The KS KG SL Carbon Dropper remote is made for gravel drop bar bikes. Its low weight, super simple design and function make it a nice choice if you are after a drop bar compatible dropper. It is fairly expensive, but otherwise, there is nothing to knock it.
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KS Lev KGSL Carbon Dropper Remote Review – Technical details
Built with Carbon fibre (alloy version available) and available for 22.2 or 31.8mm bars, the KGSL has a simple hinged clamp for easy install, with stainless steel bolts throughout. A simple, well-shaped lever actuates the cable with a shape ideal for left or right-handed use. If required, a cable noodle is included to get the cable curve at an optimal run to reduce cable drag.
Weighing a paltry 17g (with no noodle), the remote is made of four parts – the lever, the two pivot parts and the clamp band. It’s all super simple and bolts together like a chainring bolt, holding the band together, and the lever rotates around the bolt. The clamp opens wide and fits easily over bars.
The cable mounting direction is what KS calls traditional (cable barrel end at lever). Only the alloy lever is available in universal (cable clamps at the lever) rather than traditional. Threading the cable was easy, but the cable end was quite snug into the lever, and it needed a firm pull to sit in properly. Worth bearing in mind when pairing with your dropper of choice.
KS Lev KGSL Carbon Dropper Remote Review – out riding
The low profile design keeps the KGSL Dropper remote fairly discreet, and with its lightweight, unobtrusive shape and positioning, I liked it right away. It’s got a smooth feel and didn’t feel like it contributed to any resistance on the cable – I ran it with and without the noodle, and both work effectively, and if you can not use the noodle, it felt marginally smoother.
The remote can be rotated, so it sits on top or behind the bar. It can’t be used on the drops, so you have to consider this when you drop your post. Still, with most gravel riding, when you need the dropper, you are usually quite aware of the likelihood of needing it.
It’s low profile enough that I never managed to knock my knee on the dropper, and the thin clamp band takes up little space on the bar. I tried some bar bags with it, and they all still fitted easily enough, save for another cable to keep clear of.
Value and verdict
With the two different clamp sizes available and the cheaper alloy version, the KGSL has a great shape, with versatile positioning options. It weighs very little, works great – the price isn’t cheap, but it’s reasonable compared to other dropper remotes. The Wolf Tooth ReMote Drop Bar Lever is £96 but uses sealed cartridge bearings to action the dropper post. Whereas the alloy PRO Discover Drop Bar Remote sits at £50. The KGSL is drop-bar compatible, but you could use it on flat handlebars without issue, and it is very much a low profile design.
I can’t fault the remote in design, use or how it’s made. The value isn’t terrible compared to other thumb remotes, but it still feels a lot for such a small component – and if you want to save a little bit of money, the alloy version is a good bet.
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