Mountain Biking - Fork dropouts: Thru Axle VS. Quick Release...

My Shermans have a through axle and it's a pain to get my bike inside my hatchback because I can't pop off the front wheel. First occurred to me when I walked out the store with my bike and tried loading it in my car! (Arrrrrrrgh!)

What's the advantage of a through axle? I assume they prevent the front wheel from accidentally popping off, but are there any other advantages?

Can they be retrofitted with any quick release skewer? I don't have an open-ended dropout on the Shermans but at least I wouldn't need a hex wrench to pop the front wheel off.

Also, has anyone tried Skeletools torsos (vest)? How are they for movement compared to full body armour by the likes of Dianese, Azonic, Sixsixone...

Sorry I am too lazy to look up the fork but is it a stand axle or a 20mm through axel?

You could rig your forks up with a QR. Check out Marzocchi, they have a 20mm QR that you could just slide through your hub and fork.

I prefer the safety of the through axle when doing drops and jumps.

:beer:

Also, has anyone tried Skeletools torsos (vest)? How are they for movement compared to full body armour by the likes of Dianese, Azonic, Sixsixone...

I had never heard of this sksletools stuff before, but it looks like crap. The 661/Dianese/roach/whatever other pads are more high tech with more padding including more plastics. I would definately look at 661 and Dianese.



I prefer the safety of the through axle when doing drops and jumps.

I dont believe the 20mm axle is for "safety", I think its more for stiffness and strength, though I have never really thought about it this much.

I would think less likely for slippage.Isn't that why you use a through axel for horizontal dropouts?...

Thanks fellas, I'll check out some sources for a quick release skewer. Maybe I'll take the one off my XC bike to see if it fits on the Sherms on my HT FR bike.

I dont believe the 20mm axle is for "safety", I think its more for stiffness and strength, though I have never really thought about it this much

This it true but I have clipped a rock on a ride once with a QR and it loosend it up. I was in the "groove" and keept going until I felt somethin'-a-miss with the front end.

:beer:

20mm through axles were designed for stiffness and strength. Besides that, standard quick releases aren't rated to handle 8" front rotors on disc brakes by most manufacturers. Actually, I can't think of any manufacturers who support 8" rotors on standard QR's, but I don't want to say none of them do because there might be one I don't know about.

Actually, I can't think of any manufacturers who support 8" rotors on standard QR's, but I don't want to say none of them do because there might be one I don't know about.


Like MANitou.

You could rig your forks up with a QR. Check out Marzocchi, they have a 20mm QR that you could just slide through your hub and fork.


A Marzocchi QR20 quick release setup will not work with a thru axle fork.

If you have a 20mm thru axle fork just get used to using a hex wrench to remove it.

It's only a minute or two out of your life.

My buddy runs 8 inch rotors on his bike and it's got standard QR skewers from and rear...

My buddy runs 8 inch rotors on his bike and it's got standard QR skewers from and rear...

Which means what exactly?

Fox specifically states they do not support 8" rotors on their forks, yet I run one on mine. I choose to take that risk, that doesn't mean it's supported. I have also had my QR's slip in the dropouts if they weren't cranked down obscenely tight. Can't really ***** to Fox though as they allready told me they don't support it.