Forbidden EMTB

[412MTB]

Spoke to my local AD here Downunder, they have the full specs, happy to share with me over the phone but I had to go in to see photos etc. Too far to do that at the mo.
However, 2 models, Druid SL and Druid Core. The SL has 140/150 travel and 600 Whr battery. The Core has 150/160 travel and 800 Whr battery. The core has 3 variants down here, price in Aud approx (will depend on CAD exchange rate,) is base model $15.5k (manual shifter), mid model $1 6.9k (electronic shifter) and top model $20k. Weight comes in just over 20kg.

So will be more expensive than the top model Amflow, but probably in line with most boutique brands sold down here. No mention of a Dreadnought. TBH, Forbidden will probably want to bed this one in first before releasing a second model. Only 3 more days and all will be revealed.

Thanks for the info mate. Supposed to unveil the bikes at Sea Otter. Did they say when the bikes would actually go on sale?

 

[Lightme]

Yarra Valley Cycles down here in Vic. Summit Cycles were listed in Collingwood, but they have dropped the brand, which is why I didn't pop out. Yarra Valley Cycles takes a bit of effort to get out to, so I'll wait until the official release before heading out.

Thanks. I checked Summit (I’ve bought a couple of bikes from them) but couldn’t see any Forbidden. I’m in Sydney, there’s very few Forbidden dealers around here.

 

[whitymon]

It is still important to note that they have no experience on emtb, so we need to be careful here too.

There is also a requirement for me to see how they mount the shock, it being vertical would mean a simple no go for ne, not a forbidden bike. Does not matter if it is a nice bike, it would just not be different to others.

I still also not totally understand the choice of 150/160 travel, it would compete directly with the Amflow for a pretty huge price in comparison.

 

[MetroNeck]

It is still important to note that they have no experience on emtb, so we need to be careful here too.

There is also a requirement for me to see how they mount the shock, it being vertical would mean a simple no go for ne, not a forbidden bike. Does not matter if it is a nice bike, it would just not be different to others.

I still also not totally understand the choice of 150/160 travel, it would compete directly with the Amflow for a pretty huge price in comparison.

While disappointing to me (want 170mm), 140/150 - 150/160 has a broader appeal.

Also, I think 130 - 150mm travel bikes are perfect for their home trails. I find running 170 there is too blunt an object. The trails are so much more fun with a scalpel.

 

[412MTB]

While disappointing to me (want 170mm), 140/150 - 150/160 has a broader appeal.

Also, I think 130 - 150mm travel bikes are perfect for their home trails. I find running 170 there is too blunt an object. The trails are so much more fun with a scalpel.

Hoping the Core model allows for over forking to 170.

 

[MetroNeck]

Hoping the Core model allows for over forking to 170.

I wouldn’t be surprised, as I think the original Dreadnaught ran a big fork in comparison to the rear travel.

I don’t have a ton of time on Forbidden, but felt the 150ish travel of the Dreadnaught punched way above its weight class.

 

[mrtrinh]

I wouldn’t be surprised, as I think the original Dreadnaught ran a big fork in comparison to the rear travel.

I don’t have a ton of time on Forbidden, but felt the 150ish travel of the Dreadnaught punched way above its weight class.

all the forbiddens punch above their weight class. I actually got rid of my dread v2 because there was so much overlap with my druid v2. I expect the same from the EDruid.

 

[whitymon]

While disappointing to me (want 170mm), 140/150 - 150/160 has a broader appeal.

Also, I think 130 - 150mm travel bikes are perfect for their home trails. I find running 170 there is too blunt an object. The trails are so much more fun with a scalpel.

I understand what you wrote, I totally agree on an analog bike, I strongly disagree on an ebike.

 

[jbrown15]

Spoke to my local AD here Downunder, they have the full specs, happy to share with me over the phone but I had to go in to see photos etc. Too far to do that at the mo.
However, 2 models, Druid SL and Druid Core. The SL has 140/150 travel and 600 Whr battery. The Core has 150/160 travel and 800 Whr battery. The core has 3 variants down here, price in Aud approx (will depend on CAD exchange rate,) is base model $15.5k (manual shifter), mid model $1 6.9k (electronic shifter) and top model $20k. Weight comes in just over 20kg.

