- Intended Use
- XC, racing, trail
- Motor
- Bosch Performance SX 55 Nm
- Battery
- 400 Wh plus optional 250 Wh extender
- Fork Travel
- 120-130 mm
- Rear Travel
- 120 mm
- Price
- € 9.499-11.299
The new Forestal e-Cygnus is a slightly unusual emtb. It comes in two spec levels, Halo and Diode, both with 120 mm rear suspension. Forestal label these XC bikes, downcountry or just light short-travel trail bikes.
The new 3.99” display is eye-catching to say the least. I believe Forestal would have gotten away with claiming this touch display is 4”. This big color display is part of the Forestal Dashboard 2.0. Here things like a GSM modem and GNSS (gps) can be found. This is an Android 12 system running on a Snapdragon processor.
These are numbers we expect from a modern and light racer. Perhaps with the exception of the longer 448 mm chainstays. These aren’t unusually long for an emtb though, and it should be enough to make the e-Cygnus a great climber. The 1.197 mm wheelbase for size L might sound short, and the 67* head angle might sound steep. But this is fairly long and slack for a short travel XC bike.
It’s nice to see Forestal pushing out new models at a time when several bike brands are struggling. I take this as a sign that Forestal has stayed afloat through the post-covid years and that we can continue to Forestal bikes in the future. If you want to enjoy a short travel e-Cygnus, you don’t have to wait long into the future. Forestal says deliveries will start in January 2025.
The Bosch SX motorsystem
Forestal introduce the e-Cygnus as a second-generation pedal assist bike. A second generation Forestal emtb has the Bosch Performance SX 55 Nm motor. This is of course combined with the Bosch Compacttube 400 Wh battery and the PowerMore 250 range extender is optional.The new 3.99” display is eye-catching to say the least. I believe Forestal would have gotten away with claiming this touch display is 4”. This big color display is part of the Forestal Dashboard 2.0. Here things like a GSM modem and GNSS (gps) can be found. This is an Android 12 system running on a Snapdragon processor.
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Forestal e-Cygnus Halo - € 9.499
Halo the burlier of the two models and sports a Fox 34 130 mm fork, Downcountry might not be the most well-established category in the world of emtbs. But e-Cygnus Halo is such a bike. This is a burlier XC racing bike, a bike that pedals well while still handling quite a bit of descending. It’s not as leaned back and slack as a trailbike though.|
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Forestal e-Cygnus Diode - € 11.299
The Diode gets a 120 mm travel Fox 34 fork. It leans more toward the XC race category than its slightly less expensive Halo sibling.|
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Geometry
Forestal only provides the geometry data for the e-Cygnus with the 120 mm travel fork. There will be a difference for the Halo. The wheelbase and bottom bracket heigh will be just a few mm longer while the seat and head angle are barely half a degree slacker.These are numbers we expect from a modern and light racer. Perhaps with the exception of the longer 448 mm chainstays. These aren’t unusually long for an emtb though, and it should be enough to make the e-Cygnus a great climber. The 1.197 mm wheelbase for size L might sound short, and the 67* head angle might sound steep. But this is fairly long and slack for a short travel XC bike.
My thoughts
The e-Cygnus is described as a second generation Forestal emtb. Does that mean Forestal will be using Bosch motors on future emtbs? Well, that is my guess. It seems Forestal has invested time and resources into developing the 2.0 dashboard with the new and seemingly impressive display. It must of course be used on more bikes.It’s nice to see Forestal pushing out new models at a time when several bike brands are struggling. I take this as a sign that Forestal has stayed afloat through the post-covid years and that we can continue to Forestal bikes in the future. If you want to enjoy a short travel e-Cygnus, you don’t have to wait long into the future. Forestal says deliveries will start in January 2025.
