MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
MSRP: $420
Versions Offered:
- Fox:
- 34 (2021-2025)
- 36 (2018-2025)
- 36 SL (2026+)
- 38: 2021+
- RockShox:
- Most Boost 35mm stanchion models (see MRP’s website for details)
- Zeb (180mm max travel)
- Marzocchi:
- Z1 (2019+)
- MRP:
- Ribbon
- Ribbon SL
- Raven
Blister’s Measured Weight: 355 g (RockShox Zeb version; 29 g weight gain compared to stock Charger 3.1 damper)
Intro
MRP isn’t new to the suspension game, having made their own forks and shocks, as well as a few different modified air springs for other brands’ forks over the years, but the Lift — an aftermarket fork damper upgrade — is a new category for them. The Lift V1 had been around for a little while, but the updated V2 sees some notable changes, and we’ve now started spending time on it.
MRP’s take is that the Lift V2 offers a much wider range of damping adjustments than most stock fork dampers — both externally and by offering five different base tunes to vary the overall adjustment range.
I’ve certainly had plenty of complaints about various dampers making less compression damping than I’d like (the now-discontinued Fox Grip2 VVC being the most common recent recipient of my ire there). So, would the Lift V2 help me get the increased damper support I often find myself seeking from a lot of stock forks? I’ve been eager to find out.
MRP offers the Lift V2 as a standalone damper cartridge to upgrade a range of Fox, Marzocchi, and RockShox forks, as well as MRP’s own longer-travel single crowns. The Lift V2 damper also comes stock in some MRP fork models.
Design
The Lift V2 damper has externally adjustable rebound and low-speed compression, and is offered with five different base tunes, which MRP categorizes by rider weight. MRP’s take is that relying solely on external adjusters to cover riders across a wide range of weights can’t produce the same results as starting with a better-tailored base tune, and per their recommendations, the five tune options cover folks from 110 to 270 lb (50 to 122 kg).
MRP’s recommended weight ranges for the different damper tunes overlap somewhat, and their general guidance for folks in those regions is that riders who tend toward a poppier, more active riding style should err on the lighter side, while riders after a plowier, more planted feel should steer toward the firmer tune. They don’t recommend factoring your local terrain into the calculus, however.
The Lift V2 uses a sealed cartridge design with a spring-backed IFP and features 12 clicks of adjustability in both compression and rebound. Servicing a Lift damper only requires one $15 proprietary tool and can readily be done by a home mechanic, and MRP recommends a healthy 200-hour service interval. Installing the Lift is quite straightforward and can be done without even removing the fork lowers, but if you’re in there, it’s probably worth doing at least a full lower leg service while you’re at it. MRP also offers shim kits to change between tunes, but converting between different fork models requires a different version of the damper cartridge.
Compared to the Lift V1 (which we haven’t tested), the V2 offers much lighter compression damping at the open end of the range, as well as a climb mode that engages with the compression adjuster fully closed. MRP also says that the rebound adjuster steps have been evened out in the Lift V2, so that each click makes a more consistent change, no matter where you are in the overall range. Updating a Lift V1 to V2 spec is possible, though the compression and rebound assemblies run $160 apiece, so it’s not all that much less expensive than a complete Lift V2 cartridge.
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) How does the Lift V2 damper perform, and how does it compare to the flagship dampers from the big two suspension brands (namely the Fox Grip X2 and RockShox Charger 3.1)?
(2) Who is the Lift V2 upgrade going to work best for?
Bottom Line (For Now)
The MRP Lift V2 damper upgrade appears to be a promising option for riders who struggle to achieve the desired damping levels from stock fork damper tunes — for example, those at the ends of the weight bell curve, and/or more aggressive riders who simply want a more supportive feel than others. We’ve started spending time on the Lift V2 to see if it delivers on that promise, and will have a Full Review to follow once we’ve spent a whole lot more time on it.
Flash Review: Our Initial On-Trail Impressions
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out the Flash Review below to read our initial on-trail impressions. Get our Digital Access Pass to view all our Flash Reviews and Deep Dives, or become a BLISTER+ member today to get access to that and a LOT more, including the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, and much more.
Flash Review: MRP Lift V2 Fork Damper
The MRP Lift V2 fork damper promises increased composure over stock options and comes in a range of rider-weight-specific tunes, but how does it perform? Here’s our early take.
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