MRP's New Wave Ring, Carbon Guide and Slope Fork - Eurobike 2014

Aug 28, 2014 at 4:41
by Mike Levy  
MRP

MRP Wave Ring

With their new Wave ring, MRP shows that there's more than one way to skin a cat. We're all familiar with the narrow / wide tooth shaping that, in conjunction with clutch rear derailleurs, has proven to be so effective at keeping chains from bouncing off, but MRP took a different approach to chain ring design by positioning each tooth slight off of center from its neighbour. This gives it a sort of wave appearance when viewed from above, which is obviously where the ring's name comes from, and the layout could be less prone to picking up leaves and other trail debris - narrow / wide is notoriously bad for this. The Wave ring will come in a direct mount version as pictured above for either GXP or BB30 bottom brackets, with 28 - 36 tooth options to choose from, as well as a four bolt, 104mm version in 30 - 38 tooth sizes (the 30 will be slightly offset for chain clearance on the crank spider). A five bolt, 110mm option is in the works as well, but expect the direct mount model to be the first available this coming December. Prices will range from $50 - $73.50 USD depending on what version you require.

MRP

MRP 1x Carbon

Don't all these fancy chain rings and clutch derailleurs mean that chain guides are going the way of bar ends? Not if you talk to a lot of the racers who put their time, money, and training on the line and aren't willing to throw away a weekend due to a mechanical, with many of them still preferring to run some sort of lightweight chain guide setup as extra insurance. And speaking of low weight, the production version (the one shown here is pre-production) of MRP's new 1x Carbon is to weigh under 50 grams thanks to its minimalist slider and new moulded carbon arm, the latter of which is a first for MRP - they've had carbon backplates in their range for awhile now, but this is the first moulded product. MSRP will be $115 USD when it becomes available.


MRP Slope Fork

As the name suggests, the new air sprung Slope fork from MRP is intended to be used for slopestyle and dirt jumping, and while it's based off of their longer travel Stage, it has seen a number of changes so it better suits its intended use. The most noticeable of these is the drop in travel from 150 - 170mm to 100mm. The Stage's Ramp Control feature is also dropped in favour of more traditional valving, although that has also been tuned to handle the big impacts that can come from a missed landing, and the same goes for the fork's air spring that MRP said ramps up aggressively through the fork's stroke. External adjustments include an eight position compression adjuster at the top of the right leg, with a rebound dial at the opposite end. MRP's simple and easy to use QTAPER 15mm axle is employed, and colour options include black, black, and black. MSRP on the Slope sits at $899 USD.

View entire Eurobike 2014 Product Gallery Here


Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

83 Comments
  • 58 3
 it may be carbon, but how can they sell that guide for $115 considering there isn't a lot there.
  • 15 1
 Same reaction here, it's the price of a complete chain guide with bash.
  • 8 0
 Yeah, if it's half a chain guide it should be half-price. I would consider buying it if it were $50. Otherwise, it looks nice.
  • 20 0
 I think that's just Carbon Tax. There's an aluminum model from either MRP or E13 that's closer to $50.
  • 25 0
 that's still a lot compared to the superstar one for £20 with free haribo.
  • 6 1
 www.cyclestore.co.uk/csixx_xc_chain_guide_black-ID_63369?gclid=Cj0KEQjwpvufBRCwzp_zyqfkhrcBEiQA8b-SHBOOay3ME32_a4MOQRk-8So_-BL6xtQZtNPInVr5epYaAoW08P8HAQ

Cheaper than the MRP, looks sweet, and comes with high quality oversized alu bolts rather than the tiny little things that MRP guides come with.
I've been using one since I kept dropping the chain with a n/w ring setup, and it's kept the chain on brilliantly with no fuss all year.
  • 3 0
 MRP being overpriced isn't anything new. You know that 25 grams worth of epoxy and carbon is worth the $130..

