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The Robert Axle Solves 142×12 MTB Trailer Woes

Written by Saris Mercanti
11 Comments
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Robert Axle Ibis 142x12For adventures or those with kids, having the ability to tow a trailer behind their bicycle is essential. Unfortunately for those riders, they’ve been cornered out of the new bike market, because the current 142×12 standard is incompatible with virtually all of the trailers on the market.

Luckily, the aftermarket has come up with a solution in the form of the Robert Axle Project. A company which offers four different axles, with different thread pitches, that fits over 30 of the most popular bike brands.

The axles are easy to install and require no special tools. To find out if there is a solution for your bike and trailer, head over to their website here, and choose your bike and application. Most axles retail for between $52-57 and the company offers flat rate shipping of $7.0 to the US, $24 USD to Canada, and $27 Internationally.

Robert Axle Project
Saris Mercanti
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Jdog
Jdog
10 years ago

This is a great concept. I actually bought a bike just to pull my kid in the trailer since I could not use my scalpel. It turned out ok since I LOVE the Krampus. I now use the Krampus for pulling the BOB trailer when trail-building and we switched to the wee-hoo I-go instead of trailer (which my kid freaks out for)

Also consider making adapters to ride the same bikes on trainers. This is helpful for fitting and indoor training.

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gino
gino
10 years ago

@Jdog
I think you’re saying they should make axles for trainer use. Fortunatey, they do at the Robert Axle Project. Also, Kinetic also makes a series of axles for trainer use.

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Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
10 years ago

Bravo!, a real product to solve a real problem, instead of a Kickstarter pushing an answer to a question nobody asked.

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bOb Dun
bOb Dun
10 years ago

Now we need fat bike axles!!

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Nick H
Nick H
10 years ago

Very cool to see this product on Bike Rumor. I came across this exact problem about a month ago when I wanted to start taking my twin toddlers on some road rides. I don’t ride road bikes and all my bikes that I own use 142, 12mm axles. I found the Robert Axle Project and immediately ordered one. The fit and finish of this axle is perfect. It looks just like something you would get from DT Swiss or Syntace. It worked perfectly to set up my trailer behind my Enduro (or my Stumpjumper). I couldn’t be more pleased and my kids are loving the rides.

I’d also like to mention they offer excellent customer service. I am new to bike trailers and didn’t know there are multiple different coupling systems out there dependent on the trailer (although I should have assumed since there are so many ‘standards’ in the bike world). They ask what is your application for the axle on the order form – and they took time to read it. I mistakenly ordered the incorrect axle for my application. I was emailed within 2 hours of placing my order explaining which axle I needed. I was quickly able to change my order and get the correct axle. That saved me a ton of time from having to figure out on my own that the axle was incorrect, then having to send it back, etc.

P.S. I have no affiliation with the Robert Axle Project. Just a happy customer. I agree with Slow Joe Crow that this product is solution to a real problem that probably many people have. It takes a lot for something new to impress me and this product definitely delivered.

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thesteve4761
thesteve4761
10 years ago

Cool product. However, their information on the DT flat faced axle is not correct. Some of the DT flat faced axles out there use a 12x1mm thread, while some use a 12×1.5mm thread. It depends on what the frame manufacturer wants. They should be offering at least 3 different versions of that axle, rather than one. Example: Pivot, Turner, and Santa Cruz all use a DT Swiss flat faced 12×142 RWS. However, they have 3 different thread pitches (12×1.5, 12×1, and 12×1.75). You could easily ruin the axle, dropout, etc. if you didn’t catch that detail. I’m sure they’ll rectify it, but just a heads up.

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LilJoe
LilJoe
10 years ago

Nice find BR!! Ordering up a few for the shop now.

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gringo
gringo
10 years ago

@ Thesteve makes perhaps the best (unintended) point in this thread. a whole host of companies using the ‘same’ axle system, only differing in the thread pitch.

the constant pushing for new standards and the need to be different for only the sake of being different will be the downfall of this industry.

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thesteve4761
thesteve4761
10 years ago

@Gringo- Funny enough, it actually is getting more standardized for 142×12 axles. The varying DT axles are largely to fit other companies standards (12×1.5= Shimano, 12×1=Syntace, 12×1.75=Maxle).

Nobody seems to complain about their proprietary fork axles, so why should it be surprising that a frame utilizes the same idea? Can you bolt your Chevy ignition onto your Ford? Can you put your Honda clutch on your KTM? I realize bicycles aren’t cars/motos, but perhaps each frame designer truly believes the thread pitch they chose is better for their end user? I doubt any of those guys want to make the riders life harder.

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Padrote
Padrote
10 years ago

head to the hills everyone, thru axle thread pitches are taking this industry down

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Fred
Fred
10 years ago

Thule already has one that fits the X12 standard.

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