Woohoo! Today, I’ve got an exciting bike review for you—the Forbidden Druid V2. If you haven’t heard of Forbidden Bikes, they’re a company that does things a little differently, especially with their innovative high-pivot suspension design. I took the Druid V2 out on the trails of Cumberland, BC, and I’m here to share what I thought about it after riding some serious black and double-black trails. Let’s dive in!
The Forbidden Druid Setup
The Druid V2 frame I rode came in a sleek green color, and the setup was solid:
- Crank Brothers Synthesis Wheels
- RockShox Lyric Fork (150mm)
- RockShox Super Deluxe Select Shock (130mm)
- SRAM GX Transmission
- SRAM Code Brakes
- OneUp Dropper Post
- Forbidden Bars (35mm rise)
For the geometry nerds out there, this is a size S3 (large), with a reach of 480mm, a head tube angle of 65°, and a seat tube angle of 77°. This 29er has a rear center of 452mm and a bottom bracket drop of -35mm. In short, it’s built for shredding.
Climbing Impressions
We kicked off our test ride by climbing up the Cumberland Forest. The first thing I noticed? The Druid V2 is light and poppy, even with the high-pivot suspension. You might expect the high-pivot to make the bike feel sluggish on climbs, but that wasn’t the case here. The Druid climbed efficiently, handling switchbacks with ease.
The Maxxis Forecaster tires, however, felt less grippy than the Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR combo I’m used to. But the bike itself was maneuverable, light on its feet, and easy to handle. Emily (who was also riding a Druid V2) echoed my thoughts, saying the bike felt nimble and quick on the climbs.
First Downhill Lap: Blacks/Double Blacks
Now, for the fun part—the downhill. Right off the bat, I was impressed by how easy it was to get the Druid off the ground. This bike is super responsive to pumping and feels quick through technical sections, drops, and jumps. It just wants to fly.
That said, there were a few quirks. I noticed a creak in the headset, which was probably from a lack of grease. There was also some noticeable derailleur slap from the SRAM GX transmission on rough terrain, which was a bit distracting, but not a dealbreaker.
Comparing the Druid V2 to My Rocky Mountain Altitude
For context, I usually ride a 2023 Rocky Mountain Altitude, which has a 170mm fork and 160mm rear shock. Despite the Druid’s smaller 130mm of rear travel, it felt much bigger, like a 160mm bike. The high-pivot suspension does an incredible job of smoothing out the big hits, making the Druid feel plush and capable while remaining playful and poppy.
The Downside: Pedal Strikes
One issue we both experienced was unexpected pedal strikes on downhill sections. The high-pivot suspension tends to compress the bike, bringing you lower to the ground. While not a dealbreaker, it’s something that would take getting used to if you owned the bike.
Final Thoughts on the Druid V2
After riding nearly 19 miles of gnarly, technical trails in Cumberland, I walked away very impressed with the Forbidden Druid V2. Here are the key takeaways:
- High-Pivot Magic: The suspension makes the bike feel like it has more travel than it actually does. It’s both plush and poppy, handling big hits without feeling sluggish.
- Climbing: Once you get used to the bike’s characteristics, the climbing feels fine—nothing spectacular, but it gets the job done.
- Playful, But Confident: This bike loves to jump. It’s quick, nimble, and super fun on technical terrain.
- Brakes: The SRAM Code brakes didn’t give me the confidence I get from my TRPs. If I bought this bike, swapping to TRPs would be one of the first upgrades I’d make.
- Pedal Strikes: Watch out for them, especially on rough downhills. It’s a quirk of the high-pivot design.
- Similar Bike: When comparing the Forbidden Druid V2 to the Norco Sight, both bikes offer high-pivot suspension designs but cater to slightly different riding styles. The Druid V2 is all about playfulness and poppiness—it loves to get off the ground and feels light and nimble, even in technical terrain. On the other hand, the Norco Sight feels more planted and stable, especially in chunky or rough sections where it excels at maintaining traction and confidence. While the Druid is perfect for riders who like to jump, jib, and have fun on the trail, the Sight is better suited for those who prefer a bike that stays glued to the ground and offers a bit more stability through rough terrain. Both bikes are incredibly capable, but the Druid offers a more lively and dynamic ride, while the Sight provides a more grounded, confidence-inspiring experience. Checkout full review of Norco Sight here.
If I were to make one major change, it would be upgrading the fork to 160mm. A little more travel up front would give me extra confidence on steep, chunky terrain.
In summary, if you’re looking for a trail bike that’s playful and fun, but can still handle serious downhill terrain, the Druid V2 is worth considering. It’s poppy, responsive, and climbs well, even with its high-pivot setup.
Emily’s Take
Now, let’s hear from Emily, who was also riding a Druid V2.
“I agree with Joe on a lot of points. The bike felt really good on climbs, especially in terms of maneuverability. It was easy to handle, even on steeper corners. We did notice some rear tire slipping, but that’s likely due to the tires rather than the bike itself.
Where this bike really shines, though, is on jumps. It’s so fun in the air, from takeoff to landing. I could tell right away that this bike loves to get airborne, and that’s where it truly excels.
I’d love to try this bike with a 160mm fork to boost my downhill confidence. I’m used to bigger forks that forgive more of my mistakes. Also, given that I’m 5’5” and riding an S1, I’d be interested in turning this into a mullet setup to avoid buzzing my rear tire on steep sections.
Like Joe, I also noticed some pedal strikes, which caught me off guard a few times. But overall, this bike was super fun, and with a few tweaks, it could be an all-around killer ride.”
And there you have it—our thoughts on the Forbidden Druid V2. If you’re someone who values playfulness, responsiveness, and jumps on a bike, this could be a great fit for you. If you have any questions or want more details, feel free to reach out. Happy riding, and have a Vantastic day!
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