Thomson’s well-proven dropper is smoothly reliable, but it deserves a better remote lever. The twin-bolt head is as beautifully machined as we’ve come to expect from the US brand. Top-quality Norglide bushings and Motul oil keep operation smooth seemingly indefinitely (we’ve got three-year old posts that we’ve never had to service). It’s not too heavy or long and there’s a rare 27.2mm diameter option for the externally-routed version. Sitting the nipple at the post end and clamping the cable in the remote makes it easy to set up, and using a brake (not gear) cable outer makes for easier routing through frames. The extra compression means the small, vertical lever feels spongy, though, and its limited leverage makes it stiff to operate. It also drags the cable across a sharp edge, which soon wears through it.We’ve had great results swapping to an aftermarketWolf Tooth lever and gear outer, but at over $600 already, you shouldn’t have to do that.
Weight 649g
Stroke 100, 125, 150mm
Diameters 30.9, 31.6mm
Max length 485mm
Internal length 265mm
Price $645
