Unboxing the new TRS+ dropper from e*thirteen, you start to scratch your head as to why it only costs €299.99, as it looks very nice indeed.
This post is part of a previous group test which is not existing anymore. Here you’ll find our recent comparison test of the best mtb dropper post.
Looking deeper you realise that the post is fully mechanical: no hydraulics, no temperamental IFP’s, just a simple spring with four ride height positions – not infinite like the rest of the group test. What, at first, looked to be a big disadvantage ended up making us question why we need more. The supplied lever is superbly ergonomic; running smoothly on three bearings, the shifter-style lever even has a traction pad that makes location in the heat of battle very simple. The two-bolt head is easy to use and held the saddle securely with minimal side-to-side play, and we like the angled bolts that make access easy with the graduated marks for easy setup.
On the trail we were nervous of the non-infinite travel, but it proved unfounded. The post can be stopped at the bottom and top, but also at 75 mm and 125 mm. In use we mainly used the up or down position, but found we could hit the other heights pretty easily if needed. Lever force required to drop the post is minimal, and despite the rather unrefined top and bottom clunk that lacks the damping of more expensive posts, the dropper performs exactly as it should. The only real negative with the post is its length, as the long actuation mechanism at the bottom of the post makes it a full three cm longer than the competition, which may be a problem in some bike frames. While there are more affordable posts in this group test that offer infinite travel, we love e*thirteen’s dedication to producing a simpler post for those who want minimal fuss and maximum fun, focussing only on what’s really needed from a dropper post. For riders on a budget, or those looking for a dropper post that will require minimal – and more importantly basic – servicing, with no complex hydraulics or fragile seals, the E-Thirteen is a breath of fresh air and takes the win in our best value award with ease.
Drops: 150 mm
Weight: 576 g/64 g (post/remote)
Price: €299
Strengths
- Easy-to-maintain spring
- Amazing remote
Weaknesses
- Very long stack height
- Only four height positions
For more information head to bythehive.com
Here you’ll find our recent comparison test of the best mtb dropper post.
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