OneUp Parts has launched the V3 Dropper Distant, a lighter, extra reasonably priced iteration that’s mentioned to require 27% much less actuation drive than the V2. Suitable with any cable-operated mechanical dropper seat put up in the marketplace, the V3 Dropper Distant might be a viable improve for a big contingent of riders and it may be color-matched to the bike with seven totally different colours of lever thumb pad to select from. Mine turned up this morning, so I rapidly hooked it as much as a Fox Switch Dropper Put up.
OneUp Parts V3 Dropper Distant
At 29g and not using a clamp, the OneUp V3 Dropper Distant is an entire 4g lighter than the V2! However, that’s not likely the information right here, is it. It’s simpler to push the lever, and thus pull the cable to actuate the dropper, and you may swap out the thumb pad for no matter shade takes your fancy.
I’ve been operating the V2 Dropper Distant for nearly three years, having carried it with me from my Trek Slash, to my Cannondale Jekyll, and now to my Revel Rail. That’s three missed alternatives to paint coordinate my dropper distant with my bike. The V3 Dropper’s thumb pad merely pops out, so you may change it for no matter shade finest matches your new bike for simply $6 USD.
What I beloved in regards to the V2 Dropper Distant was its easy, simple actuation, and the truth that it’s been tremendous sturdy and dependable. That’s because of the bearing it pivots on, which is fairly huge for a dropper distant. Three years on, it is rather, very notchy, as I’ve by no means truly changed the bearing or re-greased it, nevertheless it nonetheless works simply positive.
A side-by-side comparability of the V2 and V3 dropper remotes exhibits us that bearing the lever pivots on is so much smaller than that of the V2. That mentioned, it’s nonetheless fairly huge by dropper distant requirements. We marvel how its longevity will examine to that of the V2. We’re ready to seek out out if the bearing is replaceable.
On that time, OneUp tells us, “the bearing within the earlier model (V2) was truly larger than it wanted to be, so the brand new smaller dimension bearing on V3 remains to be greater than satisfactory”.
We purposely left the cable too lengthy so we might change the OneUp V3 Dropper Distant with the inventory Shimano distant on this check bike
The form of the distant is sort of totally different, too. Regardless of the smaller bearing, the form of the cam close to the place the cable enters the distant means it produces extra leverage all through the stroke than the V3. That is mentioned to account for it requiring 27% much less drive to actuate than the V2.
So, how the OneUp V3 Dropper Distant really feel?
I’ve retired the inventory Shimano distant that was hooked as much as a Fox Switch dropper, switching it out for the OneUp V3 Dropper Distant. I might say it’s as easy as that inventory distant, nevertheless it’s onerous to say something greater than that. It’s tremendous simple to push, and has a far superior really feel to it than the Model-X Ascend Lever – I decide on that one as a result of it’s the least expensive dropper distant in the marketplace.
The Model X Ascend Dropper Distant proven right here for comparative functions
The Ascend Lever retails at £22.49, virtually half the worth of the OneUp V3 Dropper Distant which retails at £40. To be honest, although, the latter might be twice nearly as good. That’s owing not solely to the truth that it requires much less drive to push, however the activity of putting in it’s a lot easier as a result of the cable takes a a lot much less convoluted, fiddly path by means of to the place it’s clamped. There’s additionally no lateral play to talk of – one thing the Ascend Lever suffers from – and the thumb pad gives much better grip for when you should slam your put up in a rush – the Ascend Lever might be slippery when moist, whereas the textured pad of the OneUp V3 Dropper Distant seems to be prefer it ought to provide good buy in all situations.
Laborious to say how a lot smoother the V3 is as in comparison with the V2, on condition that my V2 distant is want of some TLC. The 2 have the identical lever sweep.
The V3 Dropper Distant is shipped with a cable-end crimp, however when you don’t have one in relation to altering the cable for a recent one, you may all the time tuck it up contained in the bottom of the rubber thumb pad, out of the best way the place it may possibly’t pierce your pores and skin
Pricing & Availability
The OneUp V3 Dropper Distant retails at $45 USD (£40) with the black thumb pad. It’s an additional $6 USD if you’d like one of many different colours. The distant is suitable with an everyday 22.2mm clamp, in addition to SRAM Matchmaker X, Shimano I-spec-EV and Shimano I-spec II, all of that are bought individually at $14.50 USD.
