I never thought they were worth it until I finally got one. Now I won't live without it. I could imagine bike park and gravity only not needing one but where I live and ride it's needed
Lol. Used to do technical descents with a high mast. It is doable - dropped post is defs faster, more stable and easier to control on rough descents though.
@@RedDaemon69420 completely agree. I used to ride everything seat up because it was a pain to stop. Got a 125mm dropper and love it. Descends are so much better without the seat in the way. Wasn't cheap but so worth it!!!
My bike came with a dropper post and I eventually had it removed and replaced with a standard seat post. I love the simplicity and have not looked back. My bike feels a little lighter and livelier too. One less cable and lever on my handlebar and one less moving part that I would eventually have to get serviced. I found that during the time it was on my bike I barley used it. It was just dead weight and mass. I rarely ever adjust my seat height. I find a height that I like and I leave it. It has not really affected my riding either, even on more challenging trails. It's not that hard for me to maneuver around and over my seat. I get the appeal of dropper posts but they're just not for me. I think they are a little overrated.
I agree with you. I ride XC type trails that go up and down. I’d have to constantly be adjusting my seat. I had one on my last bike, but I never used it.
For those who don't have the money to buy a dropper like me, just set your seat about 1-3 inches lower than the max height you're comfortable with. I find that it gives enough clearance when you stand up and enough height when you want to be efficient climbing 😁 ps. I only advice this for those "downhills" that are not as techy, if it is techy then just slam that seat down and smile and have fun with what you have
My take on this is, it all depends on the rider. What are the statistics of the normal people riding on a trail just to get fit and enjoy nature compared to people riding aggressively and doing like the pros does? I’m one of those regular riders and for the very least 12 years of riding here on my local parks, on a hard tail then now fully rigid gravel and fat bike, I’ve seen like probably 1 out of 10 rider using a dropper. I’ve seen riders with dropper and never use it as well only seeing them drop to get on and off the saddle for convenience. So, if you are the same type of rider as the guy from GMBN then get a dropper. But, if your just an ordinary guy, who goes out of and ride 1 or 2 times a week, I guess it fair to say you don’t need a dropper. Btw, I’ve seen people owning the most expensive full sus complete with dropper post running on a flat green trail. So, there are that type of riders too. Some say “the best bike, is the one that you own” with or without a dropper post.
I’d argue “the best bike is the one you own, with the upgrade of a dropper”… I kid, sorta. The thing I love most about my dropper free bike now is the simplicity. The reliability and lack of maintenance. It’s the same reason this bike is also a fully rigid one and a single speed. That being said I’ve owned a high end hard tail with a dropper and there is nothing like it. Once you try it and train yourself to use it you can’t beat it, for any type of riding. Provided you have the money for one, at least.
As an xc guy I've never once seen someone stop to drop a rigid seatpost. Most situations in xc can be handled without a drop. On the other hand I'm running rigid ss as of late. Have run droppers and loved them too.
From someone who used to be a non-beliver - it is very valuable upgrade in a non-downhill bike. I got a KS eten dropper -an inexpensive (similar price to my pedals) dropper post with 125mm drop and it has revolutionised rides that have any variation of ups and downs for me. Only regret I have is not getting a more expensive one with more drop. Anyone on the fence should give it a try IMO !
One of my local trails is a half mile rock garden / dry riverbed. Before dropper posts were available it was a dangerous descent. I had two nasty accidents riding it on a 2006 Marin Mount Vision. I embedded 3 teeth of the big front ring in my calf and chipped a bone in my elbow. With the dropper it’s far safer and faster to ride. Also I ride a lot of Bridleways with numerous gates. The dropper makes getting on and off so much easier. Best piece of kit since disc brakes.
Back-in-the-day before anything sketchy I stopped and manually lowered my post. I got my share of trouble anyway but damn sorry to hear about your crash.
Would have been nice to see a run with the rigid post at an in between setting. For my local trails I just keep my post a an inch or two lower than proper riding height. I find it gives a good balance between being able to peddle while keeping the seat out of the way for the steeper bits.
I recently installed a dropper on my hard tail. What a huge improvement! I can descend significantly faster over rough terrain, as well as corner faster with the seat out of the way. Press the button and I’m climbing in my optimal position. I should have done this long ago.
Love ya Rich but I’d argue you only barely touched on a very important criteria we all factor in…terrain. In my town we have two big parts we ride. Both are public parks which have a wonderful network of challenging and well maintained singletrack trails. One is on the coast and has flatter but very undulating trails. These trails drop about 100 feet in about 200 yards and then climb another 100 feet in about another 200 yards a dropper is almost necessary to really have any fun with any flow at all. Trust me, I used to ride them long before we even thought of droppers. 10 miles away are our mountains and they consist 2 miles of climbing to gain 600-700 feet before dropping down our great mostly sustained downhill trails. A rigid post with a quick release works fine here.
I know they are worth it, and I'll freely say I just don't want to spend the money. I compromise by lowering my saddle about 2.5cm (1") when I get to the trail. Not fully out of the way, and not exactly optimal for riding in saddle, but that amount is still enough that I can freely move about for weight transfer as needed.
Dropper post is single most important and priority number one upgrade when improving entry level bike. As long as the dropper does not cost close to as much as a bike you want to put it on, it is worth every penny. I ride weavy trails with lots of ups and downs where manual seat post adjustment is not a plausible option. When I upgraded my Ghost Lector HT with a dropper, my ride enjoyment skyrocketed. It was almost traumatic when my dropper died and I had to switch back to solid post.
After riding my HT today I got home and thought I defo need a dropper! Only trouble is could only afford a budget at around £150 so not sure how good these actually are or what problems they have over more expensive ones?
