OneUp Components V2 Dropper Post review

The V2 Dropper Post is OneUp Component's second go at a dropper post that brings in a huge range of travels and diameters to offer one dropper for almost every rider out there. Where it impresses with its collection of options, it's flawless in its performance with excellent reliability and a silky smooth drop. The V2 Dropper Post confidently stakes its claim as one of the best dropper posts on the market and here's why.

OneUp Components V2 Dropper Post - Technical details

OneUp's V2 post is the Canadian brand's latest iteration of its award-winning dropper post with the widest choice of drop lengths on the market, six in total - 90mm, 120mm, 150mm, 180mm (tested), 210mm, plus a recently released 240mm option for those flamingo legged riders out there. All sizes can be shimmed down in a few minutes by 10 or 20mm via the included travel-reducing shim pins. The post is available in the usual 30.9, 31.6, and 34.9mm diameters, and in the box, you'll find the dropper post, one cable barrel end, one packet of light suspension grease, and two sets of 10mm travel-reducing shims. A cable and housing come with the remote which is sold separately.

Mechanically, OneUp has kept things simple and brilliantly user-friendly with the V2. The post is cable-operated and utilises a fully sealed replaceable air spring cartridge that's pressure adjustable via a Schrader valve at the top of the post for tweaking the return speed.

OneUps V2 dropper offers great value for money, with the longer travel options setting you back a not unreasonable £230 (post only), while shorter travel versions come in a tad cheaper at £200. The high gloss finish and laser etching certainly don't scream budget and the OneUp posts are a regular sight on boutique custom, and stock builds. A good reason for this is the fact that OneUp produces the longest travel droppers on the market along with the shortest stack heights, allowing riders to squeeze the maximum amount of drop possible from their whip. These lofty posts can be easily shimmed down to the optimum ride height too thanks to the tool-free shim pins that come with the post. This versatility adds a dash of future-proofing to the mix should you change to a bike with a different seat tube length at a later date.

The 480mm total length, 33mm compressed stack height, and 120mm insertion of my 180mm test post are the best in class, and they enabled me to squeeze 180mm of drop in the same space as my 150mm Reverb. Happy days! This is down to not only the super slim 21mm collar but also OneUps ingenious inverted saddle clamps that allow the saddle to sit significantly lower on the post. I'm yet to try it, but supposedly the clamps are compatible with many other droppers too, may be worth a try if you're looking to lower that saddle as much as possible.

Weights are very competitive with my 31.6 x 180mm test sample weighing in at just 545g, very impressive for a relatively inexpensive dropper post.

The OneUp remote is sold separately for £44, with either standard 22.2mm handlebar mount, Matchmaker X, I-Spec EV, and I-Spec II options. The minimalist machined aluminium V3 remote is very smart and lightweight at a claimed 29g and is a worthy upgrade option. On this redesigned V3 version, OneUp claims an impressive 27 percent reduction in input force compared to the V2 lever. The lever throw is indeed very smooth and offers a nice light action thanks to a sealed cartridge pivot bearing. Cable tension can be easily tweaked thanks to an integrated barrel adjuster and there's a nice cable management port to keep things tidy. The remote has three mounting holes to enable a degree of horizontal adjustability to ensure optimal 'thumbability'.

The lever paddle sports a replaceable grippy rubber thumb cushion for added tactility, and if colour matching is important to you it's available in several jazzy colours for an extra six quid.

Alternatively, the post is compatible with any cable-operated remote, so you can sub in your personal favourite or existing lever, just so long as it clamps the cable at the remote end.

Onto the subject of serviceability, and thankfully OneUp has ensured that the V2 is very easy to live with. Routine bushing lubrication can be done in just a few minutes by even the most cack-handed of home mechanics, and OneUp sells rebuild kits for £19 that include all the parts required to keep your V2 Dropper Post running sweetly. Most spare parts are readily available including replacement cartridges for just £62 should things go squiffy after the two-year warranty period. Easy-to-follow guides are available for all of the above on the OneUp Components website.

OneUp Components V2 Dropper Post - Performance

Out of the box, and it's hard not to be impressed by the V2's premium aesthetic. The finish and attention to detail are top-notch and belies its meagre price tag. The laser-etched graphics are classy and understated and the whole post feels solidly engineered. While there are a couple of millimetres of rotational free play at max extension, there's no rattle at all, and it's completely unnoticeable when riding.

Installation was an absolute doddle thanks to clear instructions and external cable routing on my test sample. After triple-checking cable lengths before trimming, I was up and running in under 15 minutes and ready to hit the trails!

My previous post was a 150mm Rockshox Reverb and apart from the usual hint of sag, I've had very little to complain about, it's been a reliable bit of kit. However, the stack height is fairly tall owing to a deep 32mm collar and standard saddle clamps, meaning even when fully slammed into the frame, ride height is not as low as I'd like.

