Wireless, lightning-fast, and incredibly versatile – that’s how FOX describe their new Live Valve Neo shocks. Yes, you read that right! For the second generation of their electronic suspension system, FOX focused entirely on the rear shock. Thanks to their proprietary NEO wireless technology, the shock can switch its settings in just 14 milliseconds. We’ve had the chance to put the system through the wringer for you.
With the second generation of the FOXLive Valve Neo system, the American suspension specialist has taken a different approach compared with the first iteration of their electronic suspension, and focused entirely on the shock. In our opinion, this makes perfect sense for trail and enduro applications, which don’t require you to lock out the shock. This approach also brings many technical advantages, but more on this later. On top of that, it allows you to choose your fork independently of the shock, which can save you money with upgrades.
At first glance, the way the FOX Live Valve Neo shock works is pretty straightforward. It opens and closes the suspension electronically at the speed of light based on data collected by sensors, and thus adjusting your rear suspension depending on the trail conditions to deliver the most efficient riding experience possible. The latest iteration of the system is wireless, which is possible thanks to FOX’s Neo wireless protocol, a newly developed technology that was introduced just recently with the new electronic FOX Transfer Neo dropper post.
However, if you take a closer look at the FOX Live Valve Neo shock, it quickly becomes evident just how complex and sophisticated the system is, offering countless adjustment options to tailor the electronic FOX shock to your needs and preferences. It’s no surprise that FOX have been testing the system for three years in the Enduro World Cup, and numerous RAD prototypes – short for Racing Applications Development – have already been spotted.
The FOX Live Valve Neo system features an electronic damper with two sensors, which are mounted on the front and rear brakes. Additionally, FOX have teased a handlebar remote, which is expected to be released in 2025. However, this system is currently only compatible with the FOX Float X air shock and the FOX DHX coil shock, both of which are based on a monotube design. In other words, there are no electronic versions of the FOX X2 or DHX2 shocks, commonly used on enduro and downhill bikes, as these employ a twin-tube design with a separate oil circuit. This design is incompatible with the current FOX Live Valve Neo technology. In order to incorporate the system into the X2 or DHX2 shocks, FOX’s engineers would have to redesign them with a monotube structure.
As expected, the FOX Live Valve Neo shocks come with a hefty price tag: the FOX Float X Live Valve Neo retails at € 1,299, while the FOX DHX Live Valve Neo costs € 1,249. However, these prices only include the actual shock. To complete the system, you’ll also need to buy the FOX Live Valve Neo kit, which includes the two sensors, a battery, and a charger, setting you back an additional € 499. The battery and charger are identical to those used with the recently introduced FOX Transfer Neo seatpost.
Altogether, the complete FOX Live Valve Neo system will set you back around € 1,800, which is around € 1,000 more than a standard FOX shock. For this first ride review, we tested a FOX DHX Live Valve Neo shock with an SKS spring and 210 mm eye-to-eye measurement. Including the battery, it tips the scales at 881 grams, while the two sensors add another 54 grams.
How does the FOX Live Valve Neo shock work?
The FOX Live Valve Neo shock is the central unit and thus the brain of the system, controlling the opening and closing of the shock. Like with the first generation of the FOX Live Valve Neo system, the default position is always closed. In contrast, RockShox’s electronic Flight Attendant system has the open setting as default. In a nutshell, the shock decides to open or close based on the data it receives from the two accelerometers mounted on your brakes. The new FOX app allows you to adjust the Live Valve system to suit your needs and preferences. Needless to say, you can also adjust the low-speed compression in 11 clicks and the rebound in 12 clicks directly on the shock’s dials – and, of course, you can choose the appropriate air pressure (and spring rate with coil shocks). Additionally, there is a tool-free adjustment that allows you to set how firm the electronic lockout should be, with 7 clicks to choose from.
The riding scenarios of the FOX Live Valve Neo shock
With the Live Valve Neo system, FOX forgo a ‘Pedal Mode’ altogether, because the system is designed to respond so quickly that an intermediate stage is unnecessary. However, alongside the two modes – open and closed – FOX incorporate three riding scenarios that use different algorithms. These scenarios are Climb, Flat, and Descend, and the system determines which scenario you’re in based on the gradient.
Each riding scenario has a different threshold that must be reached for the shock to switch from closed to open. In other words, this establishes how hard the impact has to be on the wheels in order for the system to open. For example, in Climb mode, the threshold is higher, allowing you to sprint or roll over smaller obstacles without the shock opening unexpectedly. In Descend mode, on the other hand, the threshold is lower, and the system switches to Open mode with smaller impacts. Additionally, each riding scenario has a defined timer that determines how long the system remains in Open mode before switching back to the Closed mode. This timer resets with each new impact. For instance, in Downhill mode, the system stays open for a little bit longer to keep working until the trail finishes and in case there are more obstacles ahead. In uphill mode, however, it switches back to the closed mode much faster, allowing you to comfortably roll over an edge and then immediately return to maximum efficiency. All these parameters can be finely tuned in the app, and there are various versions available – but more on that later.
The accelerometers of the FOX Live Valve Neo shock
The two accelerometers are each mounted to a brake mount bolt, and are differentiated into front and rear sensors. Since they’re mounted on the brakes, they’re part of the bike’s unsprung mass, which allows them to detect impacts more directly. Both accelerometers measure the force of impacts, with the front sensor also capturing the incline of your bike. However, the data is only transmitted to the central unit – the FOX Live Valve Neo shock – when the respective threshold is exceeded, triggering the system to open or restarting the timer. This is meant to avoid unnecessary data transmission. The accelerometers are powered by a button cell battery that should last up to a year.
