Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX long-term review – initial report

The Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX could be framed as a downhiller's trail bike, thanks to its punchy suspension kinematics, burly frame and DH-derived features such as a high pivot with an idler and (optional) MX mullet wheels setup.

Spec-wise, it’s hard to pigeonhole, with SRAM’s cheapest electronic gears but no wireless dropper, ultra-high-spec carbon frame but no carbon wheels, and a £9,000 price tag but Select+ suspension.

Is this all a touch of genius or foolishness?

There are few bikes in the low-travel, high-aggression category, so if this is the kind of bike that appeals to you, the Druid could be a gift from the gods…

Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX frame, suspension and specifications

This is the mid-spec Druid V2, which comes with GX-level AXS (below flagship XO1 and XX) and RockShox Select Plus suspension.

I have the MX version, with a mullet wheels setup, but a full 29er is available too.

The frame is the same throughout the range, with a carbon main triangle, seatstays and chainstays.

There are two different chainstays – one for the mullet bike and another for the 29er.

The chainstay length grows with each frame-size increase, but this is because of clever pivot placement in the front triangle moulds for each size, not because the chainstays themselves are longer.

It's a great way to minimise SKUs but offer 'sized' chainstays – a neat piece of design for sure.

Visually, the most obvious feature of the frame is the high pivot with idler wheel, which is relatively rare for a trail bike, where pedalling efficiency is traditionally prized.

For nerds like me, the upside-down Horst-link/FSR suspension design is really cool, and an upgrade over the original Druid’s single-pivot suspension, aimed at improving the anti-rise characteristics of the frame and therefore its braking capabilities on rough terrain.

The 'Plus' model sees a lovely Burgtec handlebar in addition to the cool-looking own-brand stem. I’m looking forward to trying Crankbrothers' 'stiffness-tuned' front and rear wheels too.

AXS electronic shifting is a first for me on a bike I can call 'mine' and I’m curious to see how it holds up.

Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX specification

• Sizes: S1, S2, S3, S4
• Weight: 14.5kg (31.96lb), L size without pedals
• Frame: Forbidden Druid V2 MX, carbon, high-pivot, 130mm (5in) travel
• Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
• Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select+, 150mm (5.9in) travel
• Shifters: SRAM AXS GX Eagle
• Derailleurs: SRAM AXS GX Eagle
• Crankset: SRAM AXS GX Eagle aluminium cranks (1×12)
• Chainring: SRAM GX Eagle 32t
• Wheelset: Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro 29in (f) and 27.5in (r)
• Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 2.5x29in – 3C MaxxTerra – EXO 60 TPI casing (f), Maxxis Forekaster 2.4x27.5in – 3C MaxxTerra – EXO+ 120 TPI casing (r)
• Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 180mm rotors
• Bar: Renthal Fatbar M35, 800mm
• Stem: Forbidden, 35mm
• Seatpost: RockShox Reverb, 150mm dropper
• Saddle: Fizik

Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX geometry

The Druid has some very aggressive geometry, with a slack 64.5-degree head angle, super-steep 76.6-degree seat angle and a floor-scrapingly low 29mm bottom bracket drop.

Size-wise, the S3 I chose equates to a large, with a 475mm reach. The chainstays are proportionally sized, thanks to the pivot placement on the front triangles being rejigged for each size.

The S3 comes with 452mm chainstays, which sounds long. That's especially true when you consider this bike uses a high-pivot suspension design, which means the chainstay length will continue to grow further as the suspension is compressed.

Why did I choose this bike?

I wanted a trail bike, but one that would enable me to ride gnarly terrain, not just lap the local trail centre.

Boutique brand Forbidden has been creating some beautiful carbon concoctions over in Canada, and the new V2 version of the Druid, with its upside-down FSR rear-suspension linkage, raised my interest.

I rode Canyon’s Spectral 125, which is an uber-aggressive trail bike, back in 2022 and I loved it. On the right trail, it provided an unbeatable mix of pop and the ability to generate speed, plus the agressive angles of a bike with more travel.

The Forbidden Druid occupies a similar niche, but with even more descending potential. That's thanks to the high-pivot suspension layout, with its progressive linkage and RockShox shock with hydraulic bottom-out.

Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX initial setup

I set the bike up as I would any trail bike, with 25% sag on the fork and about 27% on the shock.

This equated to 98psi in the RockShox Lyrik Select+ fork and 225psi in the RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ shock.

Forbidden said that this was all wrong and I should be running between 30 and 35% sag on the rear.

Who am I to argue, so I duly let the shock down to 210psi, which equated to around 33%.

I rode the bike like this and it wasn’t working for me. It felt as though I was flapping around off the back of the bike, the chainstays felt too long and the bike lost its ‘pop’.

It provided incredible traction on wet roots in this mode, but it was still amazing on wet and slippery surfaces, even when I reverted to my preferred 27% sag.

This made the bike feel instantly more dynamic to ride, and I felt more comfortable with my riding position and the chainstay length.

Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX ride impressions

My first ride at the bike park showed everything was performing as expected. The reach was roomy on the large (aka S3) size, the brakes were powerful, and the suspension was supple and well-balanced.

I immediately noticed the long 455mm chainstays and knew this bike would take some getting used to.

I prefer short chainstays, so this bike is going to enable me to find out if that’s just force of habit, or whether it’s ingrained in my riding style.

The Druid felt stable and planted, compared to a trail bike with more traditional angles, particularly at high speed. It corners like very little else; it's planted, confidence-inspiring and very communicative on grip level.

The Druid is a fantastic bike to rail a berm on. It doesn’t feel quite as zippy and responsive as a lighter trail bike with a higher BB and steeper head angle on the flatter or slower sections, but this is to be expected.

The way it carries speed when pumping through rollers and scything through berms is incredible; it's perhaps down to a combination of the suspension’s rearward axle path, the low BB, short 165mm cranks and progressive suspension.

Leaving the bike park, the rear suspension and the geometry on the Druid V2 really started to make sense.

Hitting steep, wet, clay descents, scattered with roots, I could not believe how good this bike is.

It handles intuitively – just point and shoot. I found myself trying to go faster and faster, and brake later and later, in order to find the limit. And I’m not sure I found it.

Even with a fast-rolling Maxxis Forekaster tyre on the rear, it hooked up super-well.

The braking performance was uncanny. I have never ridden a trail bike this good on fiddly, steep, slippery tracks. Wow.

I’m excited to spend more time on this awesome machine and put it through its paces.

For example, how will it compare alongside riders who have enduro bikes with more travel and heavier weight?

Just where is the limit of this impressive machine?

Forbidden Druid V2 AXS GX RS S Plus MX upgrades

This build of the Druid comes with some great kit – a long dropper post, electronic SRAM AXS groupset and Crankbrothers wheels don’t seem to need any immediate upgrading.

However, there are a few things that tickle my fancy, such as a Cascade Components linkage kit to increase the travel and progression, but I need to spend some time on the bike first.

The tyres are great for summer riding, but the Maxxis Forekaster on the rear seemed overwhelmed by the Welsh mud when riding off-piste tracks. I plan to get something with a bit more bite, to improve cornering and stopping performance on the rear.

The SRAM Code Stealth Silver brakes work, but they seem to be a little inconsistent in the lever feel, so I want to experiment with ways of improving them.

I have some great-looking test kit on the way from Canadian company Title MTB, so I’m really excited to see if the parts are as good as they look.

The bar, stem, seat, grips and pedals will all be upgraded soon, then!

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