BikeYoke Revive 2.0 Dropper Review

Editor’s note: Read a review of the current generation Bike Yoke Revive v3 here.

Good dropper posts aren’t hard to find anymore. Even the lower shelf posts — the kind that product managers like to use when they’re trying to stay under a certain price point, costing between $100 and $200 — are as reliable as the premium posts of years ago. Sure, they do the minimum of what’s expected of them and travel up and down, but they also last quite a long time before they need a service or cartridge replacement.

So what’s the difference between a $150 dropper post and a nearly $400 post like the Bike Yoke Revive 2.0? Return speed, friction, serviceability, reliability, and remote ergonomics. We’ll get into how the BikeYoke Revive 2.0 dropper post factors these elements into its design in the meat of this review.

Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 – What’s New

Aaron Chamberlain reviewed the Bike Yoke Revive 1.0 for Singletracks four years ago, and his impression is written in the title: The BikeYoke Revive Dropper Post is Exceptional.

On the Revive 2.0 dropper, BikeYoke uses a one-piece, forged design instead of the previous two-piece bonded tube. There is a CNC-machined actuator for a smoother feel, and there are longer saddle bolts and an upper clamp for easier saddle installation.

The updates are fairly minor, and there’s not a big difference in feel between the first Bike Yoke Revive and the 2.0. Also, the new parts are compatible with the older version. The suggested retail price is between $320 and $380 $350 to $440 depending on travel. They’re available in 30.9, 31.6, and now 34.9mm diameters, and travel lengths of 125, 160, 185, and 213mm. The price as tested on this 31.6mm diameter, 180mm travel post is $350 $390.

The Triggy Alpha remote is a machined piece of aluminum with a big ball bearing moving the paddle. The paddle angle can be adjusted, there are two different lengths — long and short — and two mounting holes to really dial in the position. From the prior Triggy, the Triggy Alpha is a bit more compact and directly mounts with Magura, Hope, SRAM, Formula, Trickstuff, Hayes, and Shimano brakes. The MSRP is $60. So, the combined price for both dropper and remote is upward of $400.

Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 Installation & Setup

Installation of the Bike Yoke dropper was as complicated as any other dropper post, which is to say, that it’s pretty simple if you measure your cable and housing correctly. Bike Yoke provides an illustration on the bottom of the post recommending where to make the cut, but it worked fine by getting enough cable and trimming it and tensioning it at the remote.

I ride a size medium Revel Rascal and before I installed the Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 dropper post I had the PNW Rainier 3 installed. The Rainier 3 is adjustable between 140mm and 170mm of travel, but I had it at its full length the entire time, and hadn’t used anything longer. I examined the total length, and my geometry chart and Revel’s recommendations, and thought that the 185mm Bike Yoke Revive would work, but knew it might be close.

Fortunately the post fit and when it’s compressed the saddle is damn near touching the collar, giving me nearly as much clearance as possible and a low profile which feels better cornering and on jumps. This is pretty much the trend these days, and with shorter, straighter seat tubes, riders can get longer droppers on their bikes and experience this too. Of course this means a more flexy dropper post, which Bike Yoke has recognized and added 34.9mm diameter options, which are more robust and hardier.

The Triggy Alpha remote was fairly easy to set up too. I chose a standard 22.2mm clamp because I’m running TRP brakes, and the clamps don’t play nice with other controls. The only thing I noticed about the Triggy Alpha remote is the number of tools you need to get it set up. The remote requires a T25 Torx bit for the bar clamp, a 2.5mm for the cable clamp, and a 3mm hex key for the angle adjust, which seems slightly excessive for a remote. But I suppose if you’re mating it to a brake or shifter, there’s one less tool to worry about.

Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 Tested

From here, there’s really just a bunch of notes about why I like the Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 dropper post. It works well in the cold, like a Husky. The overall length isn’t as long as other dropper posts, making it easier to get a longer dropper in your bike. The lever action is smooth, the return speed is fast, and the klack! sound when it reaches full extension hits like a musical note.

I have had some air and oil mixture in my post. Bike Yoke says that with their design, this is going to happen, hence the reset button. But the great thing about this is when the post feels a little squishy, all it takes is turning the 4mm hex bolt, compressing the post from full travel, and releasing the hex bolt. Hit the remote once more, and the post is firm again. You might experience squish more often on the Revive, but it’s quickly solvable and if the post needs a full service, users can do it on their own with a service kit, this video, and the right tools. That’s a big bonus for people who want to work on their own bikes.

Closing thoughts

Is the extra $200 for the Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 dropper post worth it compared to posts half the price? That’s hard to say. There are some great features on this Bike Yoke dropper, and many will appreciate that the cartridge is fully serviceable, rather than swappable. I’m not sure that cartridges are recycled or cannibalized, but it seems likely that at least some will end up in a dump. Sustainability is another check mark for the Bike Yoke Revive 2.0.

There are dropper posts for half the price, but the Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 is a high-performance dropper with reliability and serviceability in its corner too.

• Price: $350 – $440 without lever
• Available at Jenson USA and other retailers

Check out our dropper post buyers guide and our picks for the best dropper posts.