Whispers prove valid: Forbidden's latest innovation, the "e-Druid", nabs DJI Avinox motor, boasts 150mm travel, adopts high pivot idler design and packs an 800Wh battery.
It's finally here, the hotly anticipated release of Forbidden's new e-bike duo, the Druid CorE and LitE, both sharing the sought-after DJI Avinox electric motor. Let's face it, everyone's buzzing about this motor, and it's no surprise that Forbidden's got their hands on it before most competitors.
While it's been rumored for months that Forbidden would be the first brand to integrate the DJI Avinox, the officially unveiled models were actually the Druid bikes, not the Dreadnought as initially speculated.
Joining the e-bike ranks alongside Amflow and the Unno Mith, the CorE and LitE stand out with their distinct offerings.
The heavy-hitting CorE, tailored for enduro riders, has a long and burlier build, while the LitE caters to all-mountain enthusiasts with lighter components and a smaller battery. Interestingly, the LitE offers just 140mm travel, while the CorE boasts 150mm, giving the latter a competitive edge against the new Turbo Levo Gen 4.
The two Forbidden models are no lightweights either, tipping the scales at 22.6kg for the CorE and 20.8kg for the LitE. Comparatively, the Amflow PL Carbon Pro weighed 20.6kg, but with a smaller battery capacity and no high pivot suspension design.
Although the Amflow PL Carbon Pro is slightly lighter, the Forbidden bikes' unique Trifecta high pivot suspension design no doubt accounts for the weight difference.
Jumping straight to it, the DJI Avinox motor powers both models, replete with its intuitive touch screen display and superior app. The Avinox motor boasts 105Nm continuous torque (120Nm with boost), and with an impressive 850W peak power (1,000W on boost for 30 seconds), making it a force to be reckoned with in the e-bike scene. Even the new Specialized Turbo Levo Gen 4 can't match that power output.
Forbidden claims they picked the DJI motor not just for its sheer power but also for its refined control and delivery. The hardware and software of the Avinox motor allow for finesse in each pedal stroke, ensuring optimum traction and making for a highly versatile, mountain-climbing beast.
When it comes to geometry, the Forbidden bikes are marketed as proportionally sized e-bikes, with each size featuring different chainstay lengths to deliver consistent performance. Forbidden researchers believe this customization benefits riders of all sizes by ensuring that smaller riders do not feel the bike is too stiff, and larger riders do not encounter undue flex.
The LitE model flaunts a slacker head angle, smaller 456mm chainstays, and a 336mm bottom bracket height on the S3 size, making it suitable for all-mountain adventures. In contrast, the CorE offers a taller front end and a more DH-oriented setup, complete with a slack 64° head angle and wider 467mm reach.
One thing that sets the Druid CorE and LitE apart from other high-pivot bikes in the market is the shorter reach, which Forbidden claims has been achieved while maintaining a spacious cockpit via a high stack height.
The new Forbidden bikes represent a daring move, merging cutting-edge technology with their renowned Trifecta suspension design to offer a genuinely unparalleled riding experience. Stay tuned for further details on specs and pricing!
The new Forbidden electric bikes, Druid CorE and LitE, are not only integrating the widely acclaimed DJI Avinox electric motor but also competing with high-end electric vehicles like the Turbo Levo Gen 4, staking their claim in a lifestyle that merges technology, cars, and gadgets, especially electric-vehicles. In the realm of unique features, the Forbidden models boast a Trifecta high pivot suspension design, distinguishing them from other electric gadgets in the market, setting a new standard for all-mountain e-biking experiences.
