Dreadnought!! Forbidden...

hugosxm said:

tell us man please for people which are still waiting they frame ^^

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no problem,
For background.im ’184cm on a size large, I was riding an XL Evil calling before this and a transition patrol before that. But I’ve rode other 29ers like pivot firebird and older an nukeproof mega.
I’ve only had one day on it but was getting strava PB’s on my first run on my local trails. Which is amazing, they weren’t even dry. I haven’t found it cumbersome at all. I was shocked at how easy or familiar it felt. I have no issue bunny hopping or jumping it, But it is super plush across roots and it’s so easy to take lines that I’ve found so difficult previously. The way it lands jumps is amazing too. It’s like there’s no impact so you just keep pinning.
On the climbs it ‘feels’ draggy in the big cogs but fine in the middle ones . But it definitely does not speed up like the Evil does but that was to be expected . The only issue I’ve had is a few pedal strikes while pedalling through rough stuff. But even old lads like me will learn 😂.

Muckymuck said:

no problem,
For background.im ’184cm on a size large, I was riding an XL Evil calling before this and a transition patrol before that. But I’ve rode other 29ers like pivot firebird and older an nukeproof mega.
I’ve only had one day on it but was getting strava PB’s on my first run on my local trails. Which is amazing, they weren’t even dry. I haven’t found it cumbersome at all. I was shocked at how easy or familiar it felt. I have no issue bunny hopping or jumping it, But it is super plush across roots and it’s so easy to take lines that I’ve found so difficult previously. The way it lands jumps is amazing too. It’s like there’s no impact so you just keep pinning.
On the climbs it ‘feels’ draggy in the big cogs but fine in the middle ones . But it definitely does not speed up like the Evil does but that was to be expected . The only issue I’ve had is a few pedal strikes while pedalling through rough stuff. But even old lads like me will learn 😂.

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Thanks for the review man! Can't wait to hop on mine, I went size M for 1m78, hope it feels like yours ^^

Hi everyone, if a dreadnought owner can help me please, mine is due for tomorrow, and I have a question.
I want to know the angle from horizontal of the chain between the upper pulley and the chain ring. In others words please someone open the measurement app on an iPhone, stick the iPhone to the almost vertical part of the chain between the pulley and the ring and tell me the number ^^

This is to clock my oval chain ring...

And a merry Christmas by the way

McShred said:

Haha, I actually did this yesterday, for the same reason after riding an oval ring in the stock position for half the year. It's about 73 degrees.

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Thanks man! How many teeth on the chainring?

hugosxm said:

Thanks man! How many teeth on the chainring?

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30 tooth. I measured both the wide and narrow part of the oval. Almost 72 and just over 74 degrees. So averaged to about 73. If your on a Shimano crank you'll have the choice between clocking to 68 or 85 degrees.

Frame came by plane on the 23th, rode it yesterday... Oh she goes well... I'll post pictures and review later but this bike is a blast !

Picard said:

Can you give us an update?

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I was planning to do it tomorrow so I'll update this post

I'll write a new post since i'm not sure editing a post will generate a notification to JonJones

I have some time to talk a bit about the bike.

Don't forget that english is not my language sorry !

Frame quality / build process.

First of all, the frame was really well packaged, i mean really really well, it took me 20 minutes to fully remove all the foams and **** arround the bike, I don't know if forbidden or fanatik is responsible for this, maybe both, but it was nice seeing my investment really protected ^^. The frames looks beautifull on every angle. The paint job was good to my eyes, but my frame came already wrapped so it is hard to tell about that as the plastic blur everything a bit. The headtube, the downtube, the area arround the crankset, everything looks big and rock solid, my devinci spartan looks like a mikado next to this....

I received my frame with the new upgraded mudguard, they call this the "winter" one, it is longer but it have the little area to hold a piece of moto foam to protect your frame ! Don't hesitate to ask your reseller to include this new mudguard, or buy this : Jank Moto Foam Kit for Forbidden Druid/Dreadnought.
And the new guard is "holding" your cable a bit to prevent rubbing on the cable port of the rear swingarm !

I loved the cable ports, on my previous spartan i have some shitty little screw that are a nightmare, on the forbidden, big stainless screws and the piece to seal the holes are really doing a greatjob, generally speaking i found that the cable routing process of this bike was a breeze. I also used jagwire danpening foam tube to quiet the cable in the frame. Brake and derailleur cables go in the top tube, seatpost one goes in the downtube.

Speaking of downtube, the rock guard is cool but too small, like every bike in the world so i added a allmoutain style protection... Under this guard you have a hole where you can store a tube or something and you have access to the straw that will route the cable to your seatpost.