With the 180mm OneUp fitted I was made up to be able to gain an extra 30mm of drop I had enough exposed post showing I could probably have squeezed in a 210mm version, with the option of shimming down the travel to 190mm or 200mm to fully capitalise on that low stack height. The cleverly designed inverted seat clamps work a treat in bringing down the ride height as much as possible - imagine a sad face with the downturned corners of the mouth being the rail grooves as opposed to the upturned smiley face set up found on rival posts and you'll get the picture. With this clamping arrangement, the dead space between the top of the post and the base of the saddle is significantly reduced meaning in conjunction with the shallow 21mm collar, my seat was noticeably lower when fully slammed - ideal for getting rowdy in the steeps and steezing it up on the jumps. There's also ample tilt adjustment to cater to even the slackest or steepest seat angles out there.

Performance-wise, I'd worried there might be a sacrifice in smoothness coming from a hydraulically actuated Reverb, but my concerns were unfounded as the OneUp is super smooth and consistent in use with a lovely light and easily controllable action. The return speed can be fine-tuned via the valve under the saddle clamps if required, but I found it pretty much spot on for me at the recommended 250psi.

OneUps V3 remote is designed to be as minimalist and low profile as possible, making it far less susceptible to crash damage or knee knocks. It's an absolute joy to use too, with a lovely tactile feel and a light but controllable action. There's no wobble or free play, and I was able to find my optimal position on the bars thanks to multiple mounting points. Early iterations of the Oneup dropper lever were made from a tough but slightly flexible composite material, but the latest all-alloy versions are rock solid in use.

I've been running the V2 at its full 180mm extension, but in the name of science, I did try reducing the travel using the included shim pins, and am happy to report it's a very simple procedure that can be done in just a few minutes without removing the post from the frame. No tools are required either - although a strap wrench may be needed if the collar is over-tightened.

There are clear and easy-to-follow instructions and how-to videos available on the OneUp website to make the job as painless as possible. There are also ones for servicing and cartridge replacement, although apart from a smear of grease on the bushing I've not needed to touch my test sample in 3 months of use - it's been as fantastically smooth and reliable as it was on day one.

OneUp Components V2 Dropper Post - Verdict

OneUp's V2 Dropper Post certainly deserves the accolades it has garnered since its release. The V1 was a great dropper but suffered from a few stiction-related issues if over-clamped. OneUp has sorted any minor niggles with this latest version and the V2 is now up there with the best droppers on the market in terms of quality and performance. The fact that it costs a fraction of the price of some other high-end posts whilst outperforming many of them is quite the achievement.

Where it trumps them all though is the extensive travel options including a class-leading 240mm monster dropper! Combine this with the lowest stack height and shortest overall post length on the market and you've got yourself a winner. With frames becoming lower and longer with a trend for shorter seat tubes for increased standover clearance, OneUp has created the perfect post to capitalise on this, whilst offering the ability to easily reduce the drop length to individual requirements.

Another massive boon is the V2 is a cinch to keep running sweetly with well-priced rebuild kits and spare parts readily available from the OneUp site. This makes it much easier to look after at home without resorting to expensive shop servicing to keep things from getting raunchy. As long as it's kept well lubricated, I have no reason to doubt the longevity of the OneUp V2 and would expect many seasons of trouble-free uppy-downy duties. OneUp even sells oversized pins to replace the standard ones should the lateral play become excessive over time, and a two-year warranty seals the deal.

In terms of competition, the OneUp V2 is a hard act to beat at this price point. One post that comes close is fellow Canadian brand PNW Components Loam Post. It costs £197 for the longer drops which is a good price for the performance on offer. The overall design is very similar to the OneUp post with adjustable air cartridge internals, tool-free travel adjustment, and easy home serviceability. Build quality is top-notch notch too, and overall it's a fantastic dropper post for the money and a viable alternative to the Oneup post. However, travel options are more limited with just 125mm, 150mm, 170mm or 200mm versions available, although these can all be shimmed down by up to 25mm. Additionally, the stack height of the 170mm Loam dropper is 7mm taller than the 180mm OneUp, so you're getting a little less travel in a slightly longer package.

A more wallet-friendly dropper option is the Brand X Ascend, which retails for just £169 and is a common sight as OE spec on many mid-range bikes, and for good reason. It's a very dependable unit with a solid rep for reliability and durability. However, it lacks the OneUps shimmability and it's a tad weighty and not quite as smooth or refined as the OneUp post. Additionally, the remote is a bit basic and the ergonomics are a little lacking. Still, it's a fantastic no-frills dropper that can often be found heavily reduced making it even more of a bargain.

Summing up, the OneUp V2 dropper and V3 lever is a class act that's pretty much impossible to find fault with. If you're in the market for a new dropper or if you're looking to upgrade to a longer travel post to maximise standover I'd have no hesitation in recommending the V2 regardless of budget. The fact it's such a bargain compared to many rival options is just the icing on the cake!