Now, regarding the thru-axle frames and forks we introduced last time.
Thanks to their significant benefits, they have begun to be adopted by many manufacturers.
Amidst this trend, as the number of frames using them increases, the development of axle shafts by third-party manufacturers has also become more active, and higher-performance axles than the stock ones are now available.
With options that are lighter or easier to attach and detach, there is a blooming variety of creative designs.
It's enough to make you struggle with what to choose.
So today, I would like to share some points to keep in mind when choosing an axle shaft.
1: Axle Diameter
First is the diameter.
For forks, there are three types (12mm, 15mm, and 20mm).
For frames, there is one type (12mm).
Since they look quite different, this shouldn't be too difficult.
There used to be niche sizes like 10mm in the past, but most recent ones fall into the categories above.
2: Axle Length
This is where things start to get tricky when choosing an axle shaft.
First is the overall axle length.
3: Thread Length
The best way to determine the correct axle shaft length is to use your current one as a reference, but you need to be careful about the thread length when doing so.
The length of this section varies by manufacturer. Being slightly too long is manageable, but if it is too short, there won't be enough thread engagement to properly secure the wheel, which can lead to trouble, so please be careful.
4: Thread Pitch
And the most important thing to be careful about when choosing an axle shaft also lies in this threaded section.
That is what is known as the thread pitch.
Please take a look at the photo.
From the left, the thread specifications differ with 1.0, 1.5, and 1.75.
The spacing between the threads is different, and if this does not match, they are completely incompatible.
Therefore, I highly recommend choosing with the utmost care.
If you keep these three points in mind, you will almost certainly avoid making a mistake, so I encourage you to try picking out a new axle shaft.
If you're still worried or unsure, please feel free to ask our store staff.