Mick & Wil test out the 2025 Fox Transfer dropper post

Replacing the venerable D.O.S.S that came before it, the original Fox Transfer dropper post arrived in 2016. Offering less weight and more travel, the Transfer boasted a slick air-sprung action and a blingy Kashima coated finish.

Fox updated the Transfer in 2021, introducing the distinctive ‘ears’ up at the saddle rail clamp that helped to lower the overall stack height. Admittedly we’ve had mixed experience with that version of the Transfer over the past few years. When it’s working it’s an incredibly fast and smooth dropper post, and we’ve always loved the positive top-out clunk. We’ve had quite a few posts deteriorate through use however, gradually losing the ability to extend to full height as they lose air pressure. The last failure occurred as recently as a month ago on the new Specialized Epic EVO. In each case we’ve had those posts rebuilt by Fox under warranty, but it was clear there were some structural issues that needed addressing.

It appears that Fox was listening, because the team has gone back to the drawing board to completely redesign the Transfer from the inside-out for 2025. There’s been a big focus on making the new dropper more durable and easier to service, while offering a greater range of travel options. And, for the first time ever, the Transfer will be available in a purpose-built 34.9mm diameter.

Fox is clearly jazzed on the new Transfer, which it says will get it back in the game after a few years of being on the back foot. To find out if that excitement is warranted, we’ve been testing two different Transfers over the past few weeks to see exactly what’s changed.

Watch our video on the 2025 Fox Transfer dropper post:

What’s new with the 2025 Fox Transfer?

According to Fox, literally everything. With the aim of improving durability and serviceability, the third generation Fox Transfer receives an entirely new construction for this year.

The big news is that it’s now available with up to 240mm of travel. Not only that, but the travel can also be adjusted without any special tools required.

There are five travel options in total (120mm, 150mm, 180mm, 210mm and 240mm) and each post can have its stroke reduced in 5mm increments up to 25mm. That means a 180mm dropper post can be lowered down to 155mm, providing greater adjustability for the rider.

The process to reduce the posts’s travel is a simple, tool-free process. Fox includes the 5mm clip-on spacers in the box along with easy-to-follow instructions.

All-new internals

Inside the Fox Transfer you’ll find brand new internals that see the main air chamber repositioned to the top of the post. It’s sealed with a Schrader valve that sits just underneath the saddle clamp, allowing you to increase or decrease the spring pressure using a standard shock pump. The recommended pressure range is 275-325psi.

The IFP has also been shifted from the middle to the top of the post, allowing the engineers to ditch the dynamic air shaft seals of old in favour of more robust static seals. Fox claims the updated configuration and new sealing system results in a 62% reduction in air-loss.

Further down, the previous IGUS bushings has been replaced with metal-backed Ekonol bushings that are similar to what’s used in the latest 2025 Fox forks. The top bushing also now sits within the lower tube rather than the collar, improving overall alignment. With tighter tolerances reducing both friction and slop, the new Transfer is said to be significantly easier and smoother to actuate.

Fox Transfer weight

The new Fox Transfer saves a small amount of weight over its predecessor. In the 31.6x150mm configuration you’re looking at 549g vs 584g for the old Transfer.

Of course with so many options available, the weight varies by quite a bit. Here are the claimed weights for the lightest and heaviest sizes in the range;

• 30.9mm diameter x 120mm travel – 475g
• 34.9mm diameter x 240mm travel – 826g

2025 Fox Transfer price & specs

• Travel | 120mm, 150mm, 180mm, 210mm, 240mm
• Travel Adjust | 25mm reduction in 5mm increments
• Upper Tube | Black Anodised Alloy (Performance Elite), Kashima Coated Alloy (Factory Series)
• Diameter | 30.9mm, 31.6mm & 34.9mm
• Claimed Weight | 475g (30.9x120mm) – 826g (34.9x240mm)
• Confirmed Weight | 672g (31.6x210mm)
• Price | $659 (Performance Elite) – $749 AUD (Factory Series)

Installation & setup

Installation is straightforward with the new Fox Transfer dropper post. The actuator at the base of the post is unchanged, and it relies on the same insert that the inner cable threads through.

We connected our droppers up to the Fox 1x remote lever, which continues to be one of favourite options on the market. The ergonomics are spot-on, and you don’t need a whole lot of thumb force to activate the dropper.

