The KS Lev Circuit dropper post offers great performance with quick actuation that makes you want to drop the saddle even for those short linking sections of the trail.
Its return speed isn’t the fastest out there, but this is made up for with efficiency and consistency.
KS is widely regarded as being the inventor of modern dropper posts, but it didn’t have a wireless option for those not wanting to fuss around with cables, until now.
KS has priced the Lev Circuit just below the RockShox Reverb AXS, at £699.99 for the 125mm and 150mm posts and £729.99 for the 175mm and 200mm posts.
KS Lev Circuit specifications
KS says the Lev Circuit is aimed at all disciplines of mountain biking, and offers the post with 125mm, 150mm, 175mm or 200mm of travel in a 30.9mm or 31.6mm diameter.
Our 175mm, 31.6mm variant has a maximum insert depth of 269mm and tops the scales at 697g for the post, with the remote weighing in at 42g.
The Lev Circuit is a part of the flagship Lev series and features the same internals as the rest of the range.
It sees these internals flipped on their head, with the trigger and servo now sitting at the top of the post and making space for the valve at the bottom for the adjustable cartridge.
This enables you to control how fast the post returns after being compressed, with more pressure increasing the speed.
The Lev Circuit has IP67 certification, which according to the International Electrotechnical Commission, means it can sustain water jets and full submersion in one metre of water for a 30-minute duration.
A propriety rechargeable battery slides into the rear of the post, similar to that found on the Reverb AXS dropper, with KS claiming up to eight weeks of use from a single charge.
The remote for the Lev Circuit features a lever-esque paddle, which bends its way back into the remote body where it’s anchored. This is powered by a replaceable CR2032 battery.
KS says the post is compatible with 7mm round and 7x9mm oval saddle rails, opening up a wide array of mountain bike saddles.
KS Lev Circuit performance
Installation and setup
The Lev Circuit is painless to set up, with the post and remote quick to pair using the buttons found on the post’s head and at the rear of the remote.
I found the remote easy to fix to the handelbar, with the C-clamp fitting neatly on my bar and causing zero interference.
Attaching the saddle was problem-free, with the clamp easy to manoeuvre through the saddle rails and quick clamp.
Saddle pitch is controlled using a bolt hidden behind a cap, and setting the angle is a simple task.
Adding more pressure to the cartridge was easy, and I experimented with different pressures to see the results.
On the bike
The KS Lev Circuit is quick to drop, with the actuation feeling almost instantaneous as the button is pressed.
This is on a par with the RockShox Reverb AXS and much more responsive than the Tranz-X EDP01.
When it comes to the climbs, the post is a little slower than I’d anticipated, even with the maximum 180psi painstakingly pumped into the cartridge.
This is not detrimental to the post's overall performance, and it is by no means slow, but it doesn’t have the same haste as the RockShox offering.
The post is easy to get accustomed to, and I found my muscle memory adapted to the post’s function well.
I was less of a fan of the remote, with the hard plastic lever offering little grip and posing worries about its sturdiness.
The thin clip-like lever looks very delicate and feels like a cost-saving choice.
One thing I did like about the remote was the positive tactile click it gives when the lever is pressed.
How we tested | Dropper posts
For this test, Nick took to his local forest to use the posts on undulating terrain trails where droppers prove most useful and are actuated more often.
Weather ranged from dry and sunny to cold and frankly miserable days, where dropper post imperfections can quickly frustrate weary heads and remotes prove difficult to use in the cold.
The droppers were all used in a medium-sized enduro bike, with inner and outer cables replaced for each post to ensure accuracy and repeatability.
Each post was set to a saddle height with full leg extension, and the bars were cleaned before installing the remote to avoid slippage.
Droppers on test
- Magura Vyron MDS-V3
- X-Fusion Manic
- OneUp V3 Dropper Post
- Tranz-X EDP01
- PNW Loam Dropper Post
- Crankbrothers Highline 11 Dropper
- RockShox Reverb AXS
- KS Vantage
- KS Lev Circuit
KS Lev Circuit bottom line
The KS Lev Circuit offers impressive performance, with quick actuation and a consistent feel making it one of the best wireless droppers on the market.
Its return is not quite as fast as the Reverb AXS, and the remote doesn’t feel as refined, but if you’re looking for a high-end wireless dropper it should certainly be on your list.
Product
| Brand | ks |
| Price | 730.00 GBP |
| Weight | 697.0000, GRAM () - plus 42 for remote |
Features
| br_seatpostDiameter | 31_6mm |
| br_remote | Included |
| br_travel | 175.0000 |
| br_travel | MILLIMETER |
