Schnellspanner.....ihr erinnert euch an die offene Diskussion mit Cy zu dem Thema im März? Da ging es für Cy genau um die Frage wie er das neue Solaris baut. Das war im Frühjahr das Fazit:
Dear x,
Thanks so much for all your emails and feedback on the thru axle question I posed earlier in the week. Sorry I didn't reply to everyone, I got 100's of responses! I did read them all though, and there was some really interesting information in there.
Firstly, the overwhelming majority of you agree that if there's no performance advantage, there's no point in having them. So it's nice we're getting it right for so many of you! Most people also mentioned that with most reasonable quality hubs these days it's pretty easy to switch adapters for different axles anyway. Several people even sited the lack of faff with QR's, and more than one person mentioned the fact it was impossible to leave your axle behind. I've done that with my X-12 axle out of the Rocket a couple of times and it's a really special level of impotent rage at oneself!
Second thing that came out in much smaller numbers was that a thru axle might suit the BFe, but maybe not the 853 frames, arguing that weight is less of an issue with the BFe and strength and stiffness - however marginal that gain may be - is what that frame is about. The main feeling on these emails was not necessarily the actual performance, but the perceived increase in safety and security would make them feel better about the bike in tough situations. Feeling confident in your equipment is a huge part of how well you're going to be riding so I'm definitely thinking on that one a bit. However, we're a hell of a way from having anything in production as we haven't even prototyped, so don't hold out on a BFe with a thru axle happening any time soon.
A few people use the DT RWD 10mm axle in their BFe for some extra security and like that solution. That option does suggest a halfway house where we could do a closed loop threaded version of our current mech hanger for 10mm axles which would retain a 10mm axle with the frame on one side. Again, just an idea, but it would add that 'fixed to the frame' security that some people crave relatively easily.
A few people suggested adaptable dropouts, but I'm afraid I'm poo pooing that one. Bolt on dropouts are one of my pet hats. They invariably look ugly, they're even heavier than a dedicated axle whichever system you're using and it's hard to make them as stiff as a solidly welded frame end. Rant over, we won't be doing adapter ends!!!