That is the “new” torque cap standard that allows for a wider interface with specially designed hub end caps. Maybe about 5 years old? RS has been rolling it out for all of their forks but I’m not sure anyone else has picked it up

 

Yes, many hub manufacturers offer replacement caps to make the “torque cap” compatible (I have them on my i9’s)


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RS torque caps have been around for a while. While their torque cap fork dropouts may not sit perfectly flush with regualr front hub end caps, rest assured that it's completely fine. The idea is that the larger dropout interface increases stiffness.

 

This is a good product when using a standard hub with a RS fork made for "torque caps": NEWMEN TC Adapter for Forks with Torque Cap Drop Out, 4,80 €

 

This is a good product when using a standard hub with a RS fork made for "torque caps": NEWMEN TC Adapter for Forks with Torque Cap Drop Out, 4,80 €

Great product, difficult to find in the USA. I think Mark Lindarets [used to] sell them without markup because they are expensive (relatively) to import.

It is one of those things that you can't ever sell somebody until they use it, which is unfortunate.

 

I agree with everyone above but will add that you can use your old hub setup with the new fork standard without any problems. There's no downside re performance, but it's a little harder to seat the hub in the right spot. If you get torque caps then the hub will seat easily in the fork, and you should get some additional stiffness through the fork/hub assembly, but I haven't heard of anyone noticing a significant difference in stiffness.

 

There's no downside re performance...

Actually there is. The end caps will not take the load when they are smaller than the dropouts, so all of the shear forces ends up on the axle. I noticed a lot more brake rubbing until I installed the Newmen adapter thingies. So everything moves a bit more without the support from the dropouts.
Doesn't have to be a problem though, but it's kind of funny that an "invention" meant to increase stiffness will lower stiffness unless you change your end caps.

 

Get someone to 3d print you some of these:

Download free STL file Adapter for standard hubs on RockShox Torque Cap forks • 3D printable model ・ Cults (cults3d.com)

Did it for my Pike and makes getting the wheel in a whole lot easier

 

Yes the larger diameter interface is for the torque caps. I think Rockshox initially introduced this for the RS1 which, being inverted, needed some extra help to achieve enough stiffness.

 

The funny thing is those torque caps are an attempt to bring back the rigidity of 20x110. So silly 20mm isn't being used for long travel single crowns. It's almost as if the industry goes out of its way to avoid compatibility. When fox was offering convertible 15or20mm forks their own data claimed a 17% increase in rigidity I think. If we can increase chassis rigidity nearly 20% by just using the 20mm standard what's the point of 15mm? Beating a dead horse I know.