I have one on my Fuel EX and am not against using it but haven't really used it in years. I rode for decades before they came along so my riding style is tuned to having a fixed post that you only ever lower in extreme descents like in Southern Utah. So . . . I don't value them the way younger riders do.
For a trail of this level, do you "need" to slam it down? There is a time and a place for droppers, but many local trail networks just aren't that steep or technical that you need to get behind the seat. Better test would be to just leave it up.
My thing is I honestly consider it a safety feature at this point. If your anything like me, you don't hop off to fix your seat post for a 20 second descent. I didn't have one for 7 years and that how I handled things. I only ever adjusted for a long climb or a long descent. But that meant it was in my way quite a bit for the short descents which could make them a bit sketchy. Nowadays I just drop it out of the way and keep going. Sure I could have done it on the fixed post but I wasn't willing to stop and do it.
I was the first one out of a group of 5 or 6 mates, to get a dropper, about 9 years ago. They were all sceptical about the benefits until they saw the difference it made for me and gradually, they all ended up getting one. Difficult to imagine riding without one now.
I started riding without a dropper 30 years ago and survived even without sliding the post down. Fast forward 30 years I do own a dropper and use it. Even though the dropper is useful I still find myself not using it as much as people who started riding with one. You can still ride just as aggressive with or without a dropper and without sliding a solid post down. Just learn to adapt.
It all depends on the level of riding you do . I could not ride as fast, safe or comfortable with a seat high , its just not possible. For some users though, I agree a dropper post may not be a necessity.
Started riding 2 1/2 years ago, I bought a Specialized levo and it came with a dropper post, since then I added a Specialized rockhopper (fixed seat post) had to get a dropper for it. I love the dropper post, best bit of tech yet.
I have had a hardtail for 2 years now, rode the first year without a dropper post and 2nd year with one: I will never change it back. Now I have a full sus with a dropper post, so happy days in the saddle. The "negatives" of a dropper post are nothing compared to the benefits.
I got the first Reverb Stealth when it came out and crashed a few months later. The hose snapped at the lever and I had to ride home half a day with the saddle down. This made me throw it out and use normal seatposts for a few years - not the right decision. Droppers are great, just stick to the cable operated models.
Rode for many years without one. Fair play, they're great to have but riding seat up never slowed me down on the descents, you can blast down without when used to it.
it's easier with a quick release seatclamp on a "flat" bit of ground I learnt years ago to roll one handed standing up, grip seat with knees reach down undo seatclamp, then you kind-of crouch down to lower seat and tighten seatclamp 👍
@Global Mountain Bike Network You should actually have done a third run, with the solid seatpost kept up, that would have covered all aspects of seatposts - dropper or not. My personal opinion is, a dropper is the first upgrade to do on Your MTB, if it comes without one.
I have a dropper on my Oiz and it's more than worth it for making it easier to load the bike into my trunk and know that when I take it out the saddle comes right back to the pedaling height with no fuss even if I don't use it that often on the trail
I feel like of all the pro dropper comments, the "easier to get it in the car" might be the most compelling. I'm returning to mtn biking after a 2 decade hiatus. I've never heard of droppers until a few days ago. I have never, on hundreds of miles of Northern California trail rides, stopped to adjust my post. I just went out and had fun with it and don't think I'd ride any differently today; if anything less aggressive downhills at an older age.
Excellent video. I realize the bike industry have been pushing the dropper post in the media for several years, this is a q I have been pondering for few months now. My first mtn bike is a full-susp bike now I built up a trail hardtail. On the hard tail bike, I have decided NO dropper. My main reason for this is I would not ride my hardtail down the mtn hard as my full-susp bike.
I guess the more interesting question would be, what are the limits of riding with the post un-dropped? That is to say, can you compensate for inability to get the post out of the way, simply by becoming more mobile on the bike and basically becoming more skilled / athletic?
Yes. In all seriousness, in the pre-dropper days it’d be seat up for the “mostly climb” section and then seat down for the “mostly descent” and if you had a brief descent in the former or a brief climb in the latter, you made the best of it. It was never as satisfying, especially for those brief descents. Also worth mentioning is when the legs get tired in the third lap descent you can go to the half up position for a bit of a sit. If XC times are your main goal, maybe the weight savings are worth it but if trail fun is the goal, they are a must have.
For XC in the countryside I think there's no need, I find my Redshift suspension seat post more beneficial on the hardtail. I'm used to it and confident going downhill on the red runs, which I rarely go to so a dropper is not worth it for me.
I have 2 bikes. 1 commuter with a fixed post, and a "weekend" bike with a dropper. The dropper is nice to have and if I want to do the descending in my local venues with speed (for me, I'm no racer lol) then I use the dropper. BUT, I can also ride the same trails at a more relaxed pace with the fixed post with out having to stop and adjust the seat. Saying that, if you're hitting a proper bike park then a dropper is definitely a good idea.
Agreed with the stability. I lower the seat only just enough that I can easily get behind it in technical sections, yet it doesnt affect pedaling efficiency too bad. That said, I have a dropper, and like it when I stop and start.
@@kel5944 same thing I do - works a treat - just hang off the back. That said I used to daily a tricky downhill single track on my commute from work. Now that I no longer commute I revisited that single track after 2 years and pretty much walked it down all the way. Skill plays a huge part.
1. Have you got the spare cash? Never in a million years 2. Do you really need it? No, why would I? 3. Is it gonna make a difference to your riding? Probably not 4. Is using a QR seat post clamp good enough? Absolutely 10/10
1. Have you got the spare cash? If you can afford a mtb, then probably. 2. Do you really need it? Do you really need anything beyond food, water, and shelter? 3. Is it going to make any difference to your riding? If you do any manuals, bunny hops, jumps, or descents it will. 4. Is using a QR seatpost good enough? I guess if you don't mind constantly getting off the bike to make adjustments.
