MRP is not a suspension brand that you see very often, in the UK at least. This is the first time we’ve had a MRP Hazzard rear shocks in and one of the first things you feel is… quality, for want of a better word.
- Price: £659.99
- From: ison-distribution.com
- Weight (w/o spring): 541g
- Adjustments: Low Speed Rebound, Low Speed Compression, High Speed Compression, 2-position Climb Switch (open, firm)
This product was selected for our Editors’ Choice Awards 2022, as published in Singletrack Magazine Issue 146
Original Review:
The MRP Hazzard just an extremely and pleasingly well-made thing. It’s hard to explain how or why, and in the Real World it probably isn’t actually any ‘better’ put together than anything else here, but there’s no denying that the Hazzard just feels great. Everything is well-made and well-positioned. It feels like a human hand has given it the once-over and approved. The dials are all positive in action and don’t get either tight or vague at any of their extremes of adjustment. The dimensions of the thing are just-so. Chunkily svelte, if such a thing can be. And heck yeah, we just like the decal designs and the orange climb switch lever. Good looks don’t hurt. Especially when the on-trail performance of the shock is exceptional.
The adjustment ranges on offer are all impressively broad but also actually useful. This is one of those rare instances where you can set adjustments to the middle setting as they’re OK. Out on the trails, the Hazzard was very probably the most supple shock on this test. It has ridiculously low break-away friction.
After a bit of rebound and compression twiddling to reduce pedal bob, we ended up embracing this suppleness and actively learning how to pedal smoother and slower instead. The climb switch is easy to locate and operate, which we did so on numerous climbs and tarmac drags, whereupon it feels great. Not jarring or stuttering, it’s nicely mega-damped. It’s possibly even a better climb switch mode than that on the Cane Creek. The Hazzard rides like you expect/hope/wish a coil shock to feel. Loathe as we are to say the P-word, it is insanely plush.
As regards bottom out resistance, we used full travel a lot more on the Hazzard than most coil shocks here but we never realised it at the time. Despite all the talk of damping circuits and other techno-a-go-go stuff, we reckon the big old rubber bottom-out bumper can take the credit here. A progressive spring might sharpen up the deep hit performance but to be honest we love this shock just the way it is. It’s nice to be different.
Overall
This is an extremely well made and nice to use shock, that also just looks really cool (sorry!) Absolutely ri-donk-ulously supple off-the-top, which sporty types may not like but we found utterly addictive and laugh-out-loud rad.
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Review Info
| Brand: | MRP |
| Product: | Hazzard coil shock |
| From: | Ison Distribution |
| Price: | £659.99 |
| Tested: | by Benji for Issue 145 |
