Cyclists love their R.A.T. replacement axles

Part of our job is to keep up with bike industry standards and specific individual bike brand standards. In the past few years, we’ve developed a series of thru axles that can replace the R.A.T. (Rapid Axle Technology) found on a few bike brands, namely FOCUS and Cervelo. We’ve gotten an unexpected volume of great feedback from customers below!

See our full line of R.A.T. compatible thru axles.

Tore – Great axle/nut that replaced the not-so great R.A.T. – axle that my Focus Mares came with. Finally I can change wheels without swearing, sweating and the use of several tools. R.A.T is OK as long as you don’t have to change wheels.

Gonzalo – Very good quality You save 50 grams of weight original focus axle. Black anonized nut. Much better than aluminum color.

Terry  – The Robert Axle Project Company and their front and rear axle opinion , I have a 2015 Focus Mares CX Bike with the R.A.T. thru axle system. By replacing the rear R.A.T. thru axle with the Lighting Bolt-On Axle I have removed all of the inconsistency that I was having. The fit and finish of the lightning bolt-on axle is top of the market.

Leithen – Really great product. My Izalco Max Disc was having issues with the RAT thru axles and I couldn’t find replacements here in Canada, despite trying. While I did like the RAT axles, these are a far superior and more durable solution. Also, really great build quality. Thank you!

Jason – The perfect solution to the “perfect” solution from Focus! High quality, easy to use, and great fit. Thank you!

Viacheslav – The original axle on Raven is a night mare. Not only it’s almost impossible to install a wheel during a race, when everything is covered in mud and your hands are shaking like crazy. But it also can’t create enough grip to prevent some hubs from creaking in the frame. And when you tighten the axle more, the thread on the adjuster strips, leaving you in a middle of a marathon without your bike, nice ???? This Robert Axle piece is just great, and, I believe, it’s a must have for anyone who unlucky enough to get a bike with RAT ????

Josh – What a wonderful product. Makes removing and installing wheels so much easier than the RAT axles that originally came on my Focus Mares CX. Also gives me much greater confidence that they are on securely when installed. Installation was a breeze as well. I’m a believer! Thanks guys!

AK – Could not have been any easier to install (Focus Izalco Max Disc). Great, precise construction too. The instructions were a little bit outdated but I didn’t really need them. A must-buy if you’re using Focus R.A.T. axles.

Gary – RAT replacement fit perfectly. Shipping was practically immediate. All is well in the Focus Mares axle world. Highly recommend if you are frustrated with your RAT axle.

Matt – After breaking a couple of R.A.T. axles and having the rear axle creak and shift, and struggling with rotor rub on my front brake I lost all confidence in the R.A.T axle. NOW I get what the big deal is about through axles. The Robert Axle Project axles noticeably improved the ride quality of my Focus Mares. And now I’m not worried about another mid ride failure. Fit and finish are perfect. RAP the R.A.T. You won’t go back.

Alex – Used this axle to put my Focus Paralane on a direct drive trainer, works like a charm. Thanks to great support that helped advised me on choosing this axle among the rest. Will ride with it too, and probably, get a front one ????

Kierstyn – The Robert axle is a great replacement for the original RAT axle that came with the 2015 Focus Mares CX bike. Now, I have both front & rear Robert Axle replacements that should outlast the bike’s requirements for me. Perfect fit for my Direto Elite trainer Well done

14 Comments

  1. Brett on August 30, 2020 at 11:15 am

    I wish I had done this sooner. All Focus owners with R.A.T. should immediately dump them. The R.A.T. were never as easy to get in/out of the rear. I have two wheel sets that have just a tiny difference in width that required them to be adjusted to tighten down.

    This just solved all my problems, thank you.

  2. Adam Richman on September 23, 2020 at 10:50 am

    While RAT axles are interesting, they appear to have problems. Note that Cervelo, a sister company to Focus the originator of the system, has now dropped their use in their new bikes. I have a Cervelo R3D which uses the RAT axles, and have noted that they are a bit fiddly, that the adjustment between tight and too tight is a very narrow range, that they creak if you get it too loose, and that if you get it too tight the brass outer piece starts shaving bits off the soft threaded aluminum insert underneath, disconcerting. Yeah, but is it dangerous? One engineer who owns the same bike thinks so. He thinks that the brass piece may act as a punch destroying the threaded aluminum insert, which will junk the axle. Also, he think the T locking end is prone to catastrophic failure. For me, the fact that they’re irritating was enough to look for a quality alternative. Here it is!

    • Jeffrey Wagenaar on September 12, 2022 at 4:58 am

      Adam you hit the nail on the head with this comment. My dealer said the oiginal ones were rubbish and he was right. wiggly to say the least. and yes, the aluminum part was shaving off causing friction in the axle. The ones feel very reliable.

