2011 Magura Thor - First Ride

May 26, 2010
by Mike Levy  
Magura chose the challenging terrain of Sedona, Arizona, to release their 2011 Thor all-mountain fork. Inside you can find all the details and pictures, as well as info on the new Marta FR brake.

Read on...
2011 Magura Thor


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2011 Magura Thor

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Magura's unique dual arch design

For 2011 Magura makes some drastic changes to their Thor all-mountain/trail fork that see it not only gain steerer tube options, but also revised damping to suit more aggressive riders or terrain. The air sprung 140 mm Thor will be available in a standard 1-1/8" steerer tube, as well as both tapered and a full length 1-1/2" options that should make this already precise dual arch fork even stiffer. At the opposite end you'll find a full sized 20 mm thru-axle tying everything together. New graphics also distinguish the 2011 model from previous offerings, but you'll still find the handy air chart on the lower leg that aids in setup. While the above changes are far more visible, aggressive riders may benefit even more from internal changes that are not as easy to see. The Thor gets updated with much heavier compression damping via a revised shim stack that should help it maintain its composure better at speed. Magura had side by side damping assemblies out of a fork that made the comparison between the 2011 system and previous years easy to do - the difference was massive. For those riders who prefer the original setup, it will still be available aftermarket if you wish to convert your fork to last year's damping. Another change includes the use of a far more progressive air spring that will require lower pressures, thereby increasing small bump sensitivity. From the outside the Thor looks similar to previous years, but the internal changes basically render this version a whole new fork.

photo
Magura compression shim assembly

Magura Thor details

• All-mountain/trail orientated fork
• Air sprung
• 140 mm total travel
• FCR allows on the fly travel adjustment down to 100 mm
• 32 mm stanchion tubes
• standard, tapered, and 1.5" steerer tube options
• 7" post mount brake mounting
• Anodized aluminum adjustment dials
• Improved shim configuration for more low-speed compression
• 20 mm Maxle Lite thru-axle
• New graphics for '11
• total weight: 3.9 lbs. (standard steerer)


photo
Anodized aluminum dials

Sedona offers some amazing and challenging riding that allowed me to really feel what the Thor had to offer. Trail conditions varied greatly from smooth and fast slick rock that offered near limitless traction, to rough, rocky sections that would tax any bike when hit at speed. All of the rides involved a fair bit of climbing, some of it up some very technical pitches that required lots of horsepower and the right line choice. My bike for all of this was a 140mm travel Magura Thor equipped Cannondale RZ140. My last experience with a Magura fork was a Wotan, which I was fond of, but wished it had a more controlled compression stroke. The Thor was a revelation in this regard with its new higher level of low speed compression damping. I tend to push suspension in this travel bracket quite hard and therefore find myself having to run higher pressures than the manufacturer recommends due to light valving that is intended for tamer riding, but the new Thor performed admirably in this department. While the fork was supple enough to deal with the small ledges and steps that littered all of the trails we rode, it rode high in its travel and didn't suffer from excessive diving under hard braking, something that not a lot of forks in this category can brag about. Riding fast on unfamiliar terrain can often result in some surprises, but the Thor never once bottomed hard enough to cause any concern, and in fact felt much more progressive than I had been expecting. The Albert Select system works as advertised and the dials are high quality anodized aluminum pieces, although they were a bit hard to turn. The Thor's rebound adjuster is a plastic dial located at the bottom of the damping leg and has a usable, if a bit small, range of adjustment. The Thor is an incredibly torsionally stiff fork, especially for its 3.9 lb. weight. The fork's stiffness, combined with its ability to stay high in its travel under braking or on steep sections, meant that it was confidence inspiring on the difficult Sedona terrain. While far from a proper test, I only had three solid days of riding on the 2011 Thor, I was very pleased with how the 140 mm travel fork handled the challenging terrain.

