E-Thru 15mm Quick Release Front Thru Axle System
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
Designed in conjunction with FOX, Shimano has developed a new 15mm Thru axle system. Aimed at the XC/AM/Enduro athletes, the new system aims to bring some of the joy of a solid thru-axle to the dated front 9mm quick release system.
Expect to see other fork/hub manufactures on board with this E-Thru 15mm system.
The E-Thru system like a convetional 9mm quick relase uses 100mm OLD spacing. Shimano says that it is 15% stiffer torsionally, and 25% stiffer in transverse shear when compared to a traditional quick release system. This new system also doesn’t add much weight (upto ~20g) and in some cases is lighter by over 20g in a comparable qr setup.
This will only be a good thing provided enough manufacturers get on board as it will bring some of the stiffness of a thru axle to the AM/XC/Enduro market that they’re missing out on. Its not only a safer system, but will increase the confidence of the 4x/AM/XC/Enduro rider if they’re not already running a 20mm axle.
February 19th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I wonder which suspension fork manufacturers are going to embrace this, if any.
They’ll need to keep two different options available on several lines, since some will see no need to move from 9mm.
Time will tell.
February 19th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
marzocchi is also working on forks with this standart (if it can be so called standart so far)
February 19th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Cool idea, but its shimano making their own system that no one else is going to embrace very easily. Why not just go with a 20mm system to work with existing products already on the market. I think this setup would be ideal for things like 4x where a lighter fork and a 20mm axle aren’t really needed. But again, it all depends on what companies pick up the standard other than Fox. It also means all new front hubs, which many people won’t be too happy about. I myself would rather keep a 20mm front so that all my wheels are interchangeable.
February 19th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Yea, as Ritter says Marzocchi is also working on forks with the 15mm. Not sure who else besides FOX/Marzocchi is on board at the moment.
Whats wrong with 20mm thru-axles, nothing. I do think that there is a common misconception among XC/Enduro guys that feel like 20mm is for DH/rugged riding, perhaps this will fix that.
Its safer than QR and stiffer. It isn’t meant as a 20mm replacement. I figure go about your business if you know what you’re looking for in the 20mm land. This is designed it seems for the 32mm FOX type forks, 29er’s, and not the 36 series.
For the XC/Enduro market, I personally think its not a bad idea as you can more clearly define what an XC/Enduro fork is… although another standard does sound a bit redundant. For the 4x/slalom guys as well, they now can run a lightweight thru axle on their bikes as a good chunk of them run XC forks on these bikes.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
This is just another gimmick. Why would you want a 15mm axl when you can get a 20mm. How much lighter can a 15mm axl be compared to a 20mm? This seems like a digression, making the axl diameter smaller will not decrease weight by much, but it will be less stiff. There are plenty of lightweight forks with a 20mm axl, Nixon, Minute, Pike, so what is the point of this system. This seems like a crappy compromise to shed a few grams
February 19th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I think it is not a smart idea.
There are too many light 20mm hub available, like Tune, DT 240s, C.K. Hope, etc. We are ready for the Thru axle generation in fork in all catagory of riding.
Just hope that Fox and Shimano understand that we need a 20mm QR option in all fork and some lighter and more 20mm QR hub, but not a 15mm “new” QR system…..
February 20th, 2008 at 2:33 am
personally i think they should just do more fork with 20mm options, i would love a fox 32 with a 20mm, this right here will only cause more hassle and headaches.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:09 am
there is a significant savings in weight from the 20 mm, especially when fork manufacturers can design their fork around the 15 mm.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Shimano is notorious for creating new “standards” whether intended to benefit or not. What it translates into is sales i.e. the consumer wants/needs the new gadget… so new hubs/wheels/fork, etc. However, on Fox’s behalf it could be a way to create their own quick release standard to bypass and gain some popularity over Rock Shox’s Maxle design.
The real challenge would have been to work within the confines of the existing standard and create a lightweight 20mm quick release thru- axle that is superior to the Maxle design.
Completely contradictive to the age old adage of: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Maverick 24mm
S brand 25mm
20mm
9MM
Do we really need another option?
Im all for progression for the sake of progression ,but man thats alot of choices.
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:24 am
Seems like a good idea to me.
Remember this is aimed at xc/enduroall mountain riders.
In that category 20mm has the potential to be Overkill. There is no use for a 20mm hub for guys who climb straight up the ski mtns. like xc racers for example.
15 is a comfortable balance for good climbing and faster descending.
neat product should be stiff in the corners and track climbs amazingly.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
The new standard is set for those who may not need all that the 20mm std is about. For FR-wise, I’d choose 20mm hands down. But today we come across to new and lighter AM bikes, while they are not FR intended, riders request a more stiff feel under rocky trails and nasty stuff, but light enough to still be able to pedal steep climbs. This new 15mm QR saves a lot of weight and adds a very good amount of strenght to XC/Trail/AM bikes which 20mm is overkill and overweight. I see it as a good thing. I’ll support the new standard. Fox, Magura, Marzocchi and of course Shimano is realeasing products to the new std. But it’s just a matter of time until it becomes reasonable to the industry that this new std will replace the current 9mm QR for XC/Trail/AM bikes, living the 9mm for trekking and commuting bikes only.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
The need for a stiffer axle go hand in hand with the need for a stiffer vork with more travel. I run a Pike 454, an ideal lightweight Enduro fork. The Rock Shox maxle is very practical and not that heavy, so is this just a way to avoid a patent?
March 14th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
pointless
March 14th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
It is just a stoopid markting idea. just a thing to make money. I hate people who suport this shit. 20mm is way better. weight savings….. just for very dump idiots
good night
March 15th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I think that this is intended to be somewhat of a replacement for the 9mm qr system. This way you have 15mm for xc/am/4x and 20mm for fr/dh. I guess it makes sense if you think about it like that but it means that until it either catches on or doesnt there will be a lot of choices.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Why not just make light-weight 20mm stuff?
BOYCOTT
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
BOYCOTT
This is ridiculous. If Shimano can make a 15mm axle that is stiffer and lighter, imagine what they could do if they wanted put some R&D into the 20mm. The last thing we need in mountain biking is another “standard”. If it is not broke don’t fix it. And don’t give me that “its lighter” bs either. By how many grams? The diference between eating those last two bites of you pre-ride meal and not?
Let me guess, this is only available with Center Lock brakes?
Why don’t you guys spend some time and money developing us a light internal drivetrain?
Its these fractioned development roads that manfucturers take that send so many mountain bikers off in search of rigid 9er’s or whatever other simple unmolested mountain bike set up they can find.
Example #1
Shimano = Dual Control = consumer hostage tactic
They have lost market share and trust from consumers since they went down that road. Shimano will never regain the market’s respect they once had. Thank you Sram for focusing on producing products the market needs and wants.
Shimano = Fox = Bad
WIth Fox under new onwnership, I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I’ve been very trusting of Fox over the years as they have taken their time with R&D and product release to insure they weren’t dumping garbage on the market.
Might as well go by a Specialized Enduro with proprietary suspension that doesn’t work well, and has even lousier customer service and support.
I’m melting my VAN 36 down and casting a new toilet seat out of what’s left.
PS
I reserve my right to change my mind.
May 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Man is this perfect or what? Now when customers come in I get to confuse them even more about wheel and fork compatibility! I hope this comes on lots of new bikes so that when they want a different wheelset I can tell them they’re sol! Then when they ask why the maxlite maxle is the same weight and compatible with current 20mm axles I can say oh don’t worry about that and sell them back stock dual control shifters and surplus chain pins!
July 14th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I’m in. Who makes 15MM thru axle front hubs?