The Neo communication protocol of the FOX Live Valve Neo shock
As demonstrated by the new FOX Transfer Neo seatpost, the main focus of FOX’s proprietary Neo wireless technology is on high transmission speed. The Neo technology is said to be 100 times faster than Bluetooth and uses a transmission protocol that filters out unnecessary data, transmitting only essential information. This allows data transfer between the accelerometers and the control unit to occur in about one millisecond, while, according to FOX, the Live Valve Neo system analyzes the terrain up to 400 times per second. The FOX Live Valve Neo shock takes approximately 14 milliseconds to fully switch between the two positions, which is incredibly fast. This is achieved through a magnetic latching solenoid that operates a valve, closing the oil circuit in the compression damping.
The FOX Bike App
With the launch of the new FOX Transfer Neo dropper post, FOX also introduced their new bike app, which obviously includes the FOX Live Valve Neo shock. If you’re installing the FOX Live Valve Neo system on a bike for the first time, you’ll need to calibrate it using the app, which only takes a few minutes and is made easier by an intuitive guide. After that, the app is no longer necessary, although the full potential of the electronic shock can only be fully reached with the app.
Alongside countless adjustment options, which we’ll discuss shortly, the FOX bike app offers system updates, service manuals, and a log that counts the hours ridden on your shock to tell you when it requires servicing, which is very practical indeed. It also provides more detailed information about the battery charge level.
The biggest advantage of the FOX bike app, however, is the ability to adjust the different algorithms for your shock. FOX calls these Tunes, though they should not be confused with a traditional shim tune. By default, five Tunes are available to you:
Standard: Designed to be the optimal starting point for most riders across a variety of terrains.
Firm: Provides a stiffer suspension, allowing you to push harder while remaining closed on smaller bumps and obstacles on the trail.
Plush: Provides a softer, more comfortable suspension, with less emphasis on efficiency.
Open: Overrides the Live Valve system, keeping your shock permanently in the Open setting.
Closed: Overrides the Live Valve system, keeping your shock permanently in the closed setting, except when landing a jump or drop.
Additionally, you can customize each Tune individually or download new Tunes from FOX and the community. For instance, there are already Tunes from FOX designed for the North Shore, which is known for its techy climbs and makes good use of a specialized setting. It’s also conceivable to download Tunes from racers like Richie Rude, which you can easily load onto your shock. This is done in just a few seconds via a QR code.
To adjust the Tunes, FOX rely on the same three riding scenarios we mentioned earlier. In Climb, Flat, and Descend mode, you set the impact thresholds individually. Additionally, you can modify the timer that determines how long the shock stays in Open mode after the threshold has been exceeded. You can also adjust the gradient that defines which riding scenario you are in, and you can decide whether data from both sensors or only the rear sensor should be used for evaluation.
More features of the FOX Live Valve Neo shock
If you park your bike with the FOX Live Valve Neo shock switched on, the electronic system will go inactive after 5 minutes to preserve the battery. Once you start riding again, a firm shake will be enough to wake up the system. This is called the “Shake to Wake” function, and can also be deactivated using the FOX bike app. In that case, the system would remain active for 45 minutes before going into sleep. Additionally, you can set whether the LED on the shock lights up with each detected impact or not. This ring-shaped LED also indicates the battery charge status in four sections. More detailed information about your battery status is available through the app. If the battery ever runs out completely, the FOX Live Valve Neo shock switches to the open mode, allowing you to keep riding without any issues.
The FOX Live Valve Neo shock in test
After mounting the FOX Live Valve Neo shock on your bike, you’ll need to calibrate the system with a few simple steps. Once the system is calibrated, you won’t need to repeat the process again, unless you use the system on a different bike. For our first test, we rode the FOX DHX Live Valve Neo shock on both a YT Jeffsy and an Orbea Rise LT, as the differences in uphill performance can be tested particularly well on an e-mountainbike.
With the first few rides, it’s hard to tell exactly what the FOX Live Valve Neo is doing, as the system operates quietly and extremely fast. In comparison, with the RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, you can clearly hear every mode change, and on top of that, the system switches between modes much less frequently. However, once you get a feel for how the FOX Live Valve Neo shock performs in both positions – open and closed – it becomes more noticeable. You can also turn the tool-free adjustable lockout to the hardest setting, which enhances the effect. The system then seamlessly switches between positions, making you much more efficient both up and downhill. It’s also worth experimenting with the Tunes and their adjustment options to fine-tune the suspension to your personal preferences and trails.
When riding on technical uphills, for example, when rolling over a ledge, the FOX Live Valve Neo shock quickly switches to the open mode, providing you with traction and suspension for the sharp edge, and then immediately switches back to the closed position afterwards. This allows you to get back to pedaling more efficiently. We didn’t experience any initial impact where the shock still felt closed, as the system reacts so quickly that the front sensor has enough time to send a signal to the shock,even at higher speeds. By the time your rear wheel hits an obstacle, it’s already in the open position. On downhills, the FOX Live Valve Neo shock reacts so quickly that you can accelerate out of a berm with a firm shock, while braking and at the apex, you’re in the open mode. This makes every trail feel like a pump track, allowing you to launch from one berm into another without wasting energy.
Our conclusions about the FOX Live Valve Neo shock
With the Live Valve Neo shock, FOX are setting a new standard for electronic suspension systems, both in terms of reaction time and speed. The system is quiet and makes both uphill and downhill riding incredibly efficient, without calling for compromises in your choice of suspension fork. The countless Tunes and adjustment options make it quick and easy to fine-tune your rear suspension to suit your personal preferences and trails.
Tops
- Silent
- Incredibly fast
- System only affects the shock
- Coil and air spring options
- Many customization options
Flops
- Expensive...
- Only monotube shocks
For more information, visit the Fox Website.
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Words: Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker
