There’s simply no denying the Forbidden’s straight-line speed

rides like one too. In fact, most of the bikes we’ve ridden recently feel small when compared to the Forbidden, so maybe this size L outlier with its 463mm chainstay length at sag isn’t the best benchmark. Still, there’s simply no denying the Forbidden’s straight-line speed. Yes, the GT is more playful, but just by judging braking points and how easy it is to double up small gaps and rocks, the Dreadnought is clearly faster.

What surprised us most though, was how light the Dreadnought can feel. It’s easier to preload and pick up than the shorter-travel Druid, so while it feels super-safe at speed, it’s not simply a plough. Part of that agility could be due to the more progressive nature of the suspension, as the final 5mm of stroke on the Fox Float X2 shock is pretty hard to reach. Still, the bike seems to have a pretty wide range of sag settings where the suspension works well, so you can use the sag to tweak the geometry and suspension feel. Contrast that with the GT, where the suspension sag has to be accurate to get the most from the design.

Ultimately the Forbidden Dreadnought is easier to set up and easier to ride fast. So whether mountain biking is your hobby or your job, that’s got to be a good thing, right?

63.2° 75.9° 76.3° 343mm 448mm 835mm 1,283mm

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