FOX Transfer Performance Elite Seatpost

We’ve owned all the versions of the Fox Transfer dropper post that have existed since it was first released in 2016 (and the D.O.S.S. before that), and they’ve largely been trouble-pretty as well as pretty good at their job. If there was one aspect that always irked us a bit, it was the fact that you needed some special tools to even consider servicing the thing yourself, which in this day and age is less and less acceptable to many (even if many riders are still perfectly happy handing in their bikes for service, many others want to be able to keep on top of maintenance themselves). Good news, the third generation Transfer that we are reviewing here today is now easier to service, even if it is still a bit more involved than just swapping out a cartridge like with certain competitors’ offerings. Fox has also taken some steps to reduce internal friction, and the Transfer is now also available in more lengths and sizes than before. We’ve been riding one for 6 months, here’s our views on how it performs.

Fox Transfer Highlights

• Fully redesigned internals and aesthetics
• Adjustable travel in 5mm increments
• Low stack height head design
• Lighter lever action
• Air pressure now adjustable via Schraeder valve (at home)
• Available in 3 diameters: 30.9, 31.6, 34.9 mm
• Available in lengths from 120 to 240 mm
• Improved sealing, Ekonol bushings
• Full service interval: 300 hours
• Available in Performance Elite (tested) and Factory (with Kashima coated stanchion)
• Weight: 718 grams (180/31.6 version, including remote and cable, verified)
• 1-year warranty
• MSRP: $289.00 USD (post) / $69.00 USD (lever)

Initial Impressions

The Transfer heritage is pretty clear from the moment you lay eyes on the third-generation version, but there have been quite a few changes made both on the outside as well as the inside. In terms of dimensions, the Transfer is now available in 3 different diameters with the appearance of a dedicated 34.9 mm version, and it has also grown in length with the longest option now a whopping 240 mm. The travel can be adjusted down by up to 25 mm, in 5-mm increments, thanks to a very simple travel spacer system that can be manipulated without tools in mere minutes or even less. This means that whatever dropper travel you need, if it falls somewhere between 95 to 240 mm, there is a Transfer for you.

The stack height is still well contained, just a couple of mms longer than some of the shortest stack heights on the market. This provides for a compact “collar-to-rail” measurement (which means that you’ll be able to fit more travel between your seat tube and your saddle, relatively speaking). Here’s a table comparing the key measurements of the new Transfer to some of its main competitors:

In terms of overall length, the Transfer is still a bit longer at the bottom than the most compact offerings out there – here are a couple of shots comparing the new Transfer to the OneUp V3 dropper:

Internally, Fox has revised the entire layout of the Transfer. The air chamber is now on top, and it is accessible via a standard Schraeder valve under the post head – no more weird proprietary port or nitrogen filling required. There are metal-backed Ekonol bushings to help reduce friction, and there are more oil seals and an additional wiper to help keep everything well contained inside. The result is 300-hr recommended service interval, which is pretty good in this product category. Service kits are available to purchase, and the full service can now be carried out with standard tools and a bit of elbow grease.

The price of the Transfer post does not include the lever, which goes for an additional $69.00 USD. The lever is a neat and compact affair, which rotates on a large bearing and provides a slot to house the cable end for a tidy look. The lever is MatchMaker compatible and is delivered with a discrete clamp, a Shimano I-SPEC EV mount, as well as the required cable and housing. The Transfer post is compatible with any number of standard aftermarket levers too, if you fancy running it with something other than Fox’s own.

On The Trail

Wrenching on the new Transfer is a pleasant affair, with quality hardware in the post head as well as the lever. The actuator is still a bit crude looking (it’s been the same for several generations of this product now), but it’s easy to work with. The lever provides 2 holes for some side-to-side adjustability, and we were able to find a good position/angle both with the SRAM MatchMaker mount and the discrete clamp.

The action of the lever is smooth and easy to actuate – not the absolute lightest action in the category, but very easy to manipulate. The post itself is also very smooth in action, and it’s quick to compress when you push the saddle down. There is plenty of modulation on offer, you can easily press the lever partially for a slower return speed, or press it fully for a snappy extension. The return speed is on the quicker side of average, plenty fast enough to get your post up in a timely manner no matter what the riding situation calls for – you can also easily modify the return speed by adjusting the air pressure with a shock pump. There is an audible “thunk” at the top, letting you know that the post has reached full extension. The Transfer does not have a lot of side-to-side play, and it has not been getting any worse during the course of testing.

Things That Could Be Improved

The only issue we’ve come across in our 6 months of riding the new Transfer is that one of the bushings seems to have gotten a bit sticky over time, especially if you are not careful with how tight you run your seat post collar (the Transfer has always been sensitive to this, most likely due to the lower tube thickness). This is only noticeable if you press the lever so lightly that the post creeps up, in which case it can now get stuck before reaching full extension. If you press the lever fully, the post is still every bit as smooth and speedy as on day one. The Ekonol bushings used in this generation of the Transfer are said to enable slightly tighter tolerances – maybe they are more sensitive to wear and tear because of this.

Long Term Durability

As discussed in the previous section, one of the bushings in our post seems to have become a little bit sticky over time, maybe time for a somewhat premature service. Other than that, the post is still in excellent condition, there has been no increase in side-to-side play nor has it developed any kind of sagginess over the 6 months we have been riding it. We have not noticed any air leakage either, but it’s good that it can now be topped up using a standard shock pump if need be.

What’s The Bottom Line?

The Transfer has always been a good post, and the third generation improves the home serviceability while introducing travel adjustability and adding more sizes to the line-up. The Transfer is smooth and fast in use, and you can of course opt for the Kashima version if you want a little extra bling as well. All in all, a successful revision by Fox that will help the Transfer keep up with its main competitors for the foreseeable future.

More information at: www.ridefox.com.

About The Reviewers

Johan Hjord - Age: 51 // Years Riding MTB: 19 // Weight: 190-pounds (87 kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Nils Hjord – Age: 20 // Years Riding MTB: 12 // Height: 5’9” (1m80) // Weight: 185-pounds (84-kg)

Always committed to having fun on his bike, Nils likes to keep his wheels in the air almost as much as on the ground. Although he enjoys going fast and is no stranger to burping his tires off the rim, he has dedicated most of his riding time to mastering manuals and making his tabletops flatter – but that doesn’t mean he can’t put the hurt on his wheels through a high-speed rockgarden too, when needed. Good thing his dad is a full-time Vital staffer with access to lots of bike parts that need testing!

Photos by Johan Hjord