Forbidden Dreadnought V2 - Custom in-depth bike check & review

[@macrio5]

DUDE! It doesn’t matter which tire combo is faster I agree; BUT if you haven’t tried the intended OG full 29” setup you’re missing out big time! I’ve tried the Dread V1 in both MX and 29” and although I’m a tiny rider the full 29” setup just feels BETTER. Full 29” setup gives the perfect geo at 63.5 HA and the bikes just rips turns and feels very responsive, while also plowing on straight lines. Anyone thinking about getting a Dread try them full 29” first. I did like my MX setup though, had a Works Comp. angle-set + to correct geo a bit which landed HA at around 64 deg. But again, for racing purposes or just wanting to go faster, I liked the full 29” better.

[@goldphish606]

"oh cool dreadnaught video, its on my short list I should see this guy's thoughts...... wait is that the counterstrike guy??"

[@Sadokist]

@@goldphish606 that's me!

[@user-xq5rp9fm1p]

Awesome/perfect review and comparison to the V1, thanks!

[@marklouieadame]

Deym Kei Truck and mountain biking perfect combination

[@sprousaTM]

I bought the V1 at the end of 2021. Used the X2 Elite, that came with it and could not get it setup. I tried the RockShox SuperDeluxe Coil from 2023 with hydraulic bottom out and while that felt really plush the rebound was just amazingly slow even on the fastest setting. There is some thing in the kinematics on those one piece rear high pivot bikes with a higher up pivot point that seems to eat up all the rebound energy. Right now I have a custom tuned Rockshox Air Superdeluxe RC2T in it with a crazy fast rebound, that feels awkward on the parking lot but pretty good on track. Couple of months ago I got a Druid V2 frame as well for the mellow home trails, which was a revelation. The new suspension design feels a lot more poppy and active on compression and braking. Its a whole lot more nimble and agile as well, while still punching above its weightclass. A really awesome do-it-all bike. I am really interested in trying the v2 dread as well at some point if that got more agile, nimble as well. Even pedaling uphill feels way better on the druid now. Your review sounds pretty much like I thought the v2 dread could be. If it is like a bigger druid, that would rock. Just gotta wait for new colours. Neither to I like the green matt colour nor the yellow on the glossy one. I am hoping for a purple of some sorts ;) One if not the only downside on my DruidV2 is the HORRENDOUSLY low tire clearance with 29 inch wheels. My chainstays and seatstay are all bashed up already after 300km of riding by all the stones in the tire nobs getting pulled through. Shouldnt be a problem on the mullet though.

[@Sadokist]

@@sprousaTM I pulled a stone through on my V1 and took a huge chunk out. So far no issue or marks on V2 at all! And I agree with a lot of what you said. Since this video Matt Beers also wrote a very detailed review about this bike on pinkbike. Worth the read

[@livefreeandshred9818]

That’s the video I was waiting for someone to do. I have a dreadnought v1 and a Druid v2 and I wanted to hear the difference between v1 and v2 dread. I never rode the v1 Druid but I have to imagine the characteristics of the v1 were similar.

[@Sadokist]

Glad it could be of some help to you!

[@ryansteiger6960]

Thank you for the video. Sorry to hear about your dog😢

[@Sadokist]

Thanks! She lived a very very full life. I have no regrets when it comes to her!

[@RandyJacksonMTB]

Dope bike! Miss the v1 colorway though

[@grantwilliams2912]

Great insight.. I’m looking to switch to a Druid V2 in the near future.. It’s good to learn like the next bike up so much

[@Sadokist]

@@grantwilliams2912 Druids are beautiful!

[@alexstavik]

Beautiful bike!

[@tomdevereux5512]

Not sure if conti have officially released the enduro casing super softs yet but the dh super softs are amazingly grippy and last forever if you aren't doing lots of miles on tarmac and only trail. Bike looks great too

[@Sadokist]

I would for sure be interested in trying them. There is certainly no shortage of grip on the soft, but after 700km on it (now) they are still holding up insanely well, so the super soft might be intriguing.

