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Token launches threaded press-fit bottom bracket and rapid turn thru-axle

New threaded press-fit bottom bracket and two-turn thru-axle at Eurobike

Bored of the creaking press-fit bottom bracket on your bike? Token might have solved this problem with its brand new Thread Fit, an aluminium threaded press-fit bottom bracket. The company has also developed a clever thru-axle with a unique design that requires just two rotations to secure the wheel into place. 

Thread Fit

The Thread Fit bottom bracket comprises a pair of aluminium cups with two injection moulded surfaces made from plastic and fibreglass surfaces (a process it calls Fusion) that press against the inner surface of the bottom bracket shell that ensures a snug fit inside the frame, and eliminates play and therefore any creaking noises. 

token 2017 8.jpg

The bearings sit inside this aluminium barrel, wrapped in plastic and fibreglass, providing a secure and solid platform for the bearings to spin freely, extending their life. The replaceable bearings feature titanium coated races and ceramic balls, which it calls‘TiCeramic’. 

The two halves of the bottom bracket are simply threaded into the bottom bracket, either using a special tool it has developed or a standard tool, similar to that used to fit externally threaded bottom brackets. Token says it eliminates any issues with frames with poor tolerances, but that’s not all, it also reckons the Tread Fit extends the life of the bearings and makes the bike stiffer.

token 2017 6.jpg

“We don’t want to start a fight but we think it’s fair to claim that there are some problems with press fit bottom brackets. They creak, don’t last all that long and are installed and removed with tools that cavemen would recognise. TOKEN’s Thread Fit bottom bracket solves the creaking issues, improves bearing life and adds stiffness to the bottom bracket,” says Token.

token 2017 11.jpg

The entire bottom bracket weighs a claimed 115g and with seven combinations of bearings it is compatible with most current press-fit standards. 

token 2017 10.jpg

We don’t have a UK price for the new Thread Fit bottom bracket just yet, but it is available now, and we’ll be getting one in for review.

Axle 2 Turn thru-axle

If that wasn’t enough innovation, Token has also reinvented the thru-axle with the launch of the A2T (Axle 2 Turn) thru-axle. Okay, that’s not quite accurate, but it has developed a thru-axle that requires just two rotations to tighten, which means “extremely fast wheel removal.”

token 2017 2.jpg

On the end of the thru-axle shaft is a unique thread pitch which has been one year in development and been through five revisions, and is now patented. Compared to regular thru-axles, it requires just two full rotations to open or close. The bolt on the end allows adjustment of the final closing position of the lever.

It’ll be available in 12 and 15mm versions and Token is in talks with some manufacturers about adopting it because obviously, you can’t just use it with any current thru-axle bike.  

token 2017 4.jpg

Be interesting if any manufacturers do adopt it. Anything that makes it easier and quicker to operate a thru-axle is a good thing in our books, so here’s to see some bike brands showing an interest in it. Given the long lead times of many of the bigger bike companies, it could be a few years before that happens.

More info soon, and hopefully a review of the new bottom bracket, very interested in trying that out.

www.tokenproducts.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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39 comments

Avatar
Pony Ma | 7 years ago
0 likes

The original design of this thread BB was from the Brand "TRiPEAK Ceramic Bearing".

It gurrantied zero creak from it's patented snug ring.

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Dawdler | 7 years ago
0 likes

They're not the first with that idea - I have a Rotor BB30 to 24mm bottom bracket on a Condor Super Accacio to allow me to use Shimano cranks in its BB30 shell.

Identical to the Token one - two halves screwed together using standard BB tools.

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alg | 7 years ago
0 likes

So it's a threaded bottom bracket;  well done Token and about time somebody sorted out the press fit nonsense  

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700c replied to alg | 7 years ago
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alg wrote:

So it's a threaded bottom bracket;  well done Token and about time somebody sorted out the press fit nonsense  

No it still presses in! It's quite possible someone could buy this and still get creaking, especially if the frame is not quite to spec.

 

 

Avatar
me | 7 years ago
1 like

Not sure why they'd need to make an ultra torque version.  As per 700c the campag metal cups are all you need.  BB86 anyway.  Much better solution than the nasty plastic shimano sleeve that was in the frame when it arrived

I too give up with all the BB standards. 

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Pony Ma replied to me | 7 years ago
0 likes

me wrote:

Not sure why they'd need to make an ultra torque version.  As per 700c the campag metal cups are all you need.  BB86 anyway.  Much better solution than the nasty plastic shimano sleeve that was in the frame when it arrived

I too give up with all the BB standards. 

