2025 Forbidden

Druid 3

“Pedals like an XC bike, descends like a DH bike” is a cliche as badly worn as the back tyre on a bike park rental in September. It’s a promise that often stinks as badly as a rental full-face helmet too. However the latest version of Forbidden’s Druid (V2) can genuinely hustle super hard through the pedals while still unleashing unholy speeds across the jankiest terrain. Throw in excellent proportional geometry and frame feel, plus a sweet spot build and the Druid GX FX is a truly outstanding trail bike.  Yes, the high-pivot design adds weight, complexity and a distinctive ride vibe so it won’t be for everyone, but if you crave short-travel trail speed up there with the best full-suspension bikes on the market, read on. Forbidden Druid V2 need to know Version two of the seminal high-pivot idler trail bike New inverted 4-bar suspension layout delivers 130mm rear travel New geometry and sizing, same 150mm fork travel Fox Performance Elite suspension for ultimate tunability MX (tested) or full 29in wheel options Truly proportional geometry and frame feel SRAM’s latest GX AXS T-Type transmission And I chose the word ‘outstanding’ deliberately in the intro, because in a world of superbly competent but very similar mid-travel bikes the Druid V2 literally hits differently. In fact, if you’re used to a conventional 130mm travel bike the first couple of rides on the Druid are likely to require a significant reset. Not only in how quickly you exit sections you’re used to stalling in, but also how direct yet traction-rich the pedalling is. The way the Druid V2 syncs these three generally contradictory characteristics so well, just emphasises the standout ride experience even more. Is it really “witchcraft” that makes the Druid V2 so special? What exactly is the ‘High Pivot Witchcraft’ Forbidden says is in play here, and is it a spell that will work on you? The rearward axle path, chain-pull isolation of the idler and the 30-35% recommended sag on the Fox Float X shock certainly aren’t unique to Forbidden. Even Trek has climbed back onto the high-pivot bandwagon with its latest Slash enduro bike. Balfa was doing it last century, and Owen Pemberton, the man behind Forbidden, cut his idler teeth on Norco’s high pivot bikes.  It feels very different the original Druid that mbr reviewed, so what has changed? The key difference with the Druid V2 is that it uses a flipped version of a classic four-bar suspension layout, rather than a single pivot design like on the original Druid. This means Forbidden has been able to fine tune the wheel path and anti-rise (how much the suspension resists extension under braking) for a less weird but still wonderfully different ride result. How does it compare to the Druid V1? For example, compared to the Druid V1 it still squats and extends as you load the suspension in turns or when applying the rear brake. But the effect is much less pronounced. So while it’s really easy …Continue reading »

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The Forbidden Druid V2 is a trail bike with 130mm of travel at the rear, 150mm at the front, full carbon frame and 29-inch wheels, but with the option to choose it in mullet configuration.

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Forbidden Bike Co. has updated their Druid trail bike for 2023, moving to an inverted four-bar linkage for the new V2 version.

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Want short travel, agility and responsiveness or long travel control and confidence? Forbidden’s new Druid is designed to combine both even better than before, but did it put Guy Kesteven under its spell?

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