15mm Axles in BMX is this the next change?

[AussieRuss]

Hi Guys.

Just been looking at the just released pics of the 2012 redline flight Carbon bike (Project79).

It comes with a 15mm slidethrough rear axle & the whole bike looks amazing with Envy rims, Answer Dagger forks, DXR cranks & Brakes along with Tioga seat as factory std out of the box.

Anyhoo.

I also see that Sinz Elite are doing 15mm Axle wheels now.

Just wanted to start a bit of chitchat to see if we think that 15mm will become the std in BMX over the next 5 years.

Obviously a frame needs to be built to suit 15mm axles without modification so I can see that if it becomes popular people may start buying either std axle frames or 15mm axle frames.

Thoughts???

Russ...

[Bmxbandit]

The Sinz wheels use 10mm button head bolts which I believe will fit a standard frame??

There are already hubs out there with 15 , 17mm and the odd 19mm aluminium, titanium and chromoly axles utilising 10mm or 3/8 bolts 

Are the slide thru Redline hubs frame specific?? ie: Use 15mm nuts or some special locking device?  If they are then I would suggest they will need to be far better quality than the standard Redline Flight hubs which a lot of people look to change when they buy a flight.

Got to agree with Russ though that is one very nice looking bike.  Definitely interested in a frame for the young bloke if it can be used with other hubs.

I think axle diameters will increase as there is enormous benefit with regards to bearings etc in using larger diameters and with the fascination for more points of engagement in cassette hubs the bigger the cassette diameter the greater number of "teeth" or engagement points you can place in a hub while still maintaining sufficient depth for positive engagement.  But I tend to think most hub manufacturers will stick with 10mm bolts as there is no advantage that I can see in increasing the drop out slot width.  If you did the calcs on clamping force with current hub setups it is far in excess of what is required to hold a wheel in place for BMX.

[Icrashalot]

Link to pictures?

[Cyclops]

http://project79.redlinebicycles.com/p79/specs-geometry

[AussieRuss]

Link to pictures?

2012 Redline Flight Carbon (Project 79) Link;
(Scroll down & click on the hub for an animation)
http://project79.redlinebicycles.com/p79/feature


SInz Elite wheelsets link
http://www.sinz-racing.com/productpages/sepw-20.html


Cheers.

Russ...

[Alan]

[BrockT-41]

I think you might find that the reason for the 15mm axles and through axles is not only to get better bearing sizes but it also means that there is more area of the hub cone on the frame which creates a stiffer frame/hub combo without increasing the overall weight. We all know stiffer improves power transfer and therefore makes us go faster :-)

Specialized use Oversized end caps on there front mtb hubs with a 10mm axle and they are stiffer and a lot lighter than a 20mm through axle.

Speed also do a frame with a specific hub/frame design which is said to be crazy stiff. there was a right up in the news section some time ago on that frame set up with some data to support it.

There will be some big things around in 2012 - 2013 and it will change BMX :-)

[BARKER]

There is a great explination on the Redline Project 79 website. Explaining what they have done on the bike & why they have done it.

[T.H]

agree a nice  bike.


the front hub still looks similar to the current cone style? or not?

and the $ for a complete keep rising! I do wonder if the seat tube will be tapered like they were for the 2010 model?

H

[OGRO]

Yeah yeah yeah. Just another wank with a half truth story behind it to make you all spend money on new bikes.
By all means, guys and girls, go out and buy yourself a new bike - it is good fun and a great feeling.
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF THAT IT IS NECESSARY OR WILL BE ANY FASTER THAN YOUR PRESENT RIDE.
Ogro's prediction: 15mm axles are the 2012 disc brake. Seen a disc brake on a race bike lately?

[T.H]

Yeah yeah yeah. Just another wank with a half truth story behind it to make you all spend money on new bikes.
By all means, guys and girls, go out and buy yourself a new bike - it is good fun and a great feeling.
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF THAT IT IS NECESSARY OR WILL BE ANY FASTER THAN YOUR PRESENT RIDE.
Ogro's prediction: 15mm axles are the 2012 disc brake. Seen a disc brake on a race bike lately?

a race bike with disc brakes! Brilliant... I hope a company does that!..

[BARKER]

Disc brakes on BMX was done many years ago by Norco. Luke Madill ran them for many years.

[Alan]

Specialized have also ran disc brakes,



& GT have done disc brakes and gears

[OGRO]

Specialized have also ran
GT have done disc brakes
Disc brakes on BMX was done many years ago by Norco

Notice something in common here? All past tense, as in yesterday's news, been there done that not going back. Which is where 15mm axles will go too, in a year or two after the marketting people have made some coin out of you all it will all go back to the start. THAT is my prediction.

[AussieRuss]

Specialized have also ran
GT have done disc brakes
Disc brakes on BMX was done many years ago by Norco

Notice something in common here? All past tense, as in yesterday's news, been there done that not going back. Which is where 15mm axles will go too, in a year or two after the marketting people have made some coin out of you all it will all go back to the start. THAT is my prediction.

Thanks for the input into this thread Orgo.

What you say is entirely possible.

Part of the reason for me asking if we think this will be popular is for a few reasons.

Remember back in the 80's when most (not all) seatposts were 22.2mm
I wonder if people thought it was crazy in the 90's when  the first companies started to come out with different sizes.  Now it just a normal part that comes in many sizes.

Also remember when every bike came out with 3/8 axles. then again it changed in the 90's.

My post was more about back in the day most things were the same.  Now some changes stick & others fade away.  Just curious wheather this one will stick or not.

Bigger axles have definately taken off in the freeride/downhil MTN bike world already & we can be sure that things again will change in BMX.  Just wondering what the next change might be.

Russ...