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Fox Officially Launches 2016 Kabolt 15mm Bolt Thru Axle

Written by Zach Overholt Apr 08, 2015 1:00 p.m. ET

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Just one day after RockShox released their Maxle Stealth bolt thru axle, Fox is releasing one of their own. To be fair, Fox has been experimenting with the concept for years with idea apparently originating from their sponsorship of Geoff Kabush. At Sea Otter in 2013, Scott 3Rox Lead Mechanic Scott Kelly told us that replacing the quick release thru axle with one that used an allen wrench instead, allowed the team to use a drill for lightning quick, NASCAR style wheel changes.

Originally just available for racers on the FOX RAD program, Fox is ramping up production and will be offering them for any rider with a Fox fork running a 15QR axle…

Since you probably don’t have a team mechanic waiting at your side with a drill fitted with a 6mm hex wrench, the real reason for switching to the bolt thru axle would be the weight. At 34.5g, the 15x100mm axle is 40g lighter than the 15QR for a 54% weight savings. The Kabolt axle will also be available in the 15×110 Wide version to fit the newer Boost compatible forks. Kabolts will be available in orand or black, with black axles shipping in June and orange axles shipping in August with each selling for $45.

ridefox.com

Zach Overholt

5,630 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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mtnbikej

9 years ago

Once again….both Fox and RS have turned a blind eye to those of us still running 20mm forks.

Callum

9 years ago

I think most of foxes 20’s have been a bolt for a while now. As for RS well that’s just them doing their own thing.

handsome dick manitoba

9 years ago

@mtnbikej – most 20mm forks have dropouts that clamp onto the axle. The axle really just sits there and doesn’t clamp the dropouts onto the hub. The threads on the axle hold the hub to the left dropout so the disc rotor is aligned properly but that is low force. This actually lets the lower legs align with the upper tubes for lower friction.

On 15mm axle hubs the axle is clamping the dropouts on the fork to the side of the hub just like old 9mm axles with a QR did. You could replace those QRs with a bolt also. If everything isn’t just right this can actually cause the legs to be misaligned causing a bit of side loading on the bushings and increasing friction. But it is definitely more convenient for removing your wheel.

BrokenHand

9 years ago

Ordered!

Greg @ dsw

9 years ago

Maybe its obvious, but are those shafts AL alloy? Or steel?

craigsj

9 years ago

The real reason is to get rid of the lever that serves no helpful purpose for most riders.

mtnbikej

9 years ago

I don’t know….the 15mm Maxle in my Reba RL seems the same as my 20mm Maxle in my Reba RLT, and well as the 20mm Maxle in my Revolution RCT3.

Matty

9 years ago

Do you suppose that Boost axle is a teaser for a fork to be released at Sea Otter?

9 years ago

I’m loving the quarter turn stuff with Manitou’s axle

Brad

9 years ago

So you guys are cool with using an allen key to remove your front wheel? Does that mean you’ll stop moaning about needing an allen key to remove a lefty wheel (- even though you can fix a flat with the wheel still on the bike.)?