BikeYoke Revive Dropper Post - Review
Think of the products that stand out in the history of our sport and it shouldn't come as a surprise that the lion's share of them were created by outliers who became frustrated with the status quo and took it upon themselves to make a better widget.
The Revive seatpost was developed by a couple of German engineer/mountain bike enthusiasts who were disappointed by a number of issues that still plague droppers today - the worst of which is the penchant for hydraulically actuated designs to suck air into their oil columns and morph into squishy unwanted suspension devices. Less worse, but still annoying when one considers that a good dropper costs upwards of $300 USD, is that warranty and service most often requires the owner to ship the post somewhere to have the work done by factory techs (ride and repeat). BikeYoke's Revive dropper post handily solves those issues and more.
The Revive seatpost was developed by a couple of German engineer/mountain bike enthusiasts who were disappointed by a number of issues that still plague droppers today - the worst of which is the penchant for hydraulically actuated designs to suck air into their oil columns and morph into squishy unwanted suspension devices. Less worse, but still annoying when one considers that a good dropper costs upwards of $300 USD, is that warranty and service most often requires the owner to ship the post somewhere to have the work done by factory techs (ride and repeat). BikeYoke's Revive dropper post handily solves those issues and more.
Revive Dropper Post Details
• Hydraulic, infinite-position mechanism
• Twin-tube design eliminates internal floating piston
• Revive Valve air bleed system
• Cable-actuated remote.
• Paddle or radial lever options
• Discreet clamp, SRAM Matchmaker, Shimano I-Spec, and Hope adapters
• 30.9 and 31.6 mm diameters
• 125, 160 and 185mm stroke options
• Weight: 455g to 590g, depending upon stroke and options (525g/160mm reviewed)
• MSRP: 125mm - $375, 160mm - $399, 185mm - $450 (Your choice of remote and clamp styles)
• Contact: BikeYoke
• Hydraulic, infinite-position mechanism
• Twin-tube design eliminates internal floating piston
• Revive Valve air bleed system
• Cable-actuated remote.
• Paddle or radial lever options
• Discreet clamp, SRAM Matchmaker, Shimano I-Spec, and Hope adapters
• 30.9 and 31.6 mm diameters
• 125, 160 and 185mm stroke options
• Weight: 455g to 590g, depending upon stroke and options (525g/160mm reviewed)
• MSRP: 125mm - $375, 160mm - $399, 185mm - $450 (Your choice of remote and clamp styles)
• Contact: BikeYoke
Revive droppers have comparatively few parts and are designed to be rebuilt by an average home mechanic using simple tools. Parts are in stock and readily available (you can even buy a different diameter lower if your new bike has a different-sized seat tube) and it's cable actuated, so you won't have to watch a YouTube video to install one. The guys at Bike Yoke know that some dayyour Revive post is going to suck air, so it features a patented release valve near the clamp head. Open the valve with a four-millimeter Allen key, depress the post, close the valve and, Boom! dropper post perfection once again. You can get a Revive dropper in 125, 160 and 185-millimeter stroke options, and in either 30.9 or 31.6-millimeter diameters at prices ranging from $375 to $450 USD, depending upon stroke-length.
Our Revive dropper was spec'ed with BikeYoke's "Triggy" paddle style remote. It attaches directly to SRAM Matchmaker mounts.
Key Features
Beyond the Revive's bleed valve, there are few, if any, external features that distinguish it from a well executed dropper like the RockShox Reverb or Fox Transfer post. Like Fox, and now RockShox, Revive also offers a smooth-acting, ergonomically acute paddle-style remote lever. Inside, rotational play is arrested by round pins, also in the conventional manner. Its seat clamp is also similar (although BikeYoke does claim that, at only 41 millimeters, Revive has the shortest retracted stack height of any currently available dropper), but that's where the similarities end.
