Magura’s Thor has an incredible stiffness-to-strength ratio but its very 'European' suspension feel won’t suit fans of plush and progressive forks.
If you needed proof that Magura’s Dual Arch Design offers a real performance advantage, then a quick ride on the phenomenally stiff and precise Thor forks would give you all you needed. Despite a very low weight for a 150mm fork, the 15mm Maxle axle format tracks better than some 2kg-plus heavy-duty forks we’ve tested. Even in quick-release format it’s stiffer than much of the screw-through competition.
The suspension action is typically German, with a firm initial feel even when you’ve wound off all the low speed Albert Select+ damping and switched off the threshold lock. Get it moving though and the slick stanchion coating means it dives rapidly deep into its travel.
The 2012 Thor is more progressive than previous Maguras but it still lacks predictable mid-stroke control to push against through corners and rebound can get choppy too. However, if you’re after a very precise, light and tall riding fork with emergency travel it's worth checking out.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
