FUNN is the latest brand to offer an affordable(ish) dropper post, joining KS, Giant, RSP and Brand-X in the sub-£200 bracket.
Like most cheaper posts, the UpDown is a hefty unit, at 697g (a RockShox Reverb is 100g lighter), but the ‘stop wherever you want’ 125mm stroke will be adequate for most riders and it comes in 30.9mm or 31.6mm sizes.
The neat CNC-machined remote lever will sit under or over the bar on either side, and it’s tall enough to clear Shimano shifters.
A hinged clamp means you can install it without shifting other bar furniture, and it’s adjustable for angle too.
The post only comes in an externally-routed cable version though.
While FUNN thoughtfully provides four frame clips and O-rings for tidy routing, the rear-facing mechanism is still exposed to crud flying off the back wheel.
Even when new, the sealed gas cartridge can be slow and initially reluctant, and accurate cable tension is crucial for reliable operation without irritating metal-on-metal rattle from the remote lever. You need to crank up the single-bolt seat clamp super-tight to stop it tilting in compressions, and upper shaft wobble started after a few hours’ riding. It hasn’t got worse though, and it’s not really noticeable off-road.