Bought a bike this winter but was unable to ride till spring. unfortunately the KS dropper post sagged and would not stay up. No warranty left. Bought a Fox dropper for 309 bucks. Put it on and it won’t go all the way up. It sticks. I am going to a fixed seat post to avoid aggravation of mechanical problems.
What about dropper posts on single speed MTB? Up or down hill, dropper is down. I only sit on the traverse, usually leave the seat down. What about a dropper post video on SS?
Dropper posts are definitely good. I ride a not-so-great bike that doesn't have a dropper, always have as I'm saving for a proper bike, but have tried one out and its amazing. I keep my rigid post somewhere between tall and short so I can do both worlds without fear but a dropper would make it much better and more efficient. On my next bike, its going to be mandatory. I'll still keep my older bike for city riding though, where a dropper isn't super necessary.
I ride light recreation and commuting and love my fixed seat post. That extra 300 grams for a dropper post is the weight of a set of pedals. On a steep city street, I know what I prefer. I think downhill guys need them but not necessarily everyone else.
I finally upgraded to a bike with a dropper after replacing my 2011 trail bike that didn't come with one. I'm not convinced they're completely necessary but I understand why people like them.
@@tombos8609 yeah I like it it's just unless I'm doing real gnarly trail riding I don't always need it. Though ask me that after forcing me to go back and the answer may change 😂
My very first upgrade. Good vid rich 👍Quite surprising that (mtb) people don’t know what they were. The misunderstanding that they’re bobbing up and down by themselves, or something. How could one never thought of a dropper, after years of riding? Going up/down, riding berms, pumping, jumping… no idea how to have fun on the bike without one. Probably not true, but I think I use the dropper as much as a turn the bars
YES!!! As a vertically challenged "fluffy" individual, it allows me to get on/off the bike safely. And of course I use the heck out of it on the trail since they always climb, descend, climb, descend, etc. Even my gravel bike has a 50mm dropper!!!
Same for everyone right? Assuming you have your seat at the optimum pedalling height its pretty high to get over 😁 though i guess in that scenario the BB height is a greater % of your height if you are vertically challenged so maybe I'm wrong and also stupid.
@@skartimus I have a 26.5in inseam (short legs, longer torso)...due to longer "reach" I need, I ride a small and basically no bike has "standover clearance" for me. Now when I drop my saddle, I still lean a little to 1 side or tip-toe. Taller people CAN standover their top tube at least.
When Rich mention guys who care about weight, Ollie Bridgewood imediately comes to my mind... Who knows why... Thanks Rich and team about this video, Im thinking about upgrade.
The fact that pretty much every xc pro is using a dropper, whether on a full sus or a hard tail, pretty tells you that they’re here to stay and well worth the weight penalty.
And that they are being pushed by manufactures and sponsors. Kool-Aid drinking hype for XC/Trail grinders. Park guys, I get it. Other wise the weight penalty is just stupid.
Dropper posts are the best invention since wheels I don't know how I rode the trails (especially single track forests) without one.... Last summer I went under a dropped tree no problem I heard a thud turned around my mate was sparked out with a cracked helmet..... To this day he still says I can't believe you got under it and my replies always the same..... Dropper post mate get one
Anyone else remember dropping your post for every technical section? Did that for 30+ years until I installed a dropper last year. Stupid easy decision (and not getting bucked off by a seat anymore!)
Hard tail with sus post, no dropper, full sus with dropper and I dont bother using it other than getting on the bike, I'm tall though and only ride natural trails, hate bike parks and I certainly couldn't give a toss about being the faster down a section, racing's for closed course not open access trails.
I love my WU dropper on my 2019 Enduro coil I don’t know why SPECIALIZED dropped it ? 😁 Having it up full up for climbing then down a notch for tired legs or tired back helps and then drop down another notch or two for the flat and right down for steep descents I know other post do increments But with the WU post and the seat changing angle at the same time for each notch is a joy Also the design has a bit of give in it , so if one does land a bit awkward and slam the rear of the saddle then body weight isn’t transmitted so much to the rear linkage causing the dreaded OTB back wheel buck Yeah it’s a bit fiddly getting it set up but isn’t everything ? Q for GMBN tech Whatever happened to the WU dropper post ? I love it
It would be interesting to see timed runs with the seat post lowered all the way vs up for an entire run. Maybe even a middle position to see if there's a sweet spot for out of the way while still being reasonably high enough to pedal.
Anybody remember back to when "front" suspension was just becoming a thing? I recall one respected MTB magazine columnist banging on about how suspension was completely unnecessary, and even detrimental to new riders, who wouldn't learn how to pick good lines through rock gardens! Droppers might not be for everybody or all situations, but these days nobody I know rides without one. Even a cheap dropper can transform the riding experience. I'm less convinced about electronic shifting. But I guess time will tell. Cheers
Of course you don't need one but the confidence it inspires on ANY sort of downhill action is worth the price of admission.... which means pretty much any mountain bike. Hands down first upgrade! Edit* anyone can manually lower their seat before downhill action but it literally slows down your momentum and takes some of the fun out of it as you transition out of downhill you will then have to stop again and raise your seat every single time up and down.
I have not forgotten adjusting the seat for every descent with the quick release. Droppers and now ebikes have been game changers. Can actually link the terrain around here in a sensible fashion now. Dropper is obvious but with steep technical descents you aren't exactly flying without the motor.
I got a trek roscoe for my first real mtn bike so I got to start with a dropper post, 1x drive train, and tubeless ready. No upgrades needed, but considering a 29" wheelset to swap between
All of my local trails are punchy hills, nothing more than 50-100ft climb or downhill at a time. I haven't moved my seat height in the past ~4 years. All of my buddies rave about their dropper but I don't miss it because I've never used one
I get so sick of hearing the people who talk about how they can get down any trail with their post up. That's great. But there's a difference between surviving and thriving. You could probably get down the same trail on a fully rigid bike, that doesn't mean it's the best tool for the job.
