Fox adds ‘Kabolt’ bolt-on 15mm thru-axle option

Former pro-only option available soon in 100 and 110mm versions

The pro-only Kabolt bolt-on axle will soon be available to the masses

Josh Patterson

Published: April 8, 2015 at 4:24 pm

Back in 2010, World Cup cross-country racer Geoff Kabush asked the Fox Racing Applications Development team for a lighter, bolt-on 15mm thru-axle axle. Other Fox-sponsored athletes, including slopestyle and enduro races, were also interested, and so the ‘Kabolt’ was born.

Until now, this bolt-on axle was a pro-only item, but starting this June, anyone looking to shave grams from their QR15 Fox fork can buy one for US$45. (UK and Australian pricing have yet to be announced.)

The Kabolt uses a 6mm hex key for installation and removal, and while it does make wheel changes slightly more involved, it’s also lighter than the QR15 system Fox uses for its 32- and 34-series forks. The claimed weight of a 100mm Kabolt is 34.5g, which is 40g lighter than a comparable QR15 thru-axle. In addition to shaving grams, the Kabolt also reduces the axle's exposure to trail obstacles, reducing the likelihood of banging it against rocks on tight and twisty trails.

Fox will also offer the Kabolt in 110mm spacing for its recently released 110mm-spaced Float 34 fork designed for the 27.5+ platform.

Black axles will be available in June and orange versions will follow suit in August.

For more information, visit www.ridefox.com.

Josh Patterson

Contributor

Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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