Brand X releases the cheapest wireless dropper seatpost on the market and it's got more travel than a Reverb
Brand X's new Ascend Wireless dropper post comes with 200mm of drop and offers wireless technology at a more affordable price point
Brand X has quietly added a new wireless dropper post to its Ascend dropper post range. The Wiggle/CRC in-house brand is known for its budget MTB kit, this new dropper is no different as the Ascend wireless dropper retails for just £399.
Wireless technology isn't new in the best dropper post market, Magura pioneered the technology back in 2017 with the Vyron followed by RockShox's Reverb AXS dropper post a few years later. KS also recently added its own Lev Circuit electronic dropper to the market
These wireless droppers all fall into the premium price brackets though which is where the Brand X Ascend Wireless dropper stands out. At £399 it's considerably more affordable and almost half the RRP of the Reverb. It's still more expensive than most cable-actuated droppers, however, if cable-free dropper convenience is a must-have for you, it doesn't come any cheaper than this.
The Ascend Wireless dropper seatpost is available in 30.9mm and 31.6mm diameters and comes in four travel options; 125mm, 150mm, 170mm, and 200mm. In comparison, the Reverb AXS and Vyron seatposts max out at 170mm and 175mm respectively, so the Ascend Wireless is the best option if you looking for the biggest drop on a wireless dropper post.
The Ascend Wireless is rated IPX 66 rated water resistance, features a sealed adjustable air cartridge, and communications between the remote and seatpost use Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity. The handlebar remote features a simple thumb paddle and uses a standard CR2032 battery. The seatpost is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which is mounted to the back of the saddle clamp. The battery can be removed from the bike and charge time is quoted to take 90 minutes.
The Brand X Ascend Wireless dropper post is only available to UK customers, however, it appears to share the the same design as the $499 TranzX EDP01. The TranzX dropper is claimed to give 6,000 actuations and weigh 648-748g, depending on diameter, measured with 200mm travel version.
Graham Cottingham joined the BikePerfect team as our senior tech writer in 2020. With over 20 years of riding experience, he has dabbled in downhill, enduro, and gravel racing. Not afraid of a challenge, Graham has embraced bikepacking over the last few years and likes nothing more than strapping some bags to his bike and covering big miles to explore Scotland's wildernesses. When he isn’t shredding the gnar in the Tweed Valley, sleeping in bushes, or tinkering with bikes, he is writing tech reviews for BikePerfect.
Rides: Cotic SolarisMax, Stooge MK4, 24 Bicycles Le Toy 3, Surly Steamroller
Height: 177cm
Weight: 71kg
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