1/5/24 Update: Pic below

Quick one, just a copy/paste from IG.

This isn’t new, we’ve seen shots published here and elsewhere a few times, but we can assume a new dropper from SRAM is in the very near future.

These are published images from FCC filings from late October. SRAM has requested a 180 day image confidentiality that expires in late April so I’m assuming we’ll see something new by then.

There appear to be at least three wireless protocols being considered/used; ANT+, Bluetooth, and Airea.

SRAM: “SRAM RED eTap uses a proprietary wireless communication protocol that SRAM created called Airea. It was created and tested by computer scientists, cryptographers and even hackers to be extremely reliable and secure. It uses several layers of state-of-the-art encryption and obfuscation as well as very powerful spread-spectrum radios to eliminate the possibility of hacking the system and make interference or malicious jamming extremely difficult.”

But wait, there’s more. On the back of this FCC release, SRAM filed more paperwork defining another dropper valve system. This one defines a ‘motor-operated rotary valve’ rather than linear gearing system. More specifically, a ‘non-volume-displacing rotary valve’ for reduced power needs, avoiding the need to overcome pressure differentials when the valve is actuated. This is a report for another day…

That being said, at the bottom of this document, SRAM tossed some images of yet another dropper with a new vertical battery orientation.

Therefore: “…the control housing 402 and the battery 404 are spaced from the lower tube 202. This reduces or eliminates interference with the clamp… when the seat post… is installed on the bicycle…”.

Maybe this is a result of the Fox Neo, and they needed to put something in writing, somewhere.

So, what are we going to see? I need people on the trails to recognize my superiority, having the latest technology at my disposal. Why bother riding a bike otherwise? The suspense is killing me, SRAM.

But seriously, I just bought my first bike with electronic stuff (Force AXS) this week. Excited to try it out.