The original SDG Tellis dropper came out in 2018 and made a bit of a name for itself as one of the cheaper options on the market that was still solid and reliable. I originally gave my V1 Tellis dropper to a local riding mate, who does a shed load of miles, to see if he could kill it. He had the post running (and working) for five years on his e-bike, so it made sense to also give him this new version, see what he reckoned about SDG’s modifications and improvements, and find out whether it was worthy of a spot on our list of the best dropper posts.

According to the US-based brand, this V2 version builds upon the workhorse reliability of the original design while ‘incorporating some innovative features to further refine the post’s performance’. Tim explained, “I’m slightly ashamed to say that I put 5,000km (mostly in seemingly-perpetual Yorkshire mud) into the original Tellis without a proper strip-down service, other than an occasional clean and grease of the main wiper seal. But even with most of the black anodised finish completely worn off the rear of the post, the trusty V1 still functioned and kept me riding through the cash-and-time-strapped years of early parenthood.” This level of torture testing might not come recommended, but it does speak to the bombproof reliability of SDG’s design.

The latest SDG Tellis V2 dropper post remains a reliable workhorse, but it’s now even better.

Design and Specifications

Luckily, plenty of features that made the original so dependable and low-maintenance have been retained in SDG’s updated Tellis. The Wintek sealed cartridge, Trelleborg main seal and IGUS bush remain, and the V2 also uses the same cable-actuated design, with a barb at the post end, for straightforward installation and maintenance.

The only real issue Tim ever had with the V1 Tellis in those mud-covered miles was some side-to-side play in the head. SDG has addressed this potential issue in the V2 with new copper shims in the (hybrid PTFE) keyway system for increased durability, and after three months of e-bike riding, there’s still no perceptible play, and the post is rattle-free when descending. This is likely helped by new quad seals in the latest design.

The insertion depth is well-sorted on the latest SDG Tellis V2.

Another V2 refinement is the new side-access saddle bolts. Along with a redesigned 3D-forged head, these make it quicker and easier to fine-tune saddle position, and also reduce the stack height by 10mm. The upshot of this is that more post can sit inside the frame, rather than out of the top, and the saddle can sit as low as possible while descending. The way this saddle clamp fastens is also really clever and effective, as there’s much more room to fit an Allen key in when making adjustments. It’s so much better that I   wonder why everybody doesn’t copy it – apparently it’s patent-pending, is the answer.

A shorter anchor point at the base squeezes a few more mm of insertion depth.

By also reducing the length of the actuator at the bottom of the post by 5mm (and therefore the amount of seat tube required), SDG has ensured you can fully slam the post and still benefit from that lower stack height too. Finally, the stanchion diameter has been beefed up to 26mm for extra stiffness, meaning the whole package on V2 feels sturdier to me when waggling the saddle.

A wide range of travel options cover 75-230mm, and included travel reduction shims make it possible to go as low as 55mm. There’s also the usual diameter offerings (30.9, 31.6 and 34.9mm), so it should be possible to find the right post for any rider and frame combination.

You’re looking at about £70 extra for the Tellis remote lever, but of course you can use an existing lever if the cable clamps at the lever.

Performance

So far, the SDG Tellis V2 has proven every bit as reliable as its predecessor, while also feeling a little bit tighter and more solid at the saddle. Having 10mm extra clearance doesn’t sound like much, but getting the seat that little bit further out of the way on the same bike – especially on the steepest and gnarliest of trails – really makes a difference. Tim explained, “there’s a sense the bike disappears between the legs more, and gives a bit more confidence cutting some more ‘creative’ shapes to negotiate janky sections”.

This new head, together with the thicker main stanchion, gives a perceptible improvement in fore-aft stiffness too, especially on steeper and rougher climbs when my weight is really leveraging backwards over the rear wheel. The remote has worked reliably, but while it’s very smooth, the Tellis is not one of the faster posts on the market to rise back up.

SDG’s new head makes adjusting the saddle easier, and reduces the stack height.

Return speed is slightly slower than other options out there then, and Tim and I also noticed the SDG design requires a little more downward force on the saddle to retract when the remote is activated.

On the plus side, the lever shape itself is really comfortable, well-positioned, and out of the way, and even if it doesn’t have the lightest action, fine-tuning actuation using the adjustment barrel is simple, meaning the mechanism always opened exactly where I it to. SDG’s posts also seem to work fine in all weathers and never get too sticky when it’s freezing cold.

The Tellis V2 also features on YT’s bikes, labelled ‘Postman’.

To tune the exact size and length, SDG offers a ton of sizes as described, but you can also unscrew the shaft and use the shims to tune travel in precise 5, 10, or 20mm increments for a perfect fit. If weight saving is a priority, this new model is a little heavier than the V1, and also heavier, with a taller stack height, than one of the markets leading products – the One Up V3 – but it’s also £90 cheaper, at under £200 (without remote).

A little birdy told me that YT’s Postman post is made by SDG, and after using these without issue on loads of YTs over the years, I’ve got even more confidence in saying how reliable this thing is. So, while this Tellis V2 isn’t the fastest, it comes in more sizes and options than almost any other brand, and is affordable, which is a completely acceptable compromise for the kind of smoothness and reliability on offer.