We rolled into Moab, Utah on a gray, rainy day—perfect for testing something big, burly, and a little mysterious.
Enter the Forbidden Dreadnought.
This is the one that people say could be a quiver killer. But could it actually replace your Enduro bike, your park bike, and your everyday trail destroyer? Or is it just a heavy chunk of high-pivot wizardry that doesn’t want to get off the ground?
Let’s find out.
The Setup
This Dreadnought was a rental from Chili Pepper Bikes in Moab, set up for someone roughly my size (I’m 6’1”). It’s an S3 / Large, full 29er front and rear.
Here’s what it came with:
- Rear Shock: RockShox Vivid
- Fork: RockShox Select, 170mm travel
- Rear Travel: 160mm
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Transmission
- Wheels: Crankbrothers aluminum
- Hubs: Industry Nine
- Bars: Burgtec
- Dropper: OneUp
- Brakes: SRAM Maven Silver
- Saddle: Unknown, but… let’s just say it did not make the highlight reel 😅
This bike looked ready to rip—and heavy enough to mean business.
Geometry & First Impressions
Right off the bat, the Dreadnought feels bigger than the Forbidden Druid I rode recently.
Forbidden’s geometry charts back that up — the wheelbase is longer, chainstays are stretched out, and reach is slightly shorter compared to the Druid.
It’s clearly tuned for Enduro racing and park laps, not all-day pedaling. Think: more “point it down and hang on” than “spin up and explore.”
The Druid’s 150/130mm setup felt more playful, while this Dreadnought’s 170/160mm combo says, let’s smash.
And that’s exactly what I planned to do.
On the Trail – The Raptor Route
We took this beast out on Moab’s Raptor Route, where red rock slabs, slick chutes, and technical ledges make the perfect test track.
Even with the rain coming down, the Dreadnought felt stable and confident. I could hop, drop, and pop across features without feeling like the suspension was giving up or the frame was flexing.
There’s definitely something to that high-pivot “witchcraft.”
It stays composed under braking, and even though it’s a big bike, it manages chunk surprisingly well.
That said, it’s not light—you feel every bit of its heft when trying to manual or bunny-hop. The Druid wins in the “playful pop” category, but the Dreadnought wins when the trail gets rowdy.
The Verdict
After a day in the mud and rock, I can confidently say the Dreadnought is not just another enduro bike.
It’s a purpose-built machine that wants speed, steep lines, and maybe a bike park pass in its pocket.
If you’re hunting for a “one bike to do it all,” this could be a contender—if your trails lean aggressive and you’re not afraid of a little extra weight.
For us, it’s not quite the all-rounder that the Druid, the Dreadnought’s lighter cousin might be—but if you live for the downhills, this thing rips.
Bike Tested
- Bike: Forbidden Dreadnought S3 (Large)
- Tester: Joe
- Rider Height: 6’1”
- Wheel Size: 29” front & rear
- Fork / Shock: RockShox Select (170mm) / RockShox Vivid (160mm)
- Brakes: SRAM Maven Silver
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Transmission
- Wheels: Crankbrothers Aluminum w/ I9 Hubs
- Dropper: OneUp
- Bars: Burgtec
- Rental From: Chili Pepper Bikes, Moab
Watch the Full Video
🎥 Watch the full Forbidden Dreadnought review on YouTube
Final Thoughts
If you want something that feels like it could handle a World Cup stage, the Dreadnought delivers. It might not make you the fastest on every climb, but once gravity takes over—this bike comes alive.
It’s big, bold, and unapologetically fast.
So yeah… maybe there’s a little witchcraft after all.
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