Been waiting a good few months for this to come in, and finally got it yesterday. Ordered before I even knew about the new motors, and Bird sorted it all out.
Forbidden Druid E Tier 2 8n size S3 frame only, so it has the evil M2S motor, built up with a few parts off my old KSL plus a few new ones.
I thought it would ride a bit like the HB916 as that's also a high(ish) pivot with an idler, but it's better IMO. Seems to be plush like a long travel bike, but pops off stuff like a short travel bike.
800Wh battery (KSL was 320Wh) so "only" 1300W & 130Nm (KSL 250W & 35Nm). One ride so far, and mostly used auto set to 900w, 90Nm but will likey turn that down. Turbo and boost are daft, but ultimately not that useful as all you do is get to 15.5mph faster.
That looks amazing, I can't wait to try one of these.
Of all the Avinox bikes this is the one I want. Or the Dreadnought.
I'll have to start selling everything I own to get one though. Anyone need a human powered Druid V2?
Somewhere near, if not right at the top of my list when I replace the Levo
Not so much of an issue in summer, but I ditched riding clipped in on my ebikes. I'm fine riding either clipped or flats on my bikes, but I found out far too often the torque of an ebike would cause a loss of traction on say techy rooty climbs and I'd be down like a sack of 💩 before I could react
Your bogey wants the graffiti wiped off it.
Very nice eeb that. 👌
That OneUp top cap colour appears to have worked amazingly well.
If anyone is thinking of getting one, get it ordered asap as the waiting lists are silly. Originally, I was going to get one from Biketreks, but then heard Bird were going to be a dealer and could do frame only. Still took 6 months for that.
Out again on it tonight after work,, and hopefully the rain won't have been too bad.
My bogies get picked, rolled and flicked, not graffiti'd. I'm not that arty.
Top cap is pure luck - Stif closing sale special, as were the Fillmore valves, which are better than Presta. Not sure whether XM481 can take being drilled for Schrader valves.
I just can't get on with flats. Tried a few years ago and did not like it. I don't care if clipless get you onto bad habits. I've been using them since 1991 and I'm too old to change now.
I'm glad the waiting lists are ridiculous.
It means I can hang on to my perfectly good meat powered bikes for a while longer.
They are a great bike, been really impressed with the Core we have - not such a fan of the ‘26 bikes as they have basically turned them into Lite builds, with big batteries but completely understand why, given the Dreadnought now.
Looking forward to my Dreadnought frame arriving this week so I can swap everything off the Unno we’ve long term borrowed onto it.
There are a few stock bikes in various sizes floating about - its mostly the T1 & T2 bikes however (Druid & Dreadnoughts)
Delightful, get that on readers rides.
Very nice!
”I've been using them since 1991 and I'm too old to change now.”
I had no idea they’d been around that long - I was using toe cages and straps in 1991!
I was also clips and straps until I got Shimano DX SPD and Carratti copies of Alpinestars shoes in Aug 91. Would not want to go back to clips and straps.
Out of interest how much is the frame only option? Doesn't seem to be up on the Bird website. Could be an interesting option as I could swap all my current kit on to it.
I'm still waiting for that little detail... 🫣
I didn't know there was a frameset option. Can't see it listed anywhere.
That would make it much easier to part with my Airdrop. Even the rear shock and seatpost are the same size.
EDIT: I am mistaken. I'd need a shock. But everything else would be a straight swap. It's like I can't afford not to buy one.
"Would not want to go back to clips and straps."
I was still on them in 1996 but MTBing for me back then was much more like gravel riding around the roads and bridleways of Northants. When I returned to MTBing in 2009 I went straight to flats but I remember almost everyone else being on clipless.
I used to use these in the '90's on my MTB - put your foot in on an angle and as you straighten it up, the strap pulls tight
"I used to use these in the '90's on my MTB - put your foot in on an angle and as you straighten it up, the strap pulls tight"
Someone needs to put a pair of these on a high pivot carbon fibre ebike!
