Originally Posted by
azukisingle
If you ride alot you may find your rear axle bent being that it is hollow , had this happen to me , yet I do ride ALOT .
the strength of an axle is determined by axle diameter, material used and how wide the bearings are placed between frame.
doesn't matter if it's hollow or solid, if the hub has a bad design, the axle will snap on a heavy hit.
in fact many solid axles are made from a cheaper steel compared to hollow axles and are easier to bend or snap.
most obvious place for this example is the bike frame. large diameter tubing is stiffer than narrower tubing.
for the bearing example, take a plank of wood, lay it on some bricks and jump on the wood. the wider you space your feet, the less the plank of wood bends.