Forbidden Druid - Avinox Powered

more travel with the same shock
length?

Almost certainly a different linkage to try and make this work if they indeed reused the same front triangle. Otherwise, just too many compromises to STA, BB height, etc.
 
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Almost certainly a different linkage to try and make this work if they indeed reused the same front triangle. Otherwise, just too many compromises to STA, BB height, etc.
still just 55mm stroke, i would have guessed that they at least use a 205x65 if they are space constrained
 
Me too, sight unseen.
The black and red would be my first pick, but I assume that's coming with some big dollar flight attendant shenanigans.
Forbidden's mid level spec has historically been pretty good. Podium or 38 ?
There is no flight attendant suspension on any of the Forbidden ebikes. And a Podium won't work on the DreadnoughtE as that bike will be a 180/170mm travel. Podium only goes up to 170mm travel. Only one of the tiers will have Fox suspension.
 
I'm curious if they'll somehow rework the cable exit / chainstay pivot junction between the chainstay and the motor cavity. on the eDruid it's quite tight and subject to kinking the cables if they're too long (or yanking on them each compression if they're too long). I swapped the brakes on mine and spent a while getting it just right (hopefully, need to check on it).

with more travel I imagine it would only get worse (assuming roughly similar pivot locations) and it already seem marginal to me.
 
Almost certainly a different linkage to try and make this work if they indeed reused the same front triangle. Otherwise, just too many compromises to STA, BB height, etc.
My assumption only, is a different linkage that allows the bike to run a 205x65 trunnion shock.
 
There is no flight attendant suspension on any of the Forbidden ebikes. And a Podium won't work on the DreadnoughtE as that bike will be a 180/170mm travel. Podium only goes up to 170mm travel. Only one of the tiers will have Fox suspension.
That makes me happy, every podium I saw in the fall was leaking to one extent or another.
And the grip x2 38 is a pretty decent fork compared to the old 38 grip 2, slap a secus on there and happy days.
Surprised by the 170mm of rear travel, that's more than the dreadnought v2.
Guessing the naught-e will have a longer rear center than the druid.
 
That makes me happy, every podium I saw in the fall was leaking to one extent or another.
And the grip x2 38 is a pretty decent fork compared to the old 38 grip 2, slap a secus on there and happy days.
Surprised by the 170mm of rear travel, that's more than the dreadnought v2.
Guessing the naught-e will have a longer rear center than the druid.
We've had a few customers with leaky Podium forks, but they've had zero issues after we did a service them and installed new seal kits.
 
We've had a few customers with leaky Podium forks, but they've had zero issues after we did a service them and installed new seal kits.
Did you notice any perceptible difference in drag with the new seals ?
 
What length AXS cable are folk using for this?

Gonna change my cable Transmission to AXS at some point so gathering parts.
 
What length AXS cable are folk using for this?

Gonna change my cable Transmission to AXS at some point so gathering parts.
I got the 780mm cable, it's plenty long for my S2 DruidE, I had enough extra that I suspect it would fit the larger frames.

AXS Extension Cord - Eagle Transmission - 780mm (DJI / Higo Micro A) 11.3018.028.003
 
Is that to power the derailleur from the e-bike battery?
yes and it also allows SmoothShift (shift w/o pedaling): https://www.emtbforums.com/ams/avinox-motor-update-6-new-features-that-change-the-ride.152/

and IIUC the wired cable allows the motor to back of torque while shifting, improving the "chain protection" feature. I believe the motor tries to detect shifts w/ a mechanical derailleur based on load changes on the chain. but w/ the AXS extension cord it has a digital signal of shifting.

on my eDruid, seems to shift more smoothly w/ the AXSext
 
yes and it also allows SmoothShift (shift w/o pedaling): https://www.emtbforums.com/ams/avinox-motor-update-6-new-features-that-change-the-ride.152/

and IIUC the wired cable allows the motor to back of torque while shifting, improving the "chain protection" feature. I believe the motor tries to detect shifts w/ a mechanical derailleur based on load changes on the chain. but w/ the AXS extension cord it has a digital signal of shifting.

on my eDruid, seems to shift more smoothly w/ the AXSext
Cool!

I knew about smoothshift, didn't know about the great change feature.
 
I'm guessing the wired cable will work with a non-Transmission AXD rear mech, as it'll just act like a dumb power supply. Do the other functions also work, or are the OG AXS mechs not smart enough?

I made a dumb power cable for my KSL using the light harness Y-connector, a buck convertor and an old battery blanking plate and it works spot on, and I'd like somethinf like this for my hopefully forthcoming Druid
 
I'm guessing the wired cable will work with a non-Transmission AXD rear mech, as it'll just act like a dumb power supply. Do the other functions also work, or are the OG AXS mechs not smart enough?

