PNW Cascade Dropper Post Review - My Favorite Ebike Mod!

[@AndreHippo]

I just installed a PNW Cascade model on a Ecells Super Monarch AWD and thanks to your video and speaking PNW rep Jesse, the 125 mm was a perfect fit and no need for "beer can" shim. I managed to a little discount for being a new customer. It's definitely a game changer and only make it safer for me. I highly recommend. 👍

[@kevo60420]

Installed a pnw coast suspension drop post with the Puget 2x lever and wire kit today. Totally agree with every point you made in your video. I'm gonna love this thing.

[@AwesomelyRad]

Awesome!! Congrats!

[@Aspire2Cycle]

I totally agree, I installed the same dropper post on my Kandi America Trail King MT750. I use it every time I think I might need to stop and or get off the bike. I have the cable run all internally and use a Wolf Tooth ReMote BellTower Dropper Lever to control it. Best upgrade I'd made to my e-bike! I did go with the 125mm length.

[@jimsilva5344]

So I have done this on the Five Star without the shim. I am currently using a C9 seat. A couple of observations since changing to this kit; 1) I will never go back to not having it because of safety. 2) The seat angle has corrected my issue with seat comfort and made my issues, (self inflicted I guess) a thing of the past. 3) Even though I am a 6 foot tall person with a 32” inseam lifting my leg over a properly fitted bike with saddle bags was sometimes challenging. This issue has gone away now. 4) I can adjust height on the fly allowing me to adjust to my peddling needs and terrain. I will hopefully be able to use the very expensive suspension seat post I purchased for my wife’s new Step Star due in mid November. Thank you for posting this information it has made my ride even better!

[@AwesomelyRad]

So glad it's working out for you! 😎 Which c9 saddle do you have? I have a Bikaroo, which I think is similar...

[@boombstc1]

I subscribed and bought one as soon as I finished watching your video. You provided great value about something I never even heard of, thanks. I will be trying the suspension version.

[@AwesomelyRad]

@@boombstc1 Thank you for the kind words! Yeah, I can’t believe I had never heard of them either! Looking forward to hearing how you like the suspension version. 😎

[@daveyJ213]

Wow! This is fantastic information. I know what you mean about the size of the Ecells dual star. In person it's gigantic. I am going to seriously consider getting a dropper post for myself. I think it's a good idea. Thank you for sharing this information.

[@AwesomelyRad]

@@daveyJ213 Awesome! Thank you for the kind words! 😊

[@galardmills5306]

Thorough content. The energy in your voice kept my attention. I had never heard of a dropper post, and now I’m considering one for my eCells!

[@AwesomelyRad]

Thank you for the kind words--that means a ton! ☺(I sort of cringe hearing my own voice in a recording.) I DEFINITELY recommend a dropper post if the bike feels at all big to you! So glad I got myself one!

[@randalgoat]

You really outdid yourself! Answered all my questions (other than the final total price you paid), and appreciated including your thought process: bang for buck, quality vs price, installation questions, details about all the different purchases involved. The only thing I wonder about is the next best bang for buck, money is always an issue! Thanks again!🖕

[@AwesomelyRad]

Wow, thank you so much for the kind words!! That really means a lot to me. So glad to hear you found it useful!!

[@f1dog]

This is very helpful. And you're not short, 6 feet is tall, so to even say this for the 17" frame makes me believe it's a huge bike. I'm going to get this dropper seat too.

[@AwesomelyRad]

Thanks! I can't recommend one enough! I think my biggest regret is not getting the 24" wheels, because it would be nice to be an inch closer to the ground, IMO.

[@f1dog]

@@AwesomelyRad I get it, these are big bikes, but when you are riding them, they feel great. It's just when you are stopped and need to get going, or getting on and off. Before riding the five star, I test rode a kings crown (it only comes in a 19" frame) with David, and I was thinking, holy hell, this bike is huge, so the five star 17 felt perfect afterwards, and the step star (24" only wheels) almost felt just a tad too small. I'm 6'1. I'm looking forward to hearing about the seat you chose and why. I know nothing about seats like this and why they are better.

[@AwesomelyRad]

@@f1dog Awesome, stay tuned! I'll talk more about the seat in an upcoming video! 😎 Generally speaking though, unfortunately seats are kind of like shoes--you really need to try a bunch out and see what works best for you.

[@stevendennis9417]

Really great video! Considering getting a dual star next year; hopefully David will get the kinks ironed out on the second battery seating and unified charging.

[@AwesomelyRad]

Thank you for the kind words! I've been loving my Dual Star!

[@naysayerofthevelvetelvis6502]

Wow!! Thank you for this info! I am 5 foot 8 and I'm shopping between a Dual star and a Monstar with their 17 inch frame due to my height and riding position. I could do with the 19 inch frame as long as i use a dropper seat post, I'm not only limited to the step through or 17 inch frames now... Sorry I'm a noob, shopping my first ebike lol.

[@Winkster-]

I also have a dual star. I’m considering this seat post, did you get the 31.6 mm? And if so did you need to provide some sort of shim for the 31.8 mm tube diameter on the dual star? Never mind found it at seven minutes into your video, thanks!

