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Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Rimpact Chain Damper Smooths MTB Rides with Springs & Elastomers Inside a Chainring


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We’ve seen numerous gadgets add dampers into your drivetrain to fight pedal kickback for smoother, extra supple suspension, however Rimpact’s new Chain Damper places it immediately inside a particular chainring sandwich. Promising stiffness, all climate sturdiness & a ” “extremely stiff and “creak-free” design, the Chain Damper makes use of its personal proprietary chainrings, however a traditional direct mount crank arm interface to make it simple to suit to your bike…

Rimpact direct mount MTB Chain Damper and chainring

Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, up close
(Pictures/Rimpact)

Sure, we all know Rimpact for their foam tire inserts that forestall rim impacts, so what are they doing with a mountain bike chainring that damps chain slap?

Effectively, they’ve now engineered a brand new gadget that they declare will ‘momentarily’ seize the power out of your bouncing chain and clean it out over time (damping) to quiet drivetrain suggestions in your bike, each figuratively and actually. Smoothing these spikes in pressure, Rimpact says their Chain Damper delivers “a silent and calmed experience attribute that lets the rider focus in on delicate suspension actions and the sound of tyres[sic] gripping the dust“.

Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, what's inside?Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, what's inside?

So that you get smoother suspension and a quieter experience? What extra might a mountain biker ask for!

Why would you like or must damp your chain within the first place?

Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, ridingRimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, riding

Merely put, on most full suspension bikes, because the bike strikes by way of its journey chain size adjustments – most frequently growing. In order you stand in your pedals, the strain within the chain between your chainring and cassette retains the bike’s suspension from shifting easily. By detaching your chainring out of your toes barely, the chainring can rock backwards and forwards when you’re standing flat on the pedals descending by way of tough sections, permitting smoother suspension motion. The identical impact is there to a lesser extent when pedaling by way of chunky sections of path, as effectively.

Additionally, as you rapidly hit sharp edged bumps your chain merely bounces round above and beneath your chainstay. It’s the explanation we trendy mountain bikers all experience clutched derailleurs as of late. However that may actually solely be managed on the underside loop of chain between the derailleur & chainring. So Rimpact’s Chain Damper chainring will damp that motion on the highest of the chain, stopping chainslap, and significantly quieting your experience.

Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, animationRimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, animation
(Animation by Theo Charrier/Rimpact)

“A series weighs round 260 grams on common and the highest a part of your chain, (the size between the chain ring and cassette) can transfer at 8 meters per second, utterly uncontrolled. Clutch derailleurs provide some quantity of management to the decrease a part of your chain however the prime stays free to flail wildly.

Right here at Rimpact, we expect the numerous impact of this uncontrolled chain power performs an even bigger half in undesirable experience traits than different sources of detrimental drivetrain suggestions.”

A damped chainring means a smoother really feel, higher rear wheel grip on the bottom, and a quieter experience ultimately, too.

Tech particulars

Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, direct mount detailRimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, direct mount detail
  • direct mount appropriate with Shimano MTB, SRAM 3-bolt X-Sync & SRAM T-Kind 8-Bolt crankarms
  • CNC-machined 7075-T6 arduous anodized narrow-wide chainrings accessible in 30, 32, 43 & 36T sizes
  • 11 & 12-speed appropriate, together with SRAM T-type compatibility
Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, tech detailsRimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, tech details
  • 2 stiff inner springs seize and return the power out of your chain
  • 2 inner elastomers restrict rotation to +/-5° and damp the power return
  • 1 most important IGUS bushing handles rotation and 4 thrust bushings deal with alignment between the chainring & Chain Damper spider
  • 2 X-ring seals between the mounted spider and rotating chainring maintain water & dust out, and are “designed to outlive UK winters
  • whole system weight 230g (140g for the Chain Damper spider, plus 82g for the 32T chainring with its bushing. Sure, we additionally seen that these numbers don’t add up.)
Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, exploded viewRimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, exploded view
  • substitute chainrings and repair kits additionally accessible

Rimpact Chain Damper – Pricing, choices & availability

Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainringRimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring

These new Rimpact direct mount MTB Chain Damper and chainring full setups can be found now for £280 / $375 / 325€, able to bolt on to most Shimano and SRAM direct mount mountain bike crank arms, in addition to others that share those self same requirements. Rimpact says they’ve RaceFace, e*13, Hope, and numerous eMTB variations within the works, however are gauging curiosity earlier than placing these into manufacturing.

Rimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, on a bikeRimpact Chain Damper inside direct mount mountain bike chainring, on a bike

Whenever you purchase a whole Chain Damper, Rimpact permits you to decide a 30-36T chainring. However these particular proprietary rings are additionally accessible as separate replacements for £70. There’s additionally a £25 service equipment that features the elastomers, bushings, and seal rings that can put on out over time, however are all tremendous fast and simple to exchange.

All the pieces is out there now direct from Rimpact on-line – effectively, 32 & 36T rings in inventory at present – or by way of their worldwide distributors very quickly.

RimpactMTB.com



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