After launching the Fox Neo dropper put up final month, Fox up to date their bike app to permit customers to attach and tune the dropper posts. However the header picture on one of many pages featured an image of not solely a dropper put up however a rear shock too. Now, Fox has revealed the small print of that shock – introducing Fox Stay Valve Neo.
First launched in 2018, Fox Stay Valve tried to usher us into the fashionable period of electronically managed suspension. On the time, the one means for the system to speak quick sufficient was to depend on wires to attach all of the parts. It additionally included digital suspension management for the Fox-only fork and a reasonably large battery. All of these items mixed led to restricted adoption of the Stay Valve system. Which brings us to Neo.
On the floor, the overall thought of Stay Valve Neo is similar, nevertheless it goes about it in a extra easy and common means. Most clearly, the system is now with none wires. That’s because of Fox’s in-house wi-fi communication protocol which is claimed to ship indicators from the fork and rear sensors to the controller “in round one millisecond.” Fox factors out that the latency, or delay of information switch for normal Bluetooth may be as much as 200 milliseconds.
That velocity means a Stay Valve Neo system can sense a bump after which open the controller on the shock in about 1/seventieth of a second.
You’ll additionally discover that the Neo system doesn’t embrace any electronics for the fork, solely a fork sensor that’s appropriate with many various brake calipers. The place the unique Stay Valve system tried to lock out and management the fork in addition to the rear shock, Fox has designed Neo solely across the Float X and DHX rear shocks that are meant for Path and All-mountain driving. They declare that almost all of on-trail effectivity is gained from the rear suspension, and “any delay within the Opening of a fork’s compression circuit — even 1/seventieth of a second — could be noticeable to riders.”
In comparison with Gen 1 Stay Valve, Neo additionally features a new high-flow solenoid with a 2-position magnetic latch. That is stated to maneuver sooner than a motor, with the additional advantage of being quiet. Fox additionally states that pitch detection has been improved, particularly for path switchbacks with an incline sensor constructed into the fork sensor.
In consequence, Stay Valve Neo can also be appropriate with practically any suspension fork, not simply these from Fox. Merely mount the fork sensor to the entrance brake caliper, and also you’re all arrange entrance. There’s additionally a sensor mounted to the rear brake caliper. Together with the rear shock, Neo consists of simply three bodily parts – 4 when you take into account the Fox App (which isn’t wanted whereas driving).
Stay Valve Neo additionally depends on the identical lithium battery and charger that’s used for the Switch Neo, with USB-C charging. These batteries have a claimed run time of 15-20h on the Stay Valve Neo shock, whereas the sensors make the most of customary CR2032 coin cell batteries which have a life expectancy of about one yr.
Just like the Switch Neo, Stay Valve Neo has a Shake to Wake function which can activate mechanically when the bike strikes and the suspension is compressed. The controller will flip off mechanically if nothing occurs for 5 minutes. The battery stage is displayed on the system energy button with 4 coloured LEDs, and when you occur to utterly drain the battery whereas driving, the shock will default to the open place.
How Stay Valve Neo Works
The Stay Valve Neo shocks solely have two modes, Open and Agency. As a result of the system can swap backwards and forwards nearly immediately, there’s no want for a center setting. With a sensor on the entrance and rear brake, every solely transmits a sign when the shock must open.
After receiving that command, Neo opens the 2-position magnetic latching solenoid and permits the shock to work unimpeded. At that time, Neo additionally begins a timer. If the sensors transmit one other sign to open throughout that timer, it resets and begins once more. If the sensors don’t ship any extra indicators as a result of the path has smoothed out, the timer expires and the solenoid closes to agency the shock. The controller can also be programmed to detect when the bike goes airborne, instantly opening the shock to soak up the touchdown.
Fox Bike App
You don’t want it when you’re actively driving, however the Fox Bike App means that you can customise the suspension, save suspension settings, and even observe service primarily based on precise use.