Watch the Revive Dropper in Action
Twin tube action: Where most dropper makers use a floating piston to separate the oil column from the pressurized air chamber, the Revive features a simpler, twin-tube solution. The outer chamber of the twin tube is partially filled with oil - the rest of the space is the pressurized air-spring. The control piston travels in the inner tube, which is completely filled with oil - so when the remote valve is closed, the fluid can't be compressed, and the post locks into position. When you lower the dropper, the remote lever opens the valve in the control piston and fluid exits from ports in the bottom of the inner tube, which raises the level in the outer chamber and further compresses the air spring. That compressed air forces the fluid back into the inner tube through the ports when you re-open the control valve to extend the post. Because the ports are at the bottom of the oil column, air does not enter the inner tube. (Watch the video to explore how that works.)
Gravity dependent: If you have managed to follow along, you have probably discerned that the Revive's simple twin-tube design works if the post remains upright. Flip it up-side down and if you manage to push the remote paddle, air can escape into the inner tube and cause your once perfect dropper to become an air spring. As long as a Reverb or Transfer is perfectly bled, their floating pistons will block air from entering the oil column at any attitude.
The Revive Valve is operated by a 4mm Allen key. Current posts come with an aluminum mini lever that snaps in place.
The internal Revive Valve lever can be easily removed to clear a standard shock pump, should you lose your adapter.
Revive Valve: Luckily for Revive owners, all it takes to remedy the situation is to open the Revive Valve, fully compress the post, then close the valve and go ride. If you own a current Revive dropper, you'll most likely never experience that issue, because they now have an elastic membrane that traps air on the spring-side of the oil column when the post is being stored inverted or laying prone. Either way, it only requires 30 seconds to bleed the post using the Revive Valve (three seconds or less if your mini-lever is in place), and that's just a tiny bit faster than boxing up a dropper and shipping it to a service center to have the air bled from the wrong side of a floating piston.
Pressurizing the air spring controls the post's return speed. An included shock pump adapter is used to clear the Revive Valve mechanism.
Trail Report
The Revive has been a pleasure to ride and I have only had two instances to use its oft-heralded bleed lever: the first time I installed it; and after I left it on a bench for a few months, it needed a second bleed when I put it on the bike I am using at present. One compression was all it took for the bleeds, and it may not have needed the second treatment if it were a current model.
Installation is made easy because the only critical measurement is the 17-millimeters of free cable length between the housing and barrel where the cable attaches to the bottom of the post - and there is a diagram laser-etched on the post to help line them up perfectly. As with all cable-actuated internally-routed posts, the Revive's mechanism needs to be clear of internal obstructions to operate well. To this end, the actuator can be rotated by hand to obtain the best angle.
I have not tried the radial remote lever, and I probably would not choose to, as I prefer paddle types. I have already weighed in on how nice the BikeYoke paddle operates when I reviewed their Dehy conversion for the RockShox Reverb. The short version is that the action is light, the paddle
I have not tried the radial remote lever, and I probably would not choose to, as I prefer paddle types. I have already weighed in on how nice the BikeYoke paddle operates when I reviewed their Dehy conversion for the RockShox Reverb. The short version is that the action is light, the paddle
Laser etched instructions ensure that your cable installation goes right the first time.
The dropper action of the post is smoother than a Fox Transfer, which is now the class leader among the big brand droppers. The Revive is wonderfully smooth to retract and it extends with a subdued, but reassuring "clunk." The transfer ports inside the post offer enough damping to tune the extension speed to suit. I like mine fast, but not to the point where I can't stop the post mid-stroke for pedally descents - and that's how it is.
