MRP launches patented XCG Series of impact guards for cross-country bikes

March 27, 2008

Building on their integrated guard patent*, MRP will begin shipping a new, innovative series of components designed to protect chainrings and cranks from damage due to the occasional rock or log encounter. The XCG guards consist of a replaceable polycarbonate Skid direct-mounted to a 4mm thick alloy back plate.
“Lots of cross country riders don't want to give up their big ring in exchange for a crank-mounted bash guard, nor do they want to add a large, heavy bash ring on top of an outer chainring. With an XCG, you can keep the big chainring on and not worry about damaging it on obstacles. The XCG is light weight, and costs a lot less than replacing a high quality 44T ring, so it's a great accessory for the fast and technically aggressive XC rider or for any rider looking to protect their investment”, says Paul Aieta, VP of Sales and Marketing for MRP.


The XCG Triple and XCG Single install easily on any XC frame and add no rotational weight to the drivetrain. OEM deliveries of the XCG Series begin in April, with aftermarket introduction soon following.

XCG Triple
• Protects triple crank outer rings up to 44T
• Raised upper profile catches chain from inboard drops
• Bottom-bracket mount or ISCG
• Weight: 100g
• MSRP $49.95


XCG Single
• Protects chain rings up to 36T
• Great for single-speed setups
• Bottom-bracket mount or ISCG
• Weight: 90g
• MSRP $44.95


*US Patent #7066856


MRP is a small, rider-owned company based in Grand Junction, Colorado. With countless World Cup and World Championship victories, MRP has been the choice of champions since 1996. MRP's patented chain guides and patented integrated bash guard technologies put them at the top as the leader in smooth, silent, reliable chain retention and drivetrain protection.

For more information about MRP, please visit www.mrpbike.com.

Also, check out the G2 chain guide by MRP. It utilizes the same guard plate, but in a chain guide format. MRP G2 Review

Comments

  • + 3 props
flag dcm243 (March 27, 2008 at 11:51) (Below Threshold) show comment
thats dope! now i wont ruin my tripple ring set up
  • - 13 props
flag cletus44 (March 27, 2008 at 14:22) (Below Threshold) show comment
or your spelling!
  • + 4 props
flag freeriderrr4852 (March 27, 2008 at 17:21) (Below Threshold) show comment
dumbass^^
  • + 3 props
flag mac-on-the-mob (March 27, 2008 at 11:51) (Below Threshold) show comment
That looks quite a good design but why has noone done this before? Is there a flaw in it? or is it because it adds weight...
  • + 1 props
flag t3h1337r (March 27, 2008 at 15:26) (Below Threshold) show comment
its called progression. A ton of stuff is like this. You gotta remember stamping, machining, injection molding, all require expensive machines, so most companies obviously didnt see a profit until now. MRP is big enough they can pretty much create what they want to now and make ideas a reality while at the same time keeping stuff insanely light. I'd say for a smaller company that would be quite hard to do.
  • + 2 props
flag funkyfunpuff (March 27, 2008 at 18:04) (Below Threshold) show comment
It doesn't take a lot of money to create a patent. Define your idea, have a working prototype. Then hire, or find someone who knows AutoCad. Once you have your AutoCad drawing, your definition of use, you can apply for a patent.

After you own the rights to the patent, you can produce the product yourself or lease/sell it to a larger company who can afford to mass produce it.

Note. This idea wasn't that new, the Patent Filing date is: Sep 6, 2002 and the Patent Issue date is: Jun 27, 2006 http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT7066856
  • + 0 props
flag t3h1337r (March 27, 2008 at 21:42) (Below Threshold) show comment
its nothing to do with a patent. Its to do with cost vs profit ratio. The machines it takes to mass produce these parts cost bank. A cost that most shops cannot afford. A patent only means a design is protected... it doesn't help in any way on the production side of things.

You gotta realize that there are only a few players in the guide/guard market. Mrp, evil. and e-13 (ringle and mr.dirt but they are pretty much gone) that could handle a mass production run like this product.

If you have ever had any custom machining done you will understand that milling isnt cheap. Neither is stamping unless its in huuuuge quantities.
  • + 0 props
flag CP11 (March 27, 2008 at 23:40) (Below Threshold) show comment
A patent is minimum 20 grand and about a 5 year wait
  • + 0 props
flag roughandtangle (March 31, 2008 at 10:57) (Below Threshold) show comment
yeah... patents are expensive to attain and maintain mr funkyfunpuff... it usually costs at least 5 grand for a lawyer to research to see if you can patent your idea after the cost of drafting. Also if MRP can show that their idea is unique (by definition of US patent Law) from the one already patented, then they can patent the process of manufacuting or the actual item.
  • - 1 props
flag bmxracer62 (March 27, 2008 at 11:54) (Below Threshold) show comment
thats a good question, why havent any done this. i wish i had this on me old xc bike. let me tell you, i went through 3 sets of xtr top rings
  • - 1 props
flag crisdebob (March 27, 2008 at 11:57) (Below Threshold) show comment
that look like an LG1 but more strong I think that pettry sick
  • + 1 props
flag bduffy (March 27, 2008 at 12:11) (Below Threshold) show comment
i have a bash gaurd and like i love it she is on my XC bike and i run to shit and every thing and i loveee it
  • + 0 props
flag odin333 (March 27, 2008 at 12:14) (Below Threshold) show comment
i'm definately going to get one .