TRiPEAK ceramic bearing offered Campagnolo solution.

www.bibglobal.com

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dodgy | 7 years ago
0 likes

.

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userfriendly | 7 years ago
0 likes

Token Y U no make Campag Ultra-Torque version? 

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srchar replied to userfriendly | 7 years ago
0 likes

userfriendly wrote:

Token Y U no make Campag Ultra-Torque version? 

http://www.wishbonetw.com/product.php

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pablo | 7 years ago
0 likes

People also keep talking about misalignment between the 2 cups & bearings. I can't see how this would ever be a real issue if you can get the crank axle theough both bearings. The inner race of a bearing is machined to a very tight tollerance. The axle assuming it follows normal limits & fits best practice would be tiny like in the microns ( i'd have to dust of my machinists handbook to work it all out).

With pf30 their are more points of potential failure and finding exactly which one it is is maddening and suspicion always falls on the bb.

Avatar
part_robot | 7 years ago
1 like

According to my LBS, legit creaking with them is relatively rare if assembled correctly*. So far in my personal experience the creaking has always turned out to be something else. My current list includes :

  • Speedplay cleats needing torquing, threadlock and grease throughout.
  • My orthotic insoles.
  • Insufficiently tight lockring (it requires a LOT of effort - nearly 50Nm on mine).
  • Chainring bolts.
  • Carbon paste needed on seat post.
  • Crud inside the seat tube.
  • Saddle clamp needing a good clean.
  • Insufficiently torqued and/or threadlocked pedals.

Hopefully that will help someone diagnose their own issues quickly. Now that I have a proper precise torque wrench for large torques (Halfords own brand pro model is one of the best, would you believe) I've not any more creaks in a long while. Touch wood.

 

* That said, I know some Cannondale's have/had squiffy tolerances but a good LBS will either ream the frame themselves or you may be able to get C'Dale to do it in some circumstances.

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Broony84 | 7 years ago
0 likes

I bought a KCNC BB so I could use an Ultegra chainset with my dolan frame instead of press fit. Isn't this the same thing?

Or am I confused?

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macrophotofly replied to Broony84 | 7 years ago
1 like

Broony84 wrote:

I bought a KCNC BB so I could use an Ultegra chainset with my dolan frame instead of press fit. Isn't this the same thing? Or am I confused?

 

No this allows you to fit cranks designed for BB30 and PF30 e.g SRAM and Cannondale into PF30 frames (as well as having adapters that allow you to fit shimano cranks as in your case)

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pablo | 7 years ago
0 likes

I think this comments section just goes to show how controversial pf30 can be.

I honestly think most of the issues are tollerancing issues on the width of the shell and most issues are the axle sliding left and right in the bearings.

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pruaga | 7 years ago
3 likes

Yet another example of https://xkcd.com/927/

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TypeVertigo | 7 years ago
0 likes

BB86 on my TCX SLR 2. Zero problems with creaking or otherwise. And that's with both FSA and Shimano bottom brackets.

I can understand the general feeling of dread with press-fit bottom brackets but they're not universally bad. I hear more horror stories with BB30 and PF30.

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
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Aye, other riders never thought about isolating the creak either. Just you genuises laugh

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Rapha Nadal replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
2 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Aye, other riders never thought about isolating the creak either. Just you genuises laugh

*geniuses

Enjoy your creaky bike.

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Beatnik69 | 7 years ago
3 likes

Creak creak creak. Press fit BB. Regreased. Creak creak creak. Seatpost out, grease applied. Silence.

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Rapha Nadal replied to Beatnik69 | 7 years ago
0 likes

Beatnik69 wrote:

Creak creak creak. Press fit BB. Regreased. Creak creak creak. Seatpost out, grease applied. Silence.

Exactly.  Most are quick to jump on the creaky BB theme but forget that the tubes used in most modern bikes are quite large and will therefore amplify any minor creaks quite significantly.

Unfortunately, this then means that a minor creak can become a time consuming process of elimination!

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Rapha Nadal | 7 years ago
1 like

I must be very lucky as I've never, ever had any noises or issues with my press fit BB's and they've not been touched since I installed them.  Maybe I'm just a fantastic mechanic.