So will be more expensive than the top model Amflow, but probably in line with most boutique brands sold down here. No mention of a Dreadnought. TBH, Forbidden will probably want to bed this one in first before releasing a second model. Only 3 more days and all will be revealed.

Yeah, I sat in on the presentation with our rep. Forbidden is local to us also, the SL will be 44lbs. After the presentation I specifically asked about an eDreadnought and they said at the moment there is zero discussion of them making an eDreadnought. The impression I got was nothing for at the very minimum of 2025. They also said that they do NOT recommend even bumping the front travel up to 170mm on the fork. They were pretty adamant about keeping the bike as a 160/150mm setup.

The bike has a pretty low BB so it should handle really good.

 

[jbrown15]

It is still important to note that they have no experience on emtb, so we need to be careful here too.

There is also a requirement for me to see how they mount the shock, it being vertical would mean a simple no go for ne, not a forbidden bike. Does not matter if it is a nice bike, it would just not be different to others.

I still also not totally understand the choice of 150/160 travel, it would compete directly with the Amflow for a pretty huge price in comparison.

The Amflow is a trail bike and the rear end flex's a ton, the eDruid is a burly enduro build. I have to think after talking with them this is going to be way beefier than a Amflow. If you hope it doesn't have a vertical shock be prepared to be disappointed, although a weird reason to cross it off your list.

 

[Red Peekay]

Thanks for the info mate. Supposed to unveil the bikes at Sea Otter. Did they say when the bikes would actually go on sale?

Once it was officially released at Sea Otter they would take orders. Not sure if they will "stock" one, although they would be mad not to. Not sure about expected delivery once ordered. I was happy to wait until the official release and then head over to have a chat to them once prices and specs are finalised.

I'm not sure about the alleged fade colour scheme. I actually like the Orbea Wild two tone system.

 

[Suns_PSD]

Spoke to my local AD here Downunder, they have the full specs, happy to share with me over the phone but I had to go in to see photos etc. Too far to do that at the mo.
However, 2 models, Druid SL and Druid Core. The SL has 140/150 travel and 600 Whr battery. The Core has 150/160 travel and 800 Whr battery. The core has 3 variants down here, price in Aud approx (will depend on CAD exchange rate,) is base model $15.5k (manual shifter), mid model $1 6.9k (electronic shifter) and top model $20k. Weight comes in just over 20kg.

So will be more expensive than the top model Amflow, but probably in line with most boutique brands sold down here. No mention of a Dreadnought. TBH, Forbidden will probably want to bed this one in first before releasing a second model. Only 3 more days and all will be revealed.

Yah, so this matches my info (well, the 150/ 160 is called the E-Core) that I've had for 2 months or so. I also have geo and what not. But I have kept it to myself as I was asked too.

The brand and the powertrain is incredibly interesting to me. However the geo I was told sort of freaked me out so I'm waiting to read some real world reviews and maybe get a test ride.

 

[DirkWisely]

Yah, so this matches my info (well, the 150/ 160 is called the E-Core) that I've had for 2 months or so. I also have geo and what not. But I have kept it to myself as I was asked too.

The brand and the powertrain is incredibly interesting to me. However the geo I was told sort of freaked me out so I'm waiting to read some real world reviews and maybe get a test ride.

Was it similar to the druidv2?

 

[Red Peekay]

Yah, so this matches my info (well, the 150/ 160 is called the E-Core) that I've had for 2 months or so. I also have geo and what not. But I have kept it to myself as I was asked too.

The brand and the powertrain is incredibly interesting to me. However the geo I was told sort of freaked me out so I'm waiting to read some real world reviews and maybe get a test ride.

Luckily we are heading into winter down here, so the riding drops right off June through September. Hopefully that is enough time for the bike to be out and about in your part of the world and we get some feedback on how it all works. I can then make a decision. I'm in no hurry, I have a weaponised 2009 Santa Cruz Nomad (I chucked a 1000w Bafang motor on it) that I am using down here. My big fear is it's running 26" wheel sets and tyres (I reckon I bought the last set of 2.5 x 26 minion DHR's in Oz for the bike) and I will struggle to replace those.
I have faith Forbidden haven't gone crazy with their design an specs and it all works well!

 

[DanMcDan]

The Amflow is a trail bike and the rear end flex's a ton, the eDruid is a burly enduro build. I have to think after talking with them this is going to be way beefier than a Amflow. If you hope it doesn't have a vertical shock be prepared to be disappointed, although a weird reason to cross it off your list.

