RockShox Reverb Stealth C1 dropper with 1x Remote review

Considering the RockShox Reverb C1 is available at a very reasonable comparable price to other droppers of a similar brand quality, you get plenty included in the box.

As well as smooth hydraulic actuation and durable performance, there's everything you need for fitting and bleeding; discreet and SRAM Matchmaker remote mounts are in there along with syringes, fluid and other hardware for initial fitting and ongoing maintenance.

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It's really refreshing to see this, especially because so often anything that isn’t nailed down gets charged as extra.

The Reverb Stealth comes in 30.9, 31.6 and 34.9mm diameters, rocking 100mm travel right up to a lofty 200mm, so it's very likely that you'll find the post for you.

I knew the new internals had reduced the stack and overall post height significantly, but it was still a happy surprise to see my regular Santa Cruz test rig, with 150mm travel, now able to take the Reverb with room to spare.

The stack height has reduced from 65mm (bottom of the collar to middle of the saddle rail at minimum extension) on my older Reverb to 50mm on the C1, buying an extra 15mm of breathing space.

RockShox also claims the updated mechanism requires 50 per cent less pressure to drop and is faster to return, and judging by my positive experiences on the trail, this is indeed the case.

Although a 2x compatible plunger style remote is available, mine came with the well-proportioned 1x under-bar paddle.

The hydraulic action was a joy to use; buttery smooth – as you would expect from a hydraulic hose – and with very little pressure needed to actuate the post.

Return was punchy but not too urgent, so it all felt light and easy to work. I've been running various versions of the Reverb over the years, so have no concerns about durability either.

Although I didn’t have to use it during the test period, the clever Vent Valve Technology built into these new posts could save a chunk of time when it comes to maintenance.

Air and oil mixing can lead to the post ‘sagging’ over the top few millimetres, compressing slightly under rider weight and unable to maintain full extension. This would normally require a strip down, but the Vent Valve allows for easy purging.

Just remove the saddle and compress the post while pressing on the valve button, using something that looks uncannily like a rugby stud remover. This should redirect any air that has moved to the wrong chamber and get you back to full working order. A great idea that should simplify ownership even further.

The only problem I encountered arose on one ride where the temperature dropped to -4°C. On the trail the post began to show a noticeable lag in returning, almost grinding to a halt as the temperature really bit into the fabric of the post.

By pure chance, a fellow rider with the same RockShox post had exactly the same trouble and it wasn’t long before we had narrowed it down to the extreme temperature.

Once the bikes were warmed up in our local bike shop, they made a full recovery. Temperatures this low aren't something you have to worry about that often in the UK, so it's probably not a deal breaker for most, but is something to keep in mind if you ride in a range of conditions.

Overall, the Reverb Stealth C1 is light, reliable and easy to maintain. It's not a bad package all in, as long as you don’t venture out in extreme low temperatures.