Review: SDG Tellis V2 Dropper Post - No Slop, More Drop
Dropper posts could be argued as one of the most revolutionary changes made to mountain bikes. Nowadays, they're longer, more reliable, and even light enough to become standard equipment on cross-country bikes.
SDG's new Tellis V2 touts an increased size range, with up to 230mm of drop available, plus a new style of clamping saddle rails. Arguably, the standout feature of the post is the patent-pending head, which lowers the stack height by 10mm and makes saddle installation a breeze.
SDG's new Tellis V2 touts an increased size range, with up to 230mm of drop available, plus a new style of clamping saddle rails. Arguably, the standout feature of the post is the patent-pending head, which lowers the stack height by 10mm and makes saddle installation a breeze.
SDG Tellis V2 Details
• Hybrid PTFE & copper keyways
• Lower stack height w/patent pending head
• 30.9, 31.6, 34.9mm diameters
• 75-230mm travel (reduceable in 5, 10, 20mm increments)
• Stanchion diameter: 26mm
• Weight: 609g - 31.6x170mm
• Price:$199.99-224.99 USD
• More info: sdgcomponents.com
• Hybrid PTFE & copper keyways
• Lower stack height w/patent pending head
• 30.9, 31.6, 34.9mm diameters
• 75-230mm travel (reduceable in 5, 10, 20mm increments)
• Stanchion diameter: 26mm
• Weight: 609g - 31.6x170mm
• Price:$199.99-224.99 USD
• More info: sdgcomponents.com
SDG’s Tellis V1 Post has treated me well on various test bikes, but the V2’s performance and workmanship is said to have improved, thanks to numerous small but critical details. SDG say that the $199 USD Tellis V2 is smoother and more rigid thanks to a larger stanchion diameter and redesigned keyways, so we put some solid time on the updated version.
The angled clamping bolts make seat installation a breeze.
Construction and Features
The new post head design features an independent saddle rail clamp with hardware that is easily accessible from the side. These clamps also allow for an infinite saddle angle adjustment (within a useful range) and are compatible with 7mm round saddle rails or 7 x 9mm oval rails.
In addition to the 10mm of stack taken off the top of the clamp head, 5mm has been shaved off the bottom of the post, thanks to a redesigned actuator. Conveniently, the cable head still connects to the actuator for speedy installs.
Three diameters of 30.9, 31.6, 34.9mm are available in 75, 100, 125, and 150mm travel configurations as well as the 170, 200, and 230mm options which have 30mm size gaps instead of 25mm. The longest travel 230 post is only available in 31.6 and 34.9 diameters and 26mm stachion diameter are used throughout. Each set post height is adjustable in travel by 5, 10, or 20mm due to the simple split bushing design, excluding the shortest post, which is limited to a 55mm total drop.
The key to that quick travel adjustment is the updated split bushing design from IGUS. There’s also a Trelleborg main seal, which caps off the quadruple sealing system.
The V2 continues to use the Wintek cartridge and is compatible with the current Tellis dropper lever, where SRAM Matchmaker, Shimano, I-Spec EV, and 22.2 bar mounts are available
The price seems less, but it no longer includes the lever, cable or housing.
Price and Weight
Between the various diameters and travel lengths, the price of the Tellis V2 dropper ranges from $199.99 to $224.99USD, which doesn’t include the lever or cable.
On my scale, the SDG Tellis V2 post (31.6x170mm) weighs 609g with the rail clamping hardware, but excluding the cable or lever.
Installation
Like any cable activated dropper post, finding the correct length of housing to use is always a bit of a guessing game, but once that is sorted, snugging up, any cable tension is straightforward.
By connecting the cable barb at the actuator, you are free to secure the housing to the post, insert that into the frame and maintain tension on the cable while clamping it in place on the lever. This is much easier than guesstimating and pinching the snipped end of a cable to the tiny hardware at the bottom of the seat post that's found on some other brands. I’ve also found that levers that clamp the cable have less of a tendency to fray the end as well, meaning you can reuse the cable without any issues.
It's worth mentioning again just how easy it is to install a seat on the Tellis thanks to the orientation of the bolts - there's much more room for a tool compared to the traditional mounting style, and it's one of those designs that makes you wonder why everyone doesn't do it this way.
