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Forbidden Bike Co Druid

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#5,362 ·
So a couple of quick questions...

For those of you that built your DV2s, did you use housing damper | foam cable tubing for the brake (and gear) cables in the top tube? I am almost certain the cables are responsible for the noise I'm experiencing in my frame. The dropper post does have housing damper in the down tube.

Unfortunately, due to how tight space and access is in the top tube. I see no easy fix apart from removing the cables fully. So any suggestions appreciated.

Secondly, the bike has now clocked up 360Kms. For those DV2 owners with considerable more riding under the wheels, is there any maintenance I need to consider? Linkages, etc.

Thanks
 
#5,365 ·
Rode a trail today that was outside the norm for me and had an interesting experience. Most of my local trails descend fairly steeply so there’s a lot of heavy breaking. Today’s ride was a lot of mellower, undulating slopes and I found myself pumping the bike and gaining as much or more speed as the rest of my riding crew. It made me think about others complaining that a high pivot bike won’t gain as much speed when pumping since the rear end lengthens and there’s less to push against etc but I think the opposite is true. On a traditional bike when you pump and compress the rear end it will shorten thereby reducing the force transmitted to any downslope you’d be pumping against.
Anyway to the extent that makes sense to anyone, have you shared the same or similar experience? Maybe it’s the same old trope about HP bikes being hard to wheelie, etc.
 
#5,366 ·
Dingleberrry said:
Rode a trail today that was outside the norm for me and had an interesting experience. Most of my local trails descend fairly steeply so there’s a lot of heavy breaking. Today’s ride was a lot of mellower, undulating slopes and I found myself pumping the bike and gaining as much or more speed as the rest of my riding crew. It made me think about others complaining that a high pivot bike won’t gain as much speed when pumping since the rear end lengthens and there’s less to push against etc but I think the opposite is true. On a traditional bike when you pump and compress the rear end it will shorten thereby reducing the force transmitted to any downslope you’d be pumping against.
Anyway to the extent that makes sense to anyone, have you shared the same or similar experience? Maybe it’s the same old trope about HP bikes being hard to wheelie, etc.
Click to expand...
A mate of mine demo’ed a Druid the other day and said the exact same thing after three rides on familiar trails.
 
#5,367 ·
Forbidden Druid v2 - Push Elevensix

I installed and have ridden 3x.

Shock feels great. Parking lot feel is unremarkable. Trail wakes it up. This weekend I rode at Jake’s Rocks in Pennsylvania. It’s a mixture of heavy XC with lighter enduro to a touch of DH. No real large drops or boosts but a significant amount of pedaling and a lot of rock ups and downs and opportunities for speed.

This may be the perfect bike for these trails. So nimble. I am shocked how well this bike pedals and how poppy it is. It had me laughing the whole time. Just plain and simple fun. Never hit the limits of the bike. It was fast up and down when needed, composed through the tech. Not sure how a bike pedals so well but then is so plush and composed through rough stuff.

I have a Telum Shock in route to compare. I can’t imagine anything better than the push but maybe it will be just a different approach.

Before buying the Elevensix I asked around and no one has any real in-depth experience in the Druid v2. Someone said their limited time was somewhat disappointing. Not me. It’s fantastic.
 
#5,368 ·
Dingleberrry said:
Rode a trail today that was outside the norm for me and had an interesting experience. Most of my local trails descend fairly steeply so there’s a lot of heavy breaking. Today’s ride was a lot of mellower, undulating slopes and I found myself pumping the bike and gaining as much or more speed as the rest of my riding crew. It made me think about others complaining that a high pivot bike won’t gain as much speed when pumping since the rear end lengthens and there’s less to push against etc but I think the opposite is true. On a traditional bike when you pump and compress the rear end it will shorten thereby reducing the force transmitted to any downslope you’d be pumping against.
Anyway to the extent that makes sense to anyone, have you shared the same or similar experience? Maybe it’s the same old trope about HP bikes being hard to wheelie, etc.
Click to expand...
The bike definitely pumps well, and accelerates as you described. The timing is a bit different than other bikes but I think it has more to do with the long CS.
 
#5,371 ·
Some say yes. It’s been in the forums. What drivetrain are you running? I have SRAM transmission with 55mm and it’s close but doesn’t rub.
 
