All About Thru Axles

As a method of securing wheels to frames and forks, thru axles are superior in concept but muddled in execution by the inability of the bicycle industry to settle on a common standard. Thru axles can dramatically increase the stiffness of the interface between the hub and dropouts, while giving the hub a very specific mounting position to improve the interface between caliper and rotor on disc brake equipped bikes. However, between front and rear standards, axle thread pitch and diameter, and a dizzying array of dropout widths, there are dozens of standards to weed through. And, unfortunately, there aren’t many places to find good answers to compatibility questions; most frame manufacturers don’t even publish the standards that they use. In the event that you lose your stock axle or wish to upgrade, this lack of information can be frustrating to say the least. It is our hope with this article to shed a little light on the issue.

A Common Misconception:  DT Swiss manufactures thru axles for just about every variant, so don’t expect that just because your current thru axle has a DT logo it uses a DT standard. Chances are it’s some other variant developed or chosen by the frame manufacturer with a stock axle that was merely manufactured by DT Swiss.

The E-thru Conundrum:  “E-Thru” is a Shimano-developed standard, with several variants sharing the E-Thru name. Fits are based on dropout thickness and use of internal threading or an external, replaceable nut. For example, a standard E-Thru 142 axle also fits on many E-Thru Boost 148 frames, while the standard E-Thru axle may be too long for many E-thru 142 frames because they require a shorter version. If possible, we strongly recommend using actual length measurements taken from your existing E-Thru axle when ordering a replacement. Don’t assume that because your frame is Boost 148 and uses E-Thru that it requires the E-Thru Boost 148 axle, as often it may not.

Sizing:  There are 4 main attributes to consider when determining the proper thru axle standard for your bike:

Bolt Head Interface: Flat or conical
Total Length: The length of the axle, not including the head.
Thread Length: The length of the axle’s threaded portion.
Thread pitch: Thread standard used on the axle, expressed as distance between threads in millimeters.
Fits: An list of known compatible forks or frames, by no means comprehensive.
Important Note: There can exist small variations within each standard. In general, any model within the listed variant should work for you application with few exceptions.

