How to Choose the Right Bicycle End Caps?
Match Hub End Caps to Axle Standards: 12×100, 15×100, 12×142, and 12×148 mm
End caps must match both axle diameter and hub spacing. Common front standards include 12×100 mm and 15×100 mm; rear standards include 12×142 mm and 12×148 mm. The first number is the axle diameter, and the second is the hub’s nominal width. These dimensions come from industry hub-fitment specifications. ISO 4210-2:2023 covers bicycle safety requirements, but it does not make different hub interfaces interchangeable. Check the hub’s technical fitment chart before ordering: two caps can look nearly identical and still seat differently.
Tips: Confirm front or rear, axle diameter, spacing, and hub model. Measure carefully. A ruler can mislead.
In the workshop, remove the old caps and compare their shape, shoulder depth, and contact surface with the replacement. A 12×148 mm rear setup is commonly called Boost; 12×142 mm is narrower. The extra six millimetres are not gained by swapping caps unless the hub is designed for that conversion. Likewise, a 15×100 mm front cap will not fit a 12 mm axle just because both hubs measure 100 mm wide. Use the wheel or hub maker’s documented compatibility data, then verify rotor and frame clearance after installation. Fitment charts are useful, but older hubs may have undocumented revisions—sometimes the model name alone is not enough.