In addition to the B-wheel system by Wolf Tooth, which can be used to mount bottle cages and tools on the frame, the small manufacturer from Minnesota is primarily known for its tools hidden in the frame or handlebars known - most recently for his Multitool in cooperation with Magura. Now comes a Vario support that is not cheap, but has exciting features.
Data & Info
- Three lengths: 125, 160 and 200 mm
- Two diameters: 30.9 and 31.6 mm
- Very low support height of only 32 mm
- Stroke length can be adjusted in 5 mm increments using spacers
- Weight: support 512 grams / lever 37 grams
- Price post: EUR 419.99 (125mm), EUR 439.99 (160mm), EUR 459.99 (200mm)
- Price lever: 89,90 Euro
- Info: wolftoothcomponents.com
Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post with innovative venting system
Who hasn't experienced the problem: as soon as the cartridge of the telescopic seat post draws air, it sinks a few centimetres with the rider's weight or crumples like a bouncy ball while riding. For example, when you lift the bike by the saddle with the post retracted. Wolf Tooth wants to avoid this problem with a self-bleeding cartridge. On top of that, it should be easy to maintain and therefore an absolute endurance runner.
Every time the Wolf Tooth Resolve Dropper Post is lowered completely, any air in the system is automatically pressed out of the cartridge. The best way to find out exactly how this works is to watch a short video.
Low installation height, low weight
In addition to the automatic ventilation, the engineers paid particular attention to a very low installation height during development. The distance from the saddle mount to the dropper post is just 32 millimetres. With this, Wolf Tooth wants to get the maximum stroke length out of the Resolve Dropper Post and ensure a very short insertion length even with a stroke of 200 millimetres. This should particularly benefit small frames or models with a bottle cage mount on the seat tube.
The low height is of course also reflected in the relatively low weight. The Resolve dropper post in 160 millimetre length weighs just 549 grams including the lever. A Fox Transfer in 175 millimetre length is around 583 grams and the Rockshox Reverb in 175 millimetre length is 585 grams.
Chic, smooth-running lever on the Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post
We particularly liked the CNC-machined remote lever at first glance. Even with the first lowering predecessors, the finely ribbed lever was very smooth and easy to press. The so-called Light Action Lever, which is available with direct mount clamps to suit many brake models (Shimano, Sram, Magura, Hope), can also be adjusted in angle and lateral distance to the handlebars. You choose the lever to match your brake when you buy it. The cost for this is 89 euros, regardless of the model.
Three lengths and two diameters
As with most other manufacturers, the Resolve dropper post is available in both 31.6 and 30.9 millimetre diameters. With standard lengths of 125, 160 and 200 millimetres, there should be a suitable length for every rider. Nevertheless, the stroke can also be reduced in 5 millimetre increments with the help of spacers. For example, two spacers can be used to shorten a 200 millimetre post to 190 millimetres. The spacers are available separately and are not included in the scope of delivery.
Wolf Tooth offers a full service guarantee
All individual parts of the Resolve Dropper Post are available separately - as with all other Wolf Tooth products. This means that if a part is damaged in a crash, only the defective parts need to be replaced. Any reasonably skilled mechanic should be able to carry out the replacement themselves. However, you can also send your seatpost to the Wolf-Tooth Service Centre or to your bike shop for repair. And that's not all: if necessary, you can even adjust the diameter of the post from 30.9 to 31.6 millimetres, as the lower tube is also available as a separate component.
Fitting the Resolve dropper post
Installing the support is very simple. The only hurdle, as with any other telescopic support, is determining the appropriate outer cover length. If you have already fitted a telescopic support, you can of course count yourself lucky and use the old cover as a template. After that, however, it's quick: thread the cable through the sleeve and attach it to the support. The cable is then fixed in the lever, the post and cable are pushed into the seat tube and the Fast Action Lever is clamped to the handlebars or brake lever. Adjust the preload with the tension screw and you're ready to hit the trail. Our test post was supplied with a slightly short cable, which made installation more difficult. However, the length will be adjusted in series production.
On the trail
With its ribbed structure, the Fast Action Lever of the Wolf-Tooth post sits extremely well on the thumb and can be positioned within perfect reach of the finger. A gentle push and the Resolve dropper post glides down smoothly. Friction is barely noticeable here. There is also hardly any lateral play. When triggering the lowering process, you press down with a slight resistance, as you are used to with other mechanical supports. The extension speed is already good in the basic set-up, although not too fast. The seat post locks back into the starting position with a loud click, giving you good feedback as to when you can put your rear end back on the saddle.
Test conclusion
With a total price of at least 510 euros (post + lever), the Wolf Tooth Resolve Dropper Post is no bargain. However, the low overall height, the different and stylish direct mount levers and the automatic bleeding are exciting features and set the new dropper post apart from other models. In practice, the smooth lever and gentle lowering are impressive. The endurance test will have to show whether the auto-bleed technology really works. We will keep you up to date with our findings.
Stefan Frey
Editor