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Mike Levy enjoying Sedona




2011 Magura Marta FR Brakes

Have a look at this neat video of some Magura rotor "testing" that was made by grinsekater.pinkbike.com

Views: 4,088    Faves: 10    Comments: 5



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2011 Magura Marta FR brake

Magura's venerable Marta brake is back for 2011 with an updated FR version that comes stock with the new 180 mm Storm SL rotors that keep the weight low and the power high. The Marta FR is a mid-weight brake that comes in lighter than a DH specific model, but still has the power to slow down any long travel bike when used with the appropriate rotor size. Magura was also showing off their brand new Storm and Storm SL rotors that shave grams and improve braking performance. The new SL models are claimed to be up to 50% lighter than last season's standard rotors! The new rotors are available in all common sizes, including a pint sized 140 mm version. They will only be offered in standard six hole mounting patterns, although a Center Lock adapter is in the works.

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2011 Magura Marta caliper

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2011 Magura Storm SL rotors

Visit Magura.com to see their entire lineup of brakes and suspension.

Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

71 Comments
  • 7 0
 WAKIdesignes is talking crud. The thor is by far the best performing 140mm fork on the market IMHO. The rev is great, but the thor is stiffer and better controlled, the Pike is amazing, but the thor is lighter and just ass stiff, the fox 32 forks are good, but not as stiff, well controlled, or as nice looking, and the 44 is great, but heavy and has poor reliabilty. The thor is is stiff, light, strong, very well damped, has an amazing feel, and even looks good. its awsome
  • 5 0
 lol you said "just ass stiff"
  • 1 0
 i like it whens its ass stiff
  • 5 0
 The new Thor is one of the Best All-Mountain- / Enduro-Forks i have ever used.

I am riding it now for a while and i will never give it away again.

www.pinkbike.com/video/132940

The new Marta and the new rotors look awesome!
  • 5 0
 Looks good.........I once had Magura brakes and loved them. I also once had a motorcycle with Magura brakes and loved them as well. They make good stuff........WAKI, you know alot but not everything......try this stuff before you pass judgement please!!
  • 3 0
 Magura makes a SOLID product. I ride a Wotan (160mm) for all of my needs. I went from a Fox 36 Van R to the Magura. The Wotan is just as smooth and seems to take what I throw at it with as much aplomb as the Fox. Now, I won't say one is better than the other, because that is subjective. But I will say that Magura forks are definitely worth the cake you have to throw down. They are actually less expensive than Fox with the same feel. I recommend them, for sure.
  • 1 0
 BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK
  • 5 0
 140mm and 3.9 lbs and looking that sexy, shit ya I'd ride one for sure! Nice work Magura.
  • 1 0
 Magura brakes are legendary, I guess their forks are on the way too.
I'm riding the Thor fork for some time now and I have to say, it really feels like a much "bigger" fork.
On my daily ride to work I use a Magura Menja all year round, never have to worry about it, works like a charm.
For me it is worth paying for the "Made in Germany" quality. :-)
  • 5 1
 Magura brakes are far too good
  • 4 2
 That is a nice new concept for a fork, nice.
  • 9 2
 using rock shox maxle
  • 2 3
 Absolutely spiffing Smile
  • 5 2
 IMO i dont like the dual arch 'but thats just me
  • 2 0
 yeah it's weird and wouldn't that add weight?
  • 3 1
 I have the Wotan that PB used for their testing junk back in 2008.
The forks have had maxles for a while, it's not really a new concept, the dual arch is odd looking to some but it is reaaaally stiff, and it adds a bit of weight but it's not too bad.

I've put mine through some abuse I doubt it was ever intended for.
True I have a different model but the design is similar so I suppose there will be a bit of crossover in feel between models.