www.amazon.com/MRP-Steel-Upper-Guide-Black/dp/B004YIAPJA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1409239577&sr=8-6&keywords=mrp+guide
  • 2 0
 Lots of cheaper options for upper only guides though, even from MRP. Their 1x guide is essentially this guide without the carbon for $60.
  • 4 4
 If it's more money then you feel comfortable spending then don't buy it. Easy.
  • 8 2
 ^ok socrates, in the meantime ppl will remain confused as to why a tiny piece of molded carbon and plastic with no moving parts ads up to $115
  • 4 2
 It's not more money than I feel comfortable spending, I just chose to buy a much better product. Which also happened to be cheaper.
  • 3 4
 @ padkinson ...
How do you know you have a better product ?
This one is not even on the market as of yet ?
"MSRP will be $115 when it becomes available". Sounds like your just making stuff up now.
Its ok to be cheap bro.
  • 2 1
 Unless they've made some drastic changes to the standard 1X chainguide that this looks to share most of the parts with, then it will be a poor product in my eyes.
I used a MRP 1X chainguide for a little while, and in that short time the bolts rusted to the point of being almost seized, the whole thing flexed to the point that it wouldn't do it's job (keeping the chain on), and eventually the plastic guide snapped in two.

Not great.
  • 3 0
 That being said, the Bling Ring I run is excellent. Good work on that one MRP.
  • 27 10
 15mm qr again? seriously? aww jeez cant we just have a 20mm thru axle so we can find a brakeless hub easily? ill stick to my 2008 36, its still a better fork than most on the market now for what i do...
  • 9 9
 Hopefully the 15mm trend is just that, a trend...


Smile
  • 18 6
 I mean are people actually snapping 15mm axles?

I understand that 20mm axle are stronger, but even pro riders don't seem to have a problem with the 15mm. On top of that, on pinkbike everyone defends a wheelsize and says that the average rider wouldn't feel the difference between a 26" and 650b so how could there be much of a difference in axles?

Just sayin'
  • 8 5
 I just switched from a 15 mm to 20 mm axle up front. Impossible to give a completely objective perspective because of the new fork and wheel that went along with it, but I believe there is definitely a noticeable difference. It's hard to describe, but the front feels much stiffer against forces that are in the plane of the bikes motion. This seems to translate into less rolling resistance, better handling, and overall, more stability and speed. Call me crazy. Do it.
  • 6 2
 Seriously, all this complaining of a 15mm axle and i have yet to hear of a single person snapping it. People like to find anything to complain about...
  • 8 2
 If anything, I can tell you that 20 mm is faster, regardless of durability. End of story. Time to start winning races.
  • 8 0
 can't believe I'm replying to this but here it is; Nobody breaks axles, its about the ridgity and stiffness of the fork. Not how easily it breaks (they don't break)
  • 6 0
 Stiffness is more than axle diameter.
  • 19 0
 Try telling that to my girlfriend...hah!
  • 2 1
 You guys now that the axles on MX forks are usually 12-15mm?
  • 4 0
 I've never broken a 31.8mm handlebar yet some company is now producing a 35mm. Fork steerers are also now fatter (tapered) generally. I always thought it was a very strange move to introduce a 15mm hub when 20mm was a well established standard. Something tells me the move was more about selling products than improving performance - wish they had gone 25mm instead.
  • 5 1
 As a , ahem, large guy, there is a definite difference between 15 and 20mm axles in handling. Of course it's not all about the diameter as 20mm spacing is wider (only a touch but it helps).
As for MX axles...yes the axle is smaller diameter but they are solid steel and bolted into a very stout fork. Not an apples to apples comparison.
  • 1 0
 I think if the standard axle size had been 15mm first, then the introduction of a 20mm would be eschewed just as the whole 650b thing is. I can think of one immediate benefit of the slightly smaller axle; larger bearings in the hubs, albeit not for all the stupid convertible setups.
The 5mm diameter in my axle that was robbed from me is not what I focus on when thinking about how to be faster/better/stronger; but if you want to blame it on the bike...
  • 4 0
 Also as a bigger guy I call BS on the 15 and 20 making a difference. There are plenty of 15mm forks out there that are stiffer than 20mm forks. It's the whole design not the axle, if you're relying on that small difference in axle diameter to make your fork stiff, then you have a crappy design.
  • 3 0
 For me it's the fact that every wheel I own is 20mm, it's a complete wank to have to bother swapping hardware when switching wheels all for a standard that makes absolutely no sense, and has no advantage over 20mm.
  • 2 0
 The only fork Ive ever twisted had a 15mm axle. All my other 20mm forks have been fine, so I have my doubts about stiffness of the lowers.
  • 2 1
 who would buy that when you could buy a pike dj for 200 bucks more? just sayin
  • 1 0
 @yo13bo
First off; that is what you call anecdotal evidence, and is useless.
Second; if you are twisting forks- the axle is the last thing you need worry about.
  • 3 0
 Actually the axle provides a lot of torsional strength to the fork. Larger diameter axle prevent the fork legs flexing at different rates.

