Fox Transfer Performance Elite dropper post review

For 2021, Fox has overhauled its ever-reliable Transfer dropper post, reducing insertion depths, weight, adding a 200mm-travel option that should please taller riders and a new 1x bar remote, and making the internals easier to service.

Fox Transfer Performance Elite specifications

One of the things that let down the old Fox Transfer post was its longer than average shaft length, which made it incompatible with some frames.

On the latest model, Fox has sought to address this by reducing insertion length by 8.6mm to 25.2mm depending on size.

Fox also boasts a claimed weight reduction of 25 per cent, but at 639g for my 175mm/ 31.6mm test post, it’s still not super light.

My favourite addition is the new low-profile saddle clamp which, in combination with a slim post collar, keeps the stack height (from the centre of the saddle rails to the base of the collar) slammed to a low 44mm.

It looks a little ungainly and won’t take oversized rails, but it’s a clever design, with the clamp held by two T-shaped grub screws that are angled outwards so there’s no interference or fiddling with loose nuts under the saddle.

With the Performance Elite being the more affordable dropper post in Fox’s range, the stanchion doesn’t have the long-lasting Kashima gold coating – that luxury is only found on the Factory model for £50 more – but, even so, the £339 price tag for this post means it’s still quite expensive and that doesn’t include the remote, which is £75 more.

The 1x remote is neatly designed with an ergonomic shifter-style paddle that’s ridged for grip, and there's a removable bar clamp that means you mount the same lever directly to both SRAM MatchMaker or Shimano I-Spec brake levers.

Cable routing is from post to bar, where it’s clamped securely, so installation and adjustment couldn’t be easier.

Fox Transfer Performance Elite performance

A cam-operated actuator in the base of the post makes for a light lever feel and precise operation. Little effort is needed to depress the 1x remote and in all the time I tested the post, the action was never anything less than silky smooth.

There’s no side-to-side movement at the head of the post and no springy freeplay when I pulled up on the saddle – and no sagging either.

On steep technical terrain, I really appreciated the extra-low stack height which got the saddle right out of the way for maximum freedom of movement and also allowed me to achieve an optimum pedalling height.

Fox Transfer Performance Elite bottom line

Fox has done a great job of improving some of the shortfalls of the old Transfer post and maintained that all-important reliability as well.