THRU AXLE

Front Road 12×100
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-lock 12mm Road Flat 119mm 12×1.5 12mm
Extralite BlackLock 12.5 Flat 120mm 12×1.5 13mm
Far and Near 12mm RockShox Road Flat 119mm 12×1.5 13.5mm no notes
Fits:
Enve Carbon disc fork
Front Road 15×100
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-lock Road Flat 125mm 15×1.5 10mm
Fits:
Parlee Altum Disc
Parlee Chebacco
Front DT Swiss 15×100
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Extralite BlackLock 15.1 Torsion Flat 143mm 15×1.5 8.7mm Torsion Box models only
Extralite BlackLock 15.2 DT Flat 143mm 15×1.5 16.2mm Other DT Models
Tune DC15 – DT Swiss Flat 142mm 15×1.5 15mm Other DT Models
Fits:
15.1 Fits only Torsion box models
15.2 Fits all other DT Forks
Front Fox 15×100
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Fox Flat 145.5mm 14×1.5 11mm
Extralite Blacklock 15.3 – Fox Flat 146mm 14×1.5 14.2mm
Far and Near Fox Flat 146mm 14×1.5 13mm
Kcnc 6061 Low Profile – Fox Flat 146mm 14×1.5 16mm
Kcnc 7075 Low Profile – Fox Flat 146mm 14×1.5 16mm
Kcnc 6061 – Fox/E-Thru  Flat 146mm 14×1.5 16mm
Kcnc Indexing – Fox Flat 146mm 14×1.5 17mm
Kcnc QR – Fox Flat 146mm 14×1.5 16mm
Tune DC15 – Fox Flat 143.5mm 14×1.5 12.5mm
Fits: 
Fox Float 32 15QR (2014-2015)
Fox Float 34 15QR (2014-2015)
Fox Talas 32 15QR (2014-2015)
Fox Talas 34 15QR (2014-2015)
Front Fox Boost 15×110
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Fox Boost Flat 156mm 14×1.5 14mm
Extralite Blacklock 15.3B Fox Boost Flat 156mm 14×1.5 14mm
Far and Near Fox Boost Flat 155mm 14×1.5 13mm
KCNC 6061 Fox Boost Flat 156mm 14×1.5 17mm
Fits: 
Fox Float 32 Fit4 Boost (2016)
Front Magura 15×100
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Extralite BlackLock 15.5 – Magura Flat 139mm 15×1 11mm
Fits:
Magura Forks
Front RockShox Maxle 15×100
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-RockShox Flat 147.5mm 15×1.5 10mm
Extralite Blacklock 15.4 – RockShox Flat 147mm 15×1.5 12.2mm
Far and Near RockShox Flat 147mm 15×1.5 11mm
Kcnc Low Profile 6061 – RockShox Flat 148mm 15×1.5 13.5mm
Kcnc Low Profile 7075 – RockShox Flat 148mm 15×1.5 11mm
Kcnc 6061 – RockShox Maxle Flat 148mm 15×1.5 13.5mm
Kcnc Indexing – Rock Shox Flat 148mm 15×1.5 11mm
Kcnc QR – Rock Shox Flat 148mm 15×1.5 11mm
Tune DC15 – Rock Shox Flat 147.5mm 15×1.5 10mm
Fits: 
RockShox RS-1 (2015)
RockShox Sid WC, XX, RCT3, RLT, RL (2012-2015)
RockShox Reba RLT, RL (2012-2015)
RockShox Pike DJ, RC, RCT3 (2014-2015)
RockShox Revelation WC, XX, RCT3, RLT, RL (2014-2015)
Santa Cruz Stigmata
Front RockShox Maxle Boost 15×110
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-RockShox Boost Flat 156mm 15×1.5 12mm
Extralite Blacklock 15.4B – RockShox Boost Flat 156mm 15×1.5 12.2mm
Far and Near RockShox Boost Flat 155mm 15×1.5 11mm
KCNC 6061 RockShox Boost Flat 158mm 15×1.5 11mm
Fits: 
RockShox Sid RL Boost (2016)
RockShox Reba RL Boost (2016)
RockShox Lyric RC Boost (2016)
RockShox Lyric RCT3 Boost (2016)Not compatible with RockShox RS-1 (check non boost vairant)
Rear Maxle 12×135
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Maxle 135 Flat 167 12×1.75 20mm
Fits:
Specialized Crux (2016)
Rear Maxle 12×142
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Maxle Flat 174mm 12×1.75 20mm
Extralite Blacklock 12.3 – Maxle Flat 176mm 12×1.75 19.2mm
Far and Near Maxle Flat 172mm 12×1.75 20mm
Kcnc Low Profile – Maxle Flat 173mm 12×1.75 21mm
Kcnc Indexing – Maxle Flat 173mm 12×1.75 21mm
Kcnc QR – Maxle Flat 172mm 12×1.75 21mm
Fits: 
BMC FourStroke FS02 (2014)
Ibis Mojo SL-R (2013)
Ibis Mojo HDR (2014)
Ibis Ripley (2013)
KTM Myroon Prestige, Prime, Master, Elite 27 and 29 (2015)
KTM Scarp Prestige, Prime Master, Elite 27 and 29 (2015)
Niner RIP9 (2013-2015)
Niner SIR9 (2015-2016)
Trek Procaliber 9.9 SL, 9.8 SL, 9.7 SL (2016)
Trek Superfly 9.9 SL (2013-2015)
Trek Superfly 9.8 (2013-2015)
Trek Superfly 9.7 (2015)
Wilier 101XN (2014)
Maxle Boost/DH 12×148/150