I have the FOX shock option as i Have mounted a bos syors on this, i was surprised to see that the fox came ball bearing mounted ! I think this is a good thing on that bike as the link really "rotate" over the shock when suspension is active. I have standard mouting hardware on my bos and you can really tell the friction difference between the two. I ordered some bearings...

The seat collard is great but i swapped out this for a hope one, asked forbidden, you can use any regular round collar on this

The stock idler came with a sealed bearing, so no need to pack it full of grease like the old one you can see on the forbidden youtube channel. I already bought the nsb one so i installed it but the stock idler is perfectly fine.

The integrated E13 chain guide feels really well built, no problem with it so far.

Mouting the chainring : i use a oval one, cinch on raceface, so i clocked it to 66 degree and it felt "normal" on the first ride so i guess this is the way to do it, but make sure to have a "clockable" chainring / crankset combo with this bike if you want oval chainring. And setting the b-tension on the derailleur, make sure to put the crankset in the "less tension" position before turning the screw. For the lenght of the chain i did what forbidden said one their website minus 2 links.

First ride climbing

First ride was on the fox air shock, i wanted to try it out

The first climb felt like : it needs more watt to go uphill but it is hard to say when the bike is new, i mean fresh bearings on crankset and idler, new bearing are always a bit sticky the first miles so... It felt like it was easier to pedal by the end of my first ride. And i guess that the clocking change of the chainring can makes your legs feel a bit tired. I'll have to but more miles on it to say if it is efficient or not.

But something is true for sure : the front end is glued to the ground, on the devinci i have to move my weight forward to keep the front wheel on the ground and it was pissing me off, plus the bike was bouncing easely on rought terain. The dreadnought is the opposite, it does not want to wheelie everywhere and it remains calm over obstacle. I used climb switch on both bikes ! When climbing with the forbidden, if you try a wheeling, it forces you down, the front wheel is really magnetic to the ground if love this ! And the position feels good, it could be more upright but it is already more upright than the devinci.

I took a M for my 1,78m as the M was the closest to my L spartan from 2018

Traction is also very good on climb, and it rolls good over stuff

First ride descent

First descent i was crazy... The first corner right away felt : this bike is so well balanced, i felt really centered, you don't have to weight the front end or at least you do it without thinking about it. The front wheel grip felt insane. And i felt right at home on this bike ! Maybe because reach is the same ( ~ 2-3 mm ) than my previous bike. I was afraid to find it "heavy" on steering but no! It is stable and nimble for me in M. I don't feel the read end extending in corner, it does nothing to my cornering feeling that is perfect on this bike !

I come from 27.5 so maybe the switch to 29 is altering my feelings but grip was insane ! And the trails was wet that day !

Suspension wise you feel the same thing that when you ride a non high pivot bike without the chain, but kickback is really a good thing. It feels supple on small and mid sized impact and glued to the ground even with the approximative shock settings that i tried to achieve.

On big hit you feel the terrain more than with my devinci but this is not a problem to me. Let me explain, this bike is not a confortable ride to my eyes, but i love so bad how well it gives you support and grip. The spartan was more like a carpet ride but on this trail there is two part where i need to put a bit of brake pressure because i know that i will bottom out hard, on the dreadnought ? Man i went full gasss, the bike is so good at bottoming out in a nice way, the end stroke is perfect ! I can commit with full speed on by compression and drop the bike is supporting you like nothing else, it is a race machine on this point !

And last thing, on steep section you feel like someone is pulling your read wheel on the ground, there is no pitch forward, i love high anti-rise now ^^

Second ride


swapped the fox for the bos and the bike felt horrible, i'm investigating on this tomorow so i'll report back and i'll post the full bikecheck on vitalmtb



Sorry I have to go but more from me this weekend i promise

I know rear linkage upgrade has been discussed previously in this thread. I'm not sure if it got anywhere. I've been waiting for Cascade to update their webpage for a linkage specific for the Dreadnought. As of this writing, nothing yet. I've stumbled on Pinner that machine a spacer for the EXT, making it compatible with Cascade Druid B1 Link. Their IG post says for Dreadnought. So I inquired



Has anyone ran a Cascade Druid B1 Link on the Dreadnought, or know anyone who has? If so, what's the consensus?

And there is the bikecheck :


So after the third ride I can now tell you that this bike still feels like it needs more watt but is so good at rolling over stuff that I managed a PR on a climb...
Maybe that heavy feelings is caused by the fact that this is my first 29 AND I switched to Michelin racing line that are 300g heavier per tire...

