The Magic fork line offers White Brothers' cutting edge Intelligent Magnetic Valve "IMV" damping technology in our super stiff, lightweight 32mm platform. Just set the IMV damper where you want it and sprint or climb without bob and float over washboard bumps or big drops with full active travel. All Magic forks have true open bath damping and oil bath lubrication to give you buttery smooth performance.
Submitted by
jgw1981
a Weekend Warrior
from Walled Lake, MI, USA Date Reviewed: June 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Island Lake, Maybury
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
0
Strengths:
Smooth travel, the IMV works quite well. Light weight, and looks great!
Weaknesses:
A little challenging to set up, and hard to find documentation on it.
Similar Products Used:
Fox F29, Rock Shox Reba.
Bike Setup:
GF Paragon, custom setup
Bottom Line:
Its a supple, and great working fork. It can be a challenge to set up. I have the 80mm version. When rebounding off of hits, it sounds somewhat like a nail gun, which is interesting, and apparently normal. I do like the fork, but the IMV can be confusing, and I do sometimes wish I had a lockout I could switch on and off. I would trade it for a Fox or a Reba if the chance came up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robin
a Cross Country Rider
from Calabasas, CA USA Date Reviewed: October 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Idlehour
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$650.00
Strengths:
Light, Stiff, IMF works well
Weaknesses:
Expensive, Blown seal twice
Similar Products Used:
Original Maitou, Rock Shock Mag 21, Manitou Mars 1
Bike Setup:
Titus Ti FCR
Bottom Line:
This fork worked well with little need for continuous adjustments, including platform and IMF. Trouble is that I blew a seal, sent it back for repair only to blow the seal again after two rides. We will see if WB gets it right this time...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from In Date Reviewed: December 6, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Tunable Stiff Customer support
Weaknesses:
Progressive travel Expensive
Similar Products Used:
DUC - 29er, Pike - air and coil, F100X
Bike Setup:
El Rey and El Capitan
Bottom Line:
I wanted stiff and platform and got that. I have the thru-axle version. I suspect there is no perfect blend of small bump sensitivity, plush travel, and smooth linear transition into travel. That being said it feels better than the F100X. Less lockout but better small bump sensitivity. It doesn't blow through the travel like the Fox when set up to be more plush. Overall I like it, but I prefer the Pike which I could set up with a lot of platform on the move if I wanted to. Quality is top notch and I may get another if Rock Shock and Fox refuse to build a thru axle 29er.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike D.
a Cross Country Rider
from Nor Cal Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Soquel Demo Forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$699.00
Purchased At:
Palo Alto Bicycles
Strengths:
100 mm of travel; VERY tuneable to rider weight and riding style; it's relatively light in weight; plenty stiff for agressive, technical, single track downhilling. Very little pedal bob when climbing in or out of the saddle.
I'm really pleased with this fork. It took about 6 rides to break it in and get it tuned just right. I'd put it in the "very plush" category.
Lots of people ride their 29er's with rigid forks. I was one of those people for a while, and it was awesome too. But, I prefer suspension. The Magic 29 is a great fork and worth the money, especially for serious riders.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nate
a
from nor cal Date Reviewed: March 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
lawndale
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1.00
Purchased At:
came stock on bike
Strengths:
clean styling, 100mm 29er fork
Weaknesses:
16 clicks of IMV adjustment which all feel like crap. fork also creaks and has alot of stiction. I would expect alot more for a fork in this price range.
Similar Products Used:
rockshox mag 21
Bike Setup:
van dessel jersey devil fs
Bottom Line:
save your money. white bros has totally blown it with this one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad
a Racer
from Canada Date Reviewed: March 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Laterally stiff, simple to operate with the new IMV, looks really great. Did not find that I was searching for a lockout while outta the saddle, IMV works as advertised.
Weaknesses:
I had to fiddle with the air pressure as the fork took its time to break in. Now I set it and forget it. I wish the rebound was on the top to dial in as you go.
Similar Products Used:
My first 29er fork, very impressed. Tired of waiting for the new Pace.
Bike Setup:
Ventana El Rey 4" rear
Bottom Line:
I got a screamin' deal on ebay before x-mas. I wouldn't mind paying full retail because this fork is built to last and it is very easy to service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GlowBoy
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland OR Date Reviewed: December 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Lost somewhere in Oregon
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Vulture Cycles with frame
Strengths:
Coil model: Quick and easy to dial in just the right amount of compliance. Compression adjustment is all most riders will ever need to use, though other adjustments can be made. No flexiness issues. No stiction noted on trail. Mine is coil, yet weighs no more than the air suspended Reba. No need for an air pump with the coil version. Fantastic customer service.
Weaknesses:
Expensive, even more so with the new IMV design. Feels sticky on the showroom floor, though not on the trail. No remote adjustment/lockout.
Similar Products Used:
RS Reba Race, Karate Monkey rigid.
Bike Setup:
Custom Vulture singlespeed 29"er w/EBB. Fork is a 2005 BW1.0 coil unit.
Bottom Line:
Note that this review is for the 2005 (pre-IMV) BW1.0 fork in coil, not the 2006 Magic model with air that most people are buying. But it still reflects well on White Brothers' design, workmanship and customer service. They dominate the 29" suspension fork world by committing fully and bringing the strongest design to the big wheel market. They basically forced Marzocchi out by being simply much better, though now the RS Reba gives strong competition.
I love this fork. It's simple to adjust, and a half turn of a dial brings it from full lockout to as plush as I'd want. You can also adjust rebound, preload and travel, but there's really no need: I find the fork works great with those adjustments left at the factory settings. It works as well for me out of the box as the hyper-adjustable Reba, with no need for a lockout, and it weighs the same. (Note: the 2006 Magic models weigh a bit more due to the special valving, though I believe the air version still weighs about the same as the Reba).
I only see two major downsides. The first is price, with the current models going for $700 and few dealers willing to knock anything off that price. Fortunately I got mine with a frame for an excellent price.
Other downside is no remote option. This is less of an issue with the new Magic models, but I'd love to figure out how to hook up a remote similar to the Reba's, but with the same continuous adjustment I have now rather than on-off.
Buy it if: you want a simple, dependable high performing fork and either (a) don't care what it costs, or (b) can get a deal on it.
Forget it if: you're price conscious and can't get a deal on it, or if the Reba comes with your frame (as is often the case). The Reba offers a similar level of performance for considerably less money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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