Skip to main content

MRP Stage 27.5 fork


AT ITS BEST, MRP’s evolved Stage is even smoother than before, but accurate, instruction following set-up is crucial.

The Stage is structurally unchanged for 2016 but that’s fine because it has a usefully stiff and solid trail feel for a sub-2kg fork.The QtapeR axle uses a conical collar to increase contact area and it’s secure and easy to use if kept clean. Different colour stickers are included in case the original orange doesn’t match your bike.

New seals reduce stiction on what’s already a potentially very plush fork.Add a generous negative spring with a manual pressure-balance button and our group test sample tracked irregular surfaces and sucked up small bumps so smoothly it was like running a plus-size tyre at 10psi, giving outstanding grip even on flat or off-camber corners and climbs.

Keeping things controlled over bigger hits is harder though, because increasing the manual ‘Ramp Control’ to stop the fork diving too much can stop it getting full travel.A separate low-speed compression damper can also be called into play, and you can change the negative/positive spring balance, but the various intersecting damping/spring adjustments mean it can take a while to find your sweet spot.

While it’s been fine so far,we’ll continue using this fork to check that reliability and consistency of feel are improved over the Stage samples we ran last year.

WEIGHT: 1,980g
TRAVEL: 140, 150, 160 (tested), 170mm

Price 1170$

Labels

Popular posts from this blog

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

READ MORE >>

DRC X-Monitor SP1 lap timer

While smartphone apps such as Strava can be a useful way to keep tabs on your mountain bike rides, sometimes you just can’t beat the simplicity and instant feedback that a good old-fashioned stopwatch style lap timer provides.

READ MORE >>

Scott Stego MIPS helmet

Scott’s top-end aggressive trail helmet is only available with MIPS, as the Swiss brand were early adopters of the system. The EPS extends low at the rear without clashing with the retention system and the strap attachment points are external to the liner, maximising the amount of material around the temples. This is the closest-fitting helmet on test, with very little clearance inside the liner. Despite this, and although the Stego has fewer vents than some other lids here, we never felt too hot-headed. Scott spent time developing the ventilation system using a wind tunnel and it seems to have paid off. The thin pads don’t offer quite as much comfort as some competitors’, and while the short peak is removable, it doesn’t offer any height adjustment. Weight 340g Sizing S, M, L Price $180

READ MORE >>

SANTA CRUZ NOMAD

Santa Cruz’s new enduro focused dream bike While the Santa Cruz Bronson has been causing a commotion on the enduro scene as one of the lighter and more capable bikes, the Californian company have been working on something better suited to the more gravity orientated courses.

READ MORE >>

Fulcrum Red Power XL wheels

THESE WHEELS CERTAINLY don't look like some of the cheapest on test, and the adjustable-preload bearings are some of the smoothest and longest lived at any price.

READ MORE >>