I also had a KSL before. On the edge, for single big hits, the KSL probably wins. I’ve also owned a Crestline RS75, and the same can be said of that. But for repeated hits and DH riding the platform on the Forbidden feels much more composed, predictable and therefore safe, meaning you’re more likely to push yourself and the bike harder. I ride rough and steep chunk - we’re not blessed with much good quality dirt in northern Sydney. I’ve got my suspension on the firm side and added a 170mm air spring to the fork.
Forbidden Druid - Avinox Powered
- Thread starter jbrown15
- Start date
jcmonty
E*POWAH Master
Yes - got KSL when the first came out , after having a heavily modified levo sl .
From what you showed, the Druid would do great. It just might have a bit harsher bottom out if you case
. The Druid - to me - feels a bit more effortless on flow trails. It corners on rails, and you are more centered in the bike (less riding the front like I did on the KSL). The suspension gives less feedback at the pedals as well, so high speed chatter is less of an impact (depending on your fork setup obviously)I have been running my Lite at 170/140, and it charges. If you have a Core and run 170/150, I bet you wouldn’t feel it lacking unless you intend to hit World Cup level compressions all day long.
Highland Wheels
Well-known member
First thing I'd do is bin the stock grips. They are proper crap
Haha they are. I couldn’t believe how bad they were. Ultrathins.
Highland Wheels
Well-known member
Wasn't even the thickness, was like gripping two plastic tubes 
Blownoutrides
Active member
Forbidden is famous for doing a lot with a little travel wise. Was almost ready to pull the trigger on the Druid Core to run with a 190 Fox 40 (similar ATC to a 170 Zeb) but that 150mm head tube won't play nice with a dual crown.Yes - got KSL when the first came out , after having a heavily modified levo sl .
From what you showed, the Druid would do great. It just might have a bit harsher bottom out if you case
I have been running my Lite at 170/140, and it charges. If you have a Core and run 170/150, I bet you wouldn’t feel it lacking unless you intend to hit World Cup level compressions all day long.
Currently very conflicted on next bike. Love my XL v2 dread... just want that bike with a motor but it doesn't exist.
Yeti LTE and both Norco's look great... but chainstays just too short on the XL's
Mondraker Crafty very tempting (especially after watching the Brian Cahal emtb shootout) but other reviews seem to really dump on it and it's hard to believe their take on 150 travel is going to be enough for where and how I ride (chunky, many hucks to flat, plow guy).
Crestline checks all my boxes but very hard to commit to a 4 month wait.
First world problems lol
Appreciate your input!Yes - got KSL when the first came out , after having a heavily modified levo sl .
From what you showed, the Druid would do great. It just might have a bit harsher bottom out if you case
I have been running my Lite at 170/140, and it charges. If you have a Core and run 170/150, I bet you wouldn’t feel it lacking unless you intend to hit World Cup level compressions all day long.
Yeah, I was thinking 170mm Zeb on the front, 150mm coil on the rear.
Yeti LTE looks more wheels on the ground pure enduro to from what i have seen. I agree Crestline looks awesome, but the 4 month wait isn't ideal.
Also everything online points to a new M1 Avinox coming out Spring so it's whether it's worth waiting for that! Power wise probably not but robustness and design tweaks might be significant hey.
Forbidden likely wouldn't support either, so no warranty, could crack the head tube..... do you know specifically why it won't work? Could be a cool option of the ATC is the same so same geo.
Highland Wheels
Well-known member
Just wait and get the E Dreadnought that's coming next Spring
I've been a T type holdout and I agree that at a minimum they should just drop the 1st gear for e-bikes usage.
That said, it shifts unbelievable under power, it really does. From that standpoint, it's really nice.
sethimus
😠 Donald Duck 😠
another "review" that mixes up different power curves with "efficiency"
doochenozzle
Member
I think I might want a little more gear range but agree that 10-52 is generally wasted. I think the drivetrain I’d most like to try is a CUES 10 or 11 speed with a jab derailleur. I’m not sure how saint shifts under load but I’m guessing modern cassettes are better at that.
Hi. Anyone tried some Sram Cranks? I got a big impact with the Praxis cranks on one side and have to replace it. Thought about some Sram cranks due to the option for a bash guard on the chain ring. Will it just fit or will there be any problems? As far as i have read the Avinox is the same mounting as for Bosch Gen 5 motors with DU38
dotcodotuk
New Member
I’d love to know what you could get away with using an 11-36T setup!
Should be fine. Uses mostly road-focused cassettes, nothing Saint-specific, so ‘just’ HG but handles some serious power from both downhillers and roadies alike.
Wait ~four months and it will be out. I waited 7 months to get my eDruid. Life goes by quick.
Blownoutrides
Active member
That's the problem lol
Blownoutrides
Active member
FWIW I warrantied 6 sets of alloy praxis cranks on my KSL because they kept bending on drops / hucks. At the time they were the only option. Choice was either catastrophic failure carbon (see KSL PinkBike huck to flat) or under designed alloy. For number 7 they just sent me a tshirt and wished me luck.
Not a fan of praxis.
doochenozzle
Member
If anyone promised you a Druid earlier than July you were lied to or at least badly misled.
Blownoutrides
Active member
That would be rad. Is there a thread or any info out about it yet? Just heard rumors...Just wait and get the E Dreadnought that's coming next Spring
Thinking to grab a Crestline when the pre-sale opens up and then sell it if the E-Dread materializes before it shows up.
E-Dread would check almost all my boxes for sure. Only misses would be no frameset option and (likely) no 29" rear option (im tall).
Blownoutrides
Active member
My understanding is that ATC is the key structural constraint for forks relative to tested frame strength. 170 Zeb has a 586mm ATC vs. 190 Fox 40's 589mm ATC. That 3mm may technically void the warranty but I wouldn't worry about it from a real world standpoint.
Unfortunately the max head tube height that fits under the 40 upper drop crown is approximately ~138mm, and that's with a Cane Creek zero stack upper headset. Head tubes taller than ~138mm put the upper crown too high to fully grab the tops of the stanchions.
You can cheat a few mm's by dropping the lower clamp down a tiny amount, but if you drop it too far you'll eventually run into big trouble with things binding. I doubt you could drop the lower crown the 15mm required to fit the S4 Druid Core's 153mm (!) head tube, but maybe (?).
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Red Peekay
Active member
Yeah, I've picked up a pair of AMS Berms but will also probably get a set of Deathgrips (which I'm running on my fat bike up here) for when I get back to Oz and manage to pick up the bike.
It was a July promise that then switched to Aug-Oct. If the spray tan wankstain didn’t shut down the government, I would have had it in October.
@Blownoutrides Dreadnaught aka e-naughty is coming, I think my dealer said spring, but I didn’t commit to memory since I was getting Druid. Don’t understand need for 29er rear on an ebike even if you’re tall. My mountain bikes are 29er, e-bikes mullet.
I personally witnessed two seperate catastrophic failures of carbon Praxis cranks! Id never ride them.
The new XT di2 with short cage mech and 9-45 cassette looks like a good option for ebikes. Less chain length, smaller mech, lighter cassette.
Sadly it’s not available with the motor connector to give power to the mech in this flavour.
Interesting, looking at the below tech document it suggests it would fit:
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