MRP Unveils Coil-Sprung Ribbon Fork - Eurobike 2017
There are a lot of interesting products floating about the MRP booth, but the Ribbon Coil is the one item that you really have to elbow the euro journalists aside to get at.
As the name implies, the fork is a coil-sprung version of MRP’s air-sprung Ribbon all-mountain/enduro offering. The two forks are nearly identical—same lowers, crown, 35-millimeter stanchions and so forth. In fact, you can convert an air-sprung Ribbon to coil if you have a hankering to ditch air for steel.
And, clearly, some people do harbor said hankering.
It’s not hard to imagine why: Coil sprung forks have always had their adherents, thanks to their supple stroke and their, generally speaking, bomber, long-term performance.
What coil-sprung forks, in many cases, often lacked was that nice end-of-stroke suspension ramp. MRP says they’ve sorted the “my fork is too linear” issue with the addition of their Ramp Control adjuster.
MRP is tight lipped at the moment about the specifics of how Ramp Control functions because the product is still knee-deep in the patent application process, but the long and short of it is this: If you find yourself bottoming the fork out, you turn that gold-anodized knob at the bottom of the left fork leg and—Voila—no more of the oh-shit-I-just-about-broke-my-arms-in-half sensation the next time you send it.
In short, with the Ribbon Coil you’re supposed to get that silky suspension stroke with the tuneability of an air-sprung model. Weight gain? That'd be the other, obvious downside of ditching an air spring for a metal version.
And, clearly, some people do harbor said hankering.
It’s not hard to imagine why: Coil sprung forks have always had their adherents, thanks to their supple stroke and their, generally speaking, bomber, long-term performance.
What coil-sprung forks, in many cases, often lacked was that nice end-of-stroke suspension ramp. MRP says they’ve sorted the “my fork is too linear” issue with the addition of their Ramp Control adjuster.
MRP is tight lipped at the moment about the specifics of how Ramp Control functions because the product is still knee-deep in the patent application process, but the long and short of it is this: If you find yourself bottoming the fork out, you turn that gold-anodized knob at the bottom of the left fork leg and—Voila—no more of the oh-shit-I-just-about-broke-my-arms-in-half sensation the next time you send it.
In short, with the Ribbon Coil you’re supposed to get that silky suspension stroke with the tuneability of an air-sprung model. Weight gain? That'd be the other, obvious downside of ditching an air spring for a metal version.
The Ribbon Coil, however, only weighs less than a half pound more than the air-sprung Ribbon fork. The 27.5-compatible Ribbon Coil, for instance, tips the scales at 4.6 pounds (2086 grams), which is still damn light for 170-millimeter travel fork, regardless of whether the spring is made of ether or steel.
The Ribbon Coil is available in both 27.5 and 29er versions. Travel can be adjusted internally) from 150 to 170 millimeters for the 27.5-compatible forks and 140 to 160 millimeters for the 29er/27.5+ forks. You also have options when it comes to tweaking the actual spring rate. Fork offsets are suddenly a big deal, so if you're wondering, the 29er version of the Ribbon Coil will be available in either 51 or 46-millimeter offsets. The 27.5-compatible version will rock a 44-millimeter offset.
MRP's new fork also comes with soft, medium and firm coil springs in the box. If you are on the far end of either side of the rider-weight bell curve, you can also purchase either extra soft or extra-firm coils.
Dialing in your sag is accomplished by removing the top cap and using a four-millimeter hex wrench to adjust the spring preload. When it comes to damping adjustments, you’ve got rebound and low-speed compression damping to play with. The axle is available in both bolt-on and 15-millimeter, quick-release, thru-axle flavors. It is, however, a thoroughly Boost 110 affair. The Ribbon Coil will carry a price tag of $989.95 and should hit shops in October.
Dialing in your sag is accomplished by removing the top cap and using a four-millimeter hex wrench to adjust the spring preload. When it comes to damping adjustments, you’ve got rebound and low-speed compression damping to play with. The axle is available in both bolt-on and 15-millimeter, quick-release, thru-axle flavors. It is, however, a thoroughly Boost 110 affair. The Ribbon Coil will carry a price tag of $989.95 and should hit shops in October.
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#TLDR
I'm sick getting rattled by my pike.
The other thing I would add is that whilst I understood what midstroke support was, to actually experience it is something else - my bike felt so much more composed in jumping and high speed berms it was a real eye opener.
I think the conversion cost me around 300g but I'd happily do it again.
For info I ride predominantly red/black trail centre stuff in the UK winters, with mainly off piste stuff in the summer and the odd uplift day. I'm no pro, just a reasonably quick weekend warrior that struggles to get out more with wife/kids /work/etc. I'm no high level pro!
So according to your reasoning, 46 for 29, 36 for 27, 26 for 26?
My guess is they are reducing the offset because of the increased HA and longer single crown forks. Maybe it helps with flex.