Dropper posts can be rather spendy things, but with its 900i dropper post, ExaForm looks set to buck that trend. At a rather friendly £130, the 900i makes an excellent entry into the up-down world of dropper posts thanks to its all-out reliability, ease of use, and surprising lack of grams for the money. It’s not without its caveats, however, as it’s only available with a 150mm drop, and its stack is rather tall, limiting it to a select number of riders and bikes. If it fits, it’s a tough offering to ignore.
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ExaForm 900i dropper post – Technical details
With the 900i, simplicity is key. As a budget dropper, there are no fancy bells and whistles, rather a straightforward aluminium construction that houses a sealed cartridge, typical of sub £200 offerings. While that cartridge won’t be user serviceable, the fact that it’s sealed means that it keeps dropper-destroying gunk out, resulting in a lengthy lifespan.
At the very top of the dropper is a forged head that’s been chosen with durability in mind. There’s a one-piece ‘mast’ here too, so I assume the brand is talking about the stanchion here. It’s said that this reduces weak points in the dropper’s build again, for durability.
The 900i is only available with 150mm of travel, but it comes in two models to fit 30.9 and 31.6mm seat tube diameters.
With the 30.9 model tested tipping the scale at 571g, it’s surprisingly competitive in its weight. For example, PNW Components’ Range Dropper with the same travel is claimed to come in at 634g.
As for measurements, there’s a 236mm total insertion depth, and the stack comes in at 55mm. The latter is rather tall, and it leads to a 205mm bottom of the collar to the saddle rail measurement. So that’s certainly worth bearing in mind before committing the cash. The total length of the dropper is 453mm, so while the stack is a little on the tall side, the overall dropper is fairly short, so it should fit in a reasonably wide range of frames at full insertion.
ExaForm 900i dropper post – Performance
An important aspect of the 900i, especially for those who are upgrading from a solid seat post, is that it’s very easy to install. Simply hook a cable’s ball end into the post’s actuator, and clamp the other end at the lever – that’s ignoring any kind of cable routing, of course. Though this cable arrangement means that this dropper is compatible with a very wide range of levers on the market, although ExaForm recommends a selection of KS’s levers.
I’ve ridden with the 900i for a good few months now, through a serious range of conditions, and one thing’s for sure, it’s certainly going to last the test of time. Despite being covered in mud and dust, its action has remained super smooth, and it’s risen and compressed without issue every time.
As this dropper uses a sealed cartridge, there is a level of progression in resistance as it’s compressed. So the more you push it down, the harder it gets. For the general riding population, this won’t be an issue, but lighter riders may find dropping the post fully a little difficult.
The sealed cartridge also means that there is no adjustment to return speed, so you get what you get. Thankfully, ExaForm has managed to find a good middle ground, so it’s not ball-bustingly fast, but it’s certainly not dreadfully slow. Throughout my test period, the return speed has remained consistent too, indicating that the cartridge is still in good nick, after all that time.
So the post’s performance is good and reliable, but there’s one thing that’ll turn people off buying the 900i – it’s only available in one travel length. To be fair to the brand, 150mm covers most trail riding needs, but if you’re riding a super modern bike that has a seriously low seat tube, you won’t be making the most of that with this dropper. Plus, droppers of 200mm in travel are becoming fairly standard on a range of trail bikes. Of course, if you’re one for cross-country or you have a 30.9mm seat tube diameter on your gravel bike, 150mm may be a bit too much.
ExaForm 900i dropper post – Verdict
At £130, the 900i is amongst the most affordable dropper posts on the market. However, its main competitor is the Ascend Components Flight SL dropper post, which certainly picks up where the 900i has left off. It gets more travel options, ranging from 150 up to 200mm, and it’s claimed to be lighter still at 469g in the 150mm drop model with a 31.6mm clamp diameter. Its frame insertion length is longer at 243mm, however.
There’s also the aforementioned PNW Components Range Dropper. This one will set you back £154, and again, it’s available in a wider range of sizes. In fact, apart from the weight, it’s an excellent dropper.
With those two droppers in mind, the 900i’s value does seem to be lacking somewhat. Why spend £130 and potentially compromise on travel when you can spend the same amount of money and get more travel, if it fits, of course. But thanks to its short insertion depth, its competitive weight, and its impressive reliability, there’s still a valid place for the 900i, just check your measurements.
Value niggles aside, the ExaForm 900i dropper post is a real contender. If its limited travel options suit your needs, you’ll be investing in a super reliable dropper post that does exactly what it needs to do. But note that it may not be one for lighter riders.
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Compatible with KS KG, Westy 1.0 and Westy 2.0 Remotes
alloy construction
sealed cartridge
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