Hope that addresses some of your comments. Smile
  • 3 0
 i think that the dual arch isnt that bad, its unique. Im realllly tempted to get a magura fork though, they look solid.
  • 2 0
 They are love em or hate em forks, definately try one out before buying.
  • 1 0
 rock shox maxle on the first pic, nice. lols.
  • 2 0
 Yeah... they've been using the maxle for a while now
  • 7 0
 If you can't beat them, join them...
  • 3 2
 personally the fox design is my favourite for forks
  • 2 2
 agreed! I have fallen in love with my 2011 Van RC2 180mm
  • 2 0
 Maveri has a BAD ASS 180
  • 1 0
 thanks Session! Session has an all around spectacular bike.
  • 1 0
 thank you sir.
  • 1 0
 niiice fork, looks smooth
  • 1 0
 the disk rotor looks convincingly good and light.
  • 1 0
 i like the pic of the rotors
  • 1 1
 what is the use of those double arches? i think it just adds up wieght.
  • 3 0
 The idea is that they add quite a bit of torsional rigidity - "stiffness" to the fork. Without adding much -if any- weight. The arches if you look are much slimmer than a traditional arch.
  • 1 3
 maybe so, but that's another arch for mud and dirt to get stuck in
  • 3 1
 if arches are so bad, why do hmm, lets see... pretty much ALL forks have them?
  • 3 0
 (Schism) no one said arch is bad the topic is about what is the use of double arches.
  • 4 1
 Stiffness. It's been said. And we all know the amount of dirt stuck in your fork is WAAAY more important than how well it actually performs...
  • 1 0
 i'll stick with my single arch 2011 van rc2 even if it's not as stiff. still think the design isn't worth the minimal added stiffness.
  • 1 0
 Have you rode a Magura?
  • 1 0
 Yep, but it was a year and a half ago and I wasn't impressed.
  • 1 0
 Ok, just making sure, there are SO many people on Pinkbike that will talk shit about something without even using it.
  • 1 0
 what is the good thing about stiffness in a fork any way. isnt suspension fork all about softness? sorry im extremly confused iv never used many deferent parts before.
  • 1 0
 the stiffness of the fork is differnt from how stiff the travel is. stiffness is whether it is super flexy or not, not how plush the suspension is.
  • 6 7
 i think people will just by the rock shox revelation instead
  • 7 15
flag WAKIdesigns (May 26, 2010 at 2:03) (Below Threshold)
 yes I have the feeling that someone in Magura just tries too hard to have forks on product list... only 140 travel, average weight, old school arch construction, price as others, well not the best way to compete with big guns. Only thing the makes them distinctive is this double arch design, and well it's hard to clash that against tech&price that i.e Rockshox offers. One has to reaaaally want somethign different over better working/cheaper RS or Marzocchi to buy something from them. X-Fusion for example runs away with the performance/value ratio.

Stick with brakes Magura or find some protege like Shimano, as now you just can't compete with RS and Fox having so much more money for R&D. Sooner or later they will be far faaar ahead.
  • 11 1
 I guess you haven't tried the new thor out already did you? So to say in advance that this fork isn't even as good as the competitors is just a little insular.
To compare a thor to a revelation is also - well... compare a fork with damping (thor) with a pogostick. I've ridden a lot of forks and the thor can play (despite it has less travel) in the same game with the lyrik. As meantend in the review above it stays higher in the travel with superior daming and I would say it feels way more like an DH fork than an allmountain plaything. Actually pretty similar to my Boxxer Team.
You hammer into the hard stuff and you never got the feel you loose control.
I switchted from my 2011 Lyrik to the Thor and didn't regret it for one second! Lighter, even better damping and and now with the tapered steerer incredible stiff.

A short clip with the Thor in aktion (200fps) at a pretty rocky section at Lake Garda/Italy:
www.pinkbike.com/video/140395
  • 2 9
flag WAKIdesigns (May 26, 2010 at 3:47) (Below Threshold)
 I must admit I never tried any Magura fork. I tried comprehensively most others RS, MZ, Fox, Manitou, RST, Suntour.

Most Rockshox forks are pogo sticks, even my Lyrik Uturn, if I compare to my previous Marzocchi 66 2006. I don't know how is it with the new Mission Control DH. Comparing to that 66, FOX 36 and 40s are rough like sex in two condoms. However 2,9kg single crown fork that 66 is, smells a bit of New World Disorder 3 era and ZOcchis low speed compression is not as good as RS and miles from FOX. - can't forget about that.

What I meant was (i havent' stated it clearly, sorry for that) is if I pay so, sooo much money, I'm into something tested by 10 000 people, rather than small company such as Magura or DT Swiss (aka Pace). Yes I am a bit of a insecure person, but I'm not the only one.

