OneUp Components Dropper Post Remote V3 review

OneUp’s Dropper Post Remote V3 is the brand’s third iteration of its popular, lightweight dropper seat post lever.

Like the version 2 lever, the V3 is compatible with most lever-clamped cable-operated dropper posts. According to OneUp, the remote is an upgrade that will “improve the feel of any mechanical dropper post for less than $50”.

The lever alone costs £40 / $45 and is back-compatible with the V2 bar or brake-mounting clamp, SRAM MMX and Shimano I-SPEC mounts. Spending the extra £12.50 / $14.50 for a compatible clamp won’t be necessary for everyone.

The most obvious change to the remote is its new rubber thumb pad in place of the contoured, metal section of the V2 remote.

A black silicone thumb pad is supplied with the lever, but additional pads are available to buy separately for £6 / $6 in a range of seven colours.

OneUp claims the force required to operate the remote has been reduced by 27 per cent compared to its V2 remote, thanks to a new cam design.

Like the previous lever, this pivots on a sealed cartridge bearing.

On the rear of the lever is an integrated cable port with cable cut marks. The port can be used to stash the cable and means you don’t need to install a cable crimp to stop it from fraying.

Weighing only 29g for the lever only, the V3 is one of the lightest on the market.

OneUp Dropper Post Remote V3 performance

Fitting the Dropper Post Remote V3 to Shimano’s I-SPEC mount, SRAM’s MMX or the OneUp bar clamp is easy, using a single bolt.

The lever’s slim shape means it fits easily on cluttered bars – such as on electric bikes with remotes and brake levers. It works well with both Shimano’s and SRAM’s integrated brake-lever mounts.

Three mount points on the OneUp lever is more than the two on the RockShox Reverb. The amount of side-to-side adjustment is greater than on Shimano mounted levers.

This means it should be easy to get the OneUp mounted for your personal preferences.

Cutting the inner cable to length is simplified thanks to the cut guide, and stashing it in the cable port means no crimp is needed to stop it from fraying. This gives the lever a clean look.

Thumb traction on the lever is good; even in wet weather, there’s not a lack of grip or any sliding.

Its slightly concave shape helps to keep your thumb in solid contact, even when it's pressed at the edges. The soft silicone helps to reduce the chances of your thumb slipping off it, improving on the textured metal surface of the V2.

I found it tricky to differentiate between the V2 and V3’s lightness of operation, as long as both posts had a recent service and cable change. The condition of the cable has a bigger effect on performance than the lever itself.

I’m sure OneUp’s claims of a 27 per cent decrease in force required to operate it are true, but it’s hard to perceive that when riding down a trail or actuating the lever in the car park pre-ride.

While the sealed cartridge pivot bearing might seem like overkill, it’s proven to boost reliability. The lever feels as solid and secure at the end of my testing as when it was installed. OneUp has reduced the size of the bearing compared to the V2 remote, likely in a bid to save weight.

OneUp Dropper Post Remote V3 bottom line

The Dropper Post Remote V3 is a worthy upgrade if you’ve got an ageing lever and want to improve the feel of your post, while also increasing dropper-activation performance. Others will appreciate the injection of colour thanks to the replaceable thumb pad.

It’s maybe not an upgrade for everyone; if you’ve got OneUp’s V2 Dropper Post Remote, the gains are marginal. Those looking for any performance improvements they can get, however, may be swayed.