RockShox has made some major changes to its popular Reverb Stealth dropper seatpost, including claimed improved reliability, shorter overall post length, longer travel post options and reworked internals.
These changes, RockShox claims, make for a smoother, more reliable action that takes less force to drop and is quicker to return.
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Key RockShox Reverb Stealth updates
- New shorter overall post length
- Longer travel post options, including 175mm and 200mm
- Less force needed to drop the post
- New lower fiction hydraulic fluid
- Internal cable routing
Shorter length means longer travel options for more bikes
RockShox has added two longer travel options to the Reverb range (175mm and 200mm) but also, importantly, worked to decrease the overall length of the post.
What this means in practice is that there is a shorter insertion length in relation to travel. Bikes that don’t have an uninterrupted seat tube – for example, those with a kinked seat tube or one that’s pierced by the suspension linkage – may now be able to fit a longer travel post.
This, in turn, means less or no compromise in seat position, with riders more able to drop the saddle right out of the way for descending while still getting it high enough for comfortable, efficient climbing.
New internals, new fluid, better action
The new Reverb has had an internal overhaul. The Internal Floating Piston (IFP), the mechanism which controls the post, has been redesigned with lower friction in mind, which means it requires less ‘drop force’ — less force on the saddle is required to make it drop down.
RockShox has also worked with Maxima USA, a suspension fluid specialist, to formulate a new fluid called Reverb Serene. This has been developed to offer more consistent performance across a range of conditions, and lower friction.
RockShox claims that these changes result in a post that drops and rises more easily and efficiently over previous incarnations of the Reverb.
Easier maintenance
RockShox also claims that the new internals are more robust, increasing the service interval to 600 hours, which is a significant improvement on the 400 hours on the current Reverb Stealth B1 model.
Another feature worth noting is the new Vent Valve Technology, which has already been seen on the Reverb AXS. It’s designed to allow the rider to vent any air that may have escaped into the oil side of the Internal Floating Pivot (IFP), which can cause what RockShox evocatively calls ‘squish’.
The valve is located at the top of the seatpost, so while the post itself doesn’t need to be removed, the saddle and clamps do need to come off.
RockShox Reverb Stealth first ride impressions
On a recent launch event I had the chance to give the new Reverb Stealth a short test and, while longer and more in-depth riding is required to put improved reliability claims to the test, many of the updates are noticeable.
In particular, the lower drop force required means that getting the saddle quickly out of the way is much easier.
This is going to be good news for lighter riders who should now find it easier to get the saddle to drop as quickly and reactively as they want.
A rapid return speed (though not as rapid or violent as early models of the Specialized Command post) means no dawdling when transitioning from descent to flat or climbs, and though I didn’t play around with this, the return speed is adjustable.
Where the updates were particularly noticeable was on undulating terrain, which consisted of smooth rolling ups and downs, plus short, punchy rocky climbs and techy descents. Being able to rapidly and reliably raise and lower the seatpost either to its full length or to just part of the travel made for a more efficient and more fun ride.
RockShox Reverb Stealth pricing, sizing and availability
The new Reverb Stealth is available from June 2019 and in three diameters, which should suit the majority of seat tubes: 30.9mm, 31.6mm and 34.9mm.
There are now five travel options, with corresponding overall post lengths:
- 100mm travel — 301mm overall post length
- 125mm travel — 351mm overall post length
- 150mm travel — 414mm overall post length
- 175mm travel (new) — 467mm overall post length
- 200mm travel (new) — 519.5mm overall post length
Prices below include the post itself, the remote, a bleed kit, fluid, torx tool, barb as well as either a standard mount or clamp depending on which remote option you choose:
- RockShox Reverb Stealth with standard remote: £345 / €345 / $349
- RockShox Reverb Stealth with 1x remote: £395 / €445 / $399
However, it’s worth noting that some of these options will be OEM only, so available only as part of a build on a bike. RockShox hasn’t specified which bikes yet, and it is likely to vary from region to region.
NOTE: The current Reverb Stealth B1 will be discontinued from 30 June 2019.