Performance
Is there a noticeable difference between the Tellis V1 and V2 on the trail? I had the chance to ride them both back to back, as the V1 arrived on a test bike. Without a doubt the V2 is smoother and, most importantly, quieter when descending.
One of the first things I noticed was the reduced noise or chatter on the V2, which is due to the copper/PTFE keyways. Before, rattles from the post head could resonate through the bike and fault an otherwise calm bike.
Secondly, there’s smoother actuation as the stanchion glides very seamlessly. Even after riding through sloppy winter conditions for a few months, the Tellis V2 still feels silky smooth. Should something go sideways, SDG does have a gamut of replacement parts available through their dealer networks.
I’ll admit, I did expect the new head clamp design to possibly slip under heavy loading. After clamping the bolts down to the recommended torque and a few seat bounces, there were no signs of slippage. They also avoided emitting any creeks or squeaks, despite the splashy conditions.
SDG Tellis V2
OneUp V3 Dropper
How Does It Compare?
Drawing comparisons between another previously released post, the OneUp V3 Dropper, the critical areas that most riders look at when choosing a dropper post is the insertion depth. Measuring from the bottom of the collar to the end of the actuator (the portion that sits inside the frame) the OneUp V3 is 22.5mm shorter, and has a 6mm lower stack height, when comparing them both set to 170mm (OneUp 180 shimmed down 10cm). OneUp's V3 Dropper still has the longest dropper post on the market at a whopping 240mm, 10mm more than the Tellis V2.
Weight wise, the Tellis V2 is in the respectable ballpark, but the OneUp V3 does chop off about 130g. At $55 less, though ($214.99 USD - SDG Tellis V2 vs. $269 - OneUp V3), weight may not be a factor for those looking to save a few bucks. On the warranty side, SDG offers a lifetime guarantee, whereas OneUp’s V3 post comes with a two-year warranty.
Both posts use an actuator that holds the barbed end of the cable and feature ergonomic levers. OneUp’s option features a rubber thumb pad with colorized options. The SDG has a lighter action but the longer lever means pushing further to open the actuator. Each dropper features a black stanchion and body with discrete logos.
Service and Durability
I’ve been ragging on the Tellis V2 for more than six months, where it spent the most time aboard the Devinci E-Troy LTD smashing through winter slop. I’d also wager that seat posts on E-bikes are put through higher loads too since you can pedal across trail undulations faster, therefore leveraging the saddle more.
When I pulled the post apart for an inspection, everything looked fairly clean, but one of the additional seals that’s part of their quad seal system seemed to have some material removed from it. SDG admitted that this particular post may have been rushed out to provide us enough time to put adequate miles on it and recognizes that the additional seal may have been damaged when removing the collar. They're confident that mass production won't see this issue as the same seal system has been working flawlessly for four years in their V1 post.
Despite that minor quibble, no streaks were left on the post or excess grease was pumped out of there during operation and otherwise, the Tellis V2 has remained quiet, smooth and consistent over the test period.
Changing the travel requires unthreading the lock ring collar by hand, sliding the bushing up and clipping the travel limiting spacer onto the post, much like other posts with adjustability. SDG recommends arranging that so that the split points anywhere except at the rear wheel (6-o'clock orientation). That procedure is straightforward to tackle, even for the greenest mechanics. No special tools are required to refresh the internals or adjust the travel either.
Pros
+ Side-loading clamps allow for very easy saddle install and removal
+ Smooth operation with virtually no side-to-side play
+ Excellent performance to price ratio
Cons
- There are still other posts that offer more insertion depth with less stack height
- Not exactly heavy, but there are lighter options out there
Pinkbike's Take
 | It's tough to nail all aspects of what consumers demand in a dropper seat post: lots of travel with increased insertion interruption, smooth operation, rattle-free keyways, and it has to be cheap and lightweight too. SDG has increased the performance of the Tellis V2 dropper considerably with the combination of slick materials used in conjunction with the improved keyways. They've eliminated the annoying rattle found in some dropper posts while keeping the movement extremely smooth. With an attractive price and the convenience of the easy saddle loading, the minor weight gain over the V1 can be shrugged off. |
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
With the Tellis V1 we had no experience with droppers so we worked with a select few OEM partners to source a high end dropper vendor and picked their most reliable components. We then elevated that further with a slew of improvements including IGUS Bushings, Trelleborg Seals and a Quad Seal System. The V2 takes these same features, but further elevates it with a laundry list of improvements and brought the price down along with added a lifetime warranty.
