Is frame with 130mm axle width an outdated standard or do modern bikes still use it?
07-06-20, 01:00 AM
#1
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Is frame with 130mm axle width an outdated standard or do modern bikes still use it?
Saw a 2019 mountain BSO with this dropout width on an aluminum frame. I thought 135mm has been the standard for 20 years now, and yet I just saw a bike like that. Diadora Orbita 2019. I was wondering why it went with 3x6 freewheel drive train, and then once I measured the width myself I was like whoa, never have I thought I'd see this in 2020. Can you even fit a 8 speed freehub wheel on this form factor? Is it even safe to cold set aluminum frames to 135mm?
Last edited by CaptainPlanet; 07-06-20 at 04:17 AM.
07-06-20, 01:36 AM
#2
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130mm is the standard for qr road bikes still. If you for whatever reason really wanted to you could lace a modern road hub to an appropriate rim and put a 8-12sp cassette on it, but I'd question the wisdom of doing so financially. This does remain a reasonable and sensible option for nicer old mountain bikes. For very cheap bikes freewheel hubs are available pretty widely between 126mm, 130mm, and 135mm. They probably built it at 130mm because they could save multiple cents on hubs at the moment the bike was specified.
07-06-20, 04:26 AM
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07-06-20, 05:11 AM
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Your description of the bike as BSO is enough. You can't expect them to make sense and who cares anyway?
07-06-20, 08:48 AM
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The price of the bike pretty much explains why your not getting standard, stronger parts for a mountain bike. Proper durable parts cost money. It would be a fools game to try to spread the dropouts to "upgrade" a bike like that.
07-06-20, 09:23 AM
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07-06-20, 09:33 AM
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It is actually a standard 6 speed mtb dropout from the 80’s. I have a couple 130mm mtb hubs lying around from that era. As for going to 8-10 speed, the issue is that a $250 mtb is not really designed for off-road riding, and probably has a disclaimer somewhere.
If you wanted to, you could fit a 130mm road hub In the dropouts and run more speeds. I can’t imagine the road hub not holding up any worse than the bike. The issue is putting money into the bike, you will need to swap shifters also.
Just ride and enjoy it.
John
If you wanted to, you could fit a 130mm road hub In the dropouts and run more speeds. I can’t imagine the road hub not holding up any worse than the bike. The issue is putting money into the bike, you will need to swap shifters also.
Just ride and enjoy it.
John