I've had the Revive on a couple of bikes and it has not shown any wear and tear beyond crash-related dings. Rotational play is almost nonexistent, so it appears that it may be a long time before I'll be writing a "How to Rebuild Your Revive Dropper" story.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | Four hundred dollars is a sizable chunk to spend on a dropper post, especially considering that the last one I reviewed cost less than 150. They both go up and down and stop in the middle, but on the dirt, the Revive is in a league of its own. It's a pleasure to use, and if BikeYoke maintains its parts inventory, which is quite probable, owners should be able to keep them running near perfection for years to come. It's not often that you'll read those words in the context of a dropper seatpost review. |
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@sweet-bike : Yeah I think that is one of the coolest full suspension bikes currently available for general riding. A bit like a (previous generation) Process 134 but then with a threaded bottom bracket. But I mentioned it because their complete build currently comes with the BikeYoke seatpost. BikeYoke also makes a different yoke to modify the ICB2.0 to run a 26" wheel in the rear (instead of the 27.5" wheel it is designed for).
From a dropper post rider - "love the subdue "clunk" to tell me the post is up, smooth up and down, stops in any position you desire, light action..." do I need to make the point clearer? These things are absolutely ri-dick-ulous.
400 is a deal. If only it was available in carbon.
Guess what... you're wrong. Dropper posts (and especially this one) do indeed make riding your mountain bike way more fun. This is coming from someone who talked shit on droppers for a long time and now considers them as important as hydro brakes.
I have never needed to revive my post; it worked perfectly straight out of the box.
Drops mic...
Sorry, had to post that one
I'll show myself out.
For those complaining about pricing, note the $400 includes a remote, so the msrp is $10 less than a Factory Transfer and remote. I paid $320 for mine using a ubiquitous 20% coupon (which, fwiw, excluded Fox products!). So although not cheap, it is fair/competitive with other droppers, some of which don't function nearly as well.
If I had one complaint: no external version. So as much as I love my Revive, unfortunately I can't install it on my other bike.
Conclusion? It's bomber - I haven't even had to "revive" it once, haven't had to re-tension the cable and there is still zero play in the shaft. I went through 3 reverbs and 2 KS droppers in the two years prior. So yeah, this product is the real deal.
;-)
I also want an external version for the bike I have that is currently sans dropper. Too satisfied with the Revive to look elsewhere.
I am very pleased with its performance over the last 3 months. I have ridden other droppers (limited to demo rides only). The revive is very smooth, has an audible pop when it reaches the top, and has a very dampened bottom out. The lever remote is very comfortable and has a lot of adjustability for positioning it properly.
The only time I have ever needed to 'revive' the post is to prove to fellow riders that the function actually worked.
The post has a high upfront cost, but in the long run I think it is completely worth its price.
Also it's pointed out in a couple of reviews like this one: www.mtb-news.de/news/2017/02/09/bikeyoke-revive-test-variostuetze
Honestly I can love with it, but it's still a small hassle.
Furthermore the problem is supposed to be fixed with the newer version, that was released when the 185mm came out. I was a little bummed, since I bought mine 2 weeks before that.
I had the same problems when carrying my bike a lot on my back. I read somewhere that this is the downside of the Revive-valve.
Just remember to put the saddle in the highest position when you turn your bike.
Sorry couldn't help myself. Good to hear the Vyron has been solid.
Keep the humour alive!
Stay warm
Why you replacing the 9.8?
I have a 150mm 30.9 Fall Line. I bought a Norco fat bike last winter and it is 31.6 so I use a shim. My next bike will also be 31.6 and I would like to have a little more than 150. The Fox transfer seems as good as mine, if not better, but simpler to install so I thought about trying something different...and then this one seems better than everything else so might try this one instead! I really liked the fact that mine was canadian though...
I paid both my 9point8 350$cad and now it would be full price so if I'm paying 500$+ I would like to try something else.
Do we have to send our Revive back to Europe if we have trouble with it?! :S
Deal?
Post is awesome! I do have to reset it any time I turn my bike upside down, or if I lift my bike by the seat and the post is not fully extended. I avoid doing those 2 things, but honestly it's no big deal at all to reset it, especially now with the integrated reset lever.
Well done Bikeyoke.
I've got two Thompson Elite droppers and a KS Lev. I hated paying for the Thompsons but I've loved every time I've used them since. The KS Lev... exact opposite.
youtu.be/J_2kQv7fJbc