Concerning the horrible feeling I had with the coil shock, it is getting better with preload at minimum, slowing down the rebound a bit and slowing high speed Comp too, but I still feels that the shock is not moving correctly, I have offset bushing and they have a lot of drag. Will report later to tell you if bearing bushings help... I'm sure it will!

The bike still a bit pitched forward with that shock, I'll check sag again but it is really a pain with that shock tunnel design, might need to try a 350 spring.

Anyway I'm very pleased with that machine!

EDIT : frame stiffness is very good, maybe a bit better than the devinci

Do you find the devinci to be softer on the trails?



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Picard said:

Do you find the devinci to be softer on the trails?



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As previously said, yes the devinci felt more confortable put in received my bearing bushings for the shock and i will try this next weekend, i'll report back when the test is done because i really feel that the shock is dragging a lot with thoses bushings !

hugosxm said:

View attachment 1964879

And there is the bikecheck :

First dreadnought of France ??

View Vital MTB member hugosxm's mountain bike check "First dreadnought of France ?? ".

www.vitalmtb.com

So after the third ride I can now tell you that this bike still feels like it needs more watt but is so good at rolling over stuff that I managed a PR on a climb...
Maybe that heavy feelings is caused by the fact that this is my first 29 AND I switched to Michelin racing line that are 300g heavier per tire...

Concerning the horrible feeling I had with the coil shock, it is getting better with preload at minimum, slowing down the rebound a bit and slowing high speed Comp too, but I still feels that the shock is not moving correctly, I have offset bushing and they have a lot of drag. Will report later to tell you if bearing bushings help... I'm sure it will!

The bike still a bit pitched forward with that shock, I'll check sag again but it is really a pain with that shock tunnel design, might need to try a 350 spring.

Anyway I'm very pleased with that machine!

EDIT : frame stiffness is very good, maybe a bit better than the devinci

Click to expand...

hugosxm said:

View attachment 1964879

And there is the bikecheck :

First dreadnought of France ??

View Vital MTB member hugosxm's mountain bike check "First dreadnought of France ?? ".

www.vitalmtb.com

So after the third ride I can now tell you that this bike still feels like it needs more watt but is so good at rolling over stuff that I managed a PR on a climb...
Maybe that heavy feelings is caused by the fact that this is my first 29 AND I switched to Michelin racing line that are 300g heavier per tire...

Concerning the horrible feeling I had with the coil shock, it is getting better with preload at minimum, slowing down the rebound a bit and slowing high speed Comp too, but I still feels that the shock is not moving correctly, I have offset bushing and they have a lot of drag. Will report later to tell you if bearing bushings help... I'm sure it will!

The bike still a bit pitched forward with that shock, I'll check sag again but it is really a pain with that shock tunnel design, might need to try a 350 spring.

Anyway I'm very pleased with that machine!

EDIT : frame stiffness is very good, maybe a bit better than the devinci

Click to expand...

is that the new bos 39 fork? How is it? Their old stuff was amazing.
I have stayed with the X2 for now, I find it very plush and supple off the top and has strong ramp up. The middle is fairly active, which is both a good and bad thing depending on what trails
I’m riding. But there is always loads of grip and stability so I’m happy

Muckymuck said:

is that the new bos 39 fork? How is it? Their old stuff was amazing.
I have stayed with the X2 for now, I find it very plush and supple off the top and has strong ramp up. The middle is fairly active, which is both a good and bad thing depending on what trails
I’m riding. But there is always loads of grip and stability so I’m happy

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Nope, I went with the deville II which is 35mm because better hydraulics, the deville 39 single crown is a "cheap" version of the dhfork, no compression adjustment, no fcv, no hydraulics bottom out...
I found the deville pretty stiff even in 35mm
Also I had the deville v1 on the spartan and loved it, their stuff is always to notch performance!

I love the x2 too as a shock, I'm trying this one for now but not sure between syors and x2 for the shock on this bike

Roller bearing bushings helped the syors a lot as said in my previous comments but still thinking about a 25lb lighter spring...

hugosxm said:

Nope, I went with the deville II which is 35mm because better hydraulics, the deville 39 single crown is a "cheap" version of the dhfork, no compression adjustment, no fcv, no hydraulics bottom out...
I found the deville pretty stiff even in 35mm
Also I had the deville v1 on the spartan and loved it, their stuff is always to notch performance!

I love the x2 too as a shock, I'm trying this one for now but not sure between syors and x2 for the shock on this bike

Roller bearing bushings helped the syors a lot as said in my previous comments but still thinking about a 25lb lighter spring...

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Cool, yea I tried a friends Deville v1 years ago. It was amazing, so smooth. It’s strange how they just disappeared, they were so ahead of fox and rock shox in performance at the time. I hope they’re around to stay this time.