Cables are cables right? Not according to Jagwire, which has developed a specific cable kit that’s purpose-built for dropper posts. Or at least ones that are activated by a cable anyway. Turns out it works mighty well too, offering a significant reduction in friction for a smoother and lighter lever feel.
We paired this kit to the new BikeYoke Revive 3.0, but we reckon it’s a nifty upgrade for anyone who’s using an existing cable-actuated dropper post.
Jagwire Pro Dropper Kit
- Price: $43.99 AUD
The key point of difference between the Jagwire Pro Dropper Kit and any other old gear cable that’s used to activate a dropper post is the diameter of the outer and inner cables.
Whereas standard gear cable housing uses a 4mm outer diameter with a 1.1mm diameter inner wire, the Pro Dropper Kit utilises a special type of cable called Lex-SL. The housing features a thinner 3mm diameter, while the stainless steel inner wire uses a 0.8mm diameter.
The slimmer profile makes the Lex-SL cable much more flexible, which is advantageous on mountain bikes that feature cable routing with a lot of twists and turns. This is particularly applicable on modern bikes with headset cable routing, which can often cause quite a lot of friction to the dropper post cable.
Installation
The Jagwire Pro Dropper Kit comes with everything you need to set up a single dropper post. There’s a generous 1,700mm long segment of Lex-SL outer cable, a 2,000mm long inner cable, and all the various caps and fixings.
Installation is much the same as a standard gear cable, though the slimmer diameter of the outer cable does present some differences to consider. If your frame has ports for internal routing, they might be too large for the slimmer Lex-SL outer cable. This increases the chance of rattling, which nobody wants. Wrapping some electrical tape around this part of the outer cable is a simple way to build up the thickness to provide a snug fit with those frame ports.
Otherwise everything goes into place as normal, with the supplied cable end caps slotting in neatly into the base of the dropper post and up at the handlebar remote.
On the trail
Once fitted, the advantages of the Jagwire Pro Dropper Kit are immediately apparent. The lever feel is slicker and lighter, resulting in less force required to activate the remote.
There are a couple of reasons for this. The inner wire is made from woven strands of stainless steel that are polished to help smoothen the surface and reduce friction. Jagwire doesn’t coat the inner wire, which it claims provides better long-term performance since there’s no coating to wear off and choke things up. Furthermore, the Lex-SL cable housing incorporates a pre-lubricated internal liner to keep the cable sliding smoothly.
Aside from the thinner outer cable requiring some management where it’s clamped on your frame, we’re yet to encounter any downsides to the Jagwire Pro Dropper Kit. It’s not particularly cheap at $43.99 AUD, but it does offer a tangible improvement in performance and lever ergonomics, making it an upgrade worth considering next time your bike is heading into the workshop.