Orbea uses a post that is similar to ours (and a great OEM product), but we do not private label theirs. Our post will have several improvements over that one including an IGUS Bushing, Trelleborg Seal and Quad Seal design. However, for 27 quid you can't beat it!
p.s. another typo "OneUp 180 shimmed down 10cm"
sdgcomponents.com/pages/support, document "TELLIS V2 FITMENT"
Absolutely 0 rotational play, never loses pressure, can store it compressed or pick it up by the seat when compressed. Never a drama and always working like clockwork. I’m sure others have a different experience but that’s mine…
No way is that accurate, a one-up post does not weigh 380g (609-229).
We brought in a 34.9x180mm OneUp V3 to test against ours and theirs weighs 565g to our 590g so on the 34.9mm we're definitely within reach.
No issues even at my sky high saddle height and near 100kg weight. Honestly can’t see a reason why i would use anything else.
Pair it up with a Bel Air 3.0 saddle and you can’t go wrong with that setup, whilst supporting one of the best OG core mtb brands on the scene.
The Bike Yoke is the smoothest for longer, home serviceable and most importantly has the revive function.
I’ve had too many droppers fail or go bouncy when away on a trip - now I just get an hex key out and 10 seconds later it’s fixed. Insertion and stack isn’t everything
Get an SDG and you don't have to do jack shit.
I only serviced my two tellis posts to be nice to them after neglecting for years mostly due to the fact that it just kept working and working and working with zero issues.
Quick phone call with one of their people and had my new parts in a few days. Can't beat it.
SDG will reply that their warranty rate is almost impossibly low, but I don’t know any shop that doesn’t just bin the posts and sell a replacement from a different brand - so, it would make sense that the reported numbers are very small?
It’s nice they have so many fans - who are clearly not employees, friends, and supported riders or I’m certain they’d disclose as much - who’ve had much better experiences as they do come stock on a lot of bikes up to some very high price points.
I really value dealer and consumer feedback, so I am able to talk face to face to at least 200 shops a year. I have never heard of a shop say they bin our posts when they come OEM (including the sop you were wrenching at when I visited last year) so if that's actually the case it's unfortune that this isn't disclosed with me when I spend the time to visit shops as there's absolutely no reason a shop should take more money from a consumer to "upgrade" a quality post spec'd OEM.
We're a super small (6 employees) brand and are able to take OEM, athlete, dealer and consumer feedback back and use it to directly improve the product offering.
I personally have seen 4 cartridge failures, one just this past weekend where the actual actuator piece that sticks out of the bottom of the cartridge would not fully return causing the post drop when seated. 3 with badly worn upper tubes that were caused from all the slop the plastic key ways developed after normal use, and one where the saddle clamp head came unbonded and spun in the upper tube. I agree with the comment down below, if your posted failure rate is true, which I HIGHLY doubt it is, it is mainly because you’re not actually receiving posts back in for warranty. They are all going straight into the garbage and getting replaced, which I can confirm happened in all said scenarios stated above.
Our failure rate on the cartridge is indeed less than 0.1% which based on above would make sense since none of the cases you indicated above were cartridge failures and were all upper easy wear and tear fixes. The cartridge itself is made, tested and then sits for 30 days in the factory before being tested again to ensure there are no leaks. This is paired with our Trelleborg seal, IGUS bushing and industry leading quad seal design to keep all contaminants out.
If you're throwing out a post that is easily serviceable and has small parts readily available either direct from SDG or distributors and charging money for a new post to a customer that's your choice. We're not going to clog up our exciting product launch by going through addressing the issues you had as this is not the place. Hopefully you'll be at Sea Otter next week and can pop by our booth (B1) and talk to me (Devyn) and we can talk more about these issues and how they're all easily avoidable or fixable.