Depends on location and trails+riding style. With rolling hills I love a dropper. Simple mountains where you ride up and bomb down then it's not needed.
I did Moab, UT riding one year no dropper and following with one. Had no problems either way but you can feel the added weight of a dropper. Only a few area where dropper was really nice to have aka large drops.
Carbon? Titanium mate. Plus anyone running a solid seat post won't be raising or lowering it, they will find a happy medium and leave it there, low enough to drop their rear over the back, but high enough to provide some support when seated. And if they are faffing about, they would get a quick release seat post clamp.
I don't use a dropper. I think i don't need one except in some few situations but one of the things it really dissapoints me is that, today, no one can make a Bunny-Hop or even a Manual without a dropper-post. I really would like to see videos showing how to do it but without this junk. So please GMBN, let's do it. Many of us would appreciate it.
Just drop your seat manually before descending. Ok, for a race is needed. But I always used my hand and it always worked. Anyways my new bike has come with it so I started using it right now
IDK that I'd agree with that (I know GMBN made a video on it). I can always lower and raise the seat on both bikes. I can't add rear sus to a hardtail. Rear sus opens up a lot more aggressive terrain for the average rider. A dropper is awesome but it ultimately just makes an action quicker and easier.
@@dblevins343 ive just gone from a 120mm hardtail to a 160 fullsus and its a lot easier doing things on a full sus but i rode bike parks on my hardtail so
@@gustavsutherland2000 I'm not saying a hartail isn't capable. I rode one for 7 years and didn't replace it for a long time because I didn't think I needed too. I'm just saying a full sus is a more substantial upgrade than a dropper. Especially at bike parks. A seat post is annoying but workable. The full sus is truly a ge changer. I didn't have either until I got the bike I ride now and between the two the thing I notice more is the suspension. I use the dropper a ton but I could go without it.
have this on my giant faith 0 bike as it is my only bike. i use the reverb axs due to seattube limitations. Worth it, more so, if you have a mullet setup
Considering there are 200+ dollar pedals that are 100 dollars overpriced for aesthetics only I’d rather spend 200+ on something super functional like a dropper
I’m still running my 2012 Kona Cindercone and the only upgrade I’ve made in 10 years is putting a 1x11 drivetrain on there but as for a dropper I’ll wait to my next bike upgrade when I’ll also get some bigger sized wheels instead of my now tiny looking 26ers.
@@dblevins343 it certainly is I’m in no rush to upgrade not much I won’t ride it down for areas I ride and who wants to make life too easy for themselves right 😂
If I had a young rider at home, she or he would learn MTBing on a hardtail with flats and a ridged post. That would make them a better rider in every way with much better base skills.
@@bertieblackman8791 Gotch ya. Learning to descend with the saddle still high builds body positioning skills on the bike that will only help any rider as they progress. It helps build the base fundamentals that the best riders have in spades. I love my dropper and would never go back to rigid, but I can still descend anything with it up... albeit much slower and with a higher heart rate.
I never thought they were worth it until I finally got one. Now I won't live without it. I could imagine bike park and gravity only not needing one but where I live and ride it's needed
The only type of mountain bike I'd consider putting a rigid post on would be a DH bike.
A more realistic test would be to just keep the seat up like XC riders do and then go OTB.
Lol. Used to do technical descents with a high mast. It is doable - dropped post is defs faster, more stable and easier to control on rough descents though.
@@RedDaemon69420 completely agree. I used to ride everything seat up because it was a pain to stop. Got a 125mm dropper and love it. Descends are so much better without the seat in the way. Wasn't cheap but so worth it!!!
Never happened to me in 30 years....
I was hoping when I came to this video that it would be more of an XC style comparison. Oh well. The search continues
Do you not like your balls…’just hang otb’ 🤣🤣🤣
My bike came with a dropper post and I eventually had it removed and replaced with a standard seat post. I love the simplicity and have not looked back. My bike feels a little lighter and livelier too. One less cable and lever on my handlebar and one less moving part that I would eventually have to get serviced. I found that during the time it was on my bike I barley used it. It was just dead weight and mass. I rarely ever adjust my seat height. I find a height that I like and I leave it. It has not really affected my riding either, even on more challenging trails. It's not that hard for me to maneuver around and over my seat. I get the appeal of dropper posts but they're just not for me. I think they are a little overrated.
Thanks you just saved me a wad of cash
I agree with you. I ride XC type trails that go up and down. I’d have to constantly be adjusting my seat. I had one on my last bike, but I never used it.
For those who don't have the money to buy a dropper like me, just set your seat about 1-3 inches lower than the max height you're comfortable with. I find that it gives enough clearance when you stand up and enough height when you want to be efficient climbing 😁
ps. I only advice this for those "downhills" that are not as techy, if it is techy then just slam that seat down and smile and have fun with what you have
My take on this is, it all depends on the rider. What are the statistics of the normal people riding on a trail just to get fit and enjoy nature compared to people riding aggressively and doing like the pros does? I’m one of those regular riders and for the very least 12 years of riding here on my local parks, on a hard tail then now fully rigid gravel and fat bike, I’ve seen like probably 1 out of 10 rider using a dropper. I’ve seen riders with dropper and never use it as well only seeing them drop to get on and off the saddle for convenience. So, if you are the same type of rider as the guy from GMBN then get a dropper. But, if your just an ordinary guy, who goes out of and ride 1 or 2 times a week, I guess it fair to say you don’t need a dropper. Btw, I’ve seen people owning the most expensive full sus complete with dropper post running on a flat green trail. So, there are that type of riders too. Some say “the best bike, is the one that you own” with or without a dropper post.
