RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post review

The new RockShox Reverb AXS post was introduced back in February and, just like Eagle AXS gearing, works wirelessly. That means with no cable or hose to thread internally, installation is a seriously rapid, pain-free process.

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The remote and post talk to one another using SRAM’s encrypted wireless network and, once they’re both bolted into place, need to be synced together in order to work. This is done by pushing each of the components’ AXS buttons, which takes a matter of seconds.

These buttons, and their corresponding LED lights, also allow you to check on battery life: a green light signifies the battery is full or nearly full, a red light means it’s around half full, while a flashing red light means it’s time to charge.

SRAM reckons the dropper post lasts around 40 hours of ride time before it’ll need charging – which I found to be pretty accurate (and charging only takes an hour) – while the remote (which uses a CR2032 battery) should last a couple of years.

You can also connect both the post and remote via Bluetooth to the SRAM AXS smartphone app, which lets you monitor battery life and log mileage. While connecting to the AXS app is useful to keep tabs on components, it’s by no means essential and you can ride the Reverb AXS without getting or using the app.

Aside from the wireless treatment, RockShox has given the post a significant overhaul both inside and out. There’s now a new, lower friction internal floating piston and the US brand now uses a lower friction oil and new grease, which is said to degrade more slowly.

Not only should this help improve how smoothly the post operates, RockShox claims that the changes have helped to boost the service interval from 200 to 600 hours, which is pretty impressive.

The head of the post is also totally new and now uses a single bolt to clamp saddle rails in place along with a T25 bolt at the front of the clamp to adjust saddle angle. In practice, this works really well and, despite some heavy seated landings, I’ve had no issues with my saddle shifting or creaking since initial set-up.

That said, I couldn’t fit my carbon-railed Fabric saddle in clamp because the rails were a touch too tall to comfortably be retained. Switching to a saddle with more conventional tubular rails quickly remedied this though.

At the base of the post sits the new Vent Valve, which can be used to remove any squish the post might develop over time should the air and oil inside mix. I’ve not needed this yet, but it’s reassuring to know it’s there should this problem ever occur.

In terms of length, it measures up the same as the older style Reverb, making my 150mm travel post 440mm in length.

The post itself weighs a respectable 650g (the remote weighs 63g). RockShox caters for just about every frame size out there, offering the Reverb AXS in 30.9, 31.6 and 34.9mm diameters. There are plenty of travel options too, with 100, 125, 150 and 170mm.

After a couple of months of hard use, mine is still running smoothly, despite being dealt its fair share of bad weather and numerous blasts with the hose pipe.

In use, I really appreciated the push button actuation (as well as the shape and size of the paddle) and rapid reaction time of the Reverb AXS. It may sound lazy, but the lack of effort – there’s no lever to contend with so limited thumb/wrist movement is needed – and movement of hand required to hit the remote is a big plus for me, especially when riding seriously technical terrain where I found myself making constant micro-adjustments to my saddle height.

This is helped further by the fact that there’s no lag once you’ve pushed the remote (unlike the Magura Vyron), which means the Reverb AXS performs and feels just as quick (if not quicker) and is even easier to use than a really well set-up mechanical post.

While the price will be the hardest thing to swallow for many, I can’t help but be a big fan of just how well the Reverb AXS works and just how quick and easy it is to install and set up.

The fact it can be swapped between bikes in just a couple of minutes only bolsters its appeal further.