[@hovey_shred6106]

SICK!

[@samajier2566]

Great video,,,

[@juffkasvennsson4609]

Can You use your regular Shimano chain ring with the cranks ?

[@Sadokist]

It's SRAM 3 bolt. NSB makes narrow wide rings for SRAM mount cranks. I use their stuff and have had no issues with it for the last few years. The only thing with the DMJ cranks is that you have to space it a little differently than most cranks, but otherwise it's been great.

[@RandyJacksonMTB]

Haha the power loss is only in your mind. The optimum crank length for output for a guy your size is 162,5 so you have less power on a 175-170 than a 160 or 165. Trust the science, not our minds

[@j-dmontreuil1437]

Have you tried the revgrips grips? Do you prefer the pnw loam grip over them?

[@Sadokist]

I have not. They seem neat in theory, but very expensive for a novelty that I may or may not like. I think the Ergon GD1 Factory are currently my new favorite (I switched them not long after filming this). They feel really nice and still have great grip in the rain.

[@MayerMTB]

​@@Sadokistmy buddy just gave me a set of rev grips. I'm sold. They help so much on chatter. Initial cost is high but after you buy them once it's only $30 to replace the grip part. Worth a try IMO.

[@finroddd]

Hi there - very good info about the bike. Please, share how the rear sus is working - I would like to have a frame that absorbs everything, to be as plush as possible.

[@Sadokist]

@@finroddd how do you mean? My settings on the shock itself or a slowmo of it in action?

[@finroddd]

@@Sadokist moreover did you manage to set the rear end in such way that it absorbs roots and rocks without giving you too much feedback.

[@Sadokist]

@@finroddd yes, the high pivot is very good for that. The coil is very very plush.

[@finroddd]

@@Sadokist thanks, man, probably this is the frame that I am looking for.

[@capitolraceworks]

How much do you weigh ? I’m trying to figure out what spring I should run at 185lbs without gear

[@Sadokist]

@@capitolraceworks I'm 175 without gear. I run the 475. I could see myself going to 500 for really big hits and as soft as 450 for racing on some faster hit stages. That's on the storia, so it may vary a bit on other coils.

[@altairearcay9108]

How tall are you? And is medium s2?

[@Sadokist]

@@altairearcay9108 s2 is medium, and like I said 5'10"! I talk about why I chose the sizing but the bike is so stable that sizing down gives you a bit more play, and since the bike grows with the rearward travel, you don't lose any stability.

[@altairearcay9108]

@ niceee! Thanks for the reply dude! Cheers🤙🏽

Amazing looking rig

[@Bee4Twenty]

That's why i don't hear your voice in CS tournaments anymore :(

[@Markozzy]

i want forbidden to make emtb eventually the forbidden are a beautiful bike

[@Sadokist]

@@Markozzy I'm not sure they will anytime soon, if I were to guess. Still a growing company with a heavy focus on high pivot gravity bikes. Hopefully once they continue to build more capital the lineup will expand!

[@Markozzy]

@@Sadokist that's definitely understandable great set of bikes

[@gweflj]

Give it a year.

[@Spindatt]

you need to ride the red bike

[@Sadokist]

@@Spindatt into it

[@livefreeandshred9818]

Did not expect to see you in the comments…

[@zwingler]

I remember forbidden being insanely rude to vital and ben cathro for filming their booth. Since then i cant enthusiastically look at a forbidden bike anymore. They overvalue their engineering.

[@Sadokist]

@@zwingler I recall that was because they were both trying to film shots of their prototype, which is generally a bit rude, as well. It's one thing to film spy shots of it in the wild/on track, it's another all together to walk over and point a camera straight at it while it's in the paddock.

[@gweflj]

Where was this? FYI the Forbidden staff don’t run the race team.