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Written by Tyler Benedict
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Following its introduction in February, we’ve been testing the Flow Zone Q36R quick release thru axle adapter kit for the Fox FLOAT 36 suspension fork.
While some iterations of the 2016 Fox 36 will get a tool-free thru axle, not all will, and there are plenty of 2015 models on the trails that may want the quicker wheel changes this upgrade allows. Installation is straightforward, and the product works as advertised. Check out the details, actual weights and more thoughts below…
The Q36R kit comes with instructions, an axle lever, two quick release levers and bolts, and the necessary hardware to put it all in place.
Compared to the stock parts (right), the Q36R parts add a number of pieces to the puzzle. But, once their on the bike, they never need to come off.
The system uses the stock thru axle and adds exactly 100g to the fork, making additional unsprung weight the big tradeoff for faster wheel changes.
The axle lever has a keyed hole that matches the allen bolt hole on the axle itself. Just drop the bolt down into the axle (threaded end first) and jiggle it until it drops through the bolt hole. We held a pencil down into the axle to keep it taut, then slide the handle onto the bolt and used a socket wrench to tighten the self-locking nut onto the bolt.
The kit comes with a double stick tape that lets you stick the flat head of the bolt onto a pen or something and slide it into the axle, but we didn’t need to use it. It’s recommended that you install the lever with the thru axle securely tightened into place so that you can line up the handle in the desired position. Otherwise, it could end up sticking straight up, down, forward, whatever, and you’d have to repeat the process.
Next, just bolt the quick release levers and cams in place of the stock bolts, replace the axle in the fork, tighten the levers and you’re ready to ride.
Once snugged, everything felt secure and solid. No wiggle or play was evident, and it’s never come loose during riding. We’ve had zero issues with it for the past few months of testing, but it’s certainly made wheel changes much quicker and easier.
There’s a little leeway in just how tight you set the QR levers’ bolts, and that affects how hard they’ll be to open and close. You do want them to require a bit of effort, indenting your fingers slightly, but no need to make them exceedingly difficult.
At $89, it’s not the cheapest of upgrades, but if you have a roof rack that requires wheel removal or have lost a race (or friends) because of lengthy, cumbersome repairs, it just might be worth every penny.
Tyler Benedict
11,166 articles
Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com. He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.
Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter.
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Groghunter
8 years ago
those lever sticking out the bottom are scaaaarrrryyyy. ‘zocchi made theirs low profile, & still got rid of them, because that is a baaaadd idea.
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badbikemechanic
8 years ago
Bikerumor should have an expose on the allen bolt and how it is the most independent bolt in cycling.
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Eric E. Strava
8 years ago
Still don’t get what’s so hard about whipping out a hex key. If I get a front flat, I’m probably already in the twilight zone.
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Vincent
8 years ago
I don’t understand why it points strait out and not wrap around the front.
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Will
8 years ago
Those levers on the lowers look to be off on there profile, should they be sticking out like that? Can you run them in the opposite direction pointing back?
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8 years ago
Come on commentators!! If you have an impact with a rock… a direct impact between rock and the bottom of your fork, then you’ll probably have something else to be worried about! Seriously, clever idea, not totally original, and should have been flipped on it’s head; put the cam-lever on the top and tuck it away neatly. Good luck @flowzone
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Jim Mac
8 years ago
Looks reminiscent of the Marzocchi QR 20 set up?
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Scott Vines
8 years ago
I can tell you that I have had zero problems with this quick release. I haven’t experienced the levers grabbing up any tall grasses, saplings or snagging any rocks. They really do make front wheel removal and installation a lot faster and easier. The gap between the lower and the lever is correct. I think that these close-up photos exaggerate the fact that the levers stick out toward the front. No the bike you never give it a second thought.
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Veganpotter
8 years ago
Yeah, the likelihood of that lever pulling open is super low. Then your wheel wouldn’t be in tight but surely it wouldn’t come out. It would just have a bit of slop and potentially ruin the tolerances on your fork unless you keep riding for a VERY LONG TIME like that.
That said, its stupid because an hex key is super easy to get with you.
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8 years ago
FYI, having tested these for quite sometime in the field (and crashing a few times) the levers have never been an issue. As Snipe-Hunter said, your gonna have way more issues if you hit that part of the bike!
Because the photos are all close up it looks much bigger than it really is. We have hundreds in the field with no complaints at all. Thanks and enjoy!
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8 years ago
Oh, and we highly recommend using a torque wrench on all the bolts. They all get torqued to the same FOX factory spec of 2.1Nm, this make the QR lever movement very easy and still generates the same clamp force as the stock bolts.
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duder
8 years ago
This seems so unnecessary. If you are taking off your wheel so often that you need this, then you should probably just be fixing the root cause of the issue such as buying better tires or a better bike rack, or upgrading whatever other crappy equipment that is causing you to have to take the front wheel off all the time.
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Ste Syson
3 years ago
Where can I get a replacement handle mines snapped
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