BikeYoke Revive 3.0 Review: The Most Reliable Dropper Yet?

With dropper seatposts coming standard on most new trail bikes and increasingly on gravel bikes and custom builds, we’ve seen a flood of options hit the market in recent years. From budget to high-end varieties, for nearly every seat tube diameter with myriad travel options, you can find a dropper for pretty much any bike and configuration. Formerly found primarily in the trail/gravity/enduro realm, droppers have gained popularity on bikepacking rigs for riders venturing out onto more technical multi-day routes.

However, not every post is up to the task. Despite advances in technology, the inner workings of the average dropper have remained relatively unchanged. Between inexpensive sealed air cartridges that are simply threaded inside a tube, suspension-inspired IFPs, and hydraulic systems, not much has evolved in the roughly decade-and-a-half dropper posts have been readily available. Many of them have an almost expected failure rate, or at the very least frequent overhauls to continue functioning. Here at my shop, it’s not uncommon to see some bikes return for service more than a couple of times per season if they are being ridden frequently. With that in mind, it’s not surprising that only a few droppers have gained a reputation for solid reliability and reasonable service intervals. Presciently, the few well-known suspension companies were early adopters of dropper post design and remain the most popular pick for many bike manufacturers and serious riders alike. Then, only a handful of years ago, came a small and seemingly boutique brand called BikeYoke.

WHAT THE YOKE?

From the company’s inception, BikeYoke founder and lead designer Stefan Sack knew he wanted to build a bike company his way, and that meant no outside investors, no third-party designers, and no compromises. What began in Germany in 2015 as a purpose-driven and aptly named company with a single product—an aftermarket frame linkage yoke that allowed users to replace the proprietary Specialized linkage and OE shock with a standard aftermarket rear shock—has grown to include a modest lineup of droppers and remotes, unique shock-absorbing saddles, a few clever accessories, and even more linkage conversion yokes for other bike makes and models. All of BikeYoke’s offerings remain true to Sack’s modus operandi of designing performance-minded components with an emphasis on innovative engineering that stands in contrast to the vast crop of cut-and-paste-then-rebrand products on the market.

• 
• 

As simple as that initial yoke was in design and execution, it made waves for being the first product on the market to address that customization limitation of the Specialized frames—a seemingly niche piece that was heralded upon its arrival, saving many a bike mechanic and mod-hungry home wrencher from countless headaches, and throwing an aftermarket bone to the consumer. In short, it highlighted BikeYoke’s overarching ethos: to innovate rather than imitate. Hardly interested in being a one-hit wonder, Sack continued to respond to the market trends with a thoughtful answer in the form of the Revive mountain bike dropper seatpost in 2017.

Rather than utilizing the commonly accepted internal floating piston, which borrows from rear shock technology and uses pressurized gas and oil displacement, Stefan built a dedicated hydraulic circuit from the ground up using only oil and air, and with a cherry on top, outfitted the post with a user-accessible bleed valve to “revive” the circuit when air inevitably seeps into the inner tube, instantly fixing the dreaded bouncy-dropper-post syndrome that other seatposts require a disassembly to address.

Fast forward seven years, and Revive is now in its third version, each evolution offering subtle yet thoughtful updates that continue to bolster its functionality and reliability. For this review, I’ve been testing the 31.6mm Revive 3.0 with 185mm of travel paired with the brand’s Triggy Alpha Long remote.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE TUBE

In a savvy detour from the nitrogen-dependent IFP and the service-intensive issues inherent when oil and gas inevitably cross-contaminate, the Revive uses an oil-filled tube fitted with a micro-valve inside a pressurized air chamber. When the valve is opened with a push-rod connected to the cable-pulled actuator at the foot of the post, it allows oil to escape and the pressurized tube to jettison the upper stanchion to attention. This cyclical dance between oil and air results in buttery smooth and consistent action with far less maintenance over time. As if anticipating the “yeah, but…” response from tech-savvy IFP devotees, BikeYoke knew that oil and air also eventually seep into places they’re not supposed to go and wisely attached a user-accessible bleed valve to the circuit with a keyed lever where it makes most sense: at the head of the seatpost next to the saddle clamp, fully exposed for immediate deployment without having to pull the post from the frame or remove the saddle.

• 
• 

Simply use the included compact key or a standard 4mm hex tool to turn the lever while pushing the post down, and the wayward air pocket is removed. Revive! Your squishy seatpost feels like new again, all while ostensibly not even having to dismount the bike. Beyond the obvious perks of instantaneous trailside service, the implications are greater than what one might have expected: by literally and figuratively putting the post’s internals in the hands of the end-user, BikeYoke is subverting the industry status quo of faceless corporations and their warranty centers shrouded in secrecy by allowing riders to do what they bought the post to do: keep riding. Not only that, but Sack is known for regularly chiming in on forums to answer questions and demystify the designs, something you see very rarely—if at all—from bigger industry players.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Even before getting eyes on the unit, the thoughtful details are evident. The sleeved tube-shaped package with minimalist yet eye-catching branding stamped on raw cardboard stock lends a heritage feel more evocative of a fine liquor bottle than a bicycle component. Pulling the top sleeve reveals the seatpost firmly set in a thick foam base, an instant display piece with bike shop merchandising in mind. The post comes fully compressed to minimize hydro-lock due to temperature or pressure changes, which equates to a compact package with the unexpected benefit of lower shipping costs compared to the full-length fork-sized boxes many seatposts ship in. This is not an issue if you buy local, but it’s something to consider for shops and folks who buy online.

• 
• 

The post feels hearty in hand, possessing a worldly weight, and its sleek look tells me it means business. At 580 grams, it is not the lightest or heaviest dropper on the market, but the reassuring heft reflects its durability. This is a good-looking dropper that has capable written all over it.

The installation was a breeze, and the post, cable, and remote set up seamlessly. One small detail is in the supplied cable and housing, which features a smaller diameter than your standard shift housing (3mm instead of 4mm) seemingly adding to the ease of internally routing the cable through the frame. The slightly thinner 0.9mm polished cable feels very lightweight and adds to the overall smooth engagement feel.

TRIGGY ALPHA REMOTE

BikeYoke’s Triggy Alpha remote is the upgrade to their standard Triggy and features a sealed cartridge bearing that the lever axis rotates on and a wonderfully ergonomic lever blade with adjustable angle and a sleek “drillium” style machining, which lends grip and panache. It’s also available in two different lengths. The Long version I tested extends the lever by 7mm and claims a 15-percent decrease in required force. I’d certainly agree that, combined with the nimble cable and steel bearing, the lever feel is incredibly smooth, almost on par with a sealed hydraulic lever. As far as the ergonomic shape, I’m happily surprised at how defined and nuanced the engagement can be, which fits my riding style well; I like to ease the post up slowly at times—say, on a technical climb where I may only want to raise the seat an inch or two—and, of course, there are instances when it needs to be snapped to full height at once. This remote, along with the “stepless” post adjustment, lends itself superbly to variable action and delicate touch.

• 
• 

The Triggy comes ready to mount to the SRAM Matchmaker system to pair seamlessly with SRAM brake levers (pictured), but BikeYoke also offers adapters to use with Shimano I-Spec or a traditional split-clamp for 22.2mm bars. It also has two different mounting points spaced 5mm apart for further fine-tuning of the position either inboard or outboard. If you prefer a different remote, the Revive 3.0 is compatible with most aftermarket mechanical levers, such as options from Wolf Tooth Components or Fox.

BUILD & CONSTRUCTION

The quality of materials and finish are apparent, as is the top-notch construction. The CNC’d lower tube flaunts a ringed texture reminiscent of the venerable Thomson posts, giving confidence that slipping under load will not be a concern. The “collar” piece at the main seal, which on most dropper posts is typically threaded onto the lower tube to secure the bushing and seal against the upper tube, is here integrated into the lower tube, resulting in decreased stack height and increased stiffness. A potential drawback to this is that the included travel reduction spacers (4 x 5mm) cannot easily be added by merely popping the collar and inserting the spacers, as with the Fox Transfer that Logan recently reviewed. Rather, the Revive must be partially disassembled to do a travel adjustment.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Another bold feature that was introduced back with the 2.0 release and has remained standard for the 3.0 is the forged aluminum one-piece upper tube and head. Instead of using a separate head pressed into the upper tube, BikeYoke forges the head and stanchion into one mold for an ultra-stiff and strong unit. This also means higher tooling costs, since a different mold is needed for each length and size; instead of using the same diameter upper tube across sizes, it is particular to the post diameter, another nod to stiffness and durability. Again, this production decision echoes Stefan’s performance-driven versus cost-driven directive. In his words, “it costs what it costs.”

Under the saddle clamp lies the actuator for the Revive function sitting on top of the valve cover, which in this case is a diminutive stainless-steel plug. Remove the plug and you have access to the valve with which you can use a shock pump to tune the rebound pressure. As with any pressurized system, it is wise to get a reading before use, as travel and storage environments can affect it. BikeYoke recommends running between 250 to 300 psi, but when I checked mine upon install, it was 182, plus a few to account for slight air loss when connecting the pump. Due to the bleed actuator being so close to the valve, most pumps will not fit into this narrow space, so BikeYoke wisely includes a valve extender to bring the interface above the surface. The extender was necessary for all three pumps I tried, although they thought of a bypass for this too. It’s possible to remove the actuator axle with a 1.5mm + 2mm hex in the event the valve extender is not at hand, for direct fitment with any shock pump.

• 
• 

The Revive comes in four travel optons: 125mm, 160mm, 185mm, and 213mm, and has two different diameters for 30.9mm or 31.6mm frames. The Revive MAX is for the beefy 34.9mm frames. BikeYoke also offers the gravel/XC-oriented Revive 272 for 27.2mm frames in a single 80mm travel option, which was previously released and as of this time has not been given the 3.0 updates. It’s worth noting there’s a weight limit on the Revive 3.0 of 115 kilograms (roughly 250 pounds), something to consider for bigger riders and those who ride with heavy backpacks and/or seatpacks.

