Up and down – you all know the drill! And going electric often makes it even better! What are you thinking about? Of course, we’re talking about FOX’s new dropper post. With the new 2025 FOX Transfer Neo, the American manufacturer introduced their very first electronic dropper post. Find out here whether the wireless Transfer delivers!
Golden freedom that can now be adjusted wirelessly: after launching the new 2025 FOX Transfer in April, FOX have stepped up their game with the Transfer Neo Factory – a wireless version of their popular Transfer dropper.
Alongside the news that the the Transfer Neo dropper post is now wireless, FOX announced yet another feature: the new FOX Bike App, which allows you to monitor your dropper via a smartphone. In this test you’ll find out what else the app is capable of.
With the Transfer Neo Factory Dropper Post, FOX lead the way in terms of travel, putting pressure on RockShox and their Reverb AXS. The 2025 FOX Transfer Neo dropper post comes with travel lengths between 100 and 200 mm, while the Reverb AXS maxes out at 170 mm. Only very tall riders will miss the longest 240 mm version, which is available with the analogue FOX Transfer. Oh, and FOX claim that their in-house Neo wireless system transmits signals 100 times faster than Bluetooth and 20 times faster than other electronic dropper posts. Whether this makes a difference on the trail, you’ll find out in our practical test.
We tested the new 2025 FOX Transfer Neo Factory extensively well before its official release. Our 200 mm test dropper in 34.9 mm diameter tips the scales at 798 g and costs an eye-watering €1 ,309. In case you damage or lose the battery on the trail, a replacement will set you back a hefty € 91, while a spare charger with cable costs € 73. Included in the €1,309 price are the dropper post, remote, battery, charger, cable, as well as I-SPEC and Matchmaker adapters to fit the remote to any handlebar – we only had the standard clamp for our test, which, of course, is also included in the box. But does this justify the price?
The New FOX Transfer Neo 2025 dropper post in detail
We’ve all been there. You save up for a bike upgrade, measure the seat tube, do your research, only to find out that the dropper post you want isn’t available in the right size – pure frustration! To prevent this, FOX offers the new 2025 Transfer Neo 2025 in three diameters (30.9, 31.6, and 34.9 mm) and five travel options (100, 125, 150, 175, 200 mm). However, the 100 mm travel option is only available in 30.9 and 31.6 mm diameters.
Our test 200 mm test model has 315 mm insertion depth – 6 mm less than the analogue version with 210 mm travel. At 798 g, it’s not exactly lightweight, but only slightly heavier than other wireless dropper posts on the market.
The remote of the FOX Transfer Neo has a a pairing button with a small LED and is powered by a button cell battery, which, according to FOX, should last up to 12 months.
The battery of the FOX Transfer Neo 2025 Dropper Post is integrated directly into the collar, just like a CIA agent’s microphone. While this provides more tire clearance, it takes some getting used in purely visual terms much like men in black suits and mirrored Ray Bans. In our opinion, the battery unit’s angular design doesn’t quite match the mostly organic shapes of modern bikes. However, the stack height – measured from the bottom edge of the collar to the centre of the saddle clamp – is quite low at 46 mm, even though it’s 11 mm higher than the analogue version. Compared to the 65 mm of the RockShox Reverb AXS dropper, however, the Neo is pleasantly compact.
According to FOX, battery life is between 30 and 40 hours, depending on how often you use the dropper. The battery charge status can be easily checked via the colour of the LED on the dropper. Charging takes about 1.5 hours using the standard charging station and USB-C cable – you’ll need to provide your own power adapter. The collar also features a pairing button, which allows you to manually activate the dropper in addition to the Shake-to-Wake function. If the remote’s battery runs out, you can operate the dropper manually by holding the button until it lights up white. This allows you to extend and lower the dropper post, and after the operation, you simply press the button again to end the process.
The internal mechanics of the FOX Transfer Neo are based on the new 2025 FOX Transfer. When you open the saddle clamp, you’ll find a Schrader valve. In the fully extended position, you can adjust the pressure between 275 and 325 psi to adapt the extension speed according to your personal preference and rider weight.
