Spotted: MRP's Prototype Air-Sprung Shock
MRP's been dropping hints for awhile now that a new air-sprung shock is on the way, but they've been reluctant to share any details or pictures so far. Lucky for us, a Pinkbike reader in Grand Junction, Colorado, MRP's hometown, isn't so stingy with the photos. He spotted the unlabeled shock bolted to a carbon fiber Transition (see below), and its all-black anodizing and orange switch leaves no doubt about where it came from.
MRP's Noah Sears had this to say when pressed for info: ''Your eagle-eyed reader did spot one of the air shock prototypes we currently have in field testing. This project has been in development for several years and I look forward to the day that the world at large will be able to experience it for themselves.
The current prototypes are close to production but do not yet have a firm ETA on public availability. The internals step outside of traditional shock designs in order to provide unmatched performance, so it is critically important that it be completely vetted both through extensive lab testing and the toughest real-world environments (if you’ve taken a Whole Enchilada shuttle in the past few weeks, you may have seen one). The results thus far have been fantastic, but we’ll defer on releasing any details of the project, such as specs and features until it is finalized.''
Okay, so not much info there, but Sears did include a better photo of the shock (top), and its name: The Jackson.
Internally, you're probably not going to be wrong if you assumed the Jackson employs a twin-tube damper layout. That's what you'll find inside their forks, and it'd make sense for the relatively small suspension company to follow suit at the back of the bike. There seem to be multiple adjustment dials at the upper eyelet, too, including a pedal-assist switch.
The current prototypes are close to production but do not yet have a firm ETA on public availability. The internals step outside of traditional shock designs in order to provide unmatched performance, so it is critically important that it be completely vetted both through extensive lab testing and the toughest real-world environments (if you’ve taken a Whole Enchilada shuttle in the past few weeks, you may have seen one). The results thus far have been fantastic, but we’ll defer on releasing any details of the project, such as specs and features until it is finalized.''
Okay, so not much info there, but Sears did include a better photo of the shock (top), and its name: The Jackson.
Internally, you're probably not going to be wrong if you assumed the Jackson employs a twin-tube damper layout. That's what you'll find inside their forks, and it'd make sense for the relatively small suspension company to follow suit at the back of the bike. There seem to be multiple adjustment dials at the upper eyelet, too, including a pedal-assist switch.
Two air valves and a whole lot of black. What's going on inside of MRP's upcoming shock?
A traditional air-sprung shock uses a single valve and some variation of a self-equalizing bleed port to automatically pressurize the negative chamber, but it looks like MRP might be letting riders manually adjust the negative pressure via a second valve (the top one). More negative pressure would help push the shock into its stroke and feel more supple, while less pressure can be used to create more efficient, less active suspension. On top of that, the knurled caps hint at it being easy to add or subtract volume spacers from either chamber to further tune the spring rate.
Any more guesses as to what MRP has been working on?
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Member since Oct 18, 2005
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I'd push a guess that you can run a supple top pressure, and have a higher main chamber pressure.
E.g. it decouples the main air spring pressure from the initial stroke pressure.
Same principle as the manitou irt separate chambers approach.
new Carbon Scout?
Entry level MTB, full suspension, in direct conversion, is absurd. And we practice MTB over here too. 2500 USD for entry level would be close to 11.000. That's why cheap stuff that works remarkably well is golden.
Of course it will go not so well in direct comparison test against RS or Fox stuff, but they might be just the best stuff other people could get hands on.
Well, at least in this side of the continent.
Anyway, here's a good review on the Durolux: nsmb.com/articles/suntour-durolux-rc2-29er-fork-reviewed
Is this something that has improved on the deluxe shocks?
down side = two sets of seals
Also, what happened to Fox Alps type volume adjustment? Except hands free.
We'll see a full review tomorrow.
So I think the ultimate super-enhancing amazingly performance racing shock actually double as a spare pump to inflate your tires before long climb.
Or the IFP is driven by the main air chamber thus needing to inflate manually the negative chamber.
Or the two external bodies can actually move (there is something looking like a dust wiper), because the red lever is a kind of "shapeshifter" from Canyon that changes springrate/travel/color of the bike.
Or the second inflatable chamber is a SWAT box so this shock will only be available at specialized shops. It's inflatable so it shoots the required item in your hands so you don't waste time searching for it. Genius.
And the air chamber.... maybe a triple chamber air spring?
It’s about how it rides!
Do your research, understand what is better for you and go with that.
I think that´s a nice way of saying "we couldn´t manufacture the equalizing dimple".
No equalizing dimple can result in a big number of stuck-down shocks.
Monarchs tend to eat themselves when the main seals "engages" the 4 ports that fill the positive debonair chamber. This happens when there is an intense bottom-out. Certainly a design flaw.
However, what we have seen in systems that do not have an equalization system in the air chambers is that they frequently get stuck-down or at least at a higher rate than other air springs that do have an equalization port.
This has to do with intermittent main air seal fails that start leaking air to the negative chamber. By there not being an equalization port, these add up and end up with a stuck down fork. An equalization port would correct for these small leaks.
Of course this is affected by users not servicing their suspension resulting in seal wear and lubricant contamination.
No, and neither has anyone else.