You can't expect regular people (like me) to not see you as something extravagant, and go around asking so much price as it discourages them to buy something from less known company. Then you will never get enough people to encourage other people to buy it. It's mostly people wanting something different that will buy Maguras, and as far as I am concerned (as I know one owner) these people are also different in a way, so it's just hard for them to convince others. And this is how business works, people tell people to buy from certain people.

people ple ple poeple ple ple ple - sad but true, but I don't mean that you should not do forks at Magura, have your own segment, we people need it.
  • 15 0
 Gotta love the people making stories about products they haven't ridden
  • 3 7
flag WAKIdesigns (May 26, 2010 at 7:54) (Below Threshold)
 if there would be only a genre of human beings telling stories only about stuff they ridden, such thing as internet biking forum would not exist, would it? I ain't telling any story. I've put down my opinion with attached reasoning essay.
  • 11 4
 Why don't you just create your own MTB website. You seem to think you know more than SRAM, Magura, and pinkbike (for putting that air shock on a nomad). When you create a fork better than the Maguras, let us all know, oh great one, and I'll concede defeat. Until then, keep your gob shut regarding products you clearly have no clue about. Oh and one more thing, give your mates a call and tell them all to get on the next lorry they can and get the f*ck out my country. Thankyou please.
  • 2 4
 wow, you took out the big guns. which air shock which Nomad? thats question nr one. question nr two, can you please tell me more about me and my country? I am eager to hear more from you, what is it that troubles you so much. I think you might send me in private messages or just write on my noteboard, so you sort of stop becoming the ambassador of your own country. Apart from that i just think you are so negativeee.
  • 4 3
 I'm negative!!??? Coming from the penis posting a negative comment on new products (new rock shock air can) and telling the pinkbike community, and more to my point, the manufacturers that it's gonna fail, before it's even gone on release. And yes, I am an ambassador for the UK, as I was born here and there's not many people in the UK now that can say that. Fellow Brits will understand that one.
  • 3 4
 not to be too negative but some of your fellow Brits along with some fellows from other english speaking country that are most probably dead by now, decided once that they want to end up world war 2 a year earlier. Therefore they decided that they will lick mr Stalins rectum so he helps them in Indonesia and Malaysia for giving him Poland, East Germany, Czecho-Slovakia, Hungary and few other countries as "influence zone". Communist sytem degenerated every single country under its iron curtain. I'm far from being a fan of drunk Polish workers, Im damn ashamed of them, but quite frankly my friend, You guys are eating your own crap.
  • 2 1
 Oh yeah Waki, kinda forgot you are polish, kinda gives you the right to highly dislike german stuff
  • 3 3
 We eat fish and chips. You square heads eat our swans. And even more annoyingly catch and eat the fish from our rivers. And that rambling bollocks you spewed out above..... What the f*ck!? It's not your country I have a problem with. And to be fair, some of you lot ain't too bad, but when you come here, sponge off my tax, commit crime and make no effort to speak our language, then I get pissed off. More recently, as the world cup is coming up, a mother and her toddler child who was wearing an England shirt tried to get on the bus. Bus driver being Polish said the England shirt offended him thus saying they weren't allowed on the bus. Only it being he let them, once the rest of the passengers on the bus threatened to knock the shit out if him. So babble on about WW2, which surely you'd like to forget?, stop babbling on about products that are only prototypes, and you know bollocks all about, but claim you do, and everyone will be a lot happier. Oh, and stop eating our swans.
And our fish.

Much appreciated.
  • 2 3
 wow, england saved your skinny little polak asses in ww2, you probably shouldnt be bringing it up WAKI.
  • 2 3
 Combee: where exactly did I use word German, or gave you any indication of not liking Germans? I barely met three guys in my life, why should I say anything?!
Schism: when who saved ass of Polish country throughout the course of planet earth's history?

JamesIDK - you can blame me for saying something bad about the product that I haven't tried, yes mea culpa. However your pathetic, attempt to connect my act of graphomaniac stupidity to some drunk wanker on a bus, furthermore verbaly attacking the whole polish country is just irrelevant, indicating you to be some homophobic redneck. I hate country-country bitchin' as it can be only good as a comedy as every single one of us has something smelly in our closet. I'm also disgusted with collective responsibility, as I am not going to rip on you for what others do around, and trust me if I would ever care, I could cast some serious crap at anyone for what I saw or in my country or during trips.

