Forestal

The Forestal Siryon is a capable enduro bike that offers excellent capability in gnarly terrain, yet provides a fun ride on mellower...

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While the entire mountain bike world is figuring out how to turn regular bikes into e-bikes, Forestal has done the opposite with the Cygnus and turned one of its eebs into a regular downcountry bike. It’s the equivalent of doing a stoppie 180, and riding off back the way you came. Of course Forestal isn’t abandoning the four e-bikes that make up the rest of its range just because it’s launched the new Cygnus here, but when an e-bike only brand decides to put a foot back into the 20th century it looks a lot like attention seeking, an attempt to get back into the spotlight. Forestal Cygnus need to know Down-country/ XC bike from Forestal, a brand built around e-bikes beautiful carbon frame with 120mm travel front and rear Internal frame storage with Fidlock door latch, and internal routing Twin-link Twin Levity suspension design, straight off the Forestal Siryon Diode 29 One-piece bar and stem, chain device and chainstay protection This is no marketing stunt though, according to Forestal, which actually launched another analogue bike alongside the Cygnus, a non-assisated version of the Siryon 160mm bike. XC-orientated customers wanted a bike to race on, Forestal says, a bike with the same suspension feel as the e-bike they already own. More than that though, the brand is looking to push into racing in the next few years, with a potential downhill bike on the cards too. I’ve got a feeling Forestal is onto something, if the data on bike sales is to be believed anyway. Expensive mountain bike sales were up last year even as the cycle industry hit a 25 year low in the UK, according to the Bicycle Association. Besides, marketing 101 is to look after the the customers you already have. Even more surprisingly, e-bikes were 5% less popular than they were the year before. The Cygnus, at £7,789.62, might be the smartest move Forestal’s made, in light of that. And if you’re wondering why it’s such a precise figure, UK distributor Bird is running a simple conversion from euros. Let’s get to the bike already. Forestal describes the Cygnus as both an XC race bike and a downcountry or “small trail” bike. I’ve not ridden any races on it, or stretched my way into some Lycra, so I’ve no idea if it can win races. But it did work reasonably well as a trail bike with a small t, with a sumptuous frame, uphill pace, and a couple of brilliant touches that help Forestal stand out. Frame Forestal uses a monocoque carbon frame for the Cygnus, laid up in Andorra it looks incredibly similar to the e-bike version of the bike with its Bosch SX motor. Of course the BB area is much slimmer and the top tube narrower, but it looks like Forestal started with the old e-bike CAD file and worked from there. The frame is gorgeous up close, it looks modern and stylish with oversized sections around the head tube and seatpost, and …Continue reading »

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The Forestal is well-mannered and versatile on the trail, thanks to its long-travel yet efficient suspension and rounded geometry.

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