BikeYoke wireless dropper2
Eurobike 2023

BikeYoke teases Wireless Dropper

Photos Pete Roggeman
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I'm at Eurobike for the first time in many years, and hadn't planned on covering a lot of product news while I was here, but secretly hoped something interesting would appear. And it did! BikeYoke showed me their prototype wireless dropper post, so far unnamed but let's call it the wireless Revive since that's what this is - a Revive with a wireless remote and an electronic valve actuator. We've had great luck with every Revive we've tested or ridden over the years, so BikeYoke has a great chassis to start with on this project.

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BikeYoke's working prototype of a Revive wireless dropper as seen at Eurobike.

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The silver Revive screams prototype, however Sacki is soliciting feedback on whether people would be interested in a silver post to match the silver Barkeeper stem they already produce. Any takers?

BikeYoke Wireless Revive

It is planned for release in 2024 and pricing is not yet confirmed, but BikeYoke founder Stefan 'Sacki' Sack had a few working samples with him here at the show. I was able to do a parking lot test and it worked very well. Button presses led to quick response times and the post's action was smooth and crisp - no surprise for a Revive. If this were a brand without a track record like BikeYoke's, skepticism would come easier, but BikeYoke design and reliability has always been impressive and their reputation for excellence is well-earned.

Wireless Remote

The remote consists of a simple button on a collar (designed to stand alone to keep size compact for easy bar placement rather than mate to a brake or shift collar) and two LEDs to indicate charging status and battery level for both the remote and post. The button had a nice feel to it and was easy to find with my thumb - I'm confident it would not take long to adjust to on the trail. Sacki was showing two remotes and I didn't get the story on the alloy one pictured above. He expects the final version to be molded plastic but mentioned he may decide to use aluminum for the top part of the collar.

The electric motor will add about 13mm to the length of the post at each size, however BikeYoke is working on shaving a few millimeters of stack height from the clamp area, so the net increase will be closer to 10mm. Weight is expected to be less than a standard Revive due to weight savings realized by eliminating cable, housing, and clamping hardware.

Battery and charging

The remote and post will both have li-ion batteries and both units will charge by USB-C, making that process simple and opening up direct wiring possibilities as well as the ability to charge on the run (and not to worry about coin cell batteries or losing batteries off the back of your post). The post will need to be removed to be charged since the charge port is at the bottom of the post. Sacki says charging will only be needed every 2-3 months, however Revives are so reliable that owners often don't remove them from the frame to be serviced for several years which can lead to posts seizing in the frame. That won't be an issue with the wireless Revive.

Sizing & Pricing

Since this new post is based on the Revive, you can expect all of that post's size options to be available: from 125 - 213mm dropper lengths and post diameters of 30.9, 31.6, and 34.9. No word on the 27.2 but I'll check and update this article when I find out.

Update on pricing estimate: Cost isn't finalized yet but expect pricing to be significantly lower than SRAM AXS Reverb, which currently retails at about 800 euros - Sacki didn't want to confirm yet but you can likely expect the BikeYoke wireless dropper to come in at more than 150 euros less than AXS Reverb.

Potential buyers will have to weigh features and benefits vs value, but if you want a wireless dropper longer than 170mm, this is the only ticket until SRAM brings out v2 of their post.

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Comments

xy9ine
+13 Cr4w bishopsmike momjijimike Kapolczer Cam McRae 4Runner1 Velocipedestrian jdamtb918 dhr999 HughJass Nologo vunugu Suns_PSD

novel form factor; reduced head stack height, no tire clearance issues, improved aesthetics and (slightly) lower cg.  

for a post that's going to see more frequent removal/installation, the silver kinda / sorta makes good sense (from an anno wear perspective). 

cool product.

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pete@nsmb.com
0

Good point!

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kavurider
+4 shenzhe Velocipedestrian HughJass dolface

Wow, I dig it!  I like the idea of a post that I can put on multiple bikes. 

And I for one like the silver post, black stanchion.

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pete@nsmb.com
0

It looks good in person, too.

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niels@nsmb.com
+1 Mike Ferrentino

Using a cable-actuated dropper on multiple bikes isn't that much more of a hassle, is it? Assuming each bike has their own remote and cable. And you don't have to remove the post for charging!

I agree it looks good!

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cam@nsmb.com
0

Using one cable-actuated dropper on multiple bikes - with two levers - isn't that much more hassle? Interesting thought. 

You may need to unbolt the actuator from your bar to get enough cable/housing slack to access the  bottom of your post and release the cable, and then do the same to the second bike to install, but removing the cable end (assuming the cable clamps at the lever) should be simple. 

Not a big difference but if you have two actuators for the wireless post that would save you a couple of steps but not difficult or time-consuming ones. 

At first glance I'm not a big fan of the silver but I see the point about many removals and/or swapping bikes. If it's on the same bike and you have your position marked accurately, black should be fine though.

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niels@nsmb.com
+3 Cam McRae HughJass JVP

Yes, you need to take the remote off the bar to get enough cable slack. I don't really mind that part.

To me the whole concept doesn't really work though because typically my saddle position on the post (fore/aft, tilt) differs between bikes and it needs to be exactly right. Just the idea of having to adjust and fine-tune that every time makes me not want to bother.

