MRP Ramp Control Cartridge [Rider Review]

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As good as most modern mountain bike suspension forks are now sometimes you just need the ability to turn a little bit more. Sure you can adjust the way the fork travel ramps up with volume spacers but wouldn't it be nice to do this on the fly. Our friend Justin shares his experience with the MRP Ramp Control Cartridge. Check it out! 

Overview

There seem to be 2 types of riders out there. One who wants to be able to dial in his/her suspension for maximum performance and the other who gets nervous at the thought of making adjustments for fear of “screwing something up”. The MRP Ramp Control Cartridge works for both types of riders. The MRP Ramp Control is SIMPLE to use. I have owned 2 MRP Ramp Controls so far and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t own a pair of forks without it now. The first forks were a Fox 34 Performance Elite with Fit4 with 130mm travel and my current forks are Fox 34 Float 140mm with Grip damper. The two big things for me with my forks are that I want them to have good small bump sensitivity and I want to be able to utilize all my travel without bottoming out. With the MRP Ramp Control, I have both of these things.

Installation

If you want to install the MRP Ramp Control yourself, you need to make sure you have 2 important tools. You will need a cassette lock-ring tool [without the center post (see picture)] and you need a 26mm socket. Basically, you take the air out of the fork, remove the existing air spring top cap (26mm socket and large breaker bar), install the new Ramp Control with the cassette lock-ring tool and tighten to 24.8 Nm, air the fork back up and enjoy!

If you want to have the ability to tune your forks easily and quickly due to different riding environments, you can’t get any better upgrade than the MRP Ramp Control.

Performance

Once you set your sag it’s time to go and play. The Ramp Control allows you to make your fork either more progressive or more linear. For easy terrain, go for more linear, and for more aggressive (think drops, rocks, and jumps) go for more progressive. All you do is turn the dial and make it just the way you want. My usual riding area is moderately rocky and janky and I run the Ramp Control more linear but then when I hit the big stuff in Sedona or Moab, I turn up the progression and away I go. One trail in Sedona had about a 2 foot drop on it and the first time I hit it, I felt the fork bottom out...ouch! No worries though, I turned the dial 3 clicks for more progression and re-hit the drop, and nothing but smooth landing with no bottoming out! Super simple and amazingly effective.

Final Thoughts

Don’t waste your time taking your fork apart and fiddling with volume spacers when there is a much much better to do it. The MRP Ramp Control might be a little pricey, but once you own one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Trust me, MRP Ramp Control is a must-do upgrade to your forks.