Never have I been so excited to see 27.2mm before! But this is a big one for you retro frame riders, Fox may have just shown you some love.
“The Fox Transfer SL is a little like a regular Transfer post only one that has been slimmed down and been put on a diet” is what I would have written if I hadn’t read all the blurb. In actual fact, the Fox Transfer SL has been completely redesigned in an attempt to create the lightest dropper post on the market.
Now before I get into the how let’s take a look at who this post is aimed at. If you’re looking for a lightweight long travel post I suggest you look elsewhere as the SL is really aimed at the XC market and has a maximum drop of 100mm, though shorter options are also available. However, if you are looking for a dropper for your 27.2mm frame the new Transfer SL could be another big name option, BUT keep in mind it’s only available in stealth routing.
So with those details out of the way, let’s delve into the tech.
The weight is the big selling feature of the Transfer SL with 27.2mm posts hitting the scales at only 327g whereas larger 30.9/31.6mm diameter posts weighing as little as 346g. The weight variations are due to the travel options, post diameters but also an additional 10g weight-saving thanks to Ti hardware on Factory models.
You would think that building a light dropper would be fairly simple and that it would likely use an air spring to control saddle return, but Fox has actually chosen a coil spring instead. The reasoning behind a spring is that an air-spring in this case would end up being heavier due to all the seals needed to prevent air escaping, and unlike a fork, the spring is quite light as it doesn’t support the rider but instead simply raises the saddle. Helping to reduce weight further is the lack of hydraulic damping which in turn does mean the return speed might be a little faster than a standard Transfer post.
Then there are the different diameter posts. The 27.2mm version might work on a retro frame if you’re lucky to have stealth routing, but it’s really intended for ultra-lightweight XC bikes or modern drop-bar gravel bikes. While the 27.2mm diameter posts function in the same way as the 30.9/31.6mm posts the internals are different. Wider posts use preloaded anti-rotation bushings to prevent angular free play, whereas the narrower post uses traditional anti-rotation pins meaning there is a little moment in the system out of the box. Other than that though each post uses the same saddle and cable clamps and offers lightweight dropper functionality.
Riders who struggle to achieve the correct saddle height on their bikes might be interested in the XL version of the post. This offers an exposed length of 290mm meaning tall riders with shorter seat tubes should be covered.
The rest of the Fox Transfer SL is like many other dropper posts, and the 1 x lever is Matchmaker ready with support for Shimano GRX and I-SPEC EV interfaces.
Fox Transfer SL Specs
- NEW lightweight design
- NEW Windows in lower post allow cable clamp/slack to be pulled from
- post side for compatibility with GRX-style dropper levers and minimizes
- extra cable housing length
- 2-position mechanical post that locks at the top and bottom only
- Longer travel configurations oer exposed length of 290mm for taller riders
- Shorter travel configurations oer shorter total length for smaller riders
- Coil spring for consistent return performance
- Internal routing only
- 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6mm diameters
- 50, 70, 75, and 100mm drop options
- 70-85deg seat angles are supported
- 7mm and 7×9 ‘Ob-round’ saddle rails supported
- 1x lever is Matchmaker, Shimano GRX, and I-SPEC EV compatible
- Available in Factory and Performance Elite Series
- (Factory post includes Ti hardware for additional 10g weight savings)
- MSRP: $399 USD (Factory) / $329 USD (Performance Elite)