WHAT IS FOX LIVE VALVE NEO SUSPENSION?
Fox Live Valve Neo is an electronic suspension system designed to automatically adjust your shock in real time to tailor the performance to the trail. At the core of the system is a magnetic solenoid inside the shock, which responds to data via 2 sensors, mounted on each brake caliper. These sensors scan the terrain 400 times per second, and can command the shock to be open or firm in just 15 milliseconds.
The result? Suspension that should always be in the right setting: firm when climbing and plush when the trail gets rough. No levers. No buttons. No second guessing.
HOW DOES FOX LIVE VALVE NEO WORK?
Fox designed the Neo system to remove the manual guesswork from suspension adjustment. It works by first sensing the terrain with the sensors mounted to each brake caliper. These sensors measure G-Forces and the gradient of the trail, feeding the information into the system computer. The system interprets the terrain data, and decides whether the shock should stay firm or open up. The magnetic solenoid opens and closes the compression circuit almost instantly, allowing for excellent reactivity.
This “think for you approach” means the system adapts faster than any rider could ever flip a lever. The system uses its very own wireless communication method, called the Neo Protocol. This was developed in house by Fox, avoiding messy cables on the bike. The Neo Protocol has a response time 100x faster than Bluetooth, allowing the system to react near instantaneously.
SETUP & TUNING WITH THE RIDEFOX APP
Like most electronics, Fox Live Valve Neo requires setup by pairing. Thankfully, Fox built an intuitive app for that. Large on-screen buttons simplify the process of pairing devices, getting the system connected in seconds.
With the ability to create separate profiles, you can create a bike profile for your ride, and create custom tunes to suit different environments. Fox has a plethora of pre-built tunes for the system, but riders can also deep dive into all the parameters the system has to offer to further customize a tune for their given riding style and terrain.
For most riders, Fox’s preset tunes are going to cater to their needs. I settled on the “Shore Tune”, which is designed for steep technical terrain and allows the system to default more to the open end rather than firm.
On the shock itself, a firmness dial allows you to tell the solenoid how firm of a lockout you receive. This is a new adjustment for the Float X and DHX Live Valve Neo shocks, and is not found on any other products in the Fox lineup. I landed right in the middle of the adjustment range, which provided a balance of traction and support that worked across a wide range of trails.
SETUP BATTERY LIFE & CHARGING
Battery management is a big question with any electronic component. Through my testing period, here are the typical lifespans I’ve experienced with the Fox Live Valve Neo system:
- Live Valve Neo Shock battery: 15 – 20 hours of ride time.
- Live Valve Neo Sensor Batteries: Roughly up to 12 months, depending on use.
The Neo battery uses a proprietary charger, so there’s a chance that you are out of luck if you forget it on a trip. The good news is if the shock battery dies, the system defaults to the open setting so you are not stranded with a locked-out bike.
Compatibility Note: The battery’s position can cause clearance issues with some frames, so make sure to check before buying! To fit this on my aluminium Stumpjumper Evo, I had to Dremel away a part of the cross member. This is something we don’t recommend as it could pose a serious safety issue. It was only performed in order to test the shock for this review.
FOX LIVE VALVE NEO SHOCK OPTIONS
Fox currently offers two shock options with the Neo system: the Float X Live Valve Neo and DHX Live Valve Neo The Float X version tested is lighter and more versatile, best suited to trail and enduro bikes. For longer travel, harder-hitting bikes, the DHX Coil is going to offer increased capability.
Both Live Valve Neo-equipped shocks retain external low-speed compression and rebound adjustments, along with the new firmness dial. There are no high-speed compression or rebound adjustments on either of these shock models.
REVIEWING THE FOX FLOAT X LIVE VALVE NEO SHOCK
Climbing | Climbing is where Live Valve Neo immediately shines. Long travel enduro bikes often sacrifice pedaling efficiency for downhill performance, but Neo makes them feel far more capable on the way up.
The system provides near hardtail efficiency when you are on smooth fire road climbs or pedalling hard. Unlike a manual lockout, it never catches you off guard when you hit a root or rock. Instead, it instantly opens up once the front wheel detects an impact. This improves comfort and makes it easier to maintain momentum and composure. On long transitions or undulating singletrack, it saves energy without stealing traction.
For riders who rely on a single bike for everything, Fox Live Valve Neo could be considered a game changer. It can make 170mm enduro bikes feel more like a trail bike on climbs.
DESCENDING | Unsurprisingly, the benefits don’t stop on the climbs. In fact, many of the most impressive gains showed up when pointed downhill.
The shock stayed open through the compression events in corners, but could firm up at the exit as you get on the pedals, delivering more exit speed. There was no lag in response, with an impact opening the suspension instantly for traction and control. The response can be fine-tuned to your liking too.
With the Fox Bike App, you can set exact G-Force amounts that trigger the sensors to signal the shock to open. Riders can endlessly tune the way the system responds to sensor inputs. You can even decouple the sensors to have an even firmer setup by only running a rear sensor.
In my testing I consistently found faster corner exit speeds and improved control when getting on the pedals. On flowy trails where maintaining and generating speed was the goal, the system allowed my pumping inputs to be transferred into forward momentum instead of pushing deeper into the stroke of the bike. Only when I had the tunes set to the “Firm” setting did I have issues with the system staying locked out longer than I wanted. This is where I found the Shore Tune to be perfect for the steeper trails I tend to frequent. Live Valve Neo is not just for the climbs, but it can make a genuine difference when descending.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER FOX LIVE VALVE NEO?
While this is not for every rider, the price and tech have it aimed at a certain crowd.
- Enduro and Downhill racers looking to save every watt and every second on their times.
- Riders who love to tinker and play with settings, and who do not mind another app.
- Someone who has a big travel enduro bike that is looking to make the most of their one bike on all types of terrain.
If you’re a casual rider or your local trails are mellow, the benefits of the Live Valve Neo tech may not be quite so pronounced. A standard shock will give you 90% of the performance, at a fraction of the cost.
DURABILITY & LONG-TERM ISSUES
After a year of abuse, the system has been reliable overall, but a few quirks did pop up. The app sometimes showed “disconnected”, even when everything was working. Battery clearance may be a deal breaker for some frames, so ensure fitment before you invest. And the proprietary charging is a weak point if you do not keep on top of your organization, but by no means a deal breaker.
PRICE & VALUE
Depending on the configuration, Fox’s Live Valve Neo runs about $1400 for the shock plus sensor system. It’s undeniably expensive, but compared to the money riders are already spending chasing grams or stiffness, it’s not an outrageous price for a genuine performance gain. If you’re serious about racing or you ride terrain where traction and efficiency swing wildly, the saved energy and increased speed may make it a worthwhile investment.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Fox Live Valve Neo delivers the on-paper claims: it’s fast, smart and seamless. Climbs feel sharper, and descents are provided with plushness when you want it and support when you need it. It’s seriously good. 
Price: $1,418 – $1,468
Website: Ridefox.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Cole’s den is in Spokane WA, where he relocated a few years back. Growing up in the lush, loamy playgrounds of the PNW, his soul is forever tied to steep, rooty descents and that unmistakable squish of perfect dirt. After 19 years of shredding, Cole’s been on every kind of rig out there. Once a die-hard fan of big travel bikes, he’s now on a quest for the mythical short-travel do-it-all machine. And yes, skids may be for kids, but this middle-aged manchild is here to prove they’re also for anyone who loves having a damn good time.
Rank: Professional Amateur
Size: 6’1” / 185cm | 170lbs / 77kg
Social: @adventuresbycole
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