I made a dumb power cable for my KSL using the light harness Y-connector, a buck convertor and an old battery blanking plate and it works spot on, and I'd like somethinf like this for my hopefully forthcoming Druid
Check out this thread, sounds like it should work https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/avinox-smooth-shift-compatibility.43649/
 
Good morning everybody. Hope you are all enjoying the weather change! ;)
Well, yesterday I did an inspection on my bike since it is my daily driver since october:
chain is wasted and lasted 1.500km (and was maybe longer overdue..) and both idler-pulley
bearings are waiting on a change. They are running very rough with high friction! I didnt expect
the latter.
I am almost always using it in "auto" mode (max 850W and 95Nm) so no "boost"-overrun all the time.
Not dissapointed though - i love the bike! :)

I was just curious why forbidden is using a LLU Max Bearing with solid lube for the 19T Idler since those
bearing dont love a high RPM. Does anybody have clue on this? Maybe this is because of the Motors
Output but maybe theres an alternative.. any ideas?
 
The idler is perhaps the worst-designed component of our Forbidden Core.
The problem isn't the bearings, but the bearing seat.
The seat is a few microns too narrow, and when you insert the bearings, they jam—any bearing, even ceramic ones.
The solution would be to widen the seat with a Dremel, perhaps even just removing the black anodizing.
This significantly affects chain wear and even the battery.
I'm hoping a properly made aftermarket idler will come out.
 
The idler is perhaps the worst-designed component of our Forbidden Core.
The problem isn't the bearings, but the bearing seat.
The seat is a few microns too narrow, and when you insert the bearings, they jam—any bearing, even ceramic ones.
The solution would be to widen the seat with a Dremel, perhaps even just removing the black anodizing.
This significantly affects chain wear and even the battery.
I'm hoping a properly made aftermarket idler will come out.

To do this job, I would recommend using a special tool, a honing tool: ;)

How this
 
Apparently forbidden is only selling e-druids with 800wh batteries now. Every shop I talked to has been consistent there. So did not place an order.

Anyone been able to get confirmation/order an e-druid with the 600wh battery for 2026?
 
So for the Druid the only changes that I can see is color changes, and a revised motor. As far as the DreadnoughtE goes, it looks identical to the Druid with more travel. From the information I've seen from Forbidden the only thing missing was actual geo numbers.

I don't see what this would be a bad thing though, from my experience so far the Druid rides awesome. Once you get use to the taller stack it's a very confident inspiring bike is the steep gnarly stuff. If you ride lots of blue to green trails it might not be as fun because at times it can be a little harder to keep pressure on the front wheel getting traction with the taller stack.

Looking at the pictures I'm almost convinced the bikes have the same front triangle and different rear ends.
Saw the geo for both bikes. Front triangle is indeed the same. Druid geo remains unchanged.
 
Apparently forbidden is only selling e-druids with 800wh batteries now. Every shop I talked to has been consistent there. So did not place an order.

Anyone been able to get confirmation/order an e-druid with the 600wh battery for 2026?

I think cause they cleared stock so quick most shops have just orderd 800wh models, maybe you can request a order from a shop for a 600wh? i know a few people who have the 600 lite and have bought the 800 battery also
 
Apparently forbidden is only selling e-druids with 800wh batteries now. Every shop I talked to has been consistent there. So did not place an order.

Anyone been able to get confirmation/order an e-druid with the 600wh battery for 2026?
That’s not true, when your local dealer places their order they have to choose if they are ordering it with the 600wh or the 800wh battery at time of placing the order.

Going forward they aren’t going to be offering the Lite models with less travel and 600wh only batteries. Now there with just be 4 tiers of the same Druid with a 600 or 800wh battery.
 
That’s not true, when your local dealer places their order they have to choose if they are ordering it with the 600wh or the 800wh battery at time of placing the order.

Going forward they aren’t going to be offering the Lite models with less travel and 600wh only batteries. Now there with just be 4 tiers of the same Druid with a 600 or 800wh battery.
and the dreadnaughteee ;)
 
That’s not true, when your local dealer places their order they have to choose if they are ordering it with the 600wh or the 800wh battery at time of placing the order.

Going forward they aren’t going to be offering the Lite models with less travel and 600wh only batteries. Now there with just be 4 tiers of the same Druid with a 600 or 800wh battery.
That’s what I’ve heard but unfortunately not been the case when I actually attempted to place orders at 4 different shops. Will try again now that it’s been a couple weeks and see if that’s changed.
 
Good morning everybody. Hope you are all enjoying the weather change! ;)
Well, yesterday I did an inspection on my bike since it is my daily driver since october:
chain is wasted and lasted 1.500km (and was maybe longer overdue..) and both idler-pulley
bearings are waiting on a change. They are running very rough with high friction! I didnt expect
the latter.
I am almost always using it in "auto" mode (max 850W and 95Nm) so no "boost"-overrun all the time.
Not dissapointed though - i love the bike! :)

I was just curious why forbidden is using a LLU Max Bearing with solid lube for the 19T Idler since those
bearing dont love a high RPM. Does anybody have clue on this? Maybe this is because of the Motors
Output but maybe theres an alternative.. any ideas?
Was out on mine today and was getting some awful noises from my idler


Appears my bearings as pretty done as well.

Reached out to see if it'll be a warranty job or now seeing as its not actually that old
 
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