REVIEW
Wolf Tooth's New ReMote Pro Dropper Post Lever
ReMote Pro
I'm not claiming to have any insider insight into where the designers, dreamers, and engineers at Wolf Tooth find their inspiration, but in the case of the new ReMote Pro dropper post lever, a child could see that it draws from SRAM's top-end shifters of yore. In this case, my kid actually pointed to the 2005 9-spd X0 shifter on her mountain bike and declared them the same.
As with the shifter, most riders will probably find themselves using a relatively narrow portion of the ReMote Pro's 48° of rotation but it's a sweet luxury for those that really like to dial in their controls, and. the adjustment is completely independent of cable tension. The Pro also adds a wide degree of lateral adjustment for those that prefer to run a cleaner cockpit rather than a separate 22.2mm remote clamp.
I've been riding the ReMote Pro for a month and a half. It's unsurprisingly functioning as new.
The Pro is more robust, and more adjustable than the original ReMote and the lever action is even slightly better.
ReMote Pro sells for 70 USD, the same price as the original ReMote, with the first generation seeing a reduction to 55 USD.
Aside from improved adjustability, the neatest feature of the new ReMote Pro is the oval-shaped axle cam. This increases the lever's initial leverage, reducing the force it takes to initiate the post.
The quality of manufacturing is excellent, and the ReMote Pro feels significantly more robust than the ReMote. That's not a knock on the original, which popularized cartridge actuators and proved the aftermarket demand for remote upgrades, but it may inspire less confidence than some of the competition for riders who tend to hit the ground hard.
The ReMote Pro is adjustable through 48° of rotation fully independent of cable tension. The bolts are stainless steel.
I ended up in a very similar position to the standard ReMote, but it's easy to imagine alt-bar applications for the full range.
As with the past ReMote, Wolf Tooth delivers a variety of brake lever mount options. There are adapters for Magura, MatchMaker X, Hope, and Shimano's multiple generations of I-Spec options, AB-II-EV.
Normally I'm all in on running my controls on their own clamps. Improved adjustability, cheaper and easier swap-ability, etc. But with the Pro, Wolf Tooth has added a Hayes Dominion lever option and I let one-less-clamp vanity get the better of me.
The ReMote Pro has multiple mounting points for lateral adjustment. Mounting options are the same as the ReMote, plus a new option to fit the Hayes Dominion.
The construction is more robust than the original ReMote but the basic cartridge bearing concept remains. Quality is what you'd expect from Wolf Tooth.
The ReMote Pro is wonderful to use. Adjustments aside, it's a nice upgrade over the past ReMote which in turn is an upgrade over the vast majority of dropper post actuators. It's covered by Wolf Tooth's 'Right To Repair' ethos with individual components available for purchase. The aluminum components are all machined in Minnesota and the only plastic piece is the barrel adjuster.
Given that my chosen lever position ended up very similar to the original ReMote, and I already run the Light Action version, the ReMote Pro is not a product I'd upgrade to from my current Wolf Tooth setup. However, if I was in the market for a new remote this would be my first stop as it combines the quality and feel of the original in a sturdier, more adjustable package.
The price of the new ReMote Pro will match the current ReMote at 70 USD. The proven ReMote will now sell for fifteen fewer bones, at 55 USD. For more information check out the ReMote Pro at Wolf Tooth.
Comments
Kos
2 years ago
That oval shape is a potentially game-changing approach for wifey's little thumbs, that get exhausted pushing the OEM Liv lever on her new bike?
Very interested in your opinion on this, Andrew. Happy wife, etc., etc.
Also, is this servo-wave re-purposed?
Or different throttle cams for KTMs?!
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
A standard Light Action ReMote or ReMote Pro would change your wife’s life compared to the stock Liv remote. So would a OneUp v3, Loam Lever, etc.
Assuming you have their post and it’s an FS bike with a pivot interfering with post insertion, a Light Action ReMote (or ReMote Pro) and OneUp V2 post ASAP is what any good relationship councillor would recommend.
The ReMote Pro vs. ReMote Light Action is like comparing the two best craft lagers. She’s drinking Iron Horse Malt so her pallet likely won’t notice the difference. Although the adjustability of the Pro may make it the long term win.