Now my stupid talk about that piece of metal makes me another internet nerd. Now your digression makes you a homophobic redneck, in a way sh*tting at you own country. Was that worth it?!
  • 1 1
 You really do babble on some bollocks and make sod all sense! Homophobic!? From any of my statements, where have I indicated to you I'm a homophobe!? My only guess is you don't know what that means. Secondly, yes I'm a redneck. I'm going catfish tickling later down the river then I'm gonna hunt me some possom.
  • 2 1
 maah... let's just forget it. I learned something today. Saying simply "this product is an overpriced expensive sh*t" will end up with being called an idiot, then the people will negprop it until it disappears. Reasoning why a too high price is bad for the product prototype might eventually end up with Worldwar 3.

Therefore I apologize to everybody I will not reason anymore while being negative, as definitely this time it wnt too far. I revised my misbehaviour and I will try to not be negative anymore.
  • 1 0
 I didn't read al that shit but basically you are comparing the damping to a RS lyric while you haven't even touched a magura? way to go..
  • 1 0
 how do you know its overpriced IF YOUVE NEVER RIDDEN ONE. for all you know it could be better than a 40.
  • 1 1
 FFS you two donkey balls give ma bloody break. I admitted that my post was a mistake, now you keep on being damn particular about every single word I am writing. Apparently it seems that both of you haven't even tried RochShox Tora, and you have a bloody nerve to preach me about Magura. You wanna go into a fight, make sure you have the resources you stupid twits.
  • 1 0
 Thats true, I've never ridden a Tora. Thats why I'm not talking shit about it, something you could learn from....
  • 1 0
 wacky designs
  • 1 1
 heh, so I see you Schism talking only about stuff you owned or tried? how long did it take you until you had nothing more to talk about on any bike forum? If world would look like that no comments would be allowed under threads with prototypes. wouldn't it?! Is this why you act like an a#@ catching every single word of mine and bringing higher virtues to it?

lauwe pokoe how brilliant was that? Did you spent all night with english dictionary to sort that out? How should that word make me look stupid?! I took this nickname both for my PB profile as well as for my company among other reasons, because of that resemblance you twit.

Thank to these cheer lads here, I made some more thinking and I shall say to you all

B> 2011 Magura forks are going to be probably the best ones out there /B>


That's it, I'm done here.
  • 1 0
 tl;dr
  • 1 0
 Yeah, the problem with prototypes is there are too many kids like you who say "oh it looks stupid i bet it rides really bad", before they can even ride it. Sure, you can talk about something you havent ridden, but if you talk shit about it without doing reasearch you look like an idiot,
  • 1 1
 Well what made you think I'm one of them? Was I so negative? I did not say it's crap! it pisses me off as well when someone writes: "it's so sick, I want it!" vs "stupid, would never work": not much difference if you ask me. Sure Im always concentrating a bit too much on negative side but demn.1, I justify my opinions, and demn.2 I have right to speak out constructive criticism.
  • 1 0
 So do I. Quit whining.
  • 1 0
 you said they (magura) shouldn't bother as fox and RS will be way better anyway which isn't necessarily the case, they have a relatively small budget for their brakes as well but any marta or louise version will kick avid or hayes' ass anytime even though they have a way larger R&D budget

meaning you can't judge a company's products based solely on budget i.e. telling magura to keep their hands off suspension without having tried any of their products is just plain dumb.
  • 1 1
 Demn, I can't let you have the last word! You are younger, thou should have respect and stuff, Don't you seeeeeeee? - shut up ego, and stop using my fingers on keyboard... back off me - I'm a peaceful man! good night folks, it was nice talking to you, I tried to get away from that unfortunate comment of mine, but I really give up now: My ego went to the shower, good night.
  • 1 2
 ha nie ma jak dobry marketing
  • 1 5
flag Schism (May 26, 2010 at 20:32) (Below Threshold)
 durka durka. mohammed jihad.







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