components: Test: BikeYoke Divine SL – Dropper Post for XC Racers

Test: The once small German manufacturer shook up the dropper post market in 2017 with the BikeYoke Revive dropper post. Still an insider tip back then (and still our number one dropper post), the Revive can now also be found on numerous complete bikes such as Propain, Nicolai, Drössiger or BH. With the Divine SL, another dropper post was presented last year, which particularly appeals to XC racers with 'only' 80mm travel, an extremely light, shortenable construction and the proven inner workings.

BikeYoke Divine SL: assembly

Before we get to the assembly of the Divine SL in detail, we have to make a few comments about the somewhat special construction of the new BikeYoke support. As already mentioned, the post was specially designed for XC racers or marathon riders and their bikes: short stroke, low weight, compact dimensions. Another special feature that currently makes the support unique on the market: it can be shortened! That's right - a dropper post that can be shortened. For what reason? Well, on the one hand you save over 120g in weight with the maximum reduction (almost 30mm). On the other hand, you get a very short post overall, which should be of particular interest for frame constructions with a pivot point in the seat tube.

If you look at traditional dropper post constructions, it becomes clear why the Divine SL has to be constructed differently: If you were to shorten any other dropper post, not only would a part of the inner workings fall victim to this action, but also the connection for the control cable. To prevent this problem, the entire inner workings of the new BikeYoke, including the cable clamp, are located in the upper part of the support - 'only' a hollow tube remains at the bottom, which can be shortened without any problems.

However, the raised connection also means that it can no longer be reached with the hands or fingers when assembling the support. That's why every seat post comes with a special tool made of plastic - a kind of extension - with which the cable or the nut attached to it can be screwed to the seat post. If you follow the instructions in the very good instructions, the assembly can be easily managed even by inexperienced screwdrivers, even if it takes a few minutes longer and requires a little more tact.

BikeYoke Divine SL: workmanship

The processing of the support and the new Triggy X lever is at an extremely high level. Perfect fits and high-quality materials such as the titanium screws that hold the forged saddle clamps on the struts. The Triggy X lever makes the tried-and-tested, actually almost perfect, Triggy lever even better: With an additional grub screw, the operating lever itself can now be pushed slightly inwards or outwards in its position. In this way, the ergonomics can be further fine-tuned depending on preferences and the cockpit. Those who use a front derailleur can also get the Divine SL with a remote lever that can be mounted in addition to the left trigger.

BikeYoke Divine SL: function

How does the new Divine SL fare in practice? In a word: impeccable! The Triggy X lever mentioned can be perfectly adapted to your own ergonomic requirements. Sram drivers can screw it directly to the Matchmaker clamp. Post deployment speed is perfect: fast enough to be ready in the stress of a race, but not so fast that every deployment jeopardizes family planning. The manual forces required for operation are perfectly fine, even if there are now other products that are a little easier to use. On the plus side, the Divine SL has a pleasant feedback: You can feel immediately when the mechanism has been activated and hear it acoustically when the support has reached its end position.

If you are out and about with the Divine SL, you will already experience one of the other features of the support on the first trail section: if you lock it somewhere in the adjustment range, it gives in slightly in the event of impacts and thus improves comfort considerably. However, the feeling is much tighter than you know it from, for example, classic spring supports or poorly ventilated dropper supports. When the seat post is fully extended, it is firm: no yielding, no springing - of course, maximum efficiency is the priority here.