Hydra 2025

The Forestal Hydra 2025 is the all-mountain platform from Andorran specialist Forestal, the brand's most aggressive carbon eMTB built around the Bafang M820 motor (80 Nm torque, 250 W rated, 2.3 kg motor weight) and a small, fully integrated 360 Wh Aurora battery. Travel is 180 mm front and 170 mm rear on a carbon chassis with single pivot suspension. Two trims — Halo at £9,999 (19.2 kg) and Diode at £11,894 (19.9 kg). Head angle 62.7 to 63.0 degrees, reach 415 to 499 mm across SM to XL sizes. The community read in one line: a properly exotic ultra-lightweight super-enduro with bleeding-edge weight numbers, but the small integrated battery and Andorran service network are big-ticket compromises buyers need to go in with eyes open.

Drive system and range. The Bafang M820 is the latest evolution of the EonDrive collaboration between Forestal and Bafang — 80 Nm torque, 250 W rated, 2.3 kg, housed in a magnesium shell with titanium internal components for the lightest production eMTB motor at this torque level. The 360 Wh Aurora battery is the headline trade-off: it is fully integrated into the carbon frame and NOT user-removable, which means charging happens on the bike via a discreet port. Real-world range is therefore the headline limitation — expect 25 to 45 km in Trail/Boost on mixed terrain, depending on rider weight and elevation gain, which is roughly half of what an 800 Wh full-power rival delivers. The bike is designed to be a properly lightweight tool first, range-bag eMTB second.

Geometry and handling. Aggressive. 62.7 to 63.0 degree head angle with the flip-chip is firmly in DH-adjacent territory, slacker than most enduro eMTBs. Reach progresses 415 mm (SM), 446 mm (MD), 476 mm (LG), and 496 mm (XL) in the slacker setting. Chainstays scale from 436 mm (SM/MD) to 446 mm (LG/XL), proper size-tuned. The single-pivot suspension layout is unconventional for this travel category — most rivals run four-bar or Horst Link — but Forestal's kinematics have been well-received for big-hit absorption. Wheel setup choices include mullet and full 29 depending on trim.

Build and value. Two trims, both premium. Halo at £9,999 (19.2 kg) is the entry point — expect RockShox Zeb Ultimate or BoXXer Select fork, Super Deluxe Select+ rear shock, SRAM AXS drivetrain and four-piston brakes with 200+ mm rotors. Diode at £11,894 (19.9 kg) steps up to higher-spec suspension and a fully wireless SRAM XX AXS Eagle drivetrain. Both bikes are sub-20 kg with 180/170 mm travel, which is genuinely category-leading.

Caveats and known gripes.

• 360 Wh integrated battery is the dealbreaker for most buyers. You cannot remove it for off-bike charging, you cannot carry a spare, and total range is roughly half of an 800 Wh rival.
• Andorran service network is small. Forestal has limited dealer presence outside Spain and France — warranty work and motor service depend heavily on remote support.
• Single-pivot suspension is unconventional at 170 mm rear travel. Some riders will prefer the more progressive feel of a four-bar Horst Link or DW-link at this travel.
• £9,999 entry price is well above the lightweight eMTB norm. Equivalent-weight rivals like the Specialized Levo SL (17.5 kg) or Pivot Shuttle SL come in lower, albeit with less travel.

Verdict. The Forestal Hydra 2025 is a properly exotic, ultra-lightweight super-enduro for riders who prioritise carbon weight and big-hit travel over range, who don't mind paying a premium for Andorran engineering, and who live close to a Forestal dealer or are comfortable with remote support. It suits the rider who already has a non-electric DH/enduro bike and wants the lightest possible 180 mm eMTB for shuttle days. Look elsewhere if you want a removable battery, larger battery capacity, or a wider dealer support network. Production status: current, two trims (Halo, Diode), eight size/colour combinations.