Having a single mountain bike solves all of this, just grab it and ride! ;-)

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flattire2
+3 Niels van Kampenhout Cam McRae Andy Eunson

So spend $500 USD on wireless dropper so it can be easily moved from bike to bike.  

Or.... buy 2x $200 conventional cable actuated droppers.  Hmm

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cam@nsmb.com
0

The math checks out.

DancingWithMyself
0

Couldn't agree more about the concept being flawed.  Everyone acts like they just pop the post into another bike are gtg.  What about saddle fore-aft position and tilt?

I share a oneup dropper between two of my bikes, one is a local trails bike and the other is a trip bike.  Have a separate lever and cable/housing on each bike.

If you're going to have to screw around with the saddle position anyway, hooking up the cable doesn't seem like much of a hassle.  And some notes on the saddle position along with use of a tape measure and digital level make adjusting the saddle not much hassle either.

That said, I do think this only make sense if one of the bikes is a "trip bike" or other bike that doesn't get ridden all that much.

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Sethimus
+4 Mike Ferrentino 4Runner1 Kenny Cr4w

usb c port needs to be under the saddle

Reply

Flatted-again
+1 dolface

Or the collar

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velocipedestrian
0

It can be a positive. Removing the post lets the frame dry out, and as mentioned, prevents seizing.

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xy9ine
+5 Kenny Timer HughJass DancingWithMyself vunugu

assuming with the actuation motor in the fixed portion, getting a charging port to the upper would be problematic.

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luke_sky
+3 Pete Roggeman Cam McRae Kos

Wireless, silver Revive? Shut up and take my money!

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jdamtb918
+3 Timer Briain vunugu

What I really like about this, if they utilize the same reset lever as normal Revive, is that if it dies on the trail you can still drop the post AND possibly raise it using that reset lever..? Any word on that Cam?

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cam@nsmb.com
0

Good question!

Pete would have to address that, since he's still at Eurobike. If he can't, Sacki will probably chime in again.

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pete@nsmb.com
0

Let me ask Sacki, that's a damn fine question.

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sacki
+6 Niels van Kampenhout Velocipedestrian Pete Roggeman DancingWithMyself vunugu Morgan Heater

The E-REVIVE (not an official name) can be moved to and locked in any position you desirve without a remote and with the battery dead.

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xy9ine
+1 DancingWithMyself

well done. having a failsafe is brilliant.

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Tadpoledancer
+3 blaklabl sacki Pete Roggeman

I want this dropper so bad.

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sacki
+2 Tadpoledancer DancingWithMyself

That is indeed one of the points  (having to take out the post every couple of months for charging) s not a bad idea. Posts are not rarely installed and then "forgotten" until they really won't work anymore. 

You don't only go for an oil service on a car after the car stopped working, rifght? List also need divine once in a while to keep working for a long time. Waiting for the post (or fork or shock) to fail before you bring it in for a routine service is not the best idea.

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DancingWithMyself
0

Always appreciate your engaging in the comments.

Curious whether you gave passing thought to trying to use the SRAM battery system, both from an is-it-good  as well as a is-it-even-worth-asking-permission perspective.

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sacki
+4 Niels van Kampenhout Pete Roggeman DancingWithMyself vunugu

Nah, we think our concept of having the battery not exposed to tire hits makes more sense.

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mrkdwrds
+2 DancingWithMyself Velocipedestrian

I’ll get one for my enduro bike so I can quickly swap from an everyday dropper setup to a fixed post and cheap seat for the bike park

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DancingWithMyself
0

This is the best argument I've heard for an electronic post.

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blaklabl
+1 Kos

I do it with my Reverb AXS and my Ti post on my SS often, makes life so much easier.  Many rides don't need the dropper, and many rides don't need to be high-posted.  Best of both worlds!

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blaklabl
+2 Kos sacki

Silver, wireless, BikeYOKE, yes, TAKE MY MONEY!!

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Andeh
+1 sacki

Sweeeeet!  As a current AXS 170 owner (and former Revive), I've been hoping for something longer but still wireless.

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Offrhodes42
+1 sacki

Yes to silver

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sacki
+1 Christian Strachan

Electronic components in droppers DO not move the posts. The just open the valving electronically, just as you intend.

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Wander89
0

As a begrudging owner of a oneup 240mm that I wish was as smooth as my previous bike yoke - just need to point out there have been some other electornic wireless 200mm posts shown off earlier this year from XFusion, TransX and KSLev at Taipei a few months ago

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pedalhound
+1 Carl Herbst

Don't forget Magura!

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kos
0

While still a concept, best ever, so far.

And sixteen thumbs up to the silver, due to the need to occasionally remove it (as noted by others above).

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dubxion
0

Hey, sorry if I’m confused/ignorant about how electronic droppers are to be designed; it seems they have a electric motor that drives the saddle/post up and down. Would it be lighter and require less battery power to simply have the electronics release/engage a mechanism that locks/releases the pneumatics and your butt and gravity pushes it down and pneumatic pressure drives it back up, basically the same way cable-actuated droppers work?

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