Because of leaked photographs and patents, we knew it was coming. However that doesn’t make the brand new Fox Switch Neo any much less stunning. Certain, it’s a wi-fi dropper publish with a singular battery configuration, however it’s the wi-fi protocol that could be essentially the most attention-grabbing (and stunning) half.
For higher or for worse, wi-fi connections are actually commonplace in biking. That velocity of that wi-fi connection was a serious focus for Fox on the Switch Neo, and so they’ve managed to give you an answer that’s the “quickest wi-fi connectivity in biking” – no less than, in keeping with Fox. They declare that their wi-fi protocol is over 100x sooner than Bluetooth and 20x sooner than their closest competitor – simply 26 milliseconds from lever press to publish motion. Fox doesn’t go into any extra element right here, however it’s assumed that they’re utilizing some form of proprietary system that they intend to maintain below wraps… no less than for now (extra on this beneath).
As a result of this quickest wi-fi protocol, Fox claims there may be “just about zero latency between actuating the dropper lever and your publish transferring.”
Ergonomic Lever
The lever they’re referring to is the brand new Ergonomic Neo Lever which is designed to really feel very acquainted as an alternative of simply inserting a button in your bar. You’ll discover a rubber-coated thumb pad with an analogous texture and distance from the bar, however with a (6x) shorter lever throw. In response to Fox, this implies you possibly can rotate the lever additional below the bar for higher clearance together with your knuckles, whereas nonetheless providing straightforward actuation.
Because it’s nonetheless technically a button in lever kind, the lever presents haptic suggestions in order that you already know once you’ve pressed the lever – similar to your favourite online game controller.
Containing a CR2032 battery with tool-free alternative, the lever has an anticipated 1-year battery life. The lever additionally sits simply 36mm beneath the bar, which Fox factors out is 10mm lower than the competitors. Why does that matter? Relying in your handlebar place, that would imply the distinction between the lever hitting the bike’s high tube in a crash, or gliding over it.
The lever has an unspecified quantity of lateral adjustment and comes with commonplace 22.2mm spherical, Matchmaker, and I-Spec EV clamps to assist you to place it as wanted.
Oh, and in case your lever battery dies, you possibly can nonetheless drop the publish manually by urgent and holding the button on the publish controller till the LED turns white (press once more to complete actuation).
What’s up with that battery place?
Probably the most apparent options of the Switch Neo is the positioning of the battery. As an alternative of attaching it to the saddle clamp finish of the publish, the Fox Neo battery sits on the high of the publish’s decrease, simply above the seat publish clamp.
Fox positioned it right here for 2 causes: it helped to cut back the stack peak, and permits for elevated tire clearance. On a full-suspension bike at full bottom-out together with your dropper publish totally dropped, tire clearance comes all the way down to millimeters. 6mm to be precise, which is the really helpful ISO tire clearance.
Fox states that for his or her nearest competitor to have this clearance on the battery, “posts should be run as a lot as 18mm above full insertion. This place—mixed with taller stack peak—means your saddle peak sits 40mm greater than Switch Neo when totally compressed.”
The up to date Fox Switch dropper posts already had wonderful stack heights, and the Fox Switch Neo provides simply 11mm to their mechanical posts’ stack peak. When measured from the underside of the controller to the middle of the saddle rails, this distance is a claimed 18mm lower than the RockShox Reverb AXS.
Future Fox Neo Merchandise Incoming?
In a tease of what’s to return, Fox calls out the truth that the Switch Neo makes use of a “Fox-specific battery with compatibility for future Neo Merchandise.” Clearly, Fox should be engaged on one thing else that makes use of batteries. On condition that the earlier era of Fox Stay Valve relied on a reasonably large battery, it appears protected to imagine that the Neo battery could also be headed in that path (latest patents counsel huge adjustments are coming).
That Neo battery might be faraway from the seatpost, and charged utilizing the included dock. Fox says charging time will take from 1.25-1.5 hours. A full cost is anticipated to ship 30-40 hours of experience time relying on the frequency of dropper publish actuations.
There’s an app too
Moreover, the app lets you activate Bike Park Mode, and Transport Mode. If you wish to drop your publish and keep away from unintended actuation when charging down the bike park, Bike Park Mode briefly disables your Switch Neo Dropper lever. To get it again, simply hit the lever 4x quickly, or open the app. Transport mode shuts down the “shake to wake” function to stop the battery from draining whereas touring. To disable, merely bounce the rear of your bike off the bottom or take away the and reinsert the battery.
The “shake to wake” function additionally means there’s no want for an influence button, simply soar on and go.
Those that learn our latest Patent Patrol article on the Fox Wi-fi dropper could also be dissatisfied to see that options like voice-control, GPS-based auto drops, and stepped or infinite dropping didn’t make the lower, however bear in mind, now that the publish is digital, it opens up the potential for future firmware updates. There’s no assure we’ll ever see any of these options, however because the Fox Neo household evolves, who is aware of.
Journey Choices, Weights, Pricing & Extra
You’ll discover the Tranfer Neo in 30.9, 31.6, and 34.9mm diameters, with the 34.9mm possibility that includes particular higher and decrease sections for improved efficiency. All diameters can be supplied in 125, 150, 175, and 200mm journey choices, whereas the 30.9 and 31.6mm variations will embrace a 100mm journey possibility.
Aftermarket posts can be supplied in Manufacturing unit Collection fashions with Real Kashima Coat, however there will even be a Efficiency Elite Collection that’s presently OEM solely. The lightest model of the publish is the 100mm journey 30.9 measurement which has a claimed weight of 528g. For those who’re prepared to purchase, the total bundle will promote for $859, with spare batteries and chargers additionally obtainable for buy.
Switch Neo MSRP:
- Manufacturing unit Collection Switch Neo Equipment: $859
- Contains: Switch Neo Publish, Lever, Battery, Charger, Cable, and clamping choices.
Spare Components:
- Neo Spare Battery: $79
- Spare Charger and Cable: $49
Euro Pricing:
- Manufacturing unit Collection Switch Neo Equipment – €1100 with out VAT
- Spare Charger and Cable €61.25 with out VAT
- Neo Spare Battery €76.75 with out VAT.
