BIKER'S EDGE

Today I’m riding the Forbidden Druid Lite, and I’m excited about this one for two reasons. First, it’s the very first Forbidden I’ve ever ridden. And if they all ride like this… well done, Forbidden. Seriously.

Second, this is my first real experience with the DJI Avinox drive unit. I’ll admit it—I’ve been a bit of a stick in the mud about the hype. I got tired of all the “yeah, but it’s not the Avinox” comments from people who’ve never actually ridden one. Just pure forum regurgitation.

I prefer to try something before I sing its praises, and now that I’ve tested it myself, here’s the truth: the hype isn’t too much. It’s about right. But I’m still annoyed at the regurgitators. You’re not off the hook.

So let’s take a closer look at what makes this bike—and this motor—actually special.

What You Should Know About the Forbidden Druid lite

Before getting into ride impressions, it’s worth grounding this bike on paper. The Druid Lite’s numbers tell a lot of the story, especially when you look at how long and forward-biased it is for a 140mm eMTB. This is a bike that prioritizes climbing position, stability, and traction first, and a lot of what I felt on trail makes way more sense once you see the geometry and core specs laid out.

I rode a size 4. I’m 6’2″.

Forbidden Druid Lite: Ride Review

Drive Unit: +2

Blistering Power With Surprisingly Low Weight

The Avinox motor is everything the hype claims it to be. It’s incredibly powerful and fast, and the overall system weight is impressive for how much power and range it delivers. It’s not perfect, but it’s easily one of the strongest drive units I’ve ridden.

You Feel the Speed Limit More Than Most Motors

There are a few quirks worth calling out. First, it hits the e-bike wall hard. You really feel that 20mph cutoff on this bike—partly because the difference between full assist and no assist is so stark, and partly because you hit that limit constantly. It’s not really a con, but you’ll be bumping into the speed governor more often than on other motors.

Extremely Cadence Sensitive Power Delivery

Cadence is another big factor. All eMTBs prefer a higher cadence, but the Avinox system is the pickiest one I’ve used. If you’re in an easy gear and spinning quickly, the motor absolutely loves you. If you’re grinding in too hard a gear, the power falls off almost completely. It’s impressive how dramatic the difference is.

Boost Mode Is Fast, But You Pay for It

As for battery life, trail mode lands right around average. Boost mode is a different story—it’s noticeably stronger than other brands’ boost settings, and you pay for it. At my 195 pounds, I averaged about five feet per watt-hour, which works out to roughly 3,000 feet per full charge. Not amazing, not terrible—right in line with other bikes when you compare boost to boost.

Real-World Climbing Speed Is Eye-Opening

For context, I took the Druid Lite up one of the steepest, fully rideable climbs in my city—a climb that usually takes me 13 to 16 minutes on other eMTBs. On the Druid Lite, I did it in nine and a half minutes. I watched the battery percentage tick away in real time, but the performance was unreal.

Climbing Performance: +2

The New Benchmark for eMTB Climbing

The Druid Lite is a standout climber — easily the best I’ve ridden. I used to give the top spot to the Giant Trance E+ Elite, but the Druid has officially taken that title. It just goes uphill better, period. Its power-to-weight ratio, proportionally long chainstays, traction, and high-pivot smoothness all play a part. This is a bike that simply wants to go straight up the damn mountain.

A Forward, Controlled Climbing Position

Geometry is a big reason why. The Druid puts you in a forward-biased climbing position with a steep seat tube angle, long chainstays, and a moderate reach. Together, those numbers shift your weight toward the front of the bike, which keeps the front wheel from lifting and gives you a ton of control on steep grades. It’s a very confidence-inspiring position for technical and steep climbs.

Rear Traction That Never Lets Go

The suspension picks up the rest of the work. The rearward axle path and high-pivot layout keep the rear tire glued to the ground. It stays calm, smooth, and predictable whether you’re seated, standing, or muscling through rough sections. The traction is incredible.

You Actively Look for Harder Climbs

When you combine all of that with the Avinox motor, you start hunting for the nastiest climbs you can find — mostly just to see if there’s anything it can’t climb.

Downhill Capability: +1

A Bigger Learning Curve Than Expected

There’s a real learning curve with this bike. At first, I really didn’t get along with it. There’s a genuine adjustment period to get comfortable and confident on it. I’ve ridden something like 18 million different bikes at this point and usually adapt quickly, but this one took longer than expected to dial in my riding position.

Too Much Bike Behind You at First

I naturally ride over the front of a bike. So on the Druid, with its long chainstays, short-ish reach, and rearward axle path, I often found I had too much bike behind me. I was so far over the front wheel that it was tucking in corners, and the back end felt too light and surfy. It was like the rear wheel wanted to be the front wheel. Once I adjusted my body position, the bike settled down and became incredibly stable and confident.

Rides Bigger Than the Travel Suggests

After adapting, the Druid felt far more capable than the numbers would suggest. It’s relatively short travel for the e-bike category, yet it makes you want to do big-bike stuff all the time. You start eyeing up nasty lines, drops, and sections you’d usually save for the big bike.

Wheelbase Growth Adds Stability at Speed

The high-pivot suspension only adds to that feeling. The rearward axle path means that as you go deeper into the travel, the bike effectively gets longer. A longer bike is a more stable bike, so in big compressions or rough landings, the chassis is actually getting better at handling the hit.