.
  • + 0 props
flag c-v-tich (March 27, 2008 at 12:21) (Below Threshold) show comment
i would like one, cool

what's that bike by the way?
  • + 0 props
flag brule (March 27, 2008 at 13:40) (Below Threshold) show comment
Looks like a Yeti Frame to me. Not sure which model though.
  • + 0 props
flag roughandtangle (March 31, 2008 at 11:05) (Below Threshold) show comment
yeah its a yeti 575
  • + 0 props
flag bikerboywill (March 27, 2008 at 12:45) (Below Threshold) show comment
that is such a good idea
why did no one think of it!!!!
  • + 0 props
flag fraserw (March 27, 2008 at 12:48) (Below Threshold) show comment
The only reason I can see that no-one has done this before is in potential damage to the frame. Imagine this situation: your just screaming down some wicked-fast flowy single track. At speed, you round a corner, and in front of you sits a big log/rock feature your excited mind forgot about. With no time to stop, you do what we all do - pull up, at least getting your front wheel over. BANG. You hit the log with your big-ring. Bent ring. At worst, bent crank spider. OR BANG. You hit the log with the XCG. All the force gets transferred to your bottom-bracket tube of your frame. If your lucky, nothing. If your unlucky, you crack the frame. Granted, you need to hit things pretty hard to wreck all but the lightest and fanciest of XC frames.

All in all, I say, great idea!
  • + 5 props
flag dirtbikerjackson (March 27, 2008 at 15:18) (Below Threshold) show comment
i think the XCG would break before ur frame. just my opinion though, im no scientist : )
  • + 1 props
flag topert (March 28, 2008 at 2:32) (Below Threshold) show comment
you don't have any idea about biking
  • + 1 props
flag topert (March 28, 2008 at 2:48) (Below Threshold) show comment
hey, i'm talkig about the fraserw spectacular story
  • - 7 props
flag purple (March 27, 2008 at 12:53) (Below Threshold) show comment
MRP are just copying e-13! e-13 came up with this first for there LG1
  • + 6 props
flag dirtbikerjackson (March 27, 2008 at 15:19) (Below Threshold) show comment
u r wrong. MRP had a patent before e13. sry
  • + 0 props
flag lucent (March 27, 2008 at 17:37) (Below Threshold) show comment
ha thats pretty funny, you should get your facts straight before making ridiculous claims.
  • + 0 props
flag matt-beer (March 27, 2008 at 13:03) (Below Threshold) show comment
do you know why e13 never sold the light guide with their 'taco' before '08? because mrp had the patent for it.
  • + 0 props
flag rsidedown (March 27, 2008 at 13:57) (Below Threshold) show comment
I like this idea. After riding my FR bike with a bashgaurd you get used to running over things, then jump on the XC bike and some of that thinking preveils and next thing you know, oops, new 3rd ring required.

My only concern is using this off the bottom bracket mount and keeping the guide in place. It would think that the bottom guide would rotate back into the chainstay if you hit a log or rock? My old E13 DRS that was mounted this way used to do it as well. Now that I have a ISCG mounted guide on my big bike it hasn't moved.
  • - 1 props
flag konaclump70005 (March 27, 2008 at 14:27) (Below Threshold) show comment
damn xc.
  • + 0 props
flag tigabe (March 27, 2008 at 14:32) (Below Threshold) show comment
Looks like an LG1...
  • + 0 props
flag paunonen89 (March 27, 2008 at 18:20) (Below Threshold) show comment
IT IS NOT A CHAIN GUIDE!!! How on earth can it be like an LG1?!!! Just because it has a quarter guard with a 104mm bcd everyone seems to think its an E.13 rip-off.
  • + 0 props
flag piggly (March 31, 2008 at 17:44) (Below Threshold) show comment
just chill out ppl its a bike part! if it does what they say it should just take it for what it is
  • + 1 props
flag coilerdeelux (March 27, 2008 at 14:36) (Below Threshold) show comment
need arange of colours for the bash tho. that white is pretty ugly you have to admit.

great design mind. props to the designer!
  • + 2 props
flag dingus (March 27, 2008 at 16:04) (Below Threshold) show comment
Colours would be nice, but u dont realy se it cos its behind ur crankset.
  • - 1 props
flag djivotno (March 27, 2008 at 15:08) (Below Threshold) show comment
Humm looks like somethig build for the Megavalanche
  • - 4 props
flag tokyopop03 (March 27, 2008 at 15:19) (Below Threshold) show comment
WOW... lame
  • + 0 props
flag skatejunkie (March 27, 2008 at 19:10) (Below Threshold) show comment
just because there was a PB article about the e-13 first doesn't mean they thought of if first.
  • + 0 props
flag freelancer-1090 (March 28, 2008 at 3:50) (Below Threshold) show comment
great idea. Although the thing about creaming the frame is a valid point. just need to decide which is more valuable i guess.

Now if they could only make something like that for the rear deraileur.
  • + 0 props
flag dirtydroog (March 28, 2008 at 8:27) (Below Threshold) show comment
Patents do cost a lot of money, part of my job is it come up with them.
  • + 0 props
flag kutcsafreeride (March 30, 2008 at 11:23) (Below Threshold) show comment
it took long enough to make this to))

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