Bike Review:

Forbidden Druid V2

High pivots aren’t just for downhill anymore.

I took a little trip out to Cumberland BC to ride the Forbidden Druid V2, this redesigned Druid still sports 130 mm of travel out back and a 150 Fork. However, it’s now sporting a virtual pivot design rather than the single pivot from before. I’m excited to see how it feels, the old bike was a ton of fun but hopefully this one’s even better.

Geometry:

This bike is sporting a 65 degree head tube angle which for a 130/ 150 bike I think is fine but definitely is a bit conservative compared to where some brands are going. The S3 has a reach of 480, 637 stack, and 77° effective seat tube angle. The rear center sits at 452 and gets longer as you go through this travel all leading to a manageable 1259 wheelbase.

The Climb:

I’m giving this bike an A- for the switchbacks, mostly because the reach which looks roomy on paper felt anything but and I found myself hitting my knees on tighter switchbacks. The weight distribution is great for getting around those switchbacks it’s just a little tight. Bikes have gotten so much better at balancing efficiency and traction and I’d give it an A for traction. I’m giving it a B+ for overall efficiency and body position mostly because of that added drag from the pulley and the relatively short seated reach.

The Descent:

This is a trail bike and it descends very much like any trail bike should. There’s often this idea that some bikes feel like they have more travel or punch above their weight class, I would say this one’s right in its weight class and that’s a good thing because it allows the bike to climb well and also means that when you are getting into the gnarly stuff it’ll handle it. That said you’ll need to be more on your toes than a full on Enduro bike. This bike excels through that highspeed chunder, the way that back end gets out of the way yet allows you to pump in a way the old bike did not. Lastly on the steeps the 65° head tube angle is fine and managed with no problems.

Jumps and Corners:

On the jumps you feel a bit high but that’s another area where it really improves over its predecessor. It has more accessible pop in the mid stroke whether you have it set up higher rebound or slower rebound.

Final Thoughts:

High pivots aren’t just for downhill anymore these shorter travel bikes give you a lot of the benefits without a huge drawbacks. I didn’t love the noise and the feeling on parts of the climb but mostly this bike is efficient and felt quick. You don’t have to ride it super hard, but when you get into the chunder, that high pivot magic comes alive. If you’re looking for a really capable trail bike and don’t want a standard Specialized or Trek. If you want that high pivot because you love those chunkier trails, the Forbidden Druid is the right bike for you.

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