Zero flex on my Amflow ?

 

[jbrown15]

Zero flex on my Amflow ?

I’ve read it in multiple sources, theloamwolf talks about it right in their review.

Amflow PL Carbon Pro & DJI Avinox eMTB | Dissected

We are here to share some more details on the Amflow PL Carbon Pro eBike powered by the DJI Avinox drive unit

theloamwolf.com

What do you weigh? And what level do you ride about? No slight at you but maybe you aren’t pushing the bike hard enough to get it to flex or riding rowdy enough terrain to bring out this character in the frame?

 

[B Rabbit]

For those that saw the photos posted up yesterday, is it just me or is the motor really really well hidden away? Knowing the DJI screen photo was posted in Dec, I was super confused. If I had to guess looking at the photos/screenshots I would have gone with TQ or Fazua.
Granted, it was only drive side pictures.

 

[Flo7]

Looks really nice!

 

[bakedbun]

Looks really nice!

looks good but sram codes on the e-lite

 

[Ribinrobin]

Looks really nice!
View attachment 157852 View attachment 157853

thought this was a orbea wild

 

[whitymon]

The Amflow is a trail bike and the rear end flex's a ton, the eDruid is a burly enduro build. I have to think after talking with them this is going to be way beefier than a Amflow. If you hope it doesn't have a vertical shock be prepared to be disappointed, although a weird reason to cross it off your list.

Yes, eDruid will be a bit beefier but not that much, especially if you change the Amflow cockpit where yes it was noted that the flex was coming from there. I would also warn people to let them do their diligence versus reading reviews, sometimes common people cannot graps or feel anything related to review when they effectively ride the bike.
I know some people that after custom cockpit cannot feel any kind of flex with their 80kg, might also depends on trail. speed etc.

As per having a vertical shock, why would we pick a forbidden without an horizontal shock is more the question to me (same for Santa Cruz VPP). It is a great brand but it would be pointless to me as having a high pivot is not enough reason, the combo of horizontal shock + high pivot is where, to me, the magic lives.

NB: to be fair the new eDruid is really looking like the Orbea Wild

 

[bcmtb]

Damn that green one looks amazing. Just need to know the prices!

And hopefully it has a swappable battery?

 

[jbrown15]

Yes, eDruid will be a bit beefier but not that much, especially if you change the Amflow cockpit where yes it was noted that the flex was coming from there. I would also warn people to let them do their diligence versus reading reviews, sometimes common people cannot graps or feel anything related to review when they effectively ride the bike.
I know some people that after custom cockpit cannot feel any kind of flex with their 80kg, might also depends on trail. speed etc.

As per having a vertical shock, why would we pick a forbidden without an horizontal shock is more the question to me (same for Santa Cruz VPP). It is a great brand but it would be pointless to me as having a high pivot is not enough reason, the combo of horizontal shock + high pivot is where, to me, the magic lives.

NB: to be fair the new eDruid is really looking like the Orbea Wild

Again, just seems like a weird stance to have that the orientation of the shock in your mind determines how the bike rides.

 

[whitymon]

Again, just seems like a weird stance to have that the orientation of the shock in your mind determines how the bike rides.

It is not in the mind, bold statement of you, as tons of other characteristics, this change a lot how the bike ride. Again, if you cannot feel it, good/bad for you, for me I can see a big difference when coupled with a high pivot.

No one can argue about how a bike feel to someone else.

 

[Flo7]

Damn that green one looks amazing. Just need to know the prices!

And hopefully it has a swappable battery?

europe Prices for the core:

Tier One: € 11.699,00

Tier Two: € 9.999,00

Tier Three: € 8.699,00

The Core version has 800wh!!

 

[Garru]

The Core version has 800wh!!

the other one no?

 

[Garru]

does it look like a horst joint or am I wrong?

 

[sethimus]

As per having a vertical shock, why would we pick a forbidden without an horizontal shock is more the question to me (same for Santa Cruz VPP). It is a great brand but it would be pointless to me as having a high pivot is not enough reason, the combo of horizontal shock + high pivot is where, to me, the magic lives.

why? like explain it to me like i‘m 3. dis gonna be gud lol

 

[412MTB]

Spoke to my dealer today. He said these bikes are going to be hard to get. Said he will not even get all of the ones that he has ordered. Very disappointed.