First introduced in 2016, the original BikeYoke Revive dropper post made waves thanks to its high quality construction, slick action and clever reset function. Whereas most dropper posts require a full rebuild whenever they became squishy, the Revive allows riders to purge unwanted air out of the oil cartridge with just a 4mm hex key. It’s a simple but effective system, and along with its user-serviceable design the Revive soon established a reputation for being one of the best dropper posts on the market. That reputation saw it picked up as a stock item on a number of Specialized bikes, which was quite the coup for the small German brand.
Eight years on and many awards later, BikeYoke is now ready to launch its third generation dropper post; the Revive 3.0.
What’s new with the BikeYoke Revive 3.0 dropper post?
Truth be told, the BikeYoke Revive 3.0 doesn’t appear all that different to previous designs. Indeed much of the construction remains the same with around 90% of the parts being unchanged. BikeYoke didn’t want to make any updates just for the sake of it, and so the Revive 3.0 sees a number of refinements rather than a complete overhaul.
Most noteworthy is the arrival of adjustable travel. Using clip-on spacers, users can reduce the Revive’s travel in 5mm increments up to a maximum of 20mm. The process is a bit more involved compared to some other travel-adjustable dropper posts, with the clip-on spacers attaching to the internal piston rod. BikeYoke states this creates a more robust system that won’t degrade over time.
There’s also been a healthy reduction in the overall stack height. This has been achieved with a new saddle clamp that is 5mm shorter, and a new actuator at the base of the post that is 10mm shorter. Together this results in a total post length that is 15mm lower than before, helping riders to squeeze as much travel into their bike as possible.
Furthermore, the cable actuator is now rotatable. This improves clearance, particularly in frames that feature a bent seat tube.
BikeYoke has also switched to a slide-on cable barrel instead of the old pinch-bolt design, and it’s supplying the Revive with a new 3mm cable housing kit that’s said to be more flexible to help reduce friction when used on frames with tight bends (like those with headset routing).
User-serviceable design
We’re glad to see that BikeYoke has carried over its nifty reset function, which can be performed using a 4mm hex key or the included alloy lever. If any squishiness develops due to air making its way into the oil cartridge, all you need to do is open the valve and compress the post to bleed it back out. It’s super easy to do, and BikeYoke has a great video to show how it all works.
Of course the Revive 3.0 retains a big focus on long-term durability and user serviceability. Many dropper posts on the market utilise non-serviceable cartridges that are made to be thrown away and replaced when something goes wrong. Not so on the Revive, which has been designed to be fully serviceable with no special tools required. BikeYoke offers all spare parts aftermarket, along with detailed instructions and videos to show the various service procedures.
Building on the sustainability theme, all of the updates found here are backwards compatible with previous generation Revive droppers. It’s also worth noting that the 30.9mm and 31.6mm diameter droppers feature swappable outer tubes. This is a fantastic feature that allows you to move your Revive between bikes by simply purchasing a different outer tube.
BikeYoke Revive 3.0 price & specs
Compared to the previous generation, the new BikeYoke Revive 3.0 has gone up a little in price. Prices will range from $630-720 AUD, which is undoubtedly on the more expensive side. It’s fairly comparable to other premium droppers like the Fox Transfer and Wolf Tooth Resolve, but it’s a couple of hundred bucks more than a OneUp V3 dropper.
- Travel | 125mm, 160mm, 185mm & 213mm
- Travel Adjust | 20mm reduction in 5mm increments
- Diameter | 30.9mm, 31.6mm & 34.9mm
- Claimed Weight | 460g (30.9x125mm) – 690g (34.9x213mm)
- Confirmed Weight | 544g (31.6x160mm)
- Price | $630 – $720 AUD
Installation
I’ve been testing out the new BikeYoke Revive 3.0 dropper post on my Tor Mullock hardtail. I went with 160mm of travel, which is a 10mm increase on the Fox Transfer that had previously been fitted.
Installation is as straightforward as it gets for a mechanically-actuated dropper post. The updated slide-on cable barrel is a nice improvement over the awkward pinch-bolt system of old, with the cable now secured up at the remote end.
I’ve got the Revive 3.0 linked up to the latest Triggy Alpha remote from BikeYoke, which features a full alloy construction with an oversized bearing in the main pivot. Available in short and long versions, the paddle angle is adjustable, and the Triggy Alpha mounts to your bars either by a standalone clamp or via the SRAM MatchMaker or Shimano I-Spec direct-mount systems.
Since BikeYoke didn’t have its new cable kit available in time, I sourced a Jagwire Pro Dropper Kit. Thanks to its slimmer diameter, the Lex-SL cable offers greater flexibility and a significant reduction in friction. It’s a great upgrade for any cable-activated dropper post on the market.
On the trail
Given I’ve only had a few weeks of riding aboard the BikeYoke Revive 3.0 dropper post, there honestly isn’t a whole lot to say that hasn’t been said before. It works exactly the same as previous versions, with a smooth and fast action that exudes quality. It takes very little effort to compress the post, to the point where it’ll actually lower on its own without you having to unweight the saddle.
It isn’t quite as smooth as the new Fox Transfer, and the lever action isn’t as light either. It is close though, and I’ll also note that the Revive 3.0 is yet to exhibit any rotational play, whereas the Transfer has already developed a few millimetres of movement.
Indeed the Revive has been remarkably solid and consistent so far. There was a small amount of squish out of the box, though after performing the initial reset procedure it has been absolutely flawless.
I’ve found the factory air pressure setting to deliver an assertively quick return speed, and I like that you’re greeted with a positive top-out thunk each time the saddle reaches full height. However, it is possible to adjust the internal air spring pressure using a shock pump and the included adapter if you prefer a faster or slower return speed.
Flow’s Early Verdict
The BikeYoke Revive 3.0 dropper post isn’t exactly a monumental leap from previous versions, but that’s kind of the point.
It retains everything we liked about the original, including the slick action and solid build quality that saw it develop such an enviable reputation in the first place. We love the reset function, and the fact that the whole post is designed to be easily serviceable deserves serious credit too.
With this third generation Revive, the reduced stack height and adjustable travel will no doubt help BikeYoke to keep pace with the competition. Of course there are droppers out there with more travel, and there are plenty of cheaper alternatives too. However, not many are designed with such a strong focus on long-term durability and serviceability. And although it’s early days in terms of testing this Revive 3.0, our expectations are extremely high given the impeccable reputation of its predecessors. For those who value longevity and the ability to service components on your mountain bike at home, the BikeYoke Revive 3.0 will appeal as an exceptionally well-engineered option.
