I have an XL Nomad and it feels perfect for me - 180mm fork gives it a roughly 492mm reach. 467mm is a massive difference. I’ve never owned a big less than 480mm reach. I too read that Loam Wolf article, it’s hard to invest that kind of money on the word of one (slightly shorter) reviewer.
Forbidden Druid - Avinox Powered
- Thread starter jbrown15
- Start date
I'm 5.7 and also between sizes. Elected to go s2 at 447 reach. Pleased I did. Feels perfect and I think the s1 reach would cramped in certain situations. My knees get very close to the bars as is High stack combined with low bb certainly gets you upright.
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That’s useful, thanks
DToX
Active member
Forbidden Bike Company on Instagram: "The long wait is over. Druid CorE and LitE in all sizes and all build kits have officially landed in all markets. As soon as they hit our warehouse floor they were back out the door. Next stop. Your local trail
2,472 likes, 73 comments - forbiddenbikecompany on September 26, 2025: "The long wait is over. Druid CorE and LitE in all sizes and all build kits have officially landed in all markets. As soon as they hit our warehouse floor they were back out the door. Next stop. Your local trail network...
www.instagram.com
Kitnz
New Member
Nah, came with Maxxis, I put the Contis on. I love them!
Kitnz
New Member
First impressions after a single track ride are:
- love the riding position, upright is waaaaay more comfy for my old man lower back pain.
- bike feels heavy, but moves around pretty easily still. I actually find the extra weight down low good on chundery downs, more planted. This made me happy as I was worried about the weight!
- I’m definitely not one for air, but it gets up over everything I can ride easily. And the ability to throw in a pedal stroke or two and get a big speed boost is killer.
- I did not like the feel of the Zeb select+ at RS’ recommended setting, really harsh off the top. I’ve dropped the pressure quite a bit to try find the opposite end. It’s danm stiff though!
- LOVED the Vivid air. Instantly felt good. TBF I’m coming from a Druid V1 with 130 travel, so the extra travel prob had something to do with it.
- I detuned ‘Trail’ to settings attached and it was plenty grunty. I towed my son around uphills for an hour then did a few runs without him and did 25km with 49% battery.
- stoked overall! Can’t wait to get out again and tweak the suspension.
- (edit) forgot about the T-Type AXS! God damn smooth shift is incredible! I commute on an e-bike with a Rolhoff and have got used to dumping gears, it is so handy on the Druid and feels like magic hearing the motor spin up and gears change.
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Kitnz
New Member
The maxxis did feel pretty sticky. I might chuck them on when the Contis die. Which given the speed this thing goes on gravel, could be quick!
Highland Wheels
Well-known member
Naaa, don't believe itForbidden Bike Company on Instagram: "The long wait is over. Druid CorE and LitE in all sizes and all build kits have officially landed in all markets. As soon as they hit our warehouse floor they were back out the door. Next stop. Your local trail
2,472 likes, 73 comments - forbiddenbikecompany on September 26, 2025: "The long wait is over. Druid CorE and LitE in all sizes and all build kits have officially landed in all markets. As soon as they hit our warehouse floor they were back out the door. Next stop. Your local trail network...
Highland Wheels
Well-known member
Yeah, it's not strictly true.Naaa, don't believe it
Bikes have arrived in all markets but not every bike that has been ordered has. Most of them arn't going to get fulfilled til next year now. Mines first batch so current ETA is first half of October at the moment.
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Just completed first battery draining ride in Vegas today. All j can say is anyone waiting for their bike to arrive stag patient I think is well worth the wait. They ting is a weapon. Still a few tweaks required and the mavens leg me down badly. They were great until the bleed failed. I believe it's a common problem that can be solved and if it is they will be awesome everything else was just smile inducing. The Avinox motor software system is everything they say it is. Unlimited power good range and power delivery is smooth as silk. Very very impressive. Can anyone see my smile. Now I have to wait till Tuesday to ride again. Rotorua trails are primo at the moment. I was going to put my other wheelset on but decided to give these maxis a go and they surprised me with how well they went. I still think I will go back to my mm radial on the front but not a whole lot in it
jcmonty
E*POWAH Master
Disappointing about the mavens. Did they just lose power ?
