We reported in our Frostbike coverage recently about Rock Shox’s update of the Reba fork for 29″ers. Today we learn, via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News website, about the 20mm through axle that will debut with the new Reba fork.
RockShox will be debuting the Reba fork with its new Maxle Lite option. The axle, which is more than 50 grams lighter than the current Maxle, maintains the same proven durability and functionality of the Maxle. Even better, the Maxle Lite uses the industry standard 20 x 110 dimension, meaning it’s compatible with other products on the market today. Refinements include: thinner aluminum axle body, lighter and more ergonomic lever and an aluminum skewer.
This lends credence to reports by folks at Frostbike that the updated Reba felt lighter than the original Reba. Sea Otter will be Rock Shox’s official release on this exciting new 29″er fork and Twenty Nine Inches will be there to cover the event. We will be getting you the specifics on the fork at that time. In the meantime this looks like it will be a major improvement on the “standard bearer” Reba 29″er fork and should launch Rock Shox back to the fore front of choices for 29″er freaks everywhere.
Maybe the complaints about Reba flexiness will go away.
This is great news for the 29er industry. If anything else…it will open up even more options for 29er bikes. 20mm thru axles seem to be almost a must for the amount of leverage that you put on the axle with the bigger wheels. Maybe now…if this sells well…we will see the other companies follow suit.