14mm axle question

[maddo]

Do 14mm axles only fit certain frames?

[tafkat]

anything fits with a big enough hammer.

but, seriously, you need 14mm dropouts to run 14mm axles, so yes.

[maddo]

anything fits with a big enough hammer.

but, seriously, you need 14mm dropouts to run 14mm axles, so yes.

So how common are 14mm dropouts on frames?  Are they the norm?  Do new frames come in both options?  When were 14mm dropouts introduced?

[mid_night gypsy]

 Today most frames come in the 10 mm version. This allows the buyer to go either way on the drop-out choice. You can file, grind or take your frame to a machine shop to make the 10mm drop-outs to a 14mm drop-outs....Hope this helps....Russ

[diesel1ne]

actualy most common on flatland frames are 3/8 dropouts or 10mm. 14mm is on some olderschool frames liek the strowler, but quamens have them to, but when you go to your local bmx shop, they will all probly be 14mm for the complete bmxes

[tafkat]

... but you have to file them out top and bottom (2mm for each) or else you're compromising strength and geometry.

Quamen frames have 14mm dropouts, and I think some of the Japanese-made frames have them as well. 14mm is the standard for street stuff because people got tired of breaking axles. You just have to look through the different frames on the market and see which ones have 14mm listed. I have no clue when they were actually introduced, but it had to have been sometime between 1998 and 2003.

[out~riding]

I believe Haro started to use 14mm axles stock on front and rear in 1996, after that it became the standard. On most flatland frames 14mm never really made it because the only real freecoaster available was Nankai 10mm...
Nowadays its hard to find 14mm flatland frames and forks but some companies are sticking with 14mm: Quamen, Hoffman Strowler, Magicfruits Exploit, Ares, Felt Dreamcatcher, Fly Tierra, Macneil Collier, S&M LAF, Dragonfly ... and more I can't remember.

[automaton]

Use slotted 14mm axles and then your wheels work in ANY frame. If anyone even still makes slotted 14mm axles.