The Manitou Jack Dropper Post Gets Revived [Review]

The Manitou Jack got an update this spring, that’s really more like a rebirth. As NSMB recently confirmed, the latest Manitou Jack is basically a rebranded BikeYoke Revive dropper post, with the same design features and even many of the same exact markings. I’ve been testing the Manitou Jack for a couple months now, and naturally I’ve found a lot similarities, but also a few differences.

Manitou Jack dropper post specs

Like the BikeYoke Revive, one of the key features of the Manitou Jack is the auto-reset, cartridge bleed function. Matt basically covered how this works, and why it’s a great feature in his review of the Revive last year. If and when the post starts feeling squishy, a quarter turn of the reset bolt (marked reset on one side, revive on the other) bleeds any air that’s mixed with the oil, and the post is back to feeling firm again.

The cartridge pressure is adjustable for a faster or slower return, depending on your preference. The inlet is located beneath the two-bolt saddle clamp as shown above, with a tiny silver cap on top that the reset mechanism presses down on.

Unlike the Revive, the Manitou Jack is offered in an 80mm travel length which promises to work with smaller frames, and potentially even kids’ bikes. Manitou also offers the Jack in 160mm and 185mm (tested) travel lengths, in either a 30.9mm or 31.6mm diameter. Manitou does not sell a 213mm travel version of the Jack at the moment although Bike Yoke does.

The Manitou Jack comes with an under-bar, shifter-style lever that appears to be a Manitou design.

My 30.9mm diameter, 185mm travel sample weighs 554g, not including the cable or remote lever.

Installation and maintenance

The Manitou Jack features a mechanic-friendly, lever-side cable adjustment, which is pretty much the standard these days. There’s also a handy set of markings at the bottom of the post for measuring out cable length to help with installation.

I took the Manitou Jack apart just to snoop around a bit, and it was a cinch. The post is clearly designed to be easily rebuilt and maintained for years of use and abuse.

On the trail

After riding along with Manitou Jack for a couple months now I have to say this is one solid post. In some ways it feels overbuilt for a trail rider like myself. The remote, in combination with the actuator, requires firm and intentional thumb pressure; there’s little risk of accidentally dropping or raising the saddle. Raising the post doesn’t so much as produce a ‘thunk’ you can hear; it’s a ‘thunk’ you can feel all the way down in your feet.

There isn’t any side-to-side play in my Manitou Jack dropper post. None. At the end of one ride I did have a saddle bolt start to work its way loose, but a little Loctite makes for an easy fix.

Given the overbuilt ride feel of the Manitou Jack I figured it must be heavier than the other posts I’ve tested, but the scale doesn’t lie. The weight is on par with the others even if the actual weight is more than Manitou claims.

I only have a couple gripes about the Manitou Jack. While the remote is solidly built, my thumb occasionally slipped off the smooth lever entirely, particularly on damp and sweaty rides. The remote also seems to take a bit more pressure to activate than others I’ve tested.

And like every mountain biker ever, I want more travel out of this post. With 185mm of drop this is a post that should fit most size medium frames and up, but for those of us with a bit more room to play with it would be nice to have a 200mm+ version of the Manitou Jack.

Conclusion

Manitou isn’t currently marketing the fact that the Jack is basically a Revive in disguise, though they’re not really hiding it either. The $399 MSRP positions the Manitou Jack as a premium post, and that’s what buyers get. Note that while the BikeYoke Revive is actually priced lower at $350, it doesn’t include a remote like the Manitou Jack.

For those who ride hard, and those who hardly want to worry about maintenance, the Manitou Jack is a solid choice.