[@f1dog]

For the Loam lever, what clamp selection do you put? And you click yes for cable kit, right?

[@AwesomelyRad]

The Ecells dual star/five star bar is a 22.2mm. Yes, I bought the PNW cable kit (by clicking 'yes" from the loam lever), though you don't have to if you prefer to get your cable kit somewhere else. The PNW casble kit turned out to be the perfect length for my bike. 😎

[@f1dog]

@@AwesomelyRad Thanks again!

[@somewhat.random]

The KZbin algorithm cracks me up. As a tall person I have the exact opposite problem and have been researching "extra long seat posts". 125mm and it DROPS lower? GTFO. I've been looking at 500mm+ seat posts. LOL.

[@RidinRetired]

Would you consider doing a drop post install video with the Dual Star?

[@AwesomelyRad]

@@RidinRetired Hey thanks for the comment. I didn’t my best to talk through the installation in this video, around 2:57.

[@jimsilva5344]

Just watched this video. Just placed my order for my ECells Five Star. I fell off my bike after stopping on a low hill. I am 6’ tall and find getting on and off difficult and the size of the bike is a challenge but to find yourself hitting the cement was a real shock. I need to order the saddle set back rail as well so please let us know what you got for this so I can order one. Now my hope is that the suspension seat post I purchased will fit the Step Star when it arrives for the wife! The handle bar diameter is 22.2 on the Five Star BTW.

[@AwesomelyRad]

Just put out a video on the setback rail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqmyiI2Pg8xsaZI 😎

[@VINTAGELIKE]

The monstar has what size frame? 1 or 2 sizes?

[@kickerwormz3262]

Thank you for this video. I asked in the forum about a range of different accessories, including a dropper post. I'm 5'09" and just wondering what size dropper I should get. You are correct, people like me underestimated the size of this bike. It is huge! I got mine about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I do the lean to one size method to get on my bike. Today, I received my light up pedals, Bluetooth speaker, phone holder, OC spray, a gallon of Flat Out, and my new Lumos Ultra ebike smart helmet. Can't wait for tonight's ride!

[@AwesomelyRad]

Congrats on your new bike! Yeah, I'm still not used to the size, especially when walking it--it's a behemoth! Assuming you're also looking at the Cascade model, at 5'9"--I would GUESS that the 125mm travel length would be the right size for you (I'm 6' and find the 150mm size just a tad on the high side.) And the 31.6mm diameter with the "beer can shim" method is the right move, IMO.

[@AndreHippo]

Great video. I just my Ecells Super Monarch with AWD -- anyone in here wondered where would be the best placement for the lever? My bike's hub selector is directly below the On/Off switch. Any suggestions for placement? Thank you in advance!

[@AwesomelyRad]

@@AndreHippo Perhaps move the on/off switch slightly inward, so you can put the lever between it and the grip? Or maybe you can angle the on/off switch to face up a little bit, and give enough clearance for the lever to fit underneath…? Hard to say without seeing it in person…

[@AndreHippo]

​@@AwesomelyRadHey thanks👍. I'm placing an order for a dropper post after speaking with a PNW rep about properly doing measurements. Your video was helpful and now I'm going with the external.

[@AndreHippo]

​@@AwesomelyRadI got the 125 mm and its perfect 👌. Thanks for your video. I didn't want to drill nor cut cables. What I got was perfect.

[@Farallonjoe]

where did you find the bike seat rail set back? Need a little more room on my dual star and that looks like a good solution

[@AwesomelyRad]

I've got a whole video coming on how I "made" that setback rail, so stay tuned! 😎

[@AwesomelyRad]

Here you go--this is how I made/hacked that seat rail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqmyiI2Pg8xsaZI

[@virtualrealitywitness]

Excellent review video.

[@AwesomelyRad]

@@virtualrealitywitness Thank you so much!! That means a lot to me!

[@antoniohillario9770]

Can you please tell me what the seat height is when it's all the way down? I ordered a 17" frame and may need to change the order to 24" tires.

[@AwesomelyRad]

I'm not sure what the exact measurement is of the stock seat when all the way down. (I'm no longer running the stock seat, post, or mount...) FWIW, my biggest regret is not getting the 24" wheels... It would be nice to be an inch closer to the ground. That said, I recently bought some 26x3 tires, so now the bike will be about 1/2" closer to the ground...

[@antoniohillario9770]

@AwesomelyRad I originally wanted 24" wheels but decided on 26" for speed. The other concern was pedal strikes. I saw a video where that was an issue and it was solved with a 152mm crank. I figured a wheel that is 2" shorter might be a real issue.

[@AwesomelyRad]

​@@antoniohillario9770 I was actually considering re-lacing the rear hub onto some 20" rims for a while, before I discovered dropper posts. (But I was concerned about pedal strikes, as the pedals would only be about 2.75" from the ground with the stock crank.) Personally, I wouldn't be concerned with pedal strikes with the 24" rims--even though as a whole they are 2" less in diameter, they're only 1" closer to the ground than the 26"s.

[@antoniohillario9770]

@@AwesomelyRad I'm considering145mm cranks. That would be an inch shorter and make up for the lower clearance.