First Ride: Fox's New Transfer Dropper Post - Adjustable Travel, Up to 240mm of Drop
Fox has updated their Transfer dropper post lineup for 2025 (yes, it's still 2024; that's just how years work in the mountain bike world), overhauling the internals to increase the durability, reducing the force required to lower the post, and adding in a travel adjustment feature.
An option with 240mm of drop has also been added into the lineup, in order to meet the demand for longer travel droppers posts. That demand has grown over the last few years, spurred in part by changes in bike geometry rather than the entire riding population suddenly getting taller. With a steeper seat tube angle, the seat remains more directly underneath a rider when it's lowered, rather than moving forward and out of the way, which was the case in the olden days, when seat angles were slack and wheels were small.
An option with 240mm of drop has also been added into the lineup, in order to meet the demand for longer travel droppers posts. That demand has grown over the last few years, spurred in part by changes in bike geometry rather than the entire riding population suddenly getting taller. With a steeper seat tube angle, the seat remains more directly underneath a rider when it's lowered, rather than moving forward and out of the way, which was the case in the olden days, when seat angles were slack and wheels were small.
Transfer Post Details
• Adjustable air pressure
• Travel adjustable in 5mm increments, up to 25mm per size
• Diameter: 30.9, 31.6, 34.9mm
• Travel: 95-120mm / 125-150mm / 155-180mm / 185-210mm / 215-240mm
• Weight: 671 grams (210mm)
• Price: $339 USD (Factory) / $289 USD (Peformance)
• ridefox.com
• Adjustable air pressure
• Travel adjustable in 5mm increments, up to 25mm per size
• Diameter: 30.9, 31.6, 34.9mm
• Travel: 95-120mm / 125-150mm / 155-180mm / 185-210mm / 215-240mm
• Weight: 671 grams (210mm)
• Price: $339 USD (Factory) / $289 USD (Peformance)
• ridefox.com
The Factory Series post, with its Kashima-coated stanchion is $339 USD, and the Performance Series post with its better-looking (at least to my eyes) black stanchion costs $60 less, at $289 USD. Those prices are actually lower than the previous versions, which isn't typically the case.
The post's return speed can be fine tuned by adding or removing air via the Schrader valve at the top of the post.
Fox made the switch from igus to Ekonol metal-backed bushings.
What's Different?
The basic functions of the Transfer post are the same – it's still cable actuated, and you still push on a lever and weight the seat to lower it – but there have been significant changes to the post's design. There's now a Schrader valve at the top of the post, under the seat clamp, which allows users to fine tune the post's return speed by altering the air pressure.
The seat clamp has been revised too. The stack height is still quite low, but it's not as bulbous looking around the clamping bolts, and it's lighter than the previous version.
On the inside of the post, Fox has revised the sealing system, which involved replacing two dynamic air seals with static seals, a change that's claimed to reduce the overall friction and reduce the likelihood of air loss. The internal bushings are now metal-backed and manufactured by Ekonol, rather than the igus bushings used previously. The metal-backed bushings are said to allow for tighter tolerances, and a reduction in the force required to lower the seat.
All of those internal tweaks allowed Fox to increase the recommended service interval to 300 hours, and even better, that service can be done by users at home without requiring any special tools.
The collar can be unscrewed and spacers can be added to reduce the amount of drop in 5mm increments.
Weight / Dimensions
My 210mm post weighed in at 671 grams. For comparison, a 210mm OneUp V3 weighs 585 grams.
The distance from the base of the post's collar to the bottom of the actuator is 323mm, and at full extension it measures 569mm from the center of the seat rails to the base of the actuator. To use the OneUp V3 again, that post measures 305mm from the base of the collar to the bottom of the actuator, with a 545mm total length.
Initial Impressions
I've had pretty good luck with Fox's Transfer post over the years, although previous versions did have a tendency to get sticky and reluctant to return to full travel after a few months of muddy rides. I've been running the new Transfer for the last 6 weeks, and so far things are off to a smooth start – literally. It lowers easily, and returns to full extension with a distinct 'thwank'. I pulled it apart to check out the internals, and it was as quick and simple as Fox claimed.
I currently have the Transfer on one bike and the OneUp V3 post on another - look for a head-to-head review once they've been subjected to enough muddy miles. So far, the Fox does feel a touch smoother when lowering and raising it, and it's a bit more enthusiastic to return to full extension compared to the OneUp post, but we'll see if that remains the case by the end of testing.
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I’ve had 4 and they’ve all been so sticky I have to pull the saddle back up with my hand.
Good to see an alternative in 240mm
As per recommendations I tighten to 4, but often even with carbon paste that isn’t enough to stop it slipping so I crank it up a notch…
That's the ideal scenario for sure, otherwise though, shims are cheap and work fine. Buy 30.9 posts and forget 31.6 exists. Shim when needed.
if the fox is as good as their previous model but reasonably serviceable, for a few more grams dollars .. it seems like a good deal to me actually.
today all my bikes run a v2 oneup.
What makes you think OneUp has larger upper tubes on their 34.9?
I am genuinely curious. Maybe I am wrong too, and they throw in all the different wipers and bushing sizes in one single service kit, but that does not really make sesne either.
What makes you guys believe that OneUp is using dedicated 34.9 uppers?
Pros: Gold anodizing option
These new droppers look great, but for the price I would say check out the Wolftooth first. Its silky smooth and the self bleeding feature is a game changer.
And it will need a complete overhaul by the end of 2024. Fitting.
@mikekazimer maybe you guys could make a poll on which dropper height people prefer for their leg length?
Whether right or wrong... lower is perceived as better so if the seat can reach your climbing height and drop super low for the down because you like it.... why not?
Also dipping so low to drop it down is a bit annoying when it has to be done quickly.
But nevertheless interesting to know that for some of you guys more=better.
It's worth it as I still throw myself off anything that looks steep, but there definitely are downsides or such thing as "too long". (always thought they just say that to make me feel better..about my previous dropper)
The argument that I don't have to slam it all the way is a bit moot when there's no hard stop, you've just finished a massive ride and need to drop it for the last descent with little to no energy. You just sit on it and at that moment I'm sure not precise enough to stop it a bit higher than I'm used to yet not too high to be comfortable on the last features..
I wouldn't downsize my dropper, and I'd argue most frames made before the past year won't allow you to have a seat post low (therefore long) enough to have an issue. But with the modern low seat tube geometry (less than 400mm-ish on a M) of those bikes without a shock through the BB area it can become an issue if too long dropper is used and slammed all the way down.
I hope this version is much much more reliable than the previous version.
I don't mind a cartridge and I've never had one fail.
This may swing me back to Fox.
Fox is behind the curve on this remodel. They missed an opportunity.
Oneup: "Sure just make it gold and more expensive"
I doubt that average build person benefits from steeper STA