No. Power and modulation is great but air in the system from new seems to be an issue. 3 guys I know on sworks each had to do 2 or 3 bleeds before they settled an then were great. My rear brake was not even pumping up anymore. Lever was pulling all the way in. They were impeccable for the first hour but by the time I finished they were very dangerous. Once sorted I think they will be very good. The rest of the bike worked sweet as. It just wants to go. If I sound excited that's because I am
Red Peekay
Active member
Out of interest, how tall are you? Will give me an idea given I'm running the L Nomad. Cheers.... still waiting!
I am 5.7 I am in-between an s1 and an s2. Opted for an s2 and really pleased I did. It feels perfect at 447 reach. My current bike is 450 reach but this feels shorter but in context my current bike is was a cannondale moterra medium with a 200 mm boxxer up front and rear linkage change to allow 185 mm travel. Also reconfigured to mullet so it was fairly high stack but not quite as high as the new Druid
Red Peekay
Active member
That's dissapointing. Should we get the shop to pre-bleed before riding then?? PITA...
I think that's a good Idea. There is a documented piston massage routine that should help but so far I have yet to speak to a new maven rider who hasn't had issues. Now I will probably get swamped with people saying theirs are perfect haha. Hopefully when I get mine back I can report more favorably. They felt really really good for that first hourThat's dissapointing. Should we get the shop to pre-bleed before riding then?? PITA...
Red Peekay
Active member
Found this on the tube.... is this what you mean?? Do we still need to bleed them before?
Kitnz
New Member
I picked up mine (rather than getting it built at the shop) and the brake hoses and housing for the dropper are crazy long. See if they shorten them for ya. I’ll be doing mine as soon as the oil & barb/olive arrives…
Thankfully, 3 rides in and my Mavens are working sweet. I’m stoked with them.
sethimus
😠 Donald Duck 😠
you don’t need to do any of that crap with an intend brake, lol
Yip but unfortunately that is not what the bike came with so will just have to do what ever is required to make them better
I am pretty confident it is an easy albeit unnecessary fix but the outcome should be an awesome performing set of binders.A proper bleed is all you need. I’ve only ever had to do one on each of my three sets. They’re amazing.
188cm
Highland Wheels
Well-known member
The solution is to remove them and fit something elseThat's dissapointing. Should we get the shop to pre-bleed before riding then?? PITA...
Mine won't even be ridden ever with the Mavens
sethimus
😠 Donald Duck 😠
a bleed doesn’t change the heavy lever pull needed
I have read all the hype about heavy lever pull but for me at least that was a total non event no issue at all and I wish I hadn't brought up the whole bleed thing it's only distracting from how good this bike actually rode. Absolute weapon and I think that anyone who has one coming should be full on excited
jcmonty
E*POWAH Master
I tested out the new Levo and the biggest thing I was impressed with was the mavens 
Does anyone have this in the US yet and can confirm if the class 3 mode shipped with this bike? I think it will be handy for my ride to the trails because everything is 4-5 miles one way unless I drive
Does anyone have this in the US yet and can confirm if the class 3 mode shipped with this bike? I think it will be handy for my ride to the trails because everything is 4-5 miles one way unless I drive
DToX
Active member
I'm certain we will have class 3 when activated in the US.I tested out the new Levo and the biggest thing I was impressed with was the mavens
Does anyone have this in the US yet and can confirm if the class 3 mode shipped with this bike? I think it will be handy for my ride to the trails because everything is 4-5 miles one way unless I drive
sethimus
😠 Donald Duck 😠
then never try an intend brake, it’s gonna ruin everything else for you
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