FSA has learned lessons from its first dropper to deliver decent post performance at a reasonable price. Changes including an alloy internal cartridge (not a steel one) mean the Flowtron is 100g lighter than its predecessor, and within 50g of most competitors.
Its overall length is shorter too, although, at 470mm for the 150mm-drop sample on test, is still 20mm taller than average. Three round ‘keys’, rather than two flat ones, mean it also has less saddle wobble than before.
Set-up is much less of a faff now that the cable is clamped at the lever end. It feeds over a plastic cam roller to depress the actuator mechanism, giving a really smooth, if slightly spongy, feel at the lever as standard. You can tighten or slacken the roller return spring, depending on personal preference or how sticky your cable run is.
The massive 1x remote hangs low under the bar in a potentially knee-knobbling position and you can’t adjust its angle like some, but you won’t miss the big, textured thumb tab.
You do need to max the barrel adjuster tension out to avoid a really long lever sweep before the post rises lazily up though. The way the cable bolt tightens against the grain of the cable, potentially fraying/loosening it as you tighten, despite the protection washer, is an irritating glitch on an otherwise well-thought-out post.
