PNW RANGE DROPPER POST AND LEVER REVIEW

LOW PRICE, NOT LOW QUALITY

Words by Travis Reill  |  Photos by Sourpatch

A handful of years ago, husband-and-wife duo Aaron and Emily Kerson started PNW Components with one goal in mind: to make quality components at an affordable price. They reached that goal in a short time, as PNW quickly established a reputation for quality products that don’t break the bank. Products such as the Loam Dropper have become commonplace on many bikes.

That same reputation carries into PNW’s new Range dropper post and lever combo. I’m now several hundred miles deep on this combo, and thought I’d share my thoughts on how they performed. Spoiler alert — it is what you would expect from PNW.

ABOUT THE PNW RANGE DROPPER AND LEVER

Newly released this summer, PNW added the Range Dropper post to its lineup for 2024. The Range Dropper hits a phenomenal price point, with the post itself coming in at $159. But, PNW did us one better, creating Range Bundle — dropper, lever, cable, and housing — for just $199, making an entire upgrade much more affordable.

Sizing is somewhat limited with the new Range Dropper. The post only comes in two seat collar diameters: the most common 30.9 and 31.6mm. Bikes with the larger 34.9mm diameter – such as the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo on which I tested the Range Dropper – will need a shim. Bikes with a 27.2mm seat post are out of luck. The Range Dropper also only comes in four travel options, starting at 125mm and growing in 25mm increments until it reaches its longest travel option of 200mm.

While this seems somewhat limiting, I was more limited by my choice of bike. I opted for PNW to send me their 150mm Range Dropper, due to a combination of my short legs (5’8”) and the lack of seat post insertion on the Stumpy Evo. I would likely get along with a 175mm Range Dropper on the right bike with a long, straight seat tube.

The 150mm Range Dropper on test had a total length of 470mm, with a full insertion length of 270mm. This insertion length is a bit longer than some other droppers; however, those droppers typically have a larger price tag. The 31.6mm and 150mm drop Range Dropper Post tipped the scales at 654 grams. This a bit heavier than some other droppers, but not at the Range’s price point.

PNW’s Range Lever comes with a smooth sealed cartridge bearing, and cleanly mates to SRAM’s MatchMakerX adapters. At 45 grams, there isn’t much of a noticeable weight, but it is about 10 grams heavier than the Loam Lever but with a sleeker profile.

THE DIRT

I’ve used quite a few different dropper posts in my time, which means I’ve spent quite a bit of time fiddling with them during installation. For the most part, it is all pretty straightforward. However, some droppers can be more complicated than others, especially at their cable actuator housing. I’ve spent far too long wrestling cable ends into their housing, only to find I didn’t add a piece I was supposed to. I then drop the additional piece, which rolls under a shelf in my garage, where I spend the next 15 minutes looking for it on my hands and knees. Fortunately, PNW made installation simple, with the cable end easily and securely sitting in the actuator housing. It took me all of five minutes to get the Range dropper into the bike and ready to drop.

I don’t have much to say about the performance of the PNW Range Dropper Post and Lever, other than they worked perfectly. From my first test push of the lever, the Range Dropper simply worked, and that never changed throughout my test time. Hundreds of miles later, I’ve only noticed a minor side-to-side movement with the Range Dropper. However, this movement isn’t outside the normal range of movement I’ve had on all droppers, and didn’t produce any rattling as I went down the trail.

The side-to-side movement also did not affect the Range’s performance. Up or down, the Range Dropper never stuck or struggled to run through its 150mm of travel. It was smooth and consistent every time I pushed the lever, which also performed smoothly and sprung back to place easily. After the initial setup, the one or so millimeters of cable slack at the lever was taken out by a couple of barrel adjuster turns. I’ve not had to spend a single minute fettling with the post to get it back to work.

If the Range Dropper does have an Achilles heel, it would be due to the lack of sizes and adjustability. First, there is no option for 34.9mm seat posts. That said, I had no problems with the Range Dropper staying put in my Stumpjumper Evo while using a shim. Yes, this added weight to the already heavier Range, but it is likely relatively insignificant in the end.

The Range Dropper also lacks the adjustability found on other droppers, such as the Loam Dropper. Return speed cannot be adjusted on the Range, nor does it have any travel adjustment. I struggle, however, to even add this as a “negative” indicated with an asterisk. Travel adjustments are nice, but I think it is important to keep in mind what PNW was trying to accomplish with the Range Dropper: a high-quality dropper/lever combo at an affordable price. Travel adjustability aside, it is also important to remember that PNW does offer the Range in four travel options.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The Range Dropper may not have all the bells and whistles of other dropper posts, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a dropper/lever combo of its caliber for $199. With a lifetime warranty and PNW’s commitment to making quality products, the Range Dropper and Range Lever combo could be the best bang for your buck in 2024.

Price: $199 (Range Dropper & Lever Bundle)
Website: PNWcomponents.com

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