Skip to main content

MRP Stage fork

MRP Stage fork

The Stage is billed as MRP’s enduro fork, but the new platform offers a lot to trail riders as well. Our 130-millimeter-travel test fork felt right at home on a snappy 120-mil 29er. The Stage is not the lightest fork we’re highlighting, but it’s within 100 grams of our other favorites. Besides, the 34-millimeter stanchions and overbuilt magnesium lowers dare you to shred as though you’ve never counted a gram in your life.

The Stage allows you to choose how best to do that shredding. The externally adjustable ramp-up is more noticeable than other brands’ bottom-out limiters. It’s as crucial to set up as rebound damping or preload. The ‘Ramp Control’s’ frmer clicks may seem unnecessary, but with the right amount of bottom-out resistance, it’s possible to run low air preload and the fork will foat over small bumps while effectively softening big hits. A low-speed compression knob allows you to mitigate the mushiness and low ride height that comes with that low pressure. A magnetic blow-off valve helps prevent spiking when large, high-speed impacts hit the compression damper.

Riders concerned about high-speed, mid-sized chop can back off the ramp-up to zero, and the fork still keeps a frm feel that’s perfect for those who prefer a moderatetravel bike, but ride it fast and rough.

PRICE 970$

MRP Stage fork

Labels

Popular posts from this blog

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

READ MORE >>