I was looking around and came across a couple mentions of new electronic droppers from X-Fusion and Magura that were announced last year. I know that Magura released the Vyron back in 2015-16 but it didn't get very good reviews. I was just wondering why there are not more options in this category. It doesn't seem like it would be that difficult to make. With the price of GX AXS bringing more people in to wireless shifting I would think the market is ready for something that costs less than the RS Reverb AXS. Any insight?
Electronic Dropper Posts
louiesquared
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This, in theory, is a good idea. Swapping an AXS dropper from one frame to the other requires moving the shifter, also, or pairing the dropper with a different shifter. You have to get the post height and saddle position and tilt adjusted right based off of the seat tube angles and lengths. I did this exactly one time before buying my second AXS dropper. I prefer to wrench less and ride more.
What's a self-dropping post?
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706 Posts
This is what I do. I have three bikes that one axs dropper fits. My local trails are flat xc type and I do not even use one on them. When I go out of town to trails that a dropper is useful on I just put it on the bike that I am bringing. Super easy to move around them all if you use locking grips.
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1,180 Posts
A dropper post that drops without the rider having to sit on the post to actuate the drop.
This is the next frontier in dropper seatpost technology. Shimano has several patents on electronically-controlled versions that use a servo and a worm screw to drop the seatpost. Trek and other manufacturers also hold patents for self-dropping seatposts.
BMC has already introduced a pneumatic version on its Fourstroke XC bike. These systems will most likely be integrated into bike frames since they need more space than is afforded by traditional aftermarket dropper posts.
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1,324 Posts
After dropping that kind of cash people need to convince themselves it was worth it.
a buddy of mine told me once he gets less thumb fatigue because of it. I think as soon as he said it he knew he would regret it. Every time i rode with him after that I would complain about how tired my thumb was and how lucky he was.
He finally broke down and admitted it was a stupid comment and purchase
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857 Posts
I have GX AXS on the way and it should be installed by this weekend. The Reverb AXS is probably next on my list of upgrades. The reason why? Because I can. I like bikes, I like trying new things, technology is cool, I have the money. I do not know why some people get so upset about other peoples spending habits.
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6,030 Posts
Because it's easier for some people to simply get upset about other people's spending habits and decisions than it is to understand that almost everyone has a different definition of "worth it".
Off topic but the reason some get mad about other peoples spending habits is because it can drive up prices. Nothing in the bike world is priced according to what the materials and manufacturing require. Prices reflect what the market will pay. Unfortunately MTB is full of riders willing to pay stupid high prices. The industry is going to keep testing us. The reason so many companies are now owned by corporations that have no roots in the sport ins't just because the sport has grown. It's because of the margins that must be near the top of any market.
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And most of those upset people have precisely zero idea what it actually costs to get a product to market and support said product.
If it wasn’t for early adopters that are willing to pay the premium to have the latest and greatest, most companies would be far more hesitant with advancing technology as the upfront costs would simply be too risky and take too long to recoup.
The use of trickle down technology that is made possible by early adopters opening up their wallets for expensive first Gen products has made nearly every industry better, and driven innovation to the point that even mid tier products are light years ahead of top end products from even 5-10 years ago.
Naw, it's just what the market will bear. E droppers do not need to cost so much more than mechanical. They cost so much more because people will pay so much more. No need to complicate it more than that. Sure there's other factors, just none as meaningful.
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6,030 Posts
Maybe, maybe not.
Without getting our grubby mitts on some very detailed financial reports that I highly doubt Sram is willing to share, it’s all a guessing game for random clowns on the internet.
What I do know, Sram released an AXS dropper for the price they landed on, I decided I was willing to play ball.
After a year riding it, I was in love with it and felt it was worth it. If I didn’t end up buying a new bike with plans to move my Ripley along, I would still be happily riding it today.
In the end, I bought It for $800, rode it for over a year and sold it for $600. Worked out that it cost me $200 to own it. I’m happy with that deal.
As I said before, if they release a V2 with around 200mm of drop and it will fit my SJ Evo, I’m all in for another one.
The idea is intriguing. After watching the video, the speed of drop and the speed of return seem to be the area in need of the most progression. It also appears that the lever only has one paddle? So you press and it goes down, you press and it goes up? Seems like that approach may take some options away.
Nothing in any world is priced according to what it costs to produce it. Prices always reflect what consumers are willing to pay. Companies don’t add up their costs plus a “fair” markup to determine their price. The market sets the price. Producers extract every sales dollar they can get while carefully managing costs to maximize the resulting profit. Econ 101.
What the market will bear is just business 101. We don't need financial reports to see it play out in the bike industry.
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I’m well aware of business 101, and heck, even setting prices and managing margins. It’s actually a huge part of my job.
You’re missing the point that you, and I, have zero idea what Sram’s margins were on AXS droppers at introduction, let alone today.
To figure that out, you need detailed reporting analysis.
Reverb AXS droppers might be a high margin product, they might not be. Unless you have access to the data, you’re just throwing a meaningless guess against the wall.
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1,131 Posts
So true, everyone’s definition of “worth it.” I can think of so many thing that people waste money on that they think is “worth it”. While a lot couldn’t fathom spending $5000 on a bike, the joy and health related benefits are worth it. Someone spending that amount of money or more on a bourbon collection is not “worth it.”
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Whoa there fella!
You’re talking to someone that has spent silly amounts of $$$ on bikes and whiskey!
I will agree, they don’t really mix well.
However, when the deep freeze and snow sets in here in the North East and I head to my cabin for the winter, a delicious whiskey by the fire is a fantastic way to spend an evening.
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1,131 Posts
Haha. Love it. I was into the bourbon chase for a hot second until I quickly realized how much time and money was wasted for so many bourbons that were too similar and didn’t do it for me. I know what I like and can find it on the regular. Sold off of much of my stash and now keep stock in what I drink. So yea I like it as much as the next, but chase is not “worth it”
I was at the local grocery store and there were 20 some guys in line waiting for the allocated bourbons to be put out. Lol. I guess some still love the chase. Not for me.
I did the same sort of thing chasing 22lr ammo, only to hate shooting 22 and selling much of it. Now I’m in to precision 22 but all that trash 22 I sold was useless anyway for precision.
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I have wonder how many hours of development effort went into the embedded systems programming for my bikeyokes electronics. Who does their vhdl?
Pondering all of the feedback here, the market for electronic droppers seems very divided. A significant group reluctantly pays $800, then after using it Is enthusiastic. They spread the word and more dive in. At the same time a much bigger majority wouldn’t pay half as much.
All things considered, SRAM got their pricing about right, maximizing revenue from those who appreciate their product and resisting the temptation to drop the price to boost sales at the expense of profit.
The solution? Competition. Somebody else should develop a similar but cheaper dropper. If that doesn’t eventually happen, it’s because the cost to develop, build, and sell it for about $500 would not be profitable enough to justify the risk. Otherwise, it will happen.
All things considered, SRAM got their pricing about right, maximizing revenue from those who appreciate their product and resisting the temptation to drop the price to boost sales at the expense of profit.
The solution? Competition. Somebody else should develop a similar but cheaper dropper. If that doesn’t eventually happen, it’s because the cost to develop, build, and sell it for about $500 would not be profitable enough to justify the risk. Otherwise, it will happen.
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