Either way, what was wrong with the 20mm thru axle design in the first place that warranted the need for a 15mm axle? What issue does the 15mm solve that a 20mm does not? None. Give me a larger axle any day.
  • 3 0
 yo13bo: Torsional strength whatever that is cannot be increased without pinch bolts. Think about it. Independent leg movement can be reduced because they are held constant in that plane.
On second thought, don't think about, just continue to gripe.
  • 1 0
 I agree with @b1k35c13nt15t a little bit here.
Due to the plane that the axle moves on, it theoretically doesn't provide much more strength to the lower legs because the axle is independent of the fork (theoretically).
Really what the axle does is provide stiffness to the lower legs and to (in a way) combine each individual leg into one unit. If you think about, the legs move independently back and forth/left to right when the axle is not there, but when the axle is in place then it provides stiffness and allows the legs to move together.
What I agree with @yo13bo about though is the 15mm in place of the 20mm thing! In saying that, a 15mm axle is enough for just about everyone unless you're really choosy...
  • 2 1
 20mm looks better than 15mm - it's fatter. Aesthetics are important when you are parting with lots of cash. It also gives the rider a little more confidence when ploughing into a rough bit of trail. I want my next single crown fork to be 20mm but I fear my choice may be very limited.
  • 1 0
 X-fusion metric--only choice you need for a solid single crown with a 20. Tons of adjustability, dh worthy lowers, incredible damping, and looks to boot. Best single crown option out there IMO. I could've gotten any 160 mm out and have no regrets--my bike park fork envy is toast. Now, I can keep my jelly in the beans.
  • 1 0
 Thanks loamydog. I'll check it out. I've got a rockshox lyrik and a marzocchi 55 at the moment which are both pretty good I have to say.
  • 10 3
 It looks like the tyipical sountour that comes with a 300$ bike, knowing that a lot of dirt jumpers dont spend a lot of money, and they dont know the latest products on the market, i can guarantee that a lot of people will think that is a low budget fork
  • 9 1
 Well, except perhaps a Lefty fork, I think most forks look alike to the untrained eye.
  • 8 0
 But then there's Kashima
  • 7 0
 I dunno, I feel like a Kashima coated 40 looks a whole lot more expensive than some shitty fork on a Walmart bike.
  • 1 1
 But then there's a Pike #gamechanger Big Grin
  • 5 1
 hope those forks last longer than the chain guides do. not alot of luck with mrp for instance in my first summer in whistler i went through 4 of them than gave up and ran chainless the rest of the season.
  • 3 0
 Yeah my MRP X2 broke on the first ride.
  • 3 1
 They cant even make a plastic piece last.
  • 1 1
 G3 is the business. If you're breaking the old G2's you won't be disappointed with the G3, its much stronger and less brittle
  • 3 2
 you rode chainless the rest of the season because your chainguide broke? thats retarded, dont go out for a few nights and buy a used guide that works.
  • 1 0
 The forks are made by White Brothers, not MRP, so I'm sure they'll be fine.
  • 4 0
 MRP is a good brand and all but, for most people who wanted an air sprung, 100mm, black stachoned, clever fork wouldn't they just go for the RockShox Pike DJ? -It will interesting to see how they will match up
  • 3 0
 also considering the pike dj retails for $849. $50 less id rather have that
  • 7 2
 I'm not liking the looks of that MRP Slope fork....It strangely resembles an RST Launch Dirt fork.....*shivers*
  • 3 0
 Surely the Wave ring can only work with tooth sizes in multiples of 4?
being the only sizes that would work in that range are 28, 32 and 36?
  • 7 0
 You got it, but we've got a cool way to do it in 30 and 34. I'm on a 34t right now...well not RIGHT now, RIGHT now I'm in a booth at Eurobike.
  • 1 0
 The slope is looking good!
I wonder if the travel can be adjusted internally?
Having a DJ fork is what I love but I like to run mine at around 130-150mm for trail riding and DJing.
The fork however sounds great with compression damping and rebound!
Good work!
  • 2 0
 Yes, travel can be adjusted between 100-120 internally on the Slope, and 140-170mm on the Stage.
  • 1 0
 Very nice! The stage and the slope are both sounding awesome! Thank you!
  • 1 0
 Proverbial shiny crap thrown at us (the wall). Forced evolution on some gear that just plain doesn't rate the expotentially outrageous cost increase or even the need for a the above arverage rider, let alone average ride.

