Mountain bikers have an ambivalent relationship with smartphone apps. As practical as Strava, Komoot and the like sometimes are: If you constantly have to pull your mobile phone out of your pocket to check the battery level, navigation or U-level, you will quickly become annoyed by the digital overload. But what if e-bike screens simply worked like those on cars? When you always have all the important functions within reach on a large display? Forestal first showed this vision with the Siryon, With the E-Cygnus, it is now set to become a reality.
A bang from Forestal: the first light enduro ever
Flashback: In 2020, Forestal landed a real hit as a completely unknown start-up. Just a few weeks after the launch of the very first Specialized Levo SL, the young company presented the Siryon. Weighing less than 20 kilos, full suspension travel and an eye-catching frame with a large display. The second surprise came a few months later in our test. The e-bike not only looked exciting, it also worked really well. To this day, the supposedly simple single-pivot is one of the outstanding rear triangles from countless E-MTB tests.
These two bikes from Forestal are just as brand new:
New direction: Forestal sets new accents
Forestal is now taking a direction that may surprise many. Instead of consistently focussing on e-mountainbikes, Forestal with the Cygnus downcountry bike and the Enduro Siryon is presenting two mountain bikes without a motor of all things - even though they are currently having a particularly hard time on the market. And with the E-Cygnus, the brand from the Pyrenees has opted for short suspension travel and a Bosch SX motor for the first time instead of the in-house Eon-Drive. But what can the fast 120-millimetre bike with the smart screen do in practice?
At a glance: The Forestal E-Cygnus
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line SX, 55 Nm max. torque
- Battery: 400 Wh (permanently installed)
- Frame material: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 130/120 or 120/120 mm
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Frame sizes: S/M, L, XL
- Price: 9499 or 11,299 euros
- Weight: 17.6 kg (test bike in size L, EMTB measurement)
- Available from the beginning of 2025
First the facts: With 120 millimetres of rear suspension travel and 130 or 120 millimetres at the front, the E-Cygnus is hard on the border between cross-country and trail bike. The frame is made entirely of carbon. In order to keep the weight low, Forestal is also using a carbon fibre shock linkage for the first time. The rear suspension system with the eye-catching banana-style single-pivot linkage is already familiar from the all mountain bike Cyon (here in the test) and the Enduro Siryon (tested here). This should help the E-Cygnus to achieve a high downhill performance - even with little suspension travel.
Bosch SX and permanently installed battery
The E-Cygnus is no longer powered by Forestal's own Eon Drive System (test here)but from a more conventional Bosch SX. In addition to the high dynamics of the motor, the infrastructure and not least the good app from Bosch are said to have been the deciding factors. This is particularly important for the new display (see below). We are already familiar with the SX motor from other bikes. It delivers a particularly high, short-term peak power for Light E-MTBs and rewards powerful rider acceleration and high cadences with lively acceleration. Disadvantages: Little torque at the bottom and significant derating on longer climbs under full load. The SX also rattles slightly out of the gearbox when travelling downhill.
Power is provided by the familiar Compact Tube 400, which is firmly integrated in the down tube of the Forestal for weight reasons. If you want more range, you can of course dock the Powermore range extender with 250 additional watt hours. As the charging socket on the Forestal is located directly under the range extender, the cable can be particularly short. This makes for a tidy appearance.
Innovative: Smart screen with Android system
As with many other light bikes with SX, the Forestal is controlled via a combination of mini-remote and system controller. The special feature: instead of the classic Bosch display, there is a separate 4-inch touchscreen with a full range of functions in the top tube. A somewhat slimmed-down smartphone, so to speak, which is connected to the Bosch drive system via Bluetooth.
The data sheet alone reads impressively: modern processor from Qualcomm, high display resolution, Android 12 operating system and an integrated GPS that can access all common navigation satellites. The Dashboard 2.0 is also significantly lighter than its predecessor Dashboard 1.0 and takes up less space. It should also be easier to maintain. The display is of course waterproof and is said to be less sensitive to scratches. The biggest difference to the classic smartphone is that the system does not have a camera or mobile phone connection.
Nevertheless, various relevant apps are already running on the dashboard. The Bosch eBike Flow app, including the ride screen, navigation function and U-step setting, is probably the biggest feature to date. The Sram app is also practical, for example to easily check the charge status of the AXS batteries or fine-tune the gears. Forestal is already working on compatibility with other popular apps such as Komoot or Strava.
Do not explore extremes: The geometry of the Forestal E-Cygnus
The Forestal E-Cygnus is by no means extreme. The steering angle of 67 degrees in particular remains on the moderate side. You almost have to say: conservative. Even many moderate race bikes such as the Cannondale Scalpel and even more so Specialized's Epic have a much more aggressive steering angle. This improves smoothness at high speeds and riding safety on steep terrain. At 448 millimetres, the chainstays of the E-Cygnus are by no means conspicuously short. Typical racer: the front is low, the wheelbase is only just under 1200 millimetres. A little caution is required with the sizes: With the new size S/M, Forestal has moved away from the smallest size. The E-Cygnus is therefore likely to be too big for riders significantly under 170.
