Six years after bringing the Tellis to market, SDG have released their second generation that doubles down on the post’s strong points.
Pete puts the latest version of the SDG Tellis dropper through the ringer in the perma-wet of Scottish ‘Spring’ to see if the legendary reliability remains.
Photos by Pete Scullion.
Key features:
- 26mm stanchion
- 30.9, 31.6 and 34.9mm diameters
- 55-230mm travel options
- 3D forged head
- 5, 10 and 20mm travel adjustment shims
- IGUS bush
- Wintek cartridge
- Trelleborg main seal
- Limited lifetime warranty
- £199.99 RRP
- SDGComponents.com
Rather than redesign the Tellis from the ground up, SDG took what the post was known for, quietly going about its business, and built on that. We’ve almost forgotten we even had a Tellis post on previous test bikes as they simply never fail to operate when called upon.
The internals of the Wintek cartridge, Trelleborg main seal and IGUS bush remain largely the same as the original Tellis but you get copper shims added to the Keyway system that only seeks to improve the durability and keeping head play at bay. A larger 26mm stanchion that adds strength, reduces overlap and increases stiffness.
Stack height drops 10mm overall thanks to a new 3D forged head and reduced height actuator, meaning less post out of the frame and more post in the frame. The 55-230mm range of drop is one of the biggest available and you get 5, 10 and 20mm travel adjuster spacers included to fine tune your fit. The head also has side access bolts to make saddle fit and fettle easier than ever. The SDG Tellis an also be stripped with no special tools, meaning you don’t need to send your post away to be serviced, you can just do it all at home if you’ve some tools and a bit of common sense.
Fitment of the new SDG Tellis V2 was a delight. In fact, this post swapped out a V1 on my Orange Switch 6 Pro for a bit of back to back comparison. Even before it was on the bike, getting the saddle attached was a dream with those side access bolts. It’s amazing how we’re still fudging about with the usual seat clamp bolts.
Clipping the post onto the same cable fitted was as easy as you’d expect and I’d have to spend some time readjusting the saddle to make the most of the lower stack height. 5mm on top doesn’t sound like much but it can throw everything out. A nice problem to have.
Seven weeks in and once again I had forgotten the Tellis was on the bike. The outgoing model didn’t show any sign of wobble or grievance in a similar timescale so it’s unsurprising that the V2 is still rock-solid despite having to deal with sopping wet rides three or four times a week and becoming liberally plastered with Scotland’s finest gritty water.
Whilst a dropper post that embodies the workhorse mantra might not be the sexiest product out there, especially as it’ll be hidden by your legs for the most part, the Tellis’ does just work and with the Brand X Ascend likely going the way of the Dodo, it’s now one of the lower priced options. There might be smoother posts with lighter lever feels should that be your prime motivator, but the Tellis’ main selling point is now its even better reliability.
What do we think?
The second generation SDG Tellis is solid as a rock. Whilst a Reverb AXS is way flashier, it’s a fraction of the price and also requires you to remember to charge its batteries. True to that the OneUp V3 is likely smoother and requires less force to operate but that too is over 50% more expensive. If you’re after a sensibly priced dropper that will just keep plugging away and isn’t a pain to service when it finally grumbles, the Tellis V2 will be a hard one to beat. Side access bolts should exist on all droppers please.
We love:
- Rock solid
- Easy to service
- Wide drop and diameter options
- Side access bolts
Could do better:
- Smoother, lighter-actuating posts do exist