I’d argue “the best bike is the one you own, with the upgrade of a dropper”… I kid, sorta. The thing I love most about my dropper free bike now is the simplicity. The reliability and lack of maintenance. It’s the same reason this bike is also a fully rigid one and a single speed. That being said I’ve owned a high end hard tail with a dropper and there is nothing like it. Once you try it and train yourself to use it you can’t beat it, for any type of riding. Provided you have the money for one, at least.
Bro just get a dropper post
@@JohnDouqh I could have but I'm old school rigid bike rider.
As an xc guy I've never once seen someone stop to drop a rigid seatpost. Most situations in xc can be handled without a drop. On the other hand I'm running rigid ss as of late. Have run droppers and loved them too.
From someone who used to be a non-beliver - it is very valuable upgrade in a non-downhill bike. I got a KS eten dropper -an inexpensive (similar price to my pedals) dropper post with 125mm drop and it has revolutionised rides that have any variation of ups and downs for me. Only regret I have is not getting a more expensive one with more drop. Anyone on the fence should give it a try IMO !
Yes.... I mean you dont "need" a dropper, and you dont "need" to get out of bed and go ride a bike, but it's better if you go with both.
One of my local trails is a half mile rock garden / dry riverbed. Before dropper posts were available it was a dangerous descent. I had two nasty accidents riding it on a 2006 Marin Mount Vision. I embedded 3 teeth of the big front ring in my calf and chipped a bone in my elbow. With the dropper it’s far safer and faster to ride. Also I ride a lot of Bridleways with numerous gates. The dropper makes getting on and off so much easier. Best piece of kit since disc brakes.
Limestone way in Castleton?
Back-in-the-day before anything sketchy I stopped and manually lowered my post. I got my share of trouble anyway but damn sorry to hear about your crash.
Would have been nice to see a run with the rigid post at an in between setting. For my local trails I just keep my post a an inch or two lower than proper riding height. I find it gives a good balance between being able to peddle while keeping the seat out of the way for the steeper bits.
I recently installed a dropper on my hard tail. What a huge improvement! I can descend significantly faster over rough terrain, as well as corner faster with the seat out of the way. Press the button and I’m climbing in my optimal position. I should have done this long ago.
Love ya Rich but I’d argue you only barely touched on a very important criteria we all factor in…terrain. In my town we have two big parts we ride. Both are public parks which have a wonderful network of challenging and well maintained singletrack trails. One is on the coast and has flatter but very undulating trails. These trails drop about 100 feet in about 200 yards and then climb another 100 feet in about another 200 yards a dropper is almost necessary to really have any fun with any flow at all. Trust me, I used to ride them long before we even thought of droppers. 10 miles away are our mountains and they consist 2 miles of climbing to gain 600-700 feet before dropping down our great mostly sustained downhill trails. A rigid post with a quick release works fine here.
I know they are worth it, and I'll freely say I just don't want to spend the money. I compromise by lowering my saddle about 2.5cm (1") when I get to the trail. Not fully out of the way, and not exactly optimal for riding in saddle, but that amount is still enough that I can freely move about for weight transfer as needed.
Dropper post is single most important and priority number one upgrade when improving entry level bike. As long as the dropper does not cost close to as much as a bike you want to put it on, it is worth every penny. I ride weavy trails with lots of ups and downs where manual seat post adjustment is not a plausible option. When I upgraded my Ghost Lector HT with a dropper, my ride enjoyment skyrocketed. It was almost traumatic when my dropper died and I had to switch back to solid post.
After riding my HT today I got home and thought I defo need a dropper! Only trouble is could only afford a budget at around £150 so not sure how good these actually are or what problems they have over more expensive ones?
I have one on my Fuel EX and am not against using it but haven't really used it in years. I rode for decades before they came along so my riding style is tuned to having a fixed post that you only ever lower in extreme descents like in Southern Utah. So . . . I don't value them the way younger riders do.
Same..
Agree 1,000%
For a trail of this level, do you "need" to slam it down? There is a time and a place for droppers, but many local trail networks just aren't that steep or technical that you need to get behind the seat. Better test would be to just leave it up.
My thing is I honestly consider it a safety feature at this point. If your anything like me, you don't hop off to fix your seat post for a 20 second descent. I didn't have one for 7 years and that how I handled things. I only ever adjusted for a long climb or a long descent. But that meant it was in my way quite a bit for the short descents which could make them a bit sketchy. Nowadays I just drop it out of the way and keep going. Sure I could have done it on the fixed post but I wasn't willing to stop and do it.
I was the first one out of a group of 5 or 6 mates, to get a dropper, about 9 years ago. They were all sceptical about the benefits until they saw the difference it made for me and gradually, they all ended up getting one.
Difficult to imagine riding without one now.
I started riding without a dropper 30 years ago and survived even without sliding the post down. Fast forward 30 years I do own a dropper and use it. Even though the dropper is useful I still find myself not using it as much as people who started riding with one. You can still ride just as aggressive with or without a dropper and without sliding a solid post down. Just learn to adapt.
It all depends on the level of riding you do . I could not ride as fast, safe or comfortable with a seat high , its just not possible. For some users though, I agree a dropper post may not be a necessity.
Amen. More weight to me.
Started riding 2 1/2 years ago, I bought a Specialized levo and it came with a dropper post, since then I added a Specialized rockhopper (fixed seat post) had to get a dropper for it. I love the dropper post, best bit of tech yet.
Riding a bike in January without gloves. Rich is a beast.
I have had a hardtail for 2 years now, rode the first year without a dropper post and 2nd year with one: I will never change it back.
