[microtonal]

Unfortunately, I think the introduction of electronics via ebikes and other "new" technologies for the bike are diluting that standardisation in my perception.

You would be surprised. My wife's e-bike was stolen without its battery. When she bought a new e-bike (of a different brand), she could just purchase it without a battery and use her old one.

(Lots of e-bikes in Western Europe use Bosch batteries/motors.)

[ashtonbaker]

But does Bosch use a common standard for batteries, or is it just common enough that this worked out? (serious question)

[bodo11]

I am not of the persuasion that a for-profit corporation can maintain a standard. A standard in my mind is an industry-wide effort to create an open, low baseline and barrier of entry without proprietariness. Even if 90% of bikes have a Bosch motor, that's not a standard if it's not open.

[et-al]

Standards always evolve and ultimately if the larger companies like Shimano, SRAM, or Taiwanese OEMs don’t adopt them, they’re a moot point.

Bicycle chainrings are the perfect example. There are established mounting patterns, but since the late 90s, Shimano’s MTB division and Campagnolo loved introducing proprietary BCDs.

And disc brakes have an established "International Standard" mounting standard, but no one builds actual I.S. mount brakes--it's either post mount or flat mount. (Yes, post/I.S. are practically interchangeable due to the adapter.)

Lastly for something as simple as a derailleur hanger, you figure there may be 5 or 6 different models to choose from, but nope: https://wheelsmfg.com/derailleur-hangers/derailleur-hanger-w...

[wolverine876]

PDF? I'm sure we can think of more ...