Not all electronic gadgets have a shining advantage over their mechanical counterparts. Some merely look cool in the eyes of the right observer, and that’s it. The Magura Vyron Elect wireless dropper post, however, does have a clearly defined edge above the cable-actuated competition.
For $549 (€438.56) you can swap it between all of your bikes in a matter of seconds. If you own three or more mountain bikes, and they all have a 30.9mm or 31.6mm internal seat tube diameter, this wireless dropper post could save you from purchasing and maintaining separate dropper posts for each of them.
Magura Wireless Dropper Post Installation
Setting up the Magura Vyron Elect dropper post is about as simple as it gets. Charge the post with the supplied USB cable, insert the battery in the remote, and mount the post and remote on your bike. Of note, I do have to keep the seatpost clamp unusually loose in order for the post to pop up properly. It’s so loose, in fact, that if I crash the saddle will always twist sideways. This isn’t a huge issue, but it is worth considering if you like your post to held super securely in the frame.
Magura Vyron Elect Wireless Dropper Post Specs
| Price | $549, €438.56 (available at Amazon and other retailers) |
| Weight | 598g with remote (150 x 30.9mm tested) |
| Travel options | 100, 125, 150mm |
| Total length | 396, 421, 446mm |
| Diameters | 30.9, 31.6mm |
| Minimum insertion | 120mm |
| Batteries | Remote CR-2032, Post NiMH rechargeable w/ micro USB |
| Charge & Run time | Approximately 3hrs to full charge = 400 drops |
Throughout the first few rides, I had an issue with the post not returning to full extension, even with the air pressure pumped up to the maximum and the post clamp just tight enough that it wouldn’t slip into the frame while I pedaled.
There may have been a slight tolerance issue with this particular post, and if I had purchased it with my own cash I would have had it replaced via warranty. Instead, I decided to tolerate the anemic travel return to see if the bushing would eventually wear to the point that it worked properly. It did.
After four or five rides with the Vyron sometimes not returning to full-mast, it began to function as intended. It has since popped back to full extension every time, and I am also able to run the seat post collar about a quarter turn tighter without slowing it down.
Magura Wireless Dropper Post Tested
The Magura Vyron Elect wireless dropper post was originally released in 2016, and in 2018 Magura updated the internals for a reported 25% improvement in reaction time and return speed. With the post pumped up to maximum pressure, the return speed isn’t fast enough to flip an empty beer can into the air, a feat most cable-actuated posts can perform with aplomb. This is another area where I would use the adjective anemic.
In situations where I want to pedal hard until the last second, dropping the post just before entering a rock garden or fall line, the lag time between pressing the remote button and when the internal hydraulic lock releases the post so it can slide down is too long. It’s somewhere around half of a second, which is too long in a lot of real world situations.
While I did grow accustomed to this lag in actuation and learned to anticipate it, it was a source of some frustration when riding new trails with dropper-worthy features that I hadn’t seen before.
Magura Elect remote
So, the dropper post goes up and down a touch slower than it would with a cable, but it otherwise works really well. Anything else?
The Magura Elect remote is rather easy to press on accident. I have hit it on multiple occasions while moving my hands around on the bars. This isn’t a fault of the remote by any means, instead, it’s a note to place the button somewhere you can comfortably reach it without accidentally tapping it when you want to be putting max power from the saddle to the pedals.
The remote can be mounted anywhere, or stuffed in your pocket should you break the thick rubber mounting band, and I will definitely keep experimenting with less accident-prone spots for it.
Riding with a Wireless Dropper Post
Battery life on this wireless dropper post is quite long, provided you turn it off after every ride. If your brain likes to wander toward burritos as soon as your butt is off the bike, you may need to hang a small reminder sign in the bike stable to take the post out and recharge it.
If you prefer to leave it installed you can plug a portable charging battery into the head. This method also foregoes the need for a torque wrench every time you need to charge the post. I left the Magura Vyron Elect in my cold basement while away on vacation for two weeks, and returned to find it with enough charge for a ride. I have also hopped on and started a ride only to find that I left the post switched on after my last outing, and was now riding without a dropper. For burrito-brained riders like myself, that reminder sign is kinda crucial.
Lastly, if you live in a wetter climate you may want to consider keeping this post on your “sunny day driver.” The charging port and on/off switch are located under the rear of the saddle, covered by an opaque rubber plug, and Magura suggests not spraying the post with water. While that makes some sense, it does have me concerned for the overall life of the dropper’s electrical system in severely wet conditions where the rear tire is consistently blasting it with water and debris.
If you’re not racing, nor worried about riding at your limit on unknown trails, the Magura Vyron Elect wireless dropper post does exactly what you expect it to do — once you adjust expectations a skosh.
This wirless dropper post cleans up your control panel with one less cable, it can be swapped between bikes, and it gets the saddle out of the way when the trail turns toward fun.
After a few months of use, my test sample has less than 1mm of lateral wiggle and it’s far from needing a service. If you love techy toys on your bike, this is one worth taking a closer look at. It also sells for about $250 less than the only other wireless dropper post currently available.
- Price: $549
- Available at Amazon and other retailers
Check out our dropper post buyers guide and our picks for the best dropper posts.
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