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TRP Hops the Barrier into other Parts with new Thru Axle Carbon Cross Fork

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TRP carbon road cx fork disc thru axle  (2)

Initially spotted at a recent UCI cyclocross event, TRP is shedding some light on their entry into the world of bicycle forks. It may seem a little weird for a company that deals primarily in brakes to take on a component usually found in framesets, but to TRP the move makes a lot of sense. According to TRP’s Bryce Olsen, one of the primary motivations was that there simply aren’t many aftermarket options for a thru axle carbon fork. With the exception of the Whisky No. 9 carbon fork, there are very few ways to upgrade the front end of your bike to run a 15mm axle.

While the additional availability will be nice, TRP also points out that their fork should be lighter than most of the competition with a total claimed weight of 450g. That weight of course is for the 15mm thru axle version – though TRP is also working on a 12mm thru axle option. That little detail is crucial – much like TRP was on the leading edge for the implementation of road and cross disc brakes, the company feels that 12mm thru axles will soon become the standard for road and cross bikes. Eventually the forks will be offered in both standards, but for now 15mm will be the only option since it is the current standard.

Along with offering more options for the consumer, TRP also took fork design as an opportunity to better learn the relationship between disc brakes and carbon forks. Being able to study the interaction between the two and make changes to the fork has given TRP the ability to “see what they might be able to do in the future.”

Ready for a 15mm thru axle fork now? More details, plus availability after the break…

TRP carbon road cx fork disc thru axle  (5)

TRP carbon road cx fork disc thru axle  (1)

TRP points out that the graphics on the fork shown in the picture will change, but all of the features should remain as shown. Using a DT Swiss RWS thru axle system, the forks will have clearance for a 40mm tire. Due to the built in 160mm post mount brake fitting, 140mm rotors will not be applicable for the front.

TRP carbon road cx fork disc thru axle  (4)TRP carbon road cx fork disc thru axle  (3)

The brake hose or housing will be routed through the fork leg internally, with an optimized path that ends up right at the caliper. By the numbers, the TRP fork has a 350mm 1.5″ tapered steerer, 397mm Axle to Crown measurement, and a 47mm offset. TRP is aiming to have forks available for sale by mid-February with price TBD. As for those Easton wheels shown in the photos that look like they could very well be a new (carbon?) CX wheelset? Well, we’ll have to wait on some more details from Easton on that one…

trpbrakes.com

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pk
pk
9 years ago

Can someone please make a survey for the industry so they can learn what axle standards we will buy. Because for me it isn’t thru-12

FNewStandards
FNewStandards
9 years ago

No 12mm for me either. 2yrs from now they will be pushing the 13.5mm thru axle

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
9 years ago

@pk, vote with your wallet, if 12mm thru-axle road sells like warm beer in July then the manufacturers are more likely to stick with the MTB standard 15mm front and QR 135mm or 12mm x142mm through rear.

Jim
Jim
9 years ago

Shimano are pushing 12mm for road so expect it to stick.

New sht time again, just as you thought all but Boost-standard MTBs may be cross-compatible in thru-axle sizes.

mudrock
mudrock
9 years ago

No mention of Shimano’s flush mount brake standard. Hope that dies a quiet death.

legless
legless
9 years ago

Besides the axle buffoonery I’m wondering how many bicycle manufactures offer a tapered head tube cross frame? That seems a bit of a miss if you ask me.

CW
CW
9 years ago

legless- most of the big name companies frames are 1.5- 1.125 tapered and a lot of the smaller ones and custom have a 44mm headtube. Tapered fork will work for both.

Collin S
Collin S
9 years ago

@legless, are you kidding me? I don’t think there is a single half way race intended bike out there that doesn’t have a tapered head tube. My buddy snapped his older CX bike’s fork via a garage door, which had a straight tube and disc brakes. He literally could only find one new fork (Ritchey).

Straight tubes are dead.

Matthew
Matthew
9 years ago

@Collin S: I agree with the premise (straight steerer cross forks are getting difficult to find), but there’s more than one company making them… I just bought a Wound Up that’s pretty nice for my cross bike.

Bazz
Bazz
9 years ago

12mm Thru-Axel? Brought to you by the industry that said three MTB wheel sizes was too many. What crapp. So 15mm thru-axels are now too stiff? Only a couple of months ago they were saying our quick release axels were weedy and we must upgrade to 15mm thru-axels.

Voting with my wallet.

John
John
9 years ago

Liking the internal routing aesthetic, vs. the clichéd ziptie-to-a-brakeline-boss. Funny how a brake company can see what traditional fork manufacturers can’t.

As far as 12mm front thru axles, until the full complement of DT, CK, etc. hubs are available in that “standard”, I’ll pass. Otherwise, you’re dependent solely on an OEM for replacements (re: Specialized’s new “offset” Roval 135mm rear thru axles).

Jim
Jim
9 years ago

“Liking the internal routing aesthetic, vs. the clichéd ziptie-to-a-brakeline-boss. Funny how a brake company can see what traditional fork manufacturers can’t.”

Many Taiwan OE fork makers already offer this. Minor PITA for assembly and adds cost. Does mean one less thing for mud to hang onto so for that I like it.

Jeff
Jeff
9 years ago

Have no clue what all this means, it seems to me the bike manufacturers want to make more money.

Thesteve4761
Thesteve4761
9 years ago

Why all the 12mm hate for a fork that is being launched as 15?

TypeVertigo
9 years ago

Nice fork. I wonder if they have a “commuter” version of this with fender mounts – would be a good replacement for my TCX SLR 2’s stock fork if/when it eats the dust.

erinsikink
erinsikink
9 years ago

did you bruhs know TRP stands for Tektro Racing Producs? true story.

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