Tested: Maverick Durance Monolink

Maverick Durance /// $5,600
303-415-0370; MAVERICKBIKE.COM

The name might be new, but the Durance is really just a fresh spin on Maverick’s popular ML 7.5. That bike became a highly sought after trail bike and the Durance seeks to continue that pedigree with a few important tweaks.

Although the 7.5 was designed around a 5-inch travel single-crown fork, most riders preferred to run it with the company’s DUC32 dual-crown fork. Reflecting this, Maverick updated the Durance geometry to better fit a longer-travel fork. The headtube and seat tube were both steepened by one degree and travel was increased from 125 to 140 millimeters.

Maverick also improved the damping on the integrated rear shock, giving it greater air volume, a wider range of rebound adjustment and a hydraulic top-out system for better longevity. This year’s Durance also features a redesigned tubeset that is .2 pounds heavier, but a claimed 30 percent laterally stiffer. The bike still uses an D-mount front derailleur, but the company has fine-tuned the derailleur set up (cable routing, placement, rear derailleur tension…) and front shifting improved significantly.

Maverick was recently purchased from founder Paul Turner by Spot, and that move brings one important change: For at least the next year, Durances will come with Fox front forks instead of Maverick’s DUC32. The company hopes to have carbon DUCs next year, and alloy versions might return in 2010. The rest of the parts remain unchanged. The Durance we tested came with XT cranks, DT wheels (with Maverick’s 25-millimeter front hub), Avid Juicy Ultimate brakes and XO shifters and rear derailleur. Our medium-size test bike weighed just under 27 pounds.

The Durance uses Maverick’s MonoLink rear suspension, which uses a “floating” bottom bracket that pivots between the front triangle and rear end. This isolates it from pedaling forces while keeping the rear wheel active. Nearly a decade after its introduction, the suspension is still one of the best-pedaling designs out there. Even powerful, out-of-the-saddle efforts do little to shake its resolve. Combine this with a super-stiff rear end and you have a bike tailor made for slicing through singletrack.

The Durance does have limitations, though. The rear end and fork can feel harsh on high-speed bumps or large square-edge hits, especially when standing on the pedals. Sure, the bike can handle some pretty fierce terrain, it just seems to prefer smoother trails. When things get rough and fast, the suspension can feel a bit outgunned.

Then again, as the name suggests, the bike is built for going the distance on epic rides. Endurance racers, seekers of epic trails, and anyone else who likes long rides on buttery suspension should check out the Durance. It’s one of the most efficient bikes available and comes in a stiff, lightweight, hassle-free package.

Highs: Lightweight, stiff, efficient; one of the best climbing bikes on the market; unique Lows: Proprietary fork, hub, rear shock limit component options; overwhelmed by large, high-speed bumps