You don’t see electric gold every day! But it comes at a price – the wireless FOX Transfer Neo Factory dropper retails at € 1,319. Is the price justified, and how does the Transfer Neo stack up against its competitors in our dropper post comparison test? Find out here!

FOX Transfer Neo Factory | Price: € 1,319 | Weight (incl. cable and remote): 860 g (200 mm, Ø 34.9 mm) | Travel: 100–200 mm | Manufacturer’s Website

In summer 2024, FOX shook up the dropper post market with the launch of the wireless Transfer Neo Factory, introducing their first-ever electric dropper post. Needless to say, we couldn’t resist putting it through the wringer with an in-depth test. Now, we’re taking it one step further to see how the FOX Transfer Neo Factory performs in our dropper post comparison test. Even before hitting the trail, it claims the top spot on the price list: at € 1,319, it’s significantly more expensive than all other models in this test. At the other end of the spectrum, the PNW Loam Dropper retails at just € 245, while the most affordable wireless option, the TranzX EDP01, costs € 500.

You can find an overview of this comparison test here: The best dropper post.

FOX offers the Transfer Neo Dropper post in the three most common diameters: 30.9 mm, 31.6 mm, and 34.9 mm. Travel options range from 100 mm to 200 mm in 25-mm increments. However, the 100-mm travel version is only available in 30.9 mm and 31.6 mm diameters. A Performance Elite version – which is essentially the same dropper post with a black-anodised stanchion – is currently only available as an OEM component. The Kashima coating on our Neo Factory test model is designed to reduce friction, making it more abrasion-resistant, durable, and less prone to scratches. From our practical experience with FOX Factory suspension, the difference in friction is negligible, with the gold coating primarily serving as a prestige feature.

Our test model, the FOX Transfer Neo, has 200 mm of travel and a 315-mm insertion depth – 54 mm more than the 170 mm RockShox Reverb AXS. Compared to the Kind Shock LEV Circuit, which also offers 200 mm of travel, the Neo’s insertion depth is slightly shorter – the LEV has 320 mm. Only the TranzX EPD01 is more compact, combining 200 mm travel with just 288 mm insertion depth.

The stack height – from the lower edge of the collar to the centre of the saddle clamp – is a compact 46 mm. This is considerably lower than the RockShox Reverb AXS (65 mm), allowing the Neo to sit lower when fully compressed.

For its premium price, the FOX Neo Factory includes a remote with Matchmaker and I-SPEC adapters. The remote communicates with the dropper using FOX’s proprietary NEO wireless system, designed to deliver ultra-fast response times. The remote is powered by a coin cell battery, which, according to FOX, needs replacing approximately every 12 months. If the remote fails and no replacement battery is available, the dropper post can still be manually activated via the pairing button on the collar. By holding the button until it lights white, the valve opens, allowing the dropper to lower. Pressing the button again closes the valve.

The package also includes a charger with a USB-C cable to recharge the 300 mAh battery in about 1.5 hours. The battery charge status is indicated by an LED on the dropper: yellow means 10–25%, red means less than 10%. Important: when transporting the bike, remember to remove the battery or disable the Shake-to-Wake function via the app to prevent draining the battery.

Battery levels for both the remote and dropper can be monitored using the FOX Bike App, which also provides service information and usage statistics. According to FOX, the Neo Transfer Dropper should be serviced at an official FOX service centre every 8,000 actuations. The service involves a complete overhaul of the internals, which are based on the cable-operated 2025 FOX Transfer dropper post. At home, you can only service the wiper seal, which can be easily cleaned and re-greased using a flat-head screwdriver.

As with the cable-operated 2025 FOX Transfer, the electric version allows you to adjust the extension speed via a Schrader valve located under the saddle clamp. The speed can be customised within a range of 275 to 325 PSI, depending on rider weight and preference.

Pump it up right here!
The battery sits directly on the collar – in fact, it is the collar.
The remote is well-crafted and features a rubberised thumb pad.

Installation on the bike is simple and hassle-free: just insert the FOX Transfer Neo into the seat tube, and secure the saddle with the conventional two-bolt saddle clamp with tapered nuts. However, since the bolts are close to the stanchion, be careful when tightening them with a multitool to avoid damaging the Kashima coating. The adjustable mounting point on the remote ensures easy actuation without needing a sixth finger – nice!

Since our initial test, the FOX Transfer Neo has continued to perform smoothly with no issues. The extension speed remains impressive, especially when the dropper is pumped to its maximum pressure. Keep in mind, though, that higher pressure increases resistance, requiring a bit more effort to drop the saddle. Battery life is top-notch – after a trip to Italy and a week-long bike holiday, there was still plenty of juice left, even though we didn’t disable the Shake-to-Wake function. Of course, this depends on how often you use the dropper and how frequently it’s activated from sleep mode.

The remote is easy to operate, requiring minimal force, and the rubberised thumb pad grips well even in wet conditions. A satisfying click confirms actuation, allowing you to lock the FOX Transfer Neo in place at any point along its travel, despite its remarkable extension speed. Overall, the Neo is amongst the fastest dropper posts in this test, only second to the BikeYoke REVIVE 3.0, which has a touch more punch.

Conclusions about the FOX Transfer Neo dropper post

The FOX Transfer Neo is still a reliable dropper post even after months of use. The remote is easy and intuitive to use, and the FOX Bike App adds convenience to the experience. Extension speed is impressively fast – exactly what you’d expect from a top-tier dropper post. While the FOX Transfer Neo doesn’t quite match some other models in terms of insertion depth, its compact stack height makes up for it. However, we find the price excessive and hard to justify, even for a wireless dropper post dressed in gold.

Tops

  • Reliable
  • Super fast extension speed
  • Well-designed remote
  • Easy to install

Flops

  • Very expensive

For more information, visit ridefox.com


The test field

You can find an overview of this comparison test here: The best dropper post.

All dropper posts in test: BikeYoke REVIVE 3.0 | Crankbrothers Highline 11 | FOX Transfer Factory | FOX Transfer Neo Factory | FOX Transfer SL Factory | FSA Flowtron Dropper Post | Kind Shock LEV Circuit | LIMOTEC H1 | OneUp V3 | PNW Loam Dropper | RockShox Reverb AXS | SDG TELLIS V2 | TranzX EDP01 | Turnon Bunker | Wolf Tooth Resolve rev2


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Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: Peter Walker