Magura has a couple of new forks for 2008, one a new version of an existing fork and the other completely new. We’ll start with the all-new one – the Durin fills the XC race fork gap in Magura’s 2007 range, with a choice of 80 or 100mm of travel. They’re different forks – you can’t change one to the other – with the 100mm version weighing in at a claimed 1.48kg (3.26lb) and the 80mm version a whisker lighter at 1.45kg (3.19lb).

The family resemblance with other Magura forks is clear, but the Durin is all-new. The lower legs have all the familiar features – dual arch, forward-angled dropouts – but it’s all slimmed down and smoothed out. Magura have gone to post-mount for the Durin (all the forks in the range that were previously IS are still IS, though). There’s also an integrated hose guide.

It’s quite substantially constructed for an XC race fork, with 32mm upper legs. The new crown is forged 6082 aluminium, with an integrated cable stop for Magura’s remote bar lever. On the Durin this activates the Dynamic Lockout lever, which is a slightly compliant lockout so you still get a bit of terrain-following without the bounce.

Also joining the range is a new version of the 130mm travel Laurin fork. The 130FCR looks the same as the existing Laurin, but features the Flight Control Remote travel-adjust system seen on the Wotan. A bar-mounted lever allows you to switch from 130mm of travel to 90. You also get “Albert Select” adjustable platform damping – with an on/off control so you can set the amount of platform you want and then switch it in and out as conditions demand – and the usual rebound adjustment.

These two forks (particularly the Durin) fill the obvious gaps in the Magura fork range, which now looks pretty comprehensive.