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9mm QR thru axles.....
 

[Closed] 9mm QR thru axles... Are they worth the effort?

 mboy
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[#1626154]

Just wondering whether it would be worth the effort converting my new Hope pro 2 front hub to accept a QR 9mm thru axle on my Rockshox Revelations or not. I've noticed that a lot of Specialized bikes have come with this setup for a few years now, but have no personal experience myself.

Do they stiffen things significantly? I'm aware it hardly likely to make it feel like a 20mm axled fork, but is the difference noticable and worthwhile?


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 8:55 am
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I've done what your talking about, and I 'reckon' it's stiffer, though obviously have no imperical data to back it up. Considering it cost about £20 to do it, I think it well worth trying....


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 9:24 am
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Best thing I did on my Five was to convert the rear to 10mm - front has stiffened up compared to my XC HT (5mm QR) which has a little flex upfront.


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 9:27 am
 mboy
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Cheers z1ppy, I had a feeling it might feel noticably stiffer. Think I'll invest in the necessary soon and give it a go...

foxyrider, the Orange Five has a fairly flexy back end anyway cos of the slim yet fairly long swingarm...


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 10:26 pm
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superstar 'should' have stock of their cheap 9mm axles in next month
im currently waiting patiently to do the same myself


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 10:40 pm
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if you can't wait for that: I phoned up a specialized dealer & asked for a 9mm bolt thru axle as a replacement for one that came with a stout hub, had to be passed to a mechanic (Ben @ the concept store in Brum), but he knew what I wanted & ordered it in no problem


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 10:48 pm
 mboy
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z1ppy, how much did it cost you?

Can't find anything in stock anywhere (including Superstar) that's suitable right now. And the DT one is ridiculously expensive!


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 10:53 pm
 Andy
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Mark

[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39201 ]THIS FROM CRC[/url] is only £9, the same as the SSC one and in stock.

Need the adaptors as well though


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 10:55 pm
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that looks remarkably like the one i bought from superstar components

not sure about 9mm front but a 10mm bolt through rear will stiffen it up


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 11:01 pm
 mboy
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not sure about 9mm front but a 10mm bolt through rear will stiffen it up

eh?

I'm more worried about my 130mm Revelations flexing a bit than I am my 853 steel hardtail back end flexing...


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 11:04 pm
 mboy
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Cheers Mr. Wrigley

Can stomach £9 plus the adapters I reckon (just sold the redundant to me 15mm adapters anyway)...


 
Posted : 20/05/2010 11:07 pm
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May have been £15 (posted) though I'm not sure to be fair, looks exactly the same as that CRC link though (except for specialized logo). I'd just go for that


 
Posted : 21/05/2010 12:02 am
 mboy
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Cheers, as I ordered it about 5 minutes ago...


 
Posted : 21/05/2010 12:04 am
 mboy
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Arrived this morning, fitted it, had a quick play and it definitely seems to have made the front a bit stiffer.

Went out for a ride this evening, and... Well, yeah, it just seems a touch stiffer. Not like a 20mm axled fork but it seems to have made a difference!

😀


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 12:35 am
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mboy, sounds interesting- who did you get the 9mm Hope adapters from?


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 12:53 am
 mboy
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johnnyc I ordered them from Chain Reaction...

[url] http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=40654 [/url]

The 9mm QR axle I ordered is the Fire eye one linked to by Andy above...


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 1:19 am
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cheers mboy; in that case you got the last set in stock! Will try to track 'em down somewhere else.

Edit- £18 posted from ukbikestore


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 1:23 am
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The superstar ones are steel, at least the rear I bought is, and heavy.

I own the DT RWS ones as well, and I won't be getting any more of the superstar ones (or CRCs equivelant). Nothing wrong with them as such, but I'm not convinced you get the same advantage as you would with the DT ones. By all accounts the drawback with QR is that some of the clamping force is reduced when the lever passes over centre. Thin one or 9mm won't make a lot of difference in that respect. Oh, and the very end of the rod isn't 9mm, it is the same dia as a normal 'thin' QR, the bit where it passes into the cam.

The DT ones aren't cheap, but I think they are probably a better bet.


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 6:58 am
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The superstar ones are steel, at least the rear I bought is, and heavy.

50 grams heavier than XT to be precise. 🙂

Not bad for £7.


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 7:45 am
 Andy
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Not bad for £7.

Exactly. I got the CRC one whilst trying to source an DT RWS (thanks Rutland, but if you dont have it in stock please do say on your web 🙄 ). Have the DT now as well but glad I have the spare in case of an isuue with the DT RWS in the alps or scotland etc


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 9:25 am
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Didn't someone on here find the ends of the dt one (not dt but exactly the same) for sale at some fastenings trade wholesalers for about a fiver a piece?


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 9:48 am
 mboy
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50 grams heavier than XT to be precise.

Got to admit I weighed my Fire Eye axle (the £9 one from Chain Reaction) and it's 80g. The Deore QR it replaced is about 60g. A whole 20g increase!!! WOW!!!

Glad it's steel too, a 9mm steel rod is gonna be quite a bit stiffer than a 9mm ally one!


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 10:01 pm
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Can this be done with a Hope XC rear hub?


 
Posted : 23/05/2010 10:43 pm