Now I have a full sus with a dropper post, so happy days in the saddle. The "negatives" of a dropper post are nothing compared to the benefits.
Negatives: added weight and... dirty looks from Luddites and geezers?
I got the first Reverb Stealth when it came out and crashed a few months later. The hose snapped at the lever and I had to ride home half a day with the saddle down. This made me throw it out and use normal seatposts for a few years - not the right decision. Droppers are great, just stick to the cable operated models.
Rode for many years without one. Fair play, they're great to have but riding seat up never slowed me down on the descents, you can blast down without when used to it.
it's easier with a quick release seatclamp on a "flat" bit of ground I learnt years ago to roll one handed standing up, grip seat with knees reach down undo seatclamp, then you kind-of crouch down to lower seat and tighten seatclamp 👍
I'd compare a dropper post to a front suspension fork. You don't NEED one, but things are a hell of a lot nicer and more fun with one than without.
@Global Mountain Bike Network You should actually have done a third run, with the solid seatpost kept up, that would have covered all aspects of seatposts - dropper or not.
My personal opinion is, a dropper is the first upgrade to do on Your MTB, if it comes without one.
I have a dropper on my Oiz and it's more than worth it for making it easier to load the bike into my trunk and know that when I take it out the saddle comes right back to the pedaling height with no fuss even if I don't use it that often on the trail
I feel like of all the pro dropper comments, the "easier to get it in the car" might be the most compelling. I'm returning to mtn biking after a 2 decade hiatus. I've never heard of droppers until a few days ago. I have never, on hundreds of miles of Northern California trail rides, stopped to adjust my post. I just went out and had fun with it and don't think I'd ride any differently today; if anything less aggressive downhills at an older age.
Excellent video. I realize the bike industry have been pushing the dropper post in the media for several years, this is a q I have been pondering for few months now. My first mtn bike is a full-susp bike now I built up a trail hardtail. On the hard tail bike, I have decided NO dropper. My main reason for this is I would not ride my hardtail down the mtn hard as my full-susp bike.
I guess the more interesting question would be, what are the limits of riding with the post un-dropped? That is to say, can you compensate for inability to get the post out of the way, simply by becoming more mobile on the bike and basically becoming more skilled / athletic?
Yes.
In all seriousness, in the pre-dropper days it’d be seat up for the “mostly climb” section and then seat down for the “mostly descent” and if you had a brief descent in the former or a brief climb in the latter, you made the best of it. It was never as satisfying, especially for those brief descents. Also worth mentioning is when the legs get tired in the third lap descent you can go to the half up position for a bit of a sit. If XC times are your main goal, maybe the weight savings are worth it but if trail fun is the goal, they are a must have.
For XC in the countryside I think there's no need, I find my Redshift suspension seat post more beneficial on the hardtail. I'm used to it and confident going downhill on the red runs, which I rarely go to so a dropper is not worth it for me.
I have 2 bikes. 1 commuter with a fixed post, and a "weekend" bike with a dropper. The dropper is nice to have and if I want to do the descending in my local venues with speed (for me, I'm no racer lol) then I use the dropper. BUT, I can also ride the same trails at a more relaxed pace with the fixed post with out having to stop and adjust the seat. Saying that, if you're hitting a proper bike park then a dropper is definitely a good idea.
Never ran one, don't have quick release. I found gripping the seat between my thighs gave me a bit more stability.
Agreed with the stability. I lower the seat only just enough that I can easily get behind it in technical sections, yet it doesnt affect pedaling efficiency too bad. That said, I have a dropper, and like it when I stop and start.
I feel too rigid when I grip my seat. I try to stay open and loose and get down behind my seat when possible.
@@kel5944 same thing I do - works a treat - just hang off the back. That said I used to daily a tricky downhill single track on my commute from work. Now that I no longer commute I revisited that single track after 2 years and pretty much walked it down all the way. Skill plays a huge part.
1. Have you got the spare cash? Never in a million years
2. Do you really need it? No, why would I?
3. Is it gonna make a difference to your riding? Probably not
4. Is using a QR seat post clamp good enough? Absolutely 10/10
1. Have you got the spare cash? If you can afford a mtb, then probably.
2. Do you really need it? Do you really need anything beyond food, water, and shelter?
3. Is it going to make any difference to your riding? If you do any manuals, bunny hops, jumps, or descents it will.
4. Is using a QR seatpost good enough? I guess if you don't mind constantly getting off the bike to make adjustments.
Not watching this video because the answer is yes.
YOU NEED A DROPPER!!
Bought a bike this winter but was unable to ride till spring. unfortunately the KS dropper post sagged and would not stay up. No warranty left. Bought a Fox dropper for 309 bucks. Put it on and it won’t go all the way up. It sticks. I am going to a fixed seat post to avoid aggravation of mechanical problems.
What about dropper posts on single speed MTB? Up or down hill, dropper is down. I only sit on the traverse, usually leave the seat down. What about a dropper post video on SS?
Dropper posts are definitely good. I ride a not-so-great bike that doesn't have a dropper, always have as I'm saving for a proper bike, but have tried one out and its amazing.
I keep my rigid post somewhere between tall and short so I can do both worlds without fear but a dropper would make it much better and more efficient.
On my next bike, its going to be mandatory. I'll still keep my older bike for city riding though, where a dropper isn't super necessary.
Its a must. Greatest innovation to mtb hands down
I ride light recreation and commuting and love my fixed seat post. That extra 300 grams for a dropper post is the weight of a set of pedals. On a steep city street, I know what I prefer. I think downhill guys need them but not necessarily everyone else.
You don't need one until you have one and then you can't live without one.
I finally upgraded to a bike with a dropper after replacing my 2011 trail bike that didn't come with one. I'm not convinced they're completely necessary but I understand why people like them.
