{"id":398350,"date":"2024-01-25T07:15:29","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T06:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/?p=398350"},"modified":"2024-01-25T07:15:29","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T06:15:29","slug":"review-forbidden-druid-v2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/en\/review-forbidden-druid-v2\/","title":{"rendered":"[Review] Forbidden Druid V2"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Forbidden Druid V2 is the trail bike from this Canadian brand that we haven’t talked about in depth here in the mag, until now. 130mm of travel at the rear, 150mm at the front, full carbon frame and 29-inch wheels, but with the option to choose it in mullet configuration. There are two features that make it special, one of which immediately jumps out at you: the high pivot. A solution chosen to obviate the chain pull given by the Trifecta suspension system, an inverted foour bar linkage designed to give the rear wheel a trajectory that initially goes backwards.<\/p>\n

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This kinematics allows the wheel to overcome obstacles by “going along with them,” that is, copying them better precisely because of the initial trajectory. It is the same concept we found on the new Trek Slash<\/a>, only this is a trail bike. The Druid lacks the chain idler under the front chainring, since SRAM, with its new Eagle AXS T-Type<\/a> drivetrain, has solved the chain tension problem thanks to a derailleur that keeps it in place it very well without the need for idlers or chain guides.<\/p>\n

The second special feature concerns the geometry.<\/p>\n

Geometry Forbidden Druid V2<\/h2>\n

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Head angle of 65\u00b0, saddle angle of 77\u00b0 in size S3, i.e. the one in the test (I am 179cm tall and have a saddle-BB distance of 74cm), reach of 480mm. Nothing special at first glance, except that the values change according to size to keep the bike proportionate regardless of rider height.<\/p>\n

What should jump out at you, however, is the length of the rear triangle: a whopping 452mm in S3 size. Then consider that this value becomes larger when the suspension works, and here we have a special feature that, together with the High Pivot, makes the Druid V2 unique.<\/p>\n

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Forbidden Druid V2 on the trail<\/h2>\n