REVIVE, REVIVED: WHAT’S NEW?

While the one-piece upper tube was the notable change for 2.0, the new Revive 3.0 has a few welcome updates, mainly the redesigned saddle clamp, which lowers the stack height by 5mm, and the new actuator foot, which is 10mm shorter, resulting in a 15mm shorter overall post length for greater compatibility with smaller frames or curved seat tubes. The lower saddle stack maximizes travel, and given the four post lengths available, combined with possible spacer configurations, the travel length is nearly infinitely adjustable. This is crucial when using a seatpack, since the stabilizer strap on most bags will inherently limit the amount of travel, regardless of which dropper is being used.

With the substantial two-inch-tall strap of my Revelate Designs pack and its position on the post, I was able to get about 100mm of drop before the strap started to inhibit movement. This would certainly decrease with a shorter post, which should give one pause to be intentional about measuring when choosing a dropper if planning on using a seatpack, although there are other options to work around this, as outlined in the previously published articles, Guide to Bikepacking with A Dropper Post and Dropper Post Seatbags and Alternatives.

The saddle clamp style itself is standard, using an upper and lower plate and two torx-25 bolts threaded into barrel nuts that nest on the top plate. Conical washers sit at the bolt heads to ensure smooth angle adjustment. While not as highly engineered as some other clamps, I had no trouble installing, uninstalling, and reinstalling the seat multiple times throughout testing. Those tiny barrel-shaped pieces have the tendency to go askew, though, and once they hit the floor, they tend to roll, usually away from you. There’s also the option of titanium bolts for an additional $20 for riders concerned with bolt fatigue and potential breakage.

• 
• 

The redesigned actuator at the foot of the post uses a slide-on cable barrel, which means the cable head itself sits in the actuator, eliminating the need for a flimsy grub screw to clamp the cable end and the potentially frustrating process of measuring the exact exposed cable length needed to engage the post. The actuator also boasts 360° of rotation, which can be helpful for positioning the cable routing in certain setups. The design of the actuator lever itself results in smooth pull and release, noticeably so when engaging it by hand, compared to other seatposts that have a snappier “on/off” feel. Again, this small piece uses superior materials that instill confidence in its durability, with the steel cable carrier and brass shaft.

PERFORMANCE

Prior to testing the Revive, I’d been riding the same fully hydraulic post for years. Despite mixed reviews regarding its reliability, I had a surprisingly positive experience and never had any major issues, with the only service being an occasional bleed, usually after a longer bikepacking trip. On trail rides in the “flow zone,” the hydraulic lever and post action felt like an extension of my body to where I didn’t have to think about it. I’d test-ridden enough bikes with different mechanical droppers that I was never wholly impressed by—most of them had too much flex or lateral play, return rates either too harsh or too slow, and non-intuitive lever feel—and the lukewarm reactions to the mainstream competing product had me in no hurry to switch over. It would take an impassioned recommendation for me to adopt a cable-actuated post. When a colleague kept raving about the Revive, and the more I learned about the company, I knew I had to give it a chance.

I was immediately impressed by the feel of both the post and remote, especially after the cable stretch break-in period, as I was able to adjust the cable tension to “set it and forget it” for absolutely zero latency between pushing the remote lever and engagement of the post—something I’ve seen as a recurring issue with other mechanical droppers. There is remarkably little friction throughout the post travel, and I wonder if this is partly due to the proprietary grease they’re using for the internals, which is available for purchase on their website. Fluid is how I would describe the action when the post is dropped and raised.

On initial outings, I ran the post with 250 psi of air pressure, and it delivered in terms of rebound speed. Curious how increased pressure might feel, I set it to the max recommended 300 psi, which produced a stark difference, rebounding with resounding authority, even with a four-pound seatpack. For my home trails in Colorado, I appreciate the lightning-quick rebound given the abundance of steep descents followed immediately by a climb. I can see running lower pressure for more subtle rebound when dirt road rambling or riding less technical trails.

I’ve been particularly pleased with how stiff it feels even at full height, and the lateral movement is next to nothing after hundreds of miles. So far, I’ve only had to use the Revive function once, which is very encouraging as to the unit’s longevity and consistent performance. Another nifty feature is that the included key for the bleed function has an O-ring on the hex end, which allows it to stay securely seated in the chamber for an at-the-ready lever when it’s time for a bleed, no need to dig into your auxiliary toolkit.

Given the premium materials and construction, I don’t expect significant wear on the upper tube, even with a seatpack. Although, as with any dropper, it is prudent to frequently clean and lubricate the stanchion to prevent contaminants from working their way past the main seal.

BikeYoke claims the post works equally glitch-free in cold temperatures, but I haven’t had a chance to test that yet. As things are cooling down here in Colorado, I’ll be looking forward to some winter rides to put the Revive 3.0 to task.

• Model/size tested: Revive 3.0, 185mm, 31.6
• Weight (as tested and packed): 580 grams
• Place of Manufacture: Taiwan
• Price: $350 USD>
• Manufacturer’s Details: BikeYoke.com

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...