Ambitious: Prices and equipment
Forestal does not offer an entry-level Forestal E-Cygnus bike that is even remotely affordable. This clearly positions the bike in the high-end segment. This is also reflected in the equipment: even the cheaper "Halo" model has high-end suspension from Fox with 34 Performance Elite Grip X and Float shock with compression adjustment as well as 1700 mm wheels from DT Swiss. Savings are made on the mechanical GX. Nevertheless, "Halo" is the clear recommendation for trail bikers. The longer fork harmonises better with the rear and softens the low front end somewhat. If you like it racier, go for the top model with 120 mm fork and Rockshox suspension and high-quality X0 transmission. Forestal also uses aluminium wheels here. According to the manufacturer, carbon is rarely requested by customers and would make the E-Cygnus significantly more expensive.
Forestal E-Cygnus Halo - 9499 Euro
- Fork/shock: Fox 34 Performance Elite GripX / Float Performance Elite
- Gear system: Sram GX mechanical (12-speed)
- Brake: Formula Cura 4
- Wheels: DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline
- Tyres: Maxxis DHF/Highroller II
Forestal E-Cygnus Diode - 11299 Euro
- Fork/shock: Rockshox SID Ultimate / Sidluxe Ultimate
- Gear system: Sram XO Transmission (12-speed)
- Brake: Formula Cura 4
- Wheels: DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline
- Tyres: Maxxis DHF/Highroller II
In practice: first check of the dashboard
We were able to get a first impression of the new E-Cygnus and its unusual display with the top-of-the-range Diode model. The bike is switched on as normal using the system controller. Then, as with a smartphone, it takes a short moment until the display is fully on. The software on our test bike was still pre-series, but the screen works as intuitively and reliably as you would expect from a mobile phone.
The touchscreen reacts sensitively but is not overly sensitive - we have not experienced any operating errors, even in wet conditions. The response speed is already okay. Forestal wants to be able to increase it significantly in series production. On our pre-series test bike, there were still some background processes running which, according to the engineers, slowed down the system. The biggest problem: not all apps are optimally displayed in the extreme portrait format of the display. Fonts and graphics are also quite small - the display is a good distance away from the eye when riding.
Overall, the large screen still leaves a very positive impression. Not to mention the potential of the system if even more apps run well in the future. However, Forestal will have to continue to put a lot of work into the system and communication with the various app providers to ensure that it continues to work reliably in the future.
On the trail: how the Forestal E-Cygnus rides
The Forestal E-Cygnus has - unsurprisingly - a decidedly sporty character for an e-MTB. The low front end and the in-house handlebar/stem unit on the top model put the rider in a sporty position. If you are only looking for a relaxed partner for less trail-heavy tours in Forestal, this is not quite the right bike for you. On the other hand, the bike also encourages you to pedal hard uphill. The dynamic riding position is pleasing here and goes well with the lively Bosch motor. With longer chainstays, a low front end and grippy tyres, the Forestal masters even the most demanding uphill challenges. That's really strong, especially for a light e-MTB.
The disadvantage of so much traction: the rear suspension bobs minimally around the SAG point, and the grippy tyres will cost a little more battery on long tours on flat terrain than light touring tyres. On the other hand, they provide a lot of confidence on the descents, even if you ride the bike outside of its intended range of use. Apart from the cross-country fork and the low front end, the E-Cygnus cuts a fine figure with its powerful brakes and strong, albeit firm rear suspension due to its design. This means that you can also venture into bumpy descents that you wouldn't normally tackle with classic down-country bikes. The additional weight of the motor and battery is more of a safety factor than a hindrance.
The rear suspension develops good counter-pressure in fast cornering and on jump edges, but we didn't find the bike to be particularly manoeuvrable. If this is important to you, you will probably be better served by other light eMTBs from the downcountry segment such as the Lumen or R.X275. However, expectations also play a role here. Our assessment: Even with a short rear travel, the E-Cygnus is more of a solid trail bike than a weight-focussed downcountry bike. The cheaper version with a longer fork and conventional cockpit should therefore do much more justice to the bike's potential.
Strengths
- Great chassis
- Impressive display with many functions
- High downhill potential measured in terms of suspension travel
- Excellent climbing properties
Weaknesses
- Expensive and not super light
- Sitting position somewhat demanding
- Steering angle borderline steep
- Permanently installed battery
BIKE summary of the Forestal E-Cygnus
The large display of the Forestal E-Cygnus takes e-MTBs a step further and shows what is now technically possible. Forestal wants to create its own added value that is more reminiscent of high-quality cars or motorbikes. With success! The bike is also a capable trail e-MTB. However, the high price and the sporty riding position are likely to make it a very exclusive bike. - Adrian Kaether, BIKE Editor
Adrian Kaether
Editor