Either @Tayrob and myself, and anyone else wrenching whose had the same experience, are full of it and sharing these experiences for insert nefarious motivation>> OR, potentially, it’s worth considering that sales people traveling around visiting shops with sales people to talk to other sales people isn’t the best feedback loop.
I mean, I’ve worked at multiple shops that sell SRAM SX equipped bikes too, doesn’t change my first hand experience as someone who’s ridden and wrenched in them.
Anyway, I own my truth - I’ve certainly paid enough for it - and folks, including you, can take what you want from it. I wouldn’t normally have commented at all but I saw your standard warranty-rate reply to Tayrob and wanted to them to know they’re not alone in their experience.
Congrats on all the new OE spec.
I'd never really ever considered the noise my dropper makes whilst descending, is this really an issue?
How does this seat clamp work? It looks like it just clamps everything in place, which would mean that adjusting is a case of loosening bolts, tapping up or down and then re-tightening? The problem with this method is that if you want to drop the nose a tiny bit but then knock it fully out of position you can't easily get back to where you started.
Being able to loosen the rear bolt and tighten the front to drop the nose seems much more controllable.
While we did trim substantial height from the head and actuator (as well as another 10mm off of the 200mm), we kept the same Wintek cartridge that we use on the Tellis V1, which has less than a 0.1% failure rate in 6 years of production, so we were limited in how much we could shrink the overall post. Each brand has a different primary focus and our primary focus on this post is durability, so we simply couldn't risk losing by modifying the cartridge.
What about the lever feel don't you like? Typically the super soft lever actuation is one of the features people love, so I'm interested to hear what you don't like about it.
I like my OneUp dropper too but it has more side-to-side play new than my (older) 5-yr SDG. Otherwise in terms of sound, smoothness - they are both about the same. The downer w/ the OneUp is having to take a seat off to add air to a post on unpredicatable intervals - I'll go SDG for never having to do that because of the sealed airshaft.
One last point: the SDG uses the natural cable end to snug into the actuator. The OneUp uses an additional barrel (no clue what these things are called) that the cable-end snugs into THEN that goes into the actuator - so if you drop or lose that extra piece, you are screwed on your post until you wait two weeks for OneUp to mail you one for $15, shipped (which I did). The SDG design of the cable fitting directly into the actuator with no additional hardware is a better idea so I'll take the "massive" 0.4 inch less travel on the SDG and sure... that has ruined my riding ever since, but its all tradeoffs
We'll keep focusing on making a post for your everyday rider. Every single feature that you find on the Tellis V2 has been designed by focusing on simplicity and durability that the rider who just wants their product to work can appreciate.
Is there a legitimate reason this design hasn't caught on?
Personally, I'm 215lbs geared up and run a 230mm Tellis V2 and I found the V2 to be noticeable easier to compress compared the the V1 simply due to the decrease in deflection.
Still can't understand @SDG-COMPONENTS 's logic behind trying to be competitive in a established market when you basically have a monopoly already in a standard that is superior and established on the market. Imagine SRAM not making any UDH-derailleurs.
If anyone was to complain about something on their bike, it's my wife. Thus, after listening to complaints about her post, I finally put an SDG V1 on her bike. Zero complaints and zero noise on her post now.
I had a SDG Version one on a Kona HeiHei XC. After 3700km on it I had zero issues, I never even unscrewed the collar to clean it lol. It just worked perfectly. Only thing I regret after selling that bike was not taking the Tellis post off of it. Now my 2023 Spur has a OneUp dropper that's insanely finicky and usually doesn't pop up all the way.
Can't wait to put a V2 tellis on now and garbage can my OneUp.
The term you're looking for is "continuous" adjustment.
TL;DR is in future I will avoid OneUp posts for something more reliable with a bit less drop.
www.reddit.com/r/MTB/comments/drhooe/about_at_my_wits_end_with_my_oneup_dropper
@jdejace: interesting, thanks man! it's crazy how hyped those posts are considering even with fresh grease, maximum PSI, and carbon paste that they bind with ~3nm clamping force when slammed to the collar. Basically a defective product.
Don't you mean Brass perhaps ?