Fox Shox Transfer Dropper Post: Rider Review

Ever since it came out, the Fox Transfer Dropper Post has been a favorite among our shop and customers alike. Aside from the fancy Kashima coating, the dropper just flat out works every time. It is everything you could want in a dropper post and our customer Kevin feels exactly the same. In this review, he installs a new Transfer Post on his Yeti. Check it out!

Overview

This is a review of the Fox Factory Transfer 100mm Dropper Post (external) and the 2x/3x Fox Lever. First, thanks to Worldwide Cyclery for a great price and outstanding communication. Overall, I'm 100% satisfied with Worldwide Cyclery. Installation of the dropper post was straightforward with a few items to note.

Installation

The Fox Transfer 2x/3x Remote was easy to install just inboard of my brake and shift levers. Minor installation issues were noted in the cable assembly. The cable ferrules that come with the lever fit so tightly around the cable jacket there is a potential for the ferules to not be seated against the end of the cable housing; this could change the length of the cable after installation and subsequently adversely affect the way the transfer post is actuated. This is easily remedied by using different ferules with a large enough diameter to fully seat against the cable jacket end.

Operation of the lever is stiffer than expected due to the force required to actuate the dropper mechanism, however, this could loosen up over time. Fox recommends lubricating the cable before installation; I didn’t do this to avoid making a mess during installation. At some point when I replace the cable, I will replace it with low friction self-lubricated cable. Overall, the lever is easy to install. Route the cable housing and pull the cable tight through the lever clamp; one turn on the cable barrel adjuster tensions the cable and results in perfect dropper post-actuation.

Performance

The dropper post head clamp attachment for the seat provides a wide range of angles for seat installation similar to a Thompson seatpost. The dropper post diameter tolerances seemed to be very tight considering the post is a snug fit inside the bike frame. However, the dropper post does start to bind at around 25-inch pounds of torque on the two-bolt Woodman seatpost clamp, which is less than the maximum torque specified by Fox or Woodman. I would be very surprised if the post slips inside the frame, however, this is a key characteristic of the installation that warrants attention to ensure smooth operation. There is a lot of noise on the Internet about how the Fox Dropper post functions, however, I can say that the build quality, fit and finish, and operation all appear to be impeccable considering the complexity of the design.

Additionally, the Kashima coating is not applied to reduce stiction, it is applied to extend the life of the seals. The Kashima coating should reduce friction between the dropper post and seals thereby potentially extending the time between overhaul/rebuild. My only concern about the Fox Transfer dropper installation is that there does not appear to be any way to verify the seat post is the 2018 model with incorporated design improvements. Worldwide Cyclery had the seatpost shipped directly from Fox, so I expect this is a 2018 model; however it appears I won’t be able to confirm that until the first rebuild.

Final Thoughts

I’m super stoked to have a dropper post on my bike, and I fully expect that I will not be able to imagine riding without one. I can barely touch the ground with the post set at the proper height for my inseam, so I fully expect to ride much faster uphill as well as downhill with my new Fox Transfer Dropper Post.