Test Forbidden Druid: Sovereignty at enduro level and yet as lively as a trail bike?
Peter Nilges
· 03.03.2024
The Druid with 150/130 millimetre suspension travel is the smallest calibre from Forbidden. The bikes from British Columbia are preceded by a legendary reputation, which is particularly appreciated by downhill-hungry bikers. In addition to the trail bike/all-mountain Druid, the Canadians also have two other bikes in the fire: the enduro Dreadnought and the recently launched downhill Supernought, which will be used in the World Cup this season by the newly founded DH team led by Connor Fearon.
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For all three bikes, Forbidden relies not only on full carbon frames, but also on high-pivot rear triangles. Even on our test bike with only 130 millimetres of travel at the rear, Forbidden retains the high pivot point and typical chain deflection. The advantage of the elaborate rear triangle design lies primarily in an optimised wheel lift curve. Unlike conventional rear suspension systems, the rear wheel can deflect upwards/rearwards over the entire suspension travel, which results in better absorption capacity. Due to the high pivot point position, the chainstay elongates as the suspension compresses, which should further stabilise the bike. However, this requires a deflection near the pivot point to avoid excessive pedal kickback.
In practice, the decoupling of the suspension from the chainstay works very well, allowing the Druid to climb superbly even in rough sections. The rear triangle actively generates traction and the extremely long chainstays keep the front wheel on the ground without shifting weight, even on steep ramps, despite the comfortable riding position. Despite the high anti-squat, the rear suspension pumps slightly when pedalling. Thanks to the consistently high-quality construction with carbon wheels, the weight remains well below the 15-kilo mark, which increases manoeuvrability.
Forbidden Druid: Sovereign in every situation, but a little bulky
In terms of geometry, the Forbidden Druid is on the smooth side, craving high speed and offering confidence en masse. A slack steering angle, paired with the long chainstays, results in a generous wheelbase within which the rider can move freely without consequences. Thanks to the high anti-rise value, the geometry remains stable even when the rear brake is applied and even tends to compress. This makes the all-mountain bike noticeably longer and embeds the rider even more securely between the two wheels in tricky situations.
In tight passages with frequent changes of direction, however, the Forbidden Druid feels very unwieldy and requires a lot of input from the rider. The same applies to lifting the front wheel or active bunny hopping. Effort is required here. In bumpy sections, the expected wow effect of the high-pivot rear suspension doesn't materialise. The rear with the Rockshox Superdeluxe shock works at a good level, but does not completely decouple the rider from the ground and provides a relatively high level of feedback. With a soft set-up between 30 and 37 per cent, the rear worked most comfortably. Optionally, the Druid can also be set up with a 27.5-inch rear wheel. However, the chainstay length remains unchanged even with a small rear wheel. Positive: Even the smallest frame offers space for a large water bottle. The frame has also been carefully finished and has well-placed rubber protectors and mini mudguards, which should guarantee a long service life. However, the warranty on the frame is only two years.
Details about the Forbidden Druid
- Price: 10,999 euros
- Suspension travel: 150/130 mm
- Frame material: Carbon
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Application: All Mountain
Equipment
- Fork: Rockshox Lyrik Ultimate
- Shock: Rockshox Superdeluxe Ultimate
- Gear system: Sram X0 AXS Transmission, 1x12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 10-52 / 520 %
- Brakes: Sram Code Ultimate 180/180 mm
- Telescopic support/stroke: Oneup / 180 mm
- Wheels: Crankbrothers Synthesis E29
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai/Min. DHR II Exo/Exo+ Maxxter tyres. 29 x 2,5/2,4
Measured values
- Total weight: 14.64 kg without pedals
- Weight of wheels: 5036 g
- Acceleration of running wheels: 4094 kg x cm²
Conclusion from Peter Nilges, BIKE test editor
The Forbidden Druid stands out from the crowd and positions itself as a downhill-orientated trail bike that is extremely smooth and safe on demanding terrain. However, if you are looking for a playful bike in this category, you should not go for the Forbidden.
PRO
- Driving behaviour
- Extremely smooth running and safety in fast passages
- Very good climbing ability
CONTRA
- lots of feedback from the rear triangle despite the high pivot
- less playful due to long chainstays
