A few weeks ago, PNW Components reached out to see if we’d be interested in reviewing their new Range Dropper Post and Range Lever. According to PNW, the Range is the only dropper post that checks in at 200mm of travel for the $159 price tag. Better yet, you can pick up the Range bundle for $199 – that’s the dropper post, lever, and a full cable and housing kit, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
The Range Dropper Post and Lever are an expansion into the PNW Components’ durable and affordable Range family. PNW says that the affordable Range line is perfect for both “new riders and seasoned shredders”.
The Range family consists of The Range Handlebar Gen 3, the Range Composite pedal, The Range Dropper, and the Range Lever.
I was excited to get the items in and let you know my thoughts. So, let’s get to it.
The Range Dropper Lever
Retail: $54 (by itself with optional cable/housing kit) It comes in black with a black thumb pad.
The Range Lever is a lot like its brother, the Loam Lever. In fact, you might be happy to know that the Range Lever uses the same fan-favorite silicone thumb pad that’s on the more expensive counterpart, the Loam Lever.
Differences from the PNW Loam Lever
- The Loam Lever is made using a 5-axis CNC machine, which gives PNW more control over optimizing shaping, tolerances, and weight. The Range Lever is made using forging, a much more affordable process.
- Sporting more adjustments, the Loam Lever makes it easy to dial in your cockpit setup. The Range Lever doesn’t have the same amount of adjustments.
- Lastly, the Loam lever is more expensive at $69 compared to the Range Lever at $49.
Forged out of durable, lightweight 6061 aluminum, the 45-gram Range lever looks very good, having a great fit and finish. The internal sealed pivot bearing allows for remarkably light action.
Installing the Range Lever
The test bike for the Range dropper/lever bundle was the Salsa Moraine that I have in for review. At this point, I had already attached the housing and cable to the dropper post and carefully slid it into the frame. So, I then moved on to mounting the Range Lever. It was easy enough.
The Salsa uses an integrated Shimano I-Spec dropper lever that attaches directly to the left brake lever. After completely removing the Shimano lever from the brake lever, I loosened the brake lever a little to make room for the Range Lever base to fit on handlebar.
After that I mounted the lever, for me, I used the very far right hole on the lever when attaching it. I ran the cable through the lever, pulled and tightened the cable, took out the cable slack with the barrel adjuster, and voilà it worked perfectly the first time.
Range Lever Features
- Weight: 45 grams
- Kit Includes: 1x Range Lever with 22.2mm mount
- Stainless steel hardware
- Sealed Cartridge bearing
- Compatibility: Compatible with All 22.2mm handlebars
- Dropper Post Compatibility: Compatible with all cable-actuated dropper posts
- Cable Routing: Stealth routing
- Clamp Styles: 22.2mm mount with SRAM MMX Direct Mount built into lever.
The Range Dropper Post
Retail: $159 (for just the post)
The Range Dropper Post looks to be of high quality that will last for some time.
I feel like this would be a great dropper post for someone curious about the “dropper post life”. It is inexpensive, providing an easy point of entry into the dropper post world, without breaking your wallet in half. And it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Installing the Range Dropper Post
It was really easy to install and works perfectly. It just slid right into the frame while I was slightly pulling on the housing, being careful to push the post in, while simultaneously pulling the housing.
The dropper came with two different cable barrels so that you can use other companies’ dropper levers and run the cable to or from the Range Dropper post.
After the install, the post felt solid. There isn’t any fore and aft seat slop or movement from the post. It required zero setup, other than finding the right seat height.
In my use case, I haven’t had any droop, and I didn’t have to change the factory pressure at all. The post retracts and deploys smoothly.
The Range Dropper comes in two diameters, 30.9 and 31.6. You can choose from four travel options per size, 125mm, 150mm, 175mm, and 200mm. PNW sent me a 30.9 with 175mm of travel to use on the Salsa Moraine.
Range Dropper Features
- Cartridge style: Sealed air cartridge
- Routing method: Internal
- Diameters: 30.9 and 31.6
- Weight: From 570g to 666g (depending on size)
- Lever compatibility: Compatible with all PNW levers and most cable-actuated levers from other brands
- Cable and housing: Cable and housing included only the purchase of a lever kit
Loam vs. Ranger Dropper, What’s the Difference?
PNW calls the Range dropper their “tried and true dropper design that allows for consistent and reliable performance at our most value-oriented price point”. On the other hand, the Loam dropper is an optimized version of the Range. It’s a little bit lighter, it offers lower stack height so you can run a longer overall dropper length in your bike. The Loam Dropper also offers 25mm of travel adjustment so you can fine-tune how far your dropper drops.
In Conclusion
So, far I really like the Range Dropper and Lever. The Range lever has easy-to-use actuation. The lever’s engagement is at the beginning of the lever stroke where it makes the most sense, it makes for quick lever actuation without needing to use the full throw of the lever.
The lever’s thumb pad is comfortable and attractive, making it easy to locate and push even with gloves on. Over all the lever, is stealthy in the black-on-black, and branding is low-key.
I think as a bundle for $199, the Range Dropper Post and Lever are a fantastic deal. There are lighter and fancier droppers out there, but for those who want to try a dropper but don’t want to drop $200, $300, or even $400 on just the dropper post alone, it’s a great way to drop in.
I would recommend this bundle to the newest of riders or the gnarliest of shredders. The PNW Range Dropper Post and Lever Bundle just make sense.