  3. Roger on April 3, 2021 at 1:39 am

    I have a Focus Paralane 2 (e bike) with the dreaded RAT system. I have replaced the RAT axle with a Robert Axle through axle on the rear. GREAT!! Just wish you made one for my front axle (110 mm x 12mm I believe.) Supplied through SJS in the UK

  4. Onno (NL) on April 8, 2021 at 1:54 am

    I have recently bought a new Focus Raven mountainbike with RAT system, unfortunately changing a wheel with this system is really unfeasible. Fortunately you have developed a good alternative, keep up the good work !!

  5. Alain Mathieu on August 13, 2021 at 4:07 pm

    I replaced my R.A.T. axle on my Cervelo S5. Never had any problem with the front wheel, but the back one often gave me headaches. Recently, got a flat on the rear tire and I had to struggle in front on the group for 20 minutes. That situation pushed me to find information on the R.A.T. system and the best info I got was to replace it. I am so glad I did. The bike now looks better, the operations are infinitely simpler and I do not fear anymore a flat while riding with a group. Shipment to Canada was fast and trouble free. The instructions included are clear and both axles were installed within minutes. I could have lived with the R.A.T. on the front wheel, but the Robert Project axle looks better. The only drawback is that you have to keep a 6mm key with you, but for me, this is a no-brainer.

  6. Hans-Ludwig on August 20, 2021 at 5:34 am

    Perfect stuff to replace my R.A.T. system on my Cervelo S5 !Send my order on Wednesday 18th 10p.m. local time and received the Robert Project axles today Friday 20th 11.45 a.m. local time in Germany and the axles fit superb on my S5 ! Perfect communication with your company and super fast delivery!

  7. Andreas on October 19, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    After changing the wheels on my new Focus Mares, which is quite a good bike by the way, I immediately felt the need to replace this fiddly and awkward RAT system. But I didn’t even know that this is possible until I searched the net and I found The Robert Axle Project. That RAT system is so cumbersome that I was really relived when my bike dealer here in Germany told me that he has some of those Thru Axles for my Focus bike (front and rear) on stock. So I bought them right away and then again I had a feel of relieve because it makes changing wheels so much easier and even faster. Furthermore it gives me a sense of safety because I’ve never trusted the RAT mechanism. Actually I don’t do endorsements like this, but for this product I’d give 5 out of 5.

  8. Spence on June 7, 2022 at 5:00 am

    Saved weight and annoyance by eliminating RATs from my Cervélo R5 using these Robert Axles. I carry a small 6mm Allen key in the tool bottle, still faster wheel changes than wrestling with annoying RAT. Simple and effective.

  9. max on June 15, 2022 at 9:13 pm

    i have a Cervelo R5 with the rat system never figured out how to use properly from day one, most mechanics don’t know how to use it properly unless they work at a shop that sells Cervelo.
    every time i have to take the wheel out it gives me anxiety that i might not get it back in properly i almost gave up and started thinking about changing bikes, starting doing some research today and came across RAP i immediately placed an order for front and rear axles, after reading all the feedback I’m confident this should improve the quality of my cycling life

  10. Troi on June 23, 2022 at 11:27 am

    Switched out my wife’s Cervelo S3 Rat axles to the Robert axle project, and couldn’t be happier. At a race, the Cervelo rep even admitted what a disaster the RAT axles turned out to be. Absolute junk ! Robert axle project made the bike a dream, so much smoother and easier to deal with.

  11. John on August 16, 2022 at 9:02 am

    The RAT axles on my 2021 Focus Mares CX bike were a nightmare. They never worked as they were supposed to and getting a puncture turned into a horror story. If I could actually get the RAT axle out I would struggle to get it to tighten up when I put it back in. The slightest bit of mud would block the RAT locking system. The replacements from the Robert Axle Project are fantastic quality and now I can relax if I have to remove a wheel as they work like a regular through axle. Until I found these axles I was going to sell my bike and buy a new one without RAT axles. Focus made a mess of solving a problem that didn’t need solving. A bicycle needs a RAT axle like a fish needs a bicycle.

  12. Kjell on June 27, 2023 at 9:55 am

    Any tips for undoing a stuck RAT? I released chain tension, fiddled with the ring that holds the T (loosening the screw) etc.
    I can get the T in open position, but the axle doesn’t seem to move out by the tiniest amount. Not a mm, not even a fraction. Wiggling the wheel, trying to gently tap everything that might be connected, trying for > two hours. Not able to google anything about it.

    • Erik Fenner on July 5, 2023 at 3:38 pm

      That is a tough one. We like to replace them for a reason, haha.

      Without seeing it my guess would be corrosion is the issue. Have you tried using a penetrating oil to make sure everything is moving as it should?

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