A Higher Risk of Pedal Strikes

There is one con, though. This bike is already long and low. Compress the suspension, and it gets lower. Add wheelbase growth, and that breakover point drops even more. I’ve been smacking pedals on this bike on descents, which is rare for me. Worth calling out if you’re sensitive to pedal strikes.

Suspension Performance: +1

Not as Plush as Expected

Now diving into the suspension, the Druid’s high pivot design is far more balanced than I expected. I’ve ridden high pivot bikes before, but never a Forbidden, and based on everything I’d heard, I assumed it would be mega plush off the top. It isn’t. It’s firmer than I imagined, but in a way that makes perfect sense for a 140mm bike.

Supportive and Predictable Through the Stroke

Instead of being ultra plush, the suspension is what I’d call supportive. Not harsh — just solid. Think of it like pressing into a firm memory foam pad instead of sinking into a shitty hotel pillow. There’s give, but there’s structure underneath you. The Druid moves through its travel in a controlled, predictable way. It doesn’t blow through the midstroke, and it doesn’t hang up when things get rough. It’s consistent top to bottom.

Why It Rides Bigger Than the Numbers

That support, paired with the rearward axle path, is what makes the Druid ride bigger than its numbers. When you’re pushing into compressions or hitting awkward landings, the chassis effectively lengthens and stabilizes. The bike gets more composed as things get more chaotic. It’s comfortable taking on double-black terrain without feeling sluggish on a green trail. For this bike, support is the key ingredient — and that’s what makes it work so well.

Handling: 0

Strong Positives and Real Tradeoffs

Up to this point, things have been very positive, but I’m not one to sugarcoat anything. Handling on the Druid Lite comes with some wins and losses.

Cornering Is a Highlight

Somehow, cornering ends up being a huge win. The MX configuration helps the bike tip in easily, which you definitely want with a wheelbase this long. You’re not steering this bike around corners; you’re carving. Despite the long rear end, I didn’t notice much understeer. The bike feels calm and planted in corners, even when the trail is rough. There’s a ton of traction to lean on.

Stability Comes at the Cost of Pop

The biggest loss for me is the pop or play factor. Everything that makes the Druid stable also keeps it glued to the ground. It takes strength and intention to get it airborne. You can still get it off the ground; you just have to work for it. Or go faster and let the trail do the lifting for you.

Versatility: +1

Limited Adjustability on Paper

From a build and customization standpoint, the Druid Lite doesn’t offer much. You’re locked into the MX setup, the 600Wh battery, and there are no geo flip chips or progression adjustments. Personally, I like simple bikes, but in terms of versatility, fewer options mean fewer ways to tune the ride.

Exceptionally Versatile on Trail

From a ride-quality standpoint, though, this thing is incredibly versatile. It’s genuinely happy on all terrain — climbs, fast flow, rough tech, everything. From green trails to double blacks, it always feels at home. Because of that, I had to bump the score to a +1. The on-trail versatility outweighs the lack of adjustable features.

Intangibles: 0

Too Many Controls on the Bars

Now talking intangibles, we’re pretty neutral here. And honestly, most of the quirks are due to the Avinox system rather than the bike itself. First off, there are two controllers for the motor. One on the left for power and assistance, and one on the right to navigate the screen. Pair that with a dropper lever and a wireless shifter, and there’s a lot going on. So many buttons to accidentally hit. I’d love to see a unified controller.

An Overzealous Anti-Theft System

Second is the damn anti-theft alarm. This quirk is a pro when it comes to preventing your bike from being stolen. It’s a quirk when all you’re trying to do is move the bike from one corner of the garage to another, and the alarm goes off. Now, if you pair the bike to your phone and have your phone with you, the alarm shouldn’t go off. I just hate connecting my bike to yet another app.

Forbidden Druid Lite: Comparisons

Comparisons in this category are hard because what is this bike? What box does it go in? It falls in the lightweight category, but also has full power. So I’m going to try my best to find some meaningful comparisons. 

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Who is the forbidden druid lite for?

Rider Profile: The Speed Freak

This rider wants to go fast everywhere, not just downhill. They want a motor that actually feels powerful and a bike that can put that power to the ground. The Druid Lite is perfect for them because the Avinox system is extremely fast, and the chassis has the traction and stability to keep up. It climbs faster than anything I’ve ridden, and on the way down, it feels calm and confident at speed. If you want a bike that rewards you for pushing the pace, this one is it.

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Rider Profile: The One-Bike Rider

This rider doesn’t want a garage full of bikes. They want one machine that works on every trail they ride. And the Druid Lite checks that box. It climbs extremely well, it handles flow and tech without complaining, and it rides way bigger than the travel numbers suggest. Greens to double blacks, it always feels like the right tool. If you want a single bike that just handles whatever you throw at it, this is one to look at.

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Rider Profile: The Tech Bro

This rider loves new technology, unique solutions, and bikes that feel different from everything else out there. They’re the type who actually enjoys pairing a bike to an app and checking all the settings. For them, the Avinox system will feel fresh and exciting. It’s got a powerful motor, smart theft protection, digital keys, and a high-pivot layout that stands out from the crowd. If you want a bike that feels modern and a little ahead of the curve, the Druid Lite scratches that itch.

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Final Thoughts

The Druid Lite is a killer climber with way more descending confidence than the travel suggests. There’s a learning curve, but once you dial it in, it’s fast, stable, and capable everywhere. If you want a planted, predictable eMTB that can handle almost any trail, this one deserves a serious look.

Forbidden Druid FAQ