If Eurobike is any indication, the dropper post battle is heating up. More brands than ever are jumping into the mix, and those that have already been established are launching some big upgrades. X-Fusion has offered various versions of their Hilo dropper for some time, but now they have a new dropper to play with.
Called the Manic, the new post beats the Hilo on a number of factors including serviceability, size, and maybe most importantly, price…
When it comes to sizing dropper posts, the overall length and stack height are two very important metrics. The longer the post is below the seat tube clamp, the more likely it is to hit something in your frame preventing full insertion. To that point, the lower the stack height is on the post, the more likely you are going to be able to ride the full length travel and maintain proper seat height.
To improve the fit of the Manic post, it is both shorter overall and uses a lowere stack height by about 25mm. Part of that lower stack height is a new head that the lower portion is better integrated with the top of the post. The simple two bolt clamp has a slight offset and should be round and oval rail compatible.
Inside, the internals have been replaced with a cartridge system that can be easily replaced if there is a failure. THe cartridge is activated by a new internal linkage which gives the remote a very light feel at the lever.
The remote is a shifter style unit and offers quite a bit of adjustability. To adjust, simply unthread the lock nut, repostiton, then lock it back down.
To be available in 30.9 and 31.6, initially the post will be 125mm travel. The best part? It will retail for just $199, and should be available this spring.