As a longtime rider, I’ve had a similar experience. They take a little time to get used to.
@@tombos8609 yeah I like it it's just unless I'm doing real gnarly trail riding I don't always need it. Though ask me that after forcing me to go back and the answer may change 😂
My very first upgrade. Good vid rich 👍Quite surprising that (mtb) people don’t know what they were. The misunderstanding that they’re bobbing up and down by themselves, or something. How could one never thought of a dropper, after years of riding? Going up/down, riding berms, pumping, jumping… no idea how to have fun on the bike without one. Probably not true, but I think I use the dropper as much as a turn the bars
YES!!! As a vertically challenged "fluffy" individual, it allows me to get on/off the bike safely. And of course I use the heck out of it on the trail since they always climb, descend, climb, descend, etc. Even my gravel bike has a 50mm dropper!!!
Same for everyone right? Assuming you have your seat at the optimum pedalling height its pretty high to get over 😁 though i guess in that scenario the BB height is a greater % of your height if you are vertically challenged so maybe I'm wrong and also stupid.
@@skartimus I have a 26.5in inseam (short legs, longer torso)...due to longer "reach" I need, I ride a small and basically no bike has "standover clearance" for me. Now when I drop my saddle, I still lean a little to 1 side or tip-toe. Taller people CAN standover their top tube at least.
100% yes. They are a game changer.
Do you need a dropper? Yes! Next video please.
Fuck yes!
One of the best inventions since gears and suspension, hands down.
I use my dropper lever more than I used to use my front derailleur. I think it’s the best tech since disc brakes.
I’m more surprised people are still running front derailleurs
@@bertieblackman8791 look around next time your at the trail. They aren’t that uncommon. 🤷 I still see v brakes and rigid forks on occasion.
When Rich mention guys who care about weight, Ollie Bridgewood imediately comes to my mind... Who knows why... Thanks Rich and team about this video, Im thinking about upgrade.
A basic cable operated Tranz-X dropper and I am good to go. Not a gram hunter here. My 15kg Kona is just fine.
The fact that pretty much every xc pro is using a dropper, whether on a full sus or a hard tail, pretty tells you that they’re here to stay and well worth the weight penalty.
And that they are being pushed by manufactures and sponsors. Kool-Aid drinking hype for XC/Trail grinders. Park guys, I get it. Other wise the weight penalty is just stupid.
Dropper is a game changer. Not having one sucks. My PNW is flawless
Which one do you have? I'm looking at getting the cascade, due to having an older 26er without internal cable routing.
@@NsIX3 that's the one I had on my 2011 stumpy.
Dropper posts are the best invention since wheels I don't know how I rode the trails (especially single track forests) without one.... Last summer I went under a dropped tree no problem I heard a thud turned around my mate was sparked out with a cracked helmet..... To this day he still says I can't believe you got under it and my replies always the same..... Dropper post mate get one
Anyone else remember dropping your post for every technical section? Did that for 30+ years until I installed a dropper last year. Stupid easy decision (and not getting bucked off by a seat anymore!)
Dropper is the greatest innovation in MTB since hydraulic disk brakes and air suspension
Hard tail with sus post, no dropper, full sus with dropper and I dont bother using it other than getting on the bike, I'm tall though and only ride natural trails, hate bike parks and I certainly couldn't give a toss about being the faster down a section, racing's for closed course not open access trails.
I love my WU dropper on my 2019 Enduro coil I don’t know why SPECIALIZED dropped it ? 😁
Having it up full up for climbing then down a notch for tired legs or tired back helps and then drop down another notch or two for the flat and right down for steep descents
I know other post do increments
But with the WU post and the seat changing angle at the same time for each notch is a joy
Also the design has a bit of give in it , so if one does land a bit awkward and slam the rear of the saddle then body weight isn’t transmitted so much to the rear linkage causing the dreaded OTB back wheel buck
Yeah it’s a bit fiddly getting it set up but isn’t everything ?
Q for GMBN tech
Whatever happened to the WU dropper post ?
I love it
It would be interesting to see timed runs with the seat post lowered all the way vs up for an entire run. Maybe even a middle position to see if there's a sweet spot for out of the way while still being reasonably high enough to pedal.
This is not even a debate. Literally the best upgrade on your bike
The up and down changes too frequently on my trails, I find my self using the dropper super frequently. I’d never go back.
Anybody remember back to when "front" suspension was just becoming a thing?
I recall one respected MTB magazine columnist banging on about how suspension was completely unnecessary, and even detrimental to new riders, who wouldn't learn how to pick good lines through rock gardens!
Droppers might not be for everybody or all situations, but these days nobody I know rides without one. Even a cheap dropper can transform the riding experience.
I'm less convinced about electronic shifting. But I guess time will tell.
Cheers
Of course you don't need one but the confidence it inspires on ANY sort of downhill action is worth the price of admission.... which means pretty much any mountain bike. Hands down first upgrade!
Edit* anyone can manually lower their seat before downhill action but it literally slows down your momentum and takes some of the fun out of it as you transition out of downhill you will then have to stop again and raise your seat every single time up and down.
It depends how and where you ride, I rode since the 90’s without one but my rides are so much more fluid now with a dropper,
I have not forgotten adjusting the seat for every descent with the quick release. Droppers and now ebikes have been game changers. Can actually link the terrain around here in a sensible fashion now. Dropper is obvious but with steep technical descents you aren't exactly flying without the motor.
Ebikes are for weak men
@@seanflorian4653 Tends to be the weak willed who complain and cry about ebikes. The irony 😂.