#5,376 ·
I have been pretty happy with the capability of the Druid in most situations but have felt undergunned in a couple of situations - bike park chunk and a local trail that has a million square edge hits. I know the Druid isn't the Dreadnought and it's probably unfair to be critical of a 130mm bike not performing well in super chunky situations but it did make me wonder how the bike would perform with a beefier shock. I know people have had positive responses to their shock upgrades. I'm debating getting a Vivid and am wondering, would you guys go coil or air? How much difference is a beefier shock actually going to make? I feel like I'm fighting the higher recommended sag for the Druid and losing a little bit of mid stroke support on the super deluxe. It looks like the Forbidden athletes run Vivid airs on their Druids which is making me wonder..
 
#5,377 · (Edited)
JCordell said:
I have been pretty happy with the capability of the Druid in most situations but have felt undergunned in a couple of situations - bike park chunk and a local trail that has a million square edge hits. I know the Druid isn't the Dreadnought and it's probably unfair to be critical of a 130mm bike not performing well in super chunky situations but it did make me wonder how the bike would perform with a beefier shock. I know people have had positive responses to their shock upgrades. I'm debating getting a Vivid and am wondering, would you guys go coil or air? How much difference is a beefier shock actually going to make? I feel like I'm fighting the higher recommended sag for the Druid and losing a little bit of mid stroke support on the super deluxe. It looks like the Forbidden athletes run Vivid airs on their Druids which is making me wonder..
Click to expand...
I have a vivid coil with a cascade link…. Absolutely love it! I feel like I can run lower sag (30%) and still get the same small bump as I could with the super deluxe at closer to 35%, but with the coil at 30% I feel likes it’s livelier than the super deluxe at 35%……sorta feels like I can have my cake and eat it too, maybe it’s the extra progression from the cascade link but I’m pulling for doubles and side hits that I used to be scared of🤷‍♂️ If you do go coil you will certainly want sort of bottom out resistance , I’m finding the hbo to be fantastic on the vivid coil!
160 lyrik and vivid coil is a pretty stellar setup mini enduro bike, it’s rare that it not enough bike for these rough Tahoe trails, but I have found its limit. In the end of the day it’s still a 135mm( with link) bike. What I love about my Druid is its playful snd you can change lines on a dime , pop, pump, and jib, but still plow when needed !
I can’t say I’m not drooling over a dreadnaught though

with that said I’d love to try a vivid air but they are very hard to find in the proper 50mm stroke
 
#5,378 ·
JCordell said:
I have been pretty happy with the capability of the Druid in most situations but have felt undergunned in a couple of situations - bike park chunk and a local trail that has a million square edge hits. I know the Druid isn't the Dreadnought and it's probably unfair to be critical of a 130mm bike not performing well in super chunky situations but it did make me wonder how the bike would perform with a beefier shock. I know people have had positive responses to their shock upgrades. I'm debating getting a Vivid and am wondering, would you guys go coil or air? How much difference is a beefier shock actually going to make? I feel like I'm fighting the higher recommended sag for the Druid and losing a little bit of mid stroke support on the super deluxe. It looks like the Forbidden athletes run Vivid airs on their Druids which is making me wonder..
Click to expand...
$1500 on shock/link could easily be the deal breaking factor to swap to another frame for me. There's no shortage of amazing trail bikes these days. :whistle:
 
#5,379 ·
PhoS said:
$1500 on shock/link could easily be the deal breaking factor to swap to another frame for me. There's no shortage of amazing trail bikes these days. :whistle:
Click to expand...
I have a Superdeluxe Coil Ultimate 2023 with LNL tune... it makes a crazy difference to the stock Superdeluxe Air ultimate to me. More active, more plush but still very supportive. I am 165lbs, 400lbs spring. Switched back and forth and can't understand why they spec the air version... can't judge the vivid of course.
If you can, try it. Should be cheaper than Vivid...
 
#5,380 ·
ThrillswithPhil said:
I have a Superdeluxe Coil Ultimate 2023 with LNL tune... it makes a crazy difference to the stock Superdeluxe Air ultimate to me. More active, more plush but still very supportive. I am 165lbs, 400lbs spring. Switched back and forth and can't understand why they spec the air version... can't judge the vivid of course.
If you can, try it. Should be cheaper than Vivid...
Click to expand...
Stupid me, I sold my stock superdeluxe before I built the bike and I have a floatx on there now. I do think the floatx holds the bike back a bit, mostly in the small bump dept. The superdeluxe is a better shock. My dream setup at the moment would be to get the cascade link + a TTX2 ohlins. I think this would be 95% to a coil without the weight. I will also 100% be bumping up to 160mm up front. I want a slacker head angle, especially after putting a ton of time on my enduro rig this season.
 
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Dingleberrry
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