German engineering is renowned all over the world for its quality, durability, longevity and functionality.  Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi are all marques of quality but it is high time another brand joined this group - Magura.

The Durin is Magura’s cross country fork and its pedigree is already well established. All the riders on the podium of the women’s World Championships this year were ridding these forks (Marguerita Fullana, Sabine Spiz and Irina Kalentyeva) and two of Ireland’s top three riders use them too (Conor McConvey & Niall Davis).  The fork has claimed the Woman’s Olympic Gold, World Championships and countless World Cup victories and national titles in 2008.

Weighing 1500grams (3.3lbs) these forks are scary light but remarkably stiff due to the Dual Arch Design (DAD) double bracing arch and 32mm stanchions.  32mm stanchions are now becoming the norm on XC race forks but usually that means a hike in weight.  Magura have managed to keep the weight down and maintain a really stiff lateral fork.  Set up is really easy, the back of the right hand leg features a guide for the air pressure which gives the appropriate sag and these forks performed right out of the box.  There is even an area to note down your preferred settings to make for really quick servicing.

On fork pressure, Irish pro Niall Davis recommends running an extra 5-10psi pressure for racing as it’s too smooth!.  A rebound adjuster sits at the bottom of the right hand leg and a DLO (Dynamic Lock out) sits on top of it.  The lockout features a blow out valve so if you do hit something when locked out you don’t damage the fork.  It also maintains your sag height so the geometry won’t change when the fork is locked out.  After market forks come with first rate handle bar remote.

The fork is finely tuned out of the box and strangely doesn’t feel like a lightweight XC fork as it’s capable of handling a lot and is very solid on the trail.  Suspension action is via an air spring, open oil bath system and it is buttery smooth.  Fitted with a post mount calibrated for a 160mm rotor without an adapter, the fork will take up to a 210mm rotor.

We like the colour of the standard model but Magura also do a customization programme which allows you to choose from the following list of colours - white, yellow, orange, pink, red, olive, turquoise, dark blue or silver.

After six months of testing these are still as good as the day they arrived with smooth plush travel that puts many other top forks to shame.  For example on some competitors forks it can often be difficult to get full travel as it ramps up towards the end of the stroke.  Not so with the Durin which is smooth and progressive and we managed full travel on occasion when we hit something really big.  Stiff legs also mean that brake rub is a rarity, even when really sprinting out of the saddle.  The Durin is available in 80 or 100mm travel but top racers have told us that there is no advantage to running the shorter fork and indeed many of the top cross country hardtails for 2009 come with geometries set up for a 100mm fork for the first time.  For 2009 the Durin is even lighter, the 80mm SL version dipping below the 3lb mark at 1350grams.  There are lighter forks (the DT Swiss XCR100 comes to mind) but not at this price or perhaps with this level of performance and stiffness.  Magura have produced one of the best forks on the market, if XC or Marathon racing are your thing then this is the fork for you.  Highly recommended.

Rating - 5 out of 5

Pros - Lock out, DAD (Dual Arch Design) is very stiff, full smooth travel, reliable- fit and forget, ease of setup, price at this quality level.

Cons - The front wheel can be hard to remove due to the studs which hold the wheel in place should the skewer come loose but really we are grasping at straws here.

Price - €640