RockShox Reverb 1X Remote

(discontinued)

We ask a lot from our dropper seatposts - we want them to go up and down on command, lock out entirely, stay smooth, offer infinite adjustability, hold up to the constant abuse of dust and mud, and to do it over and over for months on end without ever servicing the things. From a designer's standpoint that is a very tall order, and it turns out manufacturing a good dropper is very difficult thing to do.

RockShox has been at it for years, however, and while they've no doubt had their fair share of hiccups there are several reasons why the Reverb is the world's most popular dropper. Having resolved a few issues at the beginning of production, the company feels very confident in the latest version of the post and is pleased to introduce a new remote upgrade to make it even better.

Reverb 1X Remote Highlights

• Hydraulic actuation
• MatchMaker X or discrete clamp options
• Bleeding Edge lever bleed fitting
• Tooled speed adjust
• Backwards compatible with all B1 and A2 Reverb models (black return speed adjuster knob)
• MSRP when included with Reverb Stealth models: $399, 445€, 375£
• Upgrade kit MSRP (includes remote, Bleeding Edge fitting, discrete clamp, MatchMaker X clamp): $95, 105€, 90£
• Remote Weight: 69.2g (claimed, 21g more than standard Reverb remote)
• Availability: April 2017

During a recent conversation with Jon Cancellier, RockShox Product Manager, he told Vital, "We know we can do better. We took our time and we wanted to make this thing right." A big part of making it right had to do with ergonomics.

How do we make this thing feel like a shifter?

While the original Reverb remote was derived from XLoc, RockShox's hydraulic fork lockout, the new 1X Remote is a dedicated design. RockShox worked with both SRAM shifter and brake engineers to make the best remote they could.

The new remote uses the same pivot location as SRAM shifters, a very similar paddle shape (there's a bit of a concave to help your thumb stay put), and is MatchMaker X compatible to keep those bars as clean as possible. While you can't rotate the lever around the pivot like high-end SRAM shifters, it offers inboard and outboard positions and can be rotated around the bar which should give the vast majority of riders an almost identical feel to a SRAM shifter.

If you've ever lost that infuriatingly small grub screw while trying to bleed a Reverb lever, you'll be pumped to learn that the lever takes cues from SRAM's Guide line of brakes and features a Bleeding Edge port housed under a rubber boot. This design makes service far easier with less parts to juggle and ensures a better seal. It also uses a different adapter than the brakes to ensure you don't get the two mixed up and mistakenly put DOT fluid in your post.

Right next to the bleed port you'll find a tooled T25 speed adjustment that changes how quickly the post returns to full extension without messing with air pressure. Though no longer adjustable on the fly, the new remote does allow faster speeds than the old remote which could be a big benefit in colder weather.

Having learned what works and what doesn't, RockShox chose to keep things relatively simple with a piston and return spring layout inside the remote. See it in action in this short video demonstration:

They've also addressed a common durability issue by capturing the end of the hose inside a nut to add strain relief. The interface is now far more robust and we're told the hose will break before the fitting, which is a relatively simple fix.

While it's possible to get the new lever on $399 Reverb Stealth models being sold from this point on, existing A2 and B1 Reverb posts with a black speed adjuster are also compatible with the $95 upgrade kit. The kit includes a remote, Bleeding Edge fitting, discrete clamp, and MatchMaker X clamp.

And what of the whole hydraulic versus mechanical actuation debate? "We've switched everything else in our product line to cable and housing," Cancellier said. "We kept Reverb hydraulic for a reason, because we think it's a better way to actuate a seatpost." He went on to cite better modulation, resistance to water/mud/grit, no issues routing through tight bends around frame pivots and tubes, and less weight as a few key reasons why. While servicing a hydraulic remote can be intimidating for some, that Bleeding Edge fitting makes things quite a bit easier.

Installation

Installing the new remote is so quick it's hardly worth cracking open a beer. The approximately ten minute process involves these steps:

• Ensure the new lever is in the slowest position.
• Cut the hose near the old lever with a hose cutter or utility knife, ensuring a nice flat cut with no hose deformation.
• Thread the new lever onto the hose.
• Bleed the lever. After breaking loose the Bleeding Edge fitting with 3mm allen key (only during the initial use), install a RockShox bleed syringe on both the lever and post. Push Reverb fluid from the post to the lever, holding the Bleeding Edge fitting in place while pushing on the post-side syringe. Once the fluid runs clear remove the post-side syringe. Cycle the lever a few times to ensure there are no bubbles while gently pushing/pulling on the remote syringe. Remove the remote syringe.
• Adjust return speed as needed. Cover ports with rubber boot.
• Reinstall the post and mount the remote to the bar.
• Go shred!

From the moment we grabbed the bars, the feel and actuation of the Reverb 1X Remote was like second nature. While other brands have created similar looking levers, we'd argue that this one is the easiest to use given the identical feel to a SRAM drivetrain. Your brain quickly goes into default mode thanks to the mirrored feel to the shifter on the other side of the bars. "If you can shift, you can work this thing," Cancellier remarked, and he's absolutely right.

Benefits go beyond the intuitive feel. You no longer have to unwrap your thumb from the bars which means more control when the trail gets hairy. Riders with weak thumbs or hand issues will also really appreciate that it's easier to press thanks to the mechanical advantage of the lever. The new design is also less likely to get caught on shorts. All lever edges are rounded and comfortable to the touch.

Perhaps the best thing is that the Reverb's infinite travel becomes much more usable with the new lever in place. Because the sweet spot is larger and less thumb force is required, it's possible to barely crack the valve open and adjust your saddle up or down just a hair.

Perhaps the best thing is that the Reverb's infinite travel becomes much more usable with the new lever in place. Because the sweet spot is larger and less thumb force is required, it's possible to barely crack the valve open and adjust your saddle up or down just a hair. Pushing the lever in and releasing it feels very smooth and controlled with no odd ramps in thumb pressure required during actuation. There's also no free play and no lever jiggle.

What's The Bottom Line?

At $95 the new RockShox Reverb 1X Remote isn't cheap, but the improved usability, ergonomics, and easier bleed procedure make it a worthwhile upgrade. After the quick switch you'll find yourself thinking less about your post and more about the trail ahead, which is exactly the kind of component we want on our bikes.

Visit www.rockshox.com for more details.

About The Reviewer

Brandon Turman - Age: 30 // Years Riding MTB: 16 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 175-pounds (79.4kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a Mechanical Engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every new innovation in our sport from the past several years and a really good feel for what’s what.