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Maxle 150 Flat 182mm 12×1.75 20mm
Extralite BlackLock 12.3B – Maxle Boost Flat 182mm 12×1.75 20mm
Far and Near Maxle Boost Flat 182mm 12×1.75 20mm
KCNC 6061 Maxle Boost Flat 180mm 12×1.75 22mm
Fits:
Niner RKT 9 RDO (Boost 148) (2016)
Many other Boost Maxle frames
Maxle ABP (Trek) 12×142
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Maxle ABP Flat 192mm 12×1.75 20mm
Fits:
Trek Remedy 9.8 27,5 (2016)
Trek Remedy 9, 8 (2016)
Trek Superfly FS (2014-2015)
Trek Fuel EX (2014-2015)
Trek Slash (2014-2015)
Maxle ABP Boost (Trek) 12×148
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Maxle ABP Boost Flat 198mm 12×1.75 20mm
Fits:
Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SL, 9.8 SL (2016)
Trek Top Fuel 9, 8 (2016)
Trek Remedy 29 Carbon (2016)
Trek Fuel EX 9.9, 9.8 29 (2016)
Trek Fuel EX 9, 8 29 (2016)
Rear “Scott” Standard 12×142
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-Scott Flat 168mm 12×1 16mm
Extralite Blacklock 12.4 – Scott Flat 168mm 12×1 17.2mm
Far and Near Scott Flat 168mm 12×1 17mm
Tune DC12 – Scott Flat 168mm 12×1 12mm
Fits: Carbon-Ti and Far and Near. Note Extralite does not fit Santa Cruz models 
Lynskey Pro 29 (2015)
Santa Cruz 5010 (2014-2015)
Santa Cruz 5010 V2 (2016)
Santa Cruz Blur XC Carbon (2013)
Scott Spark 700 (2014-2015)
Scott Spark 900 (2014-2015)
Scott Scale 700 (2014-2015)
Scott Scale 900 (2014-2015)
Extralite version does not work on Santa Cruz frames
Rear “Scott” Boost Standard 12×148
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Extralite BlackLock 12.4B – Scott Boost Flat 172mm 12×1 17.2mm
Fits: 
Scott Boost Frames
Rear Shimano E-thru 12×142
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-lock E-thru Flat 171mm 12×1.5 17mm
Extralite Blacklock 12.1 – E-thru Flat 172mm 12×1.5 18.3mm
Far and Near E-thru Flat 169mm 12×1.5 18mm
Kcnc Low Profile – E-Thru 171 Flat 171mm 12×1.5 18mm
Kcnc Indexing – E-thru Flat 171mm 12×1.5 18mm
Kcnc QR –  E-thru Flat 170mm 12×1.5 14mm
Fits: 
BMC FourStroke FS01 (2013-2015)
BMC FourStroke FS02 (2013)
Focus Super Bud 29r (2014)
Giant Anthem Advanced 27.5 (2015)
Giant XtC Advanced SL 27.5 (2014-2015)
GT Zaskar 100 (2013)
Haibike Greed (2012)
Kona King Kahuna 29er (2003)
Lapierre Zesty (2014)
Lapierre Spicy (2014)
Titici Explosion (2013-2015)
Titici Flexy (2014-2015)
Rocky Mountain Element 950 RSL 29″ (2014)
Rocky Mountain Vertex Carbon 29″ (2012)
Yeti SB6 Carbon (2015-2016)
Yeti SB4.5C Boost 148 (2016)
Rear Shimano E-thru Short (161) 12×142
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Kcnc Low Profile – E-thru 161 Flat 161mm 12×1.5 18mm
Fits: 
None listed
Rear Shimano E-thru Long (Boost) 12×148
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock – E-thru Boost Flat 178mm 12×1.5 18mm
Extralite BlackLock 12.1B – E-thru Boost Flat 178mm 12×1.5 18.3mm
Far and Near E-thru Boost Flat 180mm 12×1.5 18mm
KCNC 6061 E-thru Boost Flat 177mm 12×1.5 19mm
Fits: 
None listed
Rear X-12 (Syntace) 12×142
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-12 Tapered 159mm 12×1 16.5mm
Extralite Blacklock 12.2 – Specailized X-12 Tapered 161mm 12×1 17.2mm
Kcnc Low Profile – Syntace X-12 Tapered 163mm 12×1 18mm
Kcnc QR – DT Swiss (X-12) Tapered 159mm 12×1 15mm
Kcnc Indexing – Syntace X12 Tapered 167mm 12×1 19mm
Tune DC12 – Syntace X12 Tapered 159mm 12×1 16.5mm
Fits: 
Cannondale Scalpel 29er (2013-2015)
Canyon Lux CF (2014-2015)
Canyon Gran Canyon CF (2014-2015)
Specialized S-Works Epic (2011-2017)
Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper HT (2015)
Rear X-12 Boost (Syntace Boost) 12×148
Manufacturer Model Interface Length Pitch Thread Length Notes
Carbon-Ti X-Lock X-12 Boost Tapered 166mm 12×1 17.5mm
Extralite Blacklock 12.2B – Specailized X-12 Boost Tapered 166mm 12×1 17.2mm
Fits: 
Specialized S-Works Epic HT (2017)
Specialized Epic HT (2017)
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