Up top is a redesigned two-bolt saddle clamp that offers a much lower profile than the previous Transfer. You still get plenty of adjustability for saddle tilt, just in a sleeker package that reduces interference with accessories such as saddle bags and tail lights.

The overall stack height has also been shortened slightly thanks to the thinner collar at the top of the outer tube. This helps to squeeze in as much travel as possible, especially when combined with a modern mountain bike frame. In Wil’s case he was able to fit a 180mm travel Fox Transfer to his Pivot Switchblade with room to spare. Mick fitted a whopping 210mm dropper in his Santa Cruz Tallboy, which is a healthy figure for a Medium size bike and rider.

What do we like about the Fox Transfer?

From the workshop to our first ride out on the trail, we were immediately impressed by the fast action of the 2025 Fox Transfer dropper post. The previous version was already very good in this regard, though the new post slides more smoothly again with less force required to get it moving in the first place.

Unlike many other droppers we’ve used there’s zero need to unweight the saddle to compress the post. Indeed you can have your full bodyweight on it, and it’ll start moving as soon as you press the remote.

The reduced friction and speedy action also makes it easier to perform micro-adjustments to the saddle’s position. This is particularly beneficial when lowering the saddle just a touch as you approach a steep and technical climb. And when the gradient starts to level out and you need the saddle to return to your proper pedalling position, there’s a nice audible thunk as the post extends to full height.

There’s also a similarly positive thunk when post bottoms out at full compression. In each case, this audible signal helps to alert you to the saddle’s position, which is appreciated when riding especially rowdy trails.

What could be improved?

In terms of functionality, we’re yet to find a whole lot to complain about with the new Fox Transfer.

The price is admittedly on the high side, but it is comparable to other premium droppers including the Wolf Tooth Components Resolve ($605 AUD), BikeYoke Revive 2.0 ($529-$649 AUD) and RockShox Reverb C1 ($649 AUD). However, it’s worth noting that they’re all a fair bit pricier than the OneUp V3 Dropper Post ($449 AUD).

A potential downside for some riders will be the lack of a wireless option for the new Fox Transfer. The RockShox Reverb AXS has owned this market over the last few years, though we’ve recently seen the arrival of the TranzX wireless dropper post, and BikeYoke is purportedly working on one as well.

Of course no one really needs a wireless dropper, but the effortless control, lack of a cable and ease of installation sure makes it a nice luxury to have. Some riders are also able to justify the investment by sharing the one dropper post between multiple bikes.

With that in mind, while we’re certainly impressed by this new cable-operated Transfer, we’re still hopeful that Fox will enter the wireless market at some point in the future.

Durability & servicing

Though our experience with the 2025 Fox Transfer has been positive so far, its long-term durability is still yet to be proven in the mass market.

However, it’s clear that Fox has paid a lot of attention to reliability and serviceability. In addition to the updated air sealing system, the new Transfer features double the oil seals with a wiper added to reduce oil loss. All of this contributes to a longer interval between services, with Fox recommending a full service every 300-hours of ride time.

On that note, while neither of our test posts have required a full tear-down just yet, it’s great to know that Fox is moving away from requiring proprietary tools, making it easier for home mechanics to service the Transfer.

It’s also easier to perform routine maintenance thanks to the knurled collar at the top of the outer tube. This can be unthreaded by hand, allowing you to clean and grease the top bushing and wiper seal in between services.

Flow’s Early Verdict

Thanks to its slick feel and effortless actuation, we’ve been thoroughly impressed by the 2025 Fox Transfer.

It maintains the light lever feel and audible top-out clunk of its predecessor, but the updated internals make it even smoother and easier to compress. And if Fox’s claims regarding air loss and oil retention hold true, it should prove to be far more reliable too.

With the addition of a 34.9mm diameter and a whopping 240mm travel option, it’s available in a wider variety of sizes than ever before. We also love that it’s so easy to adjust the travel, and we appreciate the ability to adjust the return speed and perform routine maintenance without need for any specialist tools.

It’s certainly not a cheap post, especially if you’re looking at the flashy Kashima-coated Factory Series version. We’d recommend saving yourself nearly a hundred bucks and going for the all-black Performance Elite post, which is structurally and functionally identical.

Of course long-term durability is yet to be proven, so we’ll be spending a lot more time on Transfer over the coming months to see if this really is the best dropper post that Fox has ever produced.