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700c replied to Rapha Nadal | 7 years ago
0 likes

Rapha Nadal wrote:

I must be very lucky as I've never, ever had any noises or issues with my press fit BB's and they've not been touched since I installed them.  

 

Me neither.  Despite putting it together myself and subjecting it to a lot of 'power', shall we say?!

Surely PF BB creaks come from the interface between the bearings races and the cups/ frame?

(In which case you have a incorrectly made frame shell or inadequately assessbled/ designed BB)

I don't see how this eliminates the problem.  

As for stiffness, I can see how the screwed- in sleeve might make it stiffer - for crap bottom brakets that tend to flex! But I don't think there's a  general problem with a lack of stiffness in PF BB's - PF is generally specified in order to get a larger, stiffer BB, compared to traditional threaded fitting. 

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gazzaputt | 7 years ago
0 likes

Agree with the arcaic manner in which a pressfit has to be removed and installed.

I'd like to try this as I'm sick to the back teeth of bottom bracket creak. All the 4 bikes I owned wit pressfit creaked.

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surly_by_name | 7 years ago
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The headline suggests Token have done something revolutionary, which seems something of an overstatement given (as pointed out) Praxis have been doing something similar (albeit without the integrated plastic/fibreglass bit, which does seem a bit clever) for some time as have Hope (although you need their fancy tool).

I have several bikes with PF BBs - road and MTB, Hope PF BB and plain vanilla, £20 Shimano plastic PF ones - and I've never had a problem with creaking on any of them (touch wood and all that). I think threaded external BBs are a bit simpler to fit but so far my PF BBs have been fit and forget.

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Batchy | 7 years ago
1 like

Just off out for a spin to test for CREAK CREAK CREAK! Refitted damn thing yesterday. Living in hope! 

I bet that this new Token jobby costs a crank arm and a leg ! Will it be guaranteed not to creak ? ? ? Mmmmmmm !

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Batchy replied to Batchy | 7 years ago
1 like

Batchy wrote:

Just off out for a spin to test for CREAK CREAK CREAK! Refitted damn thing yesterday. Living in hope! 

I bet that this new Token jobby costs a crank arm and a leg ! Will it be guaranteed not to creak ? ? ? Mmmmmmm !

Further to the refitted bb86 ( Shimano Ultegra). Silence for first 12 miles then FFS CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK f...Ing CREAK!

It spins beautifully and silently until I put some power through then it's CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK! No it's not my seat post , chainset bolts, pedals,cleats or my knees. It's my press fit bottom bracket . CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK CREAK ! !

 

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HowardR | 7 years ago
1 like

Re "Creak, creak, creak, creak.." - Might be worth plopping a dob of grease on your chainwheel bolts & the areas where it fits on to the spider.

My apologies if the above reads as an invitation to initiate your parents immediate maternal forbearer in how to evacuate an egg through the application of sub atmospheric pressure..... 

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

Creak, creak, creak, creak.. press fit on my Bianchi.

 

Hideous thing. That's after the LBS took it out and redone it too. 

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AWP | 7 years ago
2 likes

Had endless issues with press fit on my Cervelo. The only solution has been to fit a one-piece BBInfinate unit. It's not neccessarily the fitment of the cups in the frame that cause the issue it's the alignment (or lack of it) that causes the problems as there are stresses in the assembly and these stresses cause movement as the cranks turn. The BBInfinate deals with both alignment and fit issues in one hit. It's an obvious solution to the whole PF standard. I'm a convert.

 

 

Avatar
srchar replied to AWP | 7 years ago
0 likes

AWP wrote:

Had endless issues with press fit on my Cervelo. The only solution has been to fit a one-piece BBInfinate unit. It's not neccessarily the fitment of the cups in the frame that cause the issue it's the alignment (or lack of it) that causes the problems as there are stresses in the assembly and these stresses cause movement as the cranks turn. The BBInfinate deals with both alignment and fit issues in one hit. It's an obvious solution to the whole PF standard. I'm a convert.

Same here with my R5. One look at Campagnolo's BBRight cups is enough to see that there's simply not enough material interfacing with the frame, and no amount of Loctite would stop the cups walking out. BBInfinite is a good solution, but I didn't like the look of the uninstallation process and went with a threaded Wishbone unit instead, which works a treat. The Token design is a direct copy of this.

To all those saying that PF is fine and the creaks are loose QRs, pedals and saddles and/or that those of us with issues are hamfisted imbeciles, you've been lucky!

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