After 8,000 actuations, the app notifies you that it’s time for a service. On top of that, it displays service costs and various service locations. After 8,000 actuations, the service centre of choice disassembles the dropper post completely, just like a full overhaul of the analogue FOX Transfer that’s due every 300 hours of use. Due to the electronic components of the Neo, however, service should only be carried out at a registered FOX service centre.
For those who prefer to do take things into their own hands: if your Neo dropper doesn’t run smoothly, simply remove the dust wiper with a flathead screwdriver and re-grease it before you send it to a service centre – this way, you might be able to delay a service by a few days.
The new FOX Bike app not only displays maintenance intervals but also the battery status of your Neo devices (remote and dropper), and also allows you to set various modes. Bike Park mode deactivates the remote to prevent accidental activation – something that, quite frankly, has never happened to us. Transport mode disables the Shake-to-Wake function to prevent the battery from draining, for example on a long car journey. This is quite handy, as you might find yourself with a dead battery on a long journey. Usually, the dropper stays active through movement and only goes into sleep mode after 5 minutes of inactivity. The app also provides the Neo with the latest software updates.
In typical FOX fashion, the Transfer Neo Dropper Post comes in the elegant, top-tier Factory variant with fancy Kashimacoating and in the more affordable Performance Elite version, though is only available to bike manufacturers as an OEM component.
The FOX Transfer Neo 2025 dropper post on test
Installing the 2025 FOX Transfer Neo dropper on your bike is as easy as spreading butter on bread – no fiddly cable routing, just slide it into the seat tube with a bit of grease, tighten the seat clamp, and you’re good to go. However, the wireless design also has its drawbacks: before heading out on the trail, you’ll need to check that the battery is in place and has enough charge. Everything has its pros and cons. Thanks to the two different mounting points, the remote can be positioned closer to or further from your thumb as desired. The ergonomics are based on a classic dropper lever, ensuring intuitive, reliable operation on the trail.
During our first test ride, the dropper almost blew us away – in a positive way! At the maximum pressure, the extension speed is mind-boggling and the rather loud clonking noise that signals the end of the travel can startle you at first. Despite the crazy extension speed, the 2025 FOX Transfer Neo Dropper post is easy to control with the remote and allows you to fine-tune the extension precisely along the entire adjustment range. Throughout our numerous test rides, the dropper post performed reliably without any issues. The only downside is that the pairing buttons on the remote and dropper are rather difficult to reach; we only managed to press them with a 2 mm Allen key – and a small stick did the trick too! But for €1,309, we’d expect more accessible buttons.
Lowering the dropper post manually isn’t that easy when the air spring is fully inflated. However, with a bit of force, it slides back smoothly and without a problem. When fully extended, it’s just as solid and stable as its analogue sibling, with no flex or play in the post.
Just like Homer Simpson, who loves to randomly press buttons on his job at the nuclear power plant, we enjoy pressing the rubberized remote of the FOX Transfer Neo. The mechanism is triggered by a noticeable click, requiring only minimal effort. The signal reaches the dropper without delay – just like with the RockShox Reverb AXS Dropper Post. Whether it’s 20 times faster, we can’t really tell. But let’s be honest: who cares anyway? The main thing is that it works, quickly and reliably!
Oh, and by the way, the battery life of the FOX Transfer Neo was satisfactory in our tests, and we had no issues. Whether it reaches the stated 30–40 hours, we didn’t verify either, but in practice, you recharge your batteries after a long day in the saddle anyway.
Conclusion about the new 2025 FOX Transfer Neo dropper post.
The FOX Transfer Neo is a reliable dropper post that impresses above all with its remarkable extension speed. The shallow insertion depth and 200 mm travel, which is generous for an electronic dropperpost, are its biggest highlights. The flawless performance of the mechanical and electronic components makes it easier to overlook the not so tidy design of the battery unit. However, the € 1,309 is still incredibly steep, and not even the fancy Kashima coating fully justify it.
Tops
- Easy to install
- Reliable
- Well-designed remote
- Super fast and precise
Flops
- Unattractive design
- Very expensive
For more information, visit ridefox.com
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Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: Peter Walker