I got a trek roscoe for my first real mtn bike so I got to start with a dropper post, 1x drive train, and tubeless ready. No upgrades needed, but considering a 29" wheelset to swap between
Ive ridden a dropper for a few years now and really like it. That being said, my new ebike didn't come with one and its been fine without one
All of my local trails are punchy hills, nothing more than 50-100ft climb or downhill at a time. I haven't moved my seat height in the past ~4 years. All of my buddies rave about their dropper but I don't miss it because I've never used one
Important bit of kit, helps riding a lot.
I get so sick of hearing the people who talk about how they can get down any trail with their post up. That's great. But there's a difference between surviving and thriving. You could probably get down the same trail on a fully rigid bike, that doesn't mean it's the best tool for the job.
If you ride in rocky terrain/Enduro, you need one. On the flats, maybe not so much. Never believed it until I tried one. Now, never going back!
The answer is yes. Should be the shortest video ever. Do you need one. Yes.
Its one of those things that you dont know if you need it until you try it. I wanted to see what the hype was about. I find I really use it alot!
Depends on location and trails+riding style. With rolling hills I love a dropper. Simple mountains where you ride up and bomb down then it's not needed.
Dunno why there’s a 9 minute video just to say ‘yes’.
I did Moab, UT riding one year no dropper and following with one. Had no problems either way but you can feel the added weight of a dropper. Only a few area where dropper was really nice to have aka large drops.
Depends on what style riding you do most I suppose..🤷🏼♂️
Carbon? Titanium mate.
Plus anyone running a solid seat post won't be raising or lowering it, they will find a happy medium and leave it there, low enough to drop their rear over the back, but high enough to provide some support when seated. And if they are faffing about, they would get a quick release seat post clamp.
I have a rigid on my down country bike , my seat post is set so I can achieve both .
I don't use a dropper. I think i don't need one except in some few situations but one of the things it really dissapoints me is that, today, no one can make a Bunny-Hop or even a Manual without a dropper-post. I really would like to see videos showing how to do it but without this junk. So please GMBN, let's do it. Many of us would appreciate it.
Just drop your seat manually before descending. Ok, for a race is needed. But I always used my hand and it always worked.
Anyways my new bike has come with it so I started using it right now
Without the dropper it actually looks like a good way to train. It forces you to exert yourself more during training sessions.
Let's face it, droppers are just fantastic and a great upgrade to any MTB. 😀
Dropper is only resonable upgrade if you dont have one, and light wheeles . rest is optional.
I’m just happy one doesn’t have to ride that smooth to love mtn biking.
Worth it 100%
I've only had mine a few days and I would never go back, was £340 fitted for a one up dropper wiring clip and button.
better then switching from a hardtail to fullsus is going from no dropper to dropper its the best upgrade you can do if you dont have one
IDK that I'd agree with that (I know GMBN made a video on it). I can always lower and raise the seat on both bikes. I can't add rear sus to a hardtail. Rear sus opens up a lot more aggressive terrain for the average rider. A dropper is awesome but it ultimately just makes an action quicker and easier.
@@dblevins343 ive just gone from a 120mm hardtail to a 160 fullsus and its a lot easier doing things on a full sus but i rode bike parks on my hardtail so
@@gustavsutherland2000 I'm not saying a hartail isn't capable. I rode one for 7 years and didn't replace it for a long time because I didn't think I needed too. I'm just saying a full sus is a more substantial upgrade than a dropper. Especially at bike parks. A seat post is annoying but workable. The full sus is truly a ge changer. I didn't have either until I got the bike I ride now and between the two the thing I notice more is the suspension. I use the dropper a ton but I could go without it.
@@dblevins343 yeah i agree
I only really ride XC and I love it!
have this on my giant faith 0 bike as it is my only bike. i use the reverb axs due to seattube limitations. Worth it, more so, if you have a mullet setup
Considering there are 200+ dollar pedals that are 100 dollars overpriced for aesthetics only I’d rather spend 200+ on something super functional like a dropper
Yes Yes Yes YES!!!! I love it. I even think about it in trekking.
Dropper post, fun to use but expensive to maintain...a routine service over Rockshox Reverb can easily ate up 65 to 70 pounds...
I’m still running my 2012 Kona Cindercone and the only upgrade I’ve made in 10 years is putting a 1x11 drivetrain on there but as for a dropper I’ll wait to my next bike upgrade when I’ll also get some bigger sized wheels instead of my now tiny looking 26ers.
Nah, your bike should be great. Nothing wrong with a 26er. It might be slower but it's super fun to jump I'm sure
@@dblevins343 it certainly is I’m in no rush to upgrade not much I won’t ride it down for areas I ride and who wants to make life too easy for themselves right 😂
@@RICHARD10195 exactly 😆
And for me - it all depends what trails do you raid. If you raiding mellow mostly flat, foresty roads - dropper is only luxury.
Gears took me a bit to figure out, but I wouldn't spend shop prices to do it.
Not needed but definitely a good item to have on descents.
I LOVE the colour of your helmet!
Dropper posts didn’t existed when I was growing up. And that’s just what I’m used to at this point
If I had a young rider at home, she or he would learn MTBing on a hardtail with flats and a ridged post. That would make them a better rider in every way with much better base skills.
Ahh “back in my day we suffered so my kids should suffer too” lol
@@bertieblackman8791 Tells me your MTB experience if you think a hardtail and flats are "suffering".
@@ThunderStruckMTB I was referring to the rigid post. I agree about flats and hard tail
@@bertieblackman8791 Gotch ya. Learning to descend with the saddle still high builds body positioning skills on the bike that will only help any rider as they progress. It helps build the base fundamentals that the best riders have in spades. I love my dropper and would never go back to rigid, but I can still descend anything with it up... albeit much slower and with a higher heart rate.
Great if you need one but if you're not climbing/descending, it adds unnecessary cost, weight and complexity.