Digital suspension management isn’t new; FOX launched its first model in 2018, however it was wired because of the latency in wi-fi sign transmission. Different bike suspension manufacturers additionally supply electronically managed suspension packages. However FOX created a brand new wi-fi sign transmission protocol for Reside Valve Neo, claiming it the quickest in biking.
FOX says it stripped away all nonessential data from its wi-fi protocol for the sake of pace. Its system relays data from the fork and rear sensors to the controller in about 1 ms. For reference, the latency for Bluetooth may be as much as 200 ms.
What Makes Up the FOX Reside Valve Neo System
The FOX Reside Valve Neo system consists of two sensors and a controller. One sensor mounts on the entrance brake caliper and measures the angle of the terrain and the bump pressure exerted on the entrance tire. The opposite sensor mounts on the rear caliper and solely measures bump pressure. The controller sits within the rear shock.
FOX claims the sensors relay data solely when required and may accomplish that 400 occasions a second. The sensors depend on widespread CR2032 coin batteries, which, in response to the model, can last as long as a 12 months.
The shock controller switches the shock into an open or closed compression valving setting in response to the info provided by the 2 sensors. It makes use of a single rechargeable battery and actuates compression valving with a magnetic latching solenoid.
A FOX Bike app gives set up and set-up tutorials, shows battery ranges, delivers firmware updates, and reviews Reside Valve Neo diagnostics. The app additionally informs riders that the suspension wants service primarily based on utilization, which is decided by sensor knowledge.
The FOX Bike app additionally permits customized system tuning. There are 5 factory-set tunes, however press supplies from FOX suggest that these tunes may be fairly superior. For instance, a rider can apply a tune that works finest for a identified path. Primarily, it’s a shock tune for a particular rider on a particular path or perhaps a part of a path, a downhill run, or a race course.
What Units FOX Reside Valve Neo Aside?
FOX stresses the pace of valving actuation as the first benefit of its digital suspension system, and the center of it’s the lack of superfluous data and actions the system has to handle.
As acknowledged earlier, the sensors solely relay data when wanted, which on this case is when the system determines the shock must open. Moreover, the rear sensor doesn’t repeat the terrain angle data the entrance one is already transmitting.
The FOX shock solely has two valving positions: open and closed. There isn’t any third “pedal” valving setting, which is widespread in mountain bike suspension. FOX claims Reside Valve Neo switches between the open and closed settings so quick that the center “pedal” setting isn’t required.
The system is alleged to ship the pedaling assist of the agency mode precisely when the rider wants it. And, it could possibly swap to open mode precisely when the rider requires plushness.
FOX claims the shock’s magnetic latching solenoid, which actuates the swap-in valving, is considerably quicker than a motor (and is just about silent).
Lastly, the wi-fi communication protocol delivers the naked bones data in as little as one millisecond.
Why Do I Need FOX Reside Neo?
Cross-Nation Driving
Consider your typical cross-country or path mountain bike trip; pedaling effectivity is paramount, however so is consolation, because it impacts your endurance and muscular fatigue ranges. With out digital suspension, you both toggle a dial on the shock or a distant swap on the bar. And you can not do it 400 occasions a second. You are expecting and compromise.
When the path is tamer, you agency up the shock to realize pedaling effectivity, however then you must swap it to open when the going will get tough. Nevertheless, in between these two discrete however not sensible conditions, you’re giving one thing up intermittently since you can not manually swap between settings rapidly.
So, a lot of the time, you could trip within the “pedal” mode, which theoretically is at all times a compromise. Your suspension shouldn’t be absolutely open and lively. Neither is it absolutely closed to offer essentially the most steady pedaling platform. This compromise is exacerbated on climbs; you desperately want environment friendly pedaling, however a bump on the path can break traction and pedaling rhythm.
Gravity Driving
For the gravity crowd, it’s considerably the identical however at a a lot greater fee of pace. When the terrain permits, you need extra open shock valving, so that you get essentially the most plush suspension motion with out bottoming out.
However then, when the terrain will get extra critical, you need extra restrictive valving so that you don’t backside out and lose management. Essentially the most excessive model of this want is touchdown on massive drops or jumps.
So, with out on-the-fly instantaneous valving management, you choose a “center” setting that you just predict will match the most important space of the bell curve.
In all mountain bike driving instances, cornering may be essentially the most troublesome. You require lively suspension to take care of traction whereas your tires are on lean, however you additionally want the shock to agency up as quickly as you begin pumping the pedals on the flip exit. I’ve tried, however I can not actuate a bar lever that rapidly or persistently, and doing so breaks my focus and momentum.
If FOX Reside Valve Neo works because the model states, it could possibly considerably diminish these compromises. The shock corporations up or turns into extra forgiving precisely on the proper occasions.
What Merchandise Have Reside Valve Neo?
FOX gives Reside Valve Neo for its Float X within the Manufacturing unit and Efficiency Elite sequence. The system can be obtainable in its DHX shocks, however solely within the Manufacturing unit sequence.
The FOX Reside Valve Neo Equipment, which incorporates Fork and Rear Bump Sensors, Battery, Charger, and Charger Cable, has an MSRP of $399. The Reside Valve Neo Float X shock goes for $999, whereas the Reside Valve Neo DHX has an MSRP of $949.
Search for a GearJunkie check and evaluation sooner or later!
