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WheelsAxle standard

Stefan Frey

 · 07.11.2013

Wheels: axle standardPhoto: Daniel Simon
Wheels: axle standard
The compatibility of wheels is history. If you want to fit your old wheels on a new bike, you usually fail because of the axle standard. Classic 5-millimetre quick-release skewers, once a popular tuning part, no longer fit modern forks and frames.

But the innovation has advantages: Large-volume (thru) axles increase system rigidity and steering precision, while the QR15 thru axles speed up wheel removal on the front wheel.

5 / 9 / 10 mm: Quick-release skewers have a lever and a lock nut. They sit in a 9 mm (front) or 10 mm (rear) hub body, which absorbs the loads. The DT Swiss Thru Bolt is the exception here. It absorbs the external forces itself.Photo: Daniel Simon 5 / 9 / 10 mm: Quick-release skewers have a lever and a lock nut. They sit in a 9 mm (front) or 10 mm (rear) hub body, which absorbs the loads. The DT Swiss Thru Bolt is the exception here. It absorbs the external forces itself. Current bikes are increasingly fitted with 12 mm thru-axles at the rear. They are stiffer and in some cases easier to use. They are clamped either without tools or using a hexagon socket spanner.Photo: Daniel Simon Current bikes are increasingly fitted with 12 mm thru-axles at the rear. They are stiffer and in some cases easier to use. They are clamped either without tools or using a hexagon socket spanner. The lightweight 15 mm QR thru axle is mainly used on bikes with up to 150 mm suspension travel. It is bolted to the fork without tools using a clamping lever and is characterised by simple operation and high stiffness values.Photo: Daniel Simon The lightweight 15 mm QR thru axle is mainly used on bikes with up to 150 mm suspension travel. It is bolted to the fork without tools using a clamping lever and is characterised by simple operation and high stiffness values. 20 mm thru axles can be found in bikes with 160 mm travel and upwards. They are slightly stiffer than 15 mm axles, but also heavier. Depending on the model, they are closed via a lever or a hexagon socket.Photo: Daniel Simon 20 mm thru axles can be found in bikes with 160 mm travel and upwards. They are slightly stiffer than 15 mm axles, but also heavier. Depending on the model, they are closed via a lever or a hexagon socket.
Stefan Frey

Stefan Frey is from Lower Bavaria and loves the mossy, loamy trails of the Bavarian Forest as much as the rugged rock of the Dolomites. For technical descents, he is prepared to tackle almost any ascent - under his own steam. As an accessories specialist, he is the first port of call for questions about equipment and add-on parts, while as head of copywriting he sweeps the language crumbs from the pages of the BIKE print editions.

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