Neo-equipped shocks embrace 5 inventory tunes, every with three states for Climb, Flat, and Descend. Inside every one among these states is a power threshold that it’s a must to surpass to open the shock, and a timer for a way lengthy the shock will keep open. Normal tune is the one which shall be for many riders in all terrains. Agency and Plush tunes enable riders to err to the firmer or plusher aspect for his or her liking, and Open retains it open on a regular basis, whereas Closed retains it closed on a regular basis besides when touchdown a drop or leap.
Along with these 5 tunes that are arrange and able to go, riders can create their very own tunes utilizing Precision Mode to individually management each metric. The app can retailer infinite tunes, and you may share them with buddies around the globe by the app.
Evidently three ‘Lively’ tunes are shortly accessible by the button on the rear shock, whereas extra tunes may be loaded by the app. The shock additionally has a tool-free Agency Mode adjuster with seven positions to manage the firmness of the shock platform when the solenoid is closed.
Chilly Climate Efficiency
Fox particularly calls out chilly climate efficiency with Neo stating, “The Stay Valve Neo Controller will enhance the power utilized by the solenoid throughout colder environmental temperatures to make sure sustained exercise within the system.” This sounds prefer it makes use of extra energy to create warmth which can preserve the oil at a constant working temperature. Fox does state that chilly climate use will drain the battery sooner.
Shocks
Initially, Stay Valve NEo shall be accessible on the Float X air and the DHX coil shocks in each customary and Trunnion eyelet mounts. To us, it makes the DHX coil particularly intriguing contemplating it ought to provide an unimaginable steadiness of coil efficiency and pedal platform, whereas solely including 22g over the air shock.
Full bikes will embrace Stay Valve Neo sooner or later, however because it’s only a shock and two simply mounted sensors, it should even be provided as an improve for present bikes. The Stay Valve Neo equipment consists of one rechargeable battery & cowl, one Fork Sensor & CR2032 battery, one Rear Sensor & CR2032 battery, a FOX battery block, a charging dock & USB-A to USB-C cable, two M6x20mm bolts & two M6x42mm bolts for sensor mounting with customary or outsized rotors.
Compatibility
In line with Fox, the Stay Valve Neo system is appropriate with each common mountain bikes and eMTBs so long as the shock eye-to-eye and stroke lengths are right. The Shock stroke may be diminished in 2.5mm increments by as much as 7.5mm.
So far as the sensors are involved, the Bump sensors as Fox calls them are recognized to be appropriate with present Shimano and SRAM manufacturing MTB brakes. They’re additionally appropriate with Magura MT7 and TRP DHR Evo, and sure with extra Magura and TRP fashions, although the match has not been confirmed on every other fashions at the moment.
The one brakes that Fox mentions which might be particularly incompatible are these with outboard hose fittings or protruding brake bleed fittings just like the older Shimano Deore XT 8000.
Handlebar Change Coming Quickly
Fox mentions within the press launch that they’re engaged on a Handlebar Change that shall be launched someday in 2025. This may let riders swap between Neo tunes on the fly, and it’s “within the last levels of growth.”
Stay Valve Neo Pricing
Stay Valve Neo Product Pricing – For a
full system, you want the Neo Equipment and Shock of your alternative
- Stay Valve Neo Equipment (consists of Fork and Rear Bump Sensors, Battery, Charger, Charger Cable): $ 399 USD / $ 534.65 CAD / £449.99 GBP / € 499 EUR*
- Stay Valve Neo Float X MSRP: $ 999USD / $ 1399 CAD / £1119 GBP* / € 1299 EUR*
- Stay Valve Neo DHX MSRP: $ 949 USD / $ 1269 CAD / £1099 GBP* / € 1249 EUR*
Spare/Alternative Half Pricing
- Neo Spare Battery MSRP: $79 USD / $106 CAD / £99.95 GBP* / €99 EUR*
- Spare Charger and Cable MSRP: $49 USD / $69 CAD / £62.95 GBP* / €79 EUR*
*Value consists of VAT
