchion / seal area after cleaning your bike pays dividends because it will clean and lube the wiper seal and keep things running sweet in bad weather conditions.
once you have washed your bike and let it dry, apply the lube or spray, lower and raise the Reverb a couple of times, with a clean cloth or tissue wipe any excess dirt off the stanchion (this will often get lifted off the top inside of the wiper seal during this procedure) and then apply a little more lube or spray to the stanchion and and rub it in with a clean cloth
...