I'm sorry. Ooh ahh, shiney and so so lighter. ooh ahh!
  • 2 0
 ill give ya 220$ for that MRP 1x Carbon because it needs to be worth more for have of whats there. just like jobs nows these days more work less pay.
  • 4 2
 Id never buy mrp again, the guide i had never lasted 2minutes without having to buy another replacement piece
  • 4 2
 Glad to hear I'm not the only one breaking MRP guides. I've broken more roller assemblies on my 2x than I can remember. And I am using an approved chain lube and cleaner too. My friend with an E13 has had 0 problems from his.
  • 3 1
 Yeah my MRP X2 broke on the first ride. .... Running a E-13 now as well ... zero problems .... set it & forget it!
  • 2 0
 I have had several MRP's over the years. Not one issue with any of them 4 enduro races in Colorado this year now issue, full week at Whistler on the DH bike & no problems either.
  • 2 0
 I used to break the older G2's. Ever since going to the G3 I haven't had any issues. It really is a better design all the way around.
  • 1 2
 I really doubt how that Wave chainring will work. If the teeth on the chainring are de-centred they should technically rather help the chain getting thrown off sideways, instead of keeping it on (/centred) like on narrow-wide chainrings.

Also I'm wondering if this doesn't force the places away from eachother, causing the plates to fall off the pins.
  • 2 0
 Bring back the 9 mm quick release!
  • 1 0
 No need for a chainguide with skinny wide, just something to protect the teeth.
  • 1 0
 That slope fork looks like something from MRP i might put on my bike.......
  • 14 13
 That fork may ride well, but it certainly isn't a looker.
  • 87 5
 Just like your mum.... :-0
  • 4 0
 lol
  • 4 0
 22 up votes in 22 minutes.... solid
  • 1 0
 Pinkbike we need a solid review on the forks! Razz
  • 4 0
 Coming soon!
  • 1 0
 I want to know if they're adjustable to 80mm.
  • 1 0
 There 100-120 mm internal travel adjust.
  • 1 0
 You could put another 20mm spacer in there and make it 80mm, no problem.
  • 1 0
 Then, depending on price, these may be the new forks for my 24" DJ.
  • 1 0
 I wish that guide came with a taco..... And a bash guard!
  • 1 0
 Check out the AMg. though after a season on clutch + narrowwide, I'm thinking I'm just wanting a taco.
  • 1 0
 How much can i get a plastic chain guide for?
  • 1 0
 Can the fork be lowered past 100mm?
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