MAGURAS 2009 PRODUCT LOOKOUT
New suspension forks, an innovation air shock and lighter disc brakesR. Cunningham
Magura has slowly transformed itself from a brake manufacturer to a player in high-stakes suspension. We were invited by the German manufacturer to Sedona, Arizona to test its trail-smoothing forks, shocks, and to experience the canyon paradise’s red rock trails. The ugly part of Sedona is for those who have never been there:
The view from Maguras Sedona headquarters.
Magura presented a Marta SL disc brake that was lighter for cross-country riding. It featured a magnesium lever perch and carbon fiber blade, as well as a new post mount caliper that does not require an adapter to fit a six inch rotor. To secure the pads, the redesigned caliper is made of one piece and uses a threaded peg. New pad designs are also available. They are said to be more stable and less noisy. The Marta SL system performed as promised on the trail with consistent stopping power that was easily controlled.
Marta SL brakes are 295g in weight, including mounting hardware and rotor.
Only available in post-mount is the all-new Marta SL caliper. The colors match Magura’s top cross-country forks.
Durin SL is Maguras’ crown jewel for cross-country suspension. The Durin SL fork, which measures 80 millimeters in travel and has a 100-millimeter stroke, weighs in at 1350 grams. It is 1380 grams lighter than the Durin SL fork. Magura removed all external adjustments other than air-spring pressure to achieve this feathery figure. Maguras credit is due to the Durin SL feeling exceptionally good. This may be because Maguras included a strong pedaling platform in the rebound damping and fixed compression settings.
Maguras Durin 100SL is a simple weapon. Dual-arch makes it easier to steer and noticeably stiffer.
Magura has a small but effective approach to suspension, such as the Durins integrated Cable Housing Guide.
Magura offers the Durin Marathon (100-millimeter stroke) or the Durin Race (120-millimeter stroke). The Race features a handlebar-remote lockout as well as rebound damping controls. Fixed travel is an option for the Marathon. Remote-lever Travel Management (on-the fly adjustable travel) is also available. Albert Selecta’s twist-knob on fork crown controls compression damping. It is combined with a dial in gold that adjusts the pedaling threshold.
The Durin Marathon is Maguras most versatile cross-country/trailbike fork ( 1555 grams, 155 kg).
Albert Select pedaling platform featuring a gold blow-off adjustment
The Maguras remote handlebar lever for Maguras is very well done.
And our favorite fork for the rugged trails at Sedona was the 140-millimeter-travel Thor All Mountain, Thor forks have all new lowers with post-mount brake calipers that are designed for seven-inch rotors. The remote Travel Management system can reduce travel by anywhere from 140 to 120 millimeters. We rode the Thor All Mountain set-up. The magnesium sliders can accept either a Maguras 60-Less ultralightweight through axle or a RockShox Maxle quick release through-axle of 20 millimeters. The Thor fork’s linear feel can withstand a beating without sending compression spikes back to the handlebar. It excels at square-edged bumps like roots and stair-steps (that would be Sedona).
Thor All Mountain fork with standard RockShox Maxle through axle system and remote Travel Management feature (178 kg, 1785g).
Maguras 60 Less through-axle uses an Allen key wedge bolt to secure the axle to the right dropout. It weighs 60 grams less than the stock Maxle (and 12 more than the Maxle light).
All Magura forks with remote travel or lockout options can have the cable housing stops integrated into their crown.
Magura is not quite in production with its new air-sprung/air-damped MX cross-country shock. The MX shock uses a flexible bladder pressurized to compress the shock. It does not have a sliding canister like RockShoxinstead and ALA Fox. The spring chamber’s pressurized atmosphere keeps the internals dry and lubricated. The shock compresses the air, causing it to become denser. This increases the rebound and compression damping force when they are most needed. An external rebound clicker is available. The factory fixes compression. The MX shock weighs in at 225g in the 165-millimeter and 230g in the 200 millimeter. The MX shock was very well received in Sedona. We also returned an MX shock to continue testing at home in California.
The Magura MX airshock is first seen. The shock mechanism is sealed by the rubberized bladder-spring (20 kg, 195g).
Closeup of the MX 190 air/airhock shows its external rebound clicker, Schrader valve and air valve.
Magura brakes are amazing, but we must not forget about Magura. The Louise Carbon Carbon BATA is a lighter, more aggressive braking system that’s great for trailriders or moderate freeriding. You can also get it in an aluminum-lever variant.
Louise Carbon BAT Lever Assembly loses weight to fill the aggressive trailbike niche (a wheel).
The Marta is significantly larger than the dual-piston Louise BAT calibrper.
The aluminum-bladed Louise BBAT lever assembly matches white caliper theme ( per rim).