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Kos
2 years ago
Thanks so much!
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Andy Eunson
2 years ago
One of the best things about Wolftooth remotes is that it forced other brands to make better remotes themselves. I had a Wolftooth that came with a 9point8 dropper. It was excellent. But so was the Oneup one one. The remote on my new Fuel ex is also better than their previous one.
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
Definitely. Wolf Tooth created the market but many companies stepped up OE and aftermarket.
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
For anyone unfamiliar here are some shots of the 2005 SRAM X0 shifter. It’s awesome to use some 18 years after it was bought (thanks to Mr. Lungtastic for hooking me up).
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mrbrett
2 years ago
^ Most gratuitous and un-necessary piece of carbon on a bike (XO shifter cover)? Could be a debatable item ...
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
It could be a debatable item for sure but this isn’t even top 100x on the offenders list.
I mean, fantastic or plain the shifter cover was going to be plastic either way.
From that same era the number of brands selling ‘carbon wrapped aluminum’ components was epic.
“So we took this aluminum bar/post/stem/frame and put carbon fiber on the outside to increase vibration damping”
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Ryan
2 years ago
Now I'm curious if wrapping aluminum with carbon actually worked?
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
I mean, it worked in that lots of companies sold carbon-on-aluminum products. I’m sure more than a few road bikes probably still ship with such a post.
It didn’t work in the sense that you’d get any benefit in weight or ride quality.
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Flatted-again
2 years ago
Didn't PNW sell a shifter lever for X01 shifters a while back? What ever happened to that?
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
Not something I recall seeing, cool custom idea though.
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Flatted-again
2 years ago
Yeah, it definitely was.
https://www.worldwidecyclery.com/blogs/worldwide-cyclery-blog/pnw-shifty-lever-for-sram-x01-xx1-shifters-rider-review
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
Neat! Thanks for sharing. Cool way to match left and right controls if running a Loam lever.
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Velocipedestrian
2 years ago
Note the nice smooth surface on the shifter. My ReMotes chewed a hole in my glove thumb before I filed them.
Great lever, just wish I'd noticed earlier.
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
I use my dropper post a lot, being on the North Shore, and this has never been an issue for me.
That said, very happy with my smooth DOSS lever and suspect I’d be quite happy with a smooth ReMote as well.
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Larrabee
2 years ago
Request: a plain background for product photos ostensibly showing technical/design details.
Many pics in this review have such complex or highly textured (coarse-grained lovely rock, yes) backgrounds that my feeble visual cortex is overwhelmed and I cannot discern any real information about the product. And it’s not only this article I’m referencing.
Suggestion: place a plain 18% grey (as used for light metering) behind the object of interest. This, too, for derailleur and brake component shots.
Ditto: Possibly interesting bikes photographed against a tree and/or very complex forest floor/underbrush/wilderness shrubbery/undergrowth/bedrock/rock pile are in the same category. All I can ever see there is a BSO.
I realize field photography of whole bikes w/ a plain background is a tall order. My point is that I’m often not able to grasp what’s being shown.
Thanks in advance from South Vancouver Is.
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
Wolf Tooth has some great professional shots with white backgrounds on their ReMote Pro page.
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Ripbro
2 years ago
Andrew, any chance you could see if the wolf tooth hayes clamp works with a bike yolk triggy?
I see you can buy the clamp for $35 CAD, and if I could use my bike yolk triggy that would be awesome.
They look very similar but I’m not if they will play nice together.
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
I will happily do this for you. If not tonight then tomorrow. Feel encouraged to remind me if I don’t have an answer by tomorrow night.
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Ripbro
2 years ago
Thanks Andrew, appreciate it:)
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Andrew Major
2 years ago
Apologies for the delay. So the answer is they’re not directly compatible. The Triggy is fatter at the mount and won’t fit in the Wolf Tooth clamp.
This is down the the Triggy using an M5 bolt and the ReMote using an M4. I’m not saying you couldn’t get there with a file, because it’s close but there’s not a lot of superfluous material on either piece so I’d probably pass.
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Ripbro
2 years ago
Thanks for letting me know, I really appreciate it. I guess if can’t get the remote in the right place, I’ll have to spring for the wolf tooth option.
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