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

Mar 27, 2008
by Jordan Holmes  
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.

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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
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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

Posted In:
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38 Comments
  • 5 2
 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 0
 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.
  • 3 1
 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 0
 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 0
 A patent is minimum 20 grand and about a 5 year wait
  • 0 0
 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.
  • 2 2
 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!
  • 6 1
 i think the XCG would break before ur frame. just my opinion though, im no scientist : )
  • 1 0
 you don't have any idea about biking
  • 1 0
 hey, i'm talkig about the fraserw spectacular story
  • 0 0
 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.
  • 0 0
 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.
  • 5 2
 thats dope! now i wont ruin my tripple ring set upSmile
  • 12 26
flag cletus44 (Mar 27, 2008 at 14:22) (Below Threshold)
 or your spelling!
  • 7 3
 dumbass^^
  • 1 0
 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 0
 Colours would be nice, but u dont realy se it cos its behind ur crankset.
  • 1 0
 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
  • 1 2
 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 1
 do you know why e13 never sold the light guide with their 'taco' before '08? because mrp had the patent for it.
  • 0 0
 just because there was a PB article about the e-13 first doesn't mean they thought of if first.
  • 0 0
 i'm definately going to get one Big Grin .

tup .
  • 0 0
 i would like one, cool

what's that bike by the way?
  • 0 0
 Looks like a Yeti Frame to me. Not sure which model though.
  • 0 0
 yeah its a yeti 575
  • 1 1
 that is such a good idea why did no one think of it!!!!
  • 0 0
 Patents do cost a lot of money, part of my job is it come up with them.
  • 0 0
 it took long enough to make this toSmile ))
  • 2 2
 Looks like an LG1...
  • 1 1
 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 0
 just chill out ppl its a bike part! if it does what they say it should just take it for what it is
  • 1 2
 that look like an LG1 but more strong I think that pettry sick
  • 0 1
 Humm looks like somethig build for the Megavalanche Wink
  • 0 1
 damn xc.
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