Wolf Tooth’s new Resolve dropper post brings some interesting innovation to the dropper post game. Its world-first self-bleeding cartridge along with its lowest-on-the-market stack height will appeal to even the pickiest of dropper post connoisseurs, making it a seriously attractive addition to the best dropper posts segment. And for the features on offer, it’s competitively priced against the likes of Fox and RockShox, although the adjustable travel isn’t quite as straightforward as it could be.
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Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post - Technical details
The release of the Resolve dropper post may have been a long time coming for fans of the brand known for its beautiful CNC-machined components. However, the wait may well be worthwhile as Wolf Tooth hasn’t just slapped its name on an off-the-shelf dropper and called it good. Instead, its engineers have thought up a fresh design in order to offer an all-new dropper post that carries the shortest stack height on the market and interesting self-bleeding technology.
Speaking of the self-bleeding tech, let’s start with that. The Resolve uses cable operated hydraulic cartridge to lift its travel. Any hydraulic dropper can suck some air into the system with time; early RockShox Reverb owners will be very familiar with that. But on the Resolve, air is purged from the cartridge with every actuation of the dropper thanks to a fancy cartridge design. This means that, if all goes well, a Resolve user will never have to replace the cartridge as is common with other droppers.
Moving on, the Resolve features an external and removable air filter that’s found at the base of the post and it uses a tried and tested two-bolt saddle clamp. This saddle clamp is partially responsible for its silly low stack height.
In fact, there’s not a dropper on the market that comes with a stack height as low as the Resolve’s 32mm measurement. The real bonus of this is that riders can take full advantage of this and run a longer travel dropper.
The Resolve’s insertion length is respectably short, too, further opening up the ability to run more travel. In fact, I’ve been able to up my travel by a full 15mm from 180mm to 195mm thanks to the combination of that low stack, and that short insertion.
To put that into numbers, the 200mm post pictured here has a maximum insertion length of 290mm. Compare that to the Crankbrothers Highline 7 of the same travel, which is considered to be rather short itself with an insertion length of 327mm and it’s clear that the Resolve dropper is on another level.
Other features include adjustable travel and the dropper’s external diameter can be swapped. So if you upgrade to a new frame that has a larger, or smaller seat tube diameter you don’t need to buy a whole new dropper post. Instead, you’ll just need to buy a new outer casing and get handy with the tools.
As expected from a Wolf Tooth product, there’s a host of beautifully CN-machined parts, including the upper assembly and even a number of internal components. Wolf Tooth then claims that the Resolve is as much as 26% lighter than other droppers of the same travel and size. My test model tipped the scales at 555g.
Wolf Tooth then offers a huge range of post-purchase support from technical how-to videos and walkthroughs to a complete collection of spare parts.
Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post - Travel adjust
Travel adjust features on dropper posts are nothing new, with PNW Components having introduced such tech on the Loam dropper post. e*thirteen built the Vario Infinite with the same method of adjustability, which can also be found on Canyon’s G5 post. With these droppers, you undo the upper collar and turn a plastic shim or spacer. However, Wolf Tooth has done it in a very different way, which is why it needs its own section in this review.
Instead, it’s much more of an internal affair and while it’s still a very useful feature, it takes much more labour to perform. The Resolve requires almost complete disassembly, including fluid replacement to insert a spacer inside of its cartridge. It also requires a £15 spend on Wolf Tooth’s spacer and fluid kit.
For the mechanically experienced, it’s easy enough to get done, especially with the right tools (one of which Wolf Tooth provides in the box) but Wolf Tooth’s guide recommends a specific Knipex tool. An adjustable spanner can be used in place of this tool but it’ll likely score the finish… And I can confirm that it will. Thankfully, this mark is hidden within the upper assembly.
If you’re not comfortable wrenching on things like this, it’s definitely worthwhile sending this to a professional as there are some delicate parts at play. While this is definitely a bit of a pain, it’s a one-time procedure, unless you upgrade to a bike with a shorter seat tube.
But the fact that this can be done at home with only a few tools is a testament to Wolf Tooth’s efforts in user serviceability. The self-bleeding cartridge also makes servicing so much simpler.
Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post - Installation
Putting the dropper onto a bike is as simple as any other cable-operated dropper post. The actuation mechanism at the bottom of the dropper is completely open and can be activated by hand thanks to a built-in lever.
Making things even easier is that the lower parts of the saddle clamp are built into the upper assembly. So you don’t have to play that faffy balancing act of holding the saddle, and lower clamp in place as you tighten the bolts down like you do with many other droppers. The post can then be inflated to pressure via a Schrader valve hidden under a tidy screw-on cap.
Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post - Performance
In use, the Resolve’s performance is indicative of its lofty price. Its drop is luxuriously smooth and comparable only to the Crankbrothers Highline 7. During my time with the Resolve, it’s been completely reliable through the horrifically wintery conditions the UK has faced this year. That includes sub-zero temperatures, where it performed exactly as expected.
If all of the cool features this dropper carries aren’t enough of a drawcard, its low stack has made the biggest improvement to my bike. As mentioned before, it’s allowed me to take advantage of even more travel, meaning that I can get my saddle lower than ever. With this, my range of motion on the bike has increased massively.
I’ve primarily paired the Resolve with Wolf Tooth’s Light Action remote dropper lever and they’ve paired really well, offering a light remote action. This post has also been used with PNW’s Loam Lever Gen 2, which has conducted itself similarly.
The Resolve is a sleek-looking dropper, too, and, dare I say, one of the most attractive on the market. Its CNC-machined upper assembly is beautifully finished, rocking a sleek but understated bit of bling.
Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post - Verdict
It goes without saying that the Wolf Tooth Resolve is one of the more expensive dropper posts on the market. It’s built to an incredibly high quality and offers a range of features yet to be found on its rivals. Like many, it doesn’t come with a lever in the pack but this can be seen as a benefit as it encourages riders to pick their favourite or use one they already own. If you’re after Wolf Tooth’s lever, it will cost you another £87, which isn’t cheap
But to compare to another dropper post, Fox’s Transfer Factory with that cool Kashima coating will set you back £389. It doesn’t get the range of features the Resolve carries, however.
The RockShox Reverb Stealth with the 1x remote is priced at £416 but that comes with a remote. It is a fully hydraulic system though, so you’re stuck with that lever. It comes with tech that is kind of similar to the Resolves that allows the user to bleed the Reverb’s cartridge but it requires a bit of a procession.
Though if it's luxuriously smooth action you're looking for the Crankbrothers Highline 7 costs £300. It's not as nicely built as the resolve and doesn't come with that raft of very useful features or the comprehensive aftercare that Wolf Tooth offers.
The Wolf Tooth Resolve’s super low stack is enough to earn it the hard-fought permanent spot on my bike but its self-bleeding tech, ridiculously high-quality build and smooth action cement it as one of the best droppers on the market. The readily available spares and ease of services just act as the icing on an already incredibly delicious cake. It is quite the initial investment however and you’ll need to get handy with the tools if you want to adjust its drop.
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