First Look | Forbidden goes electric with the launch of the Druid E

The launch of DJI’s Avinox M1 drive-unit was by far the most talked-about e-MTB motor in 2024, but it was only available on the Amflow PL Carbon.

We fell in love with the ride characteristics of the Amflow and the ridiculous power of the Avinox M1. But, the question that remained on everyone’s lips was who would be next to launch a bike based around the punchy DJI drive unit. Canadian-based high-pivot enthusiasts Forbidden couldn’t resist the allure of the DJI’s 120Nm of torque and 1,000W of peak power, and have unveiled what could be the most interesting e-MTB of 2025, the Druid E.

Give us a minute while we wipe the drool off our desks here at Flow HQ.

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An overview of the Forbidden Druid E

The original Forbidden Druid was the first bike the brand launched back in 2019, and it made shockwaves through the industry with how capable it was with such small travel numbers. Forbidden have since updated the Druid to its second iteration, incorporating an updated four-bar, high-pivot suspension platform, however it maintains the same 130mm rear travel as the original.

Five years later, Forbidden have unveiled the Druid E, an electrified version of the popular Druid platform, but they haven’t just bolted the motor in and called it a day.

There are two variants of the Druid E, dubbed the LitE and the CorE. Both platforms share the DJI Avinox M1 motor and roll on a mixed-wheel platform.

The Druid LitE sports 140mm of rear wheel travel, paired with a 150mm fork up front, and houses a 600Wh battery in the downtube.

On the flip side, the CorE gets a small bump in travel to 150mm out back and is paired with a 160mm fork and an 800Wh battery. Both models sport a carbon fibre frame, including the rocker link that drives the shock. Forbidden hasn’t specified whether the LitE and the CorE share the same frame.

One of the key design criteria the Druid E was formed around was maximising seatpost insertion. Positioning the shock vertically, as opposed to horizontally like on the brand’s Druid and Dreadnaught platforms, allows for a whopping 180mm dropper to be used on the smallest frame size. There is room within the front triangle for a full-size drink bottle, along with accessory mounts on the underside of the top tube.

The design team at Forbidden were clearly pretty set on the geometry, hence there are no flip-chips or geometry adjustments for fine-tuning to a rider’s liking.

Other details include  ZS44/56 headset, 31.6mm seat post diameter, Boost 148x12mm rear axle spacing and a UDH hanger. There is a generous chain guard on the chainstay along with moulded armouring on the downtube and a motor cover. The 18t idler pulley spins on two solid lube Enduro bearings, and is guarded by a moulded idler guide that’s mounted to the frame.

Forbidden Druid LitE Key Details

Forbidden Druid CorE Key Details

 

After our extremely positive experience with the DJI Avinox M1 on the Amflow PL Carbon, we were waiting on the edge of our seats as to what bike it would land in next. It turns out they’ve been working on some pedal-assisted high pivot witchcraft over on Vancouver Island.

DJI Avinox M1 Motor

Despite its compact size, this drive unit tips the scales at just 2.58kg (confirmed), yet it delivers an impressive 105Nm of torque and peaks at 850W of power. This results in a significantly higher power-to-weight ratio compared to the latest Shimano EP801 and Bosch Performance Line CX motors.

Riders can choose from four main assist modes: Eco, Trail, Turbo, and Auto. The Auto mode is adaptive, relying on a range of sensors to adjust power output dynamically based on terrain and rider input and operates similarly to Bosch’s eMTB mode.

Also notable is the eye-catching ‘Boost’ mode, which temporarily increases torque to 120Nm and power output to 1,000W for up to 30 seconds. It’s a handy feature for powering over steep crux features, after which the system reverts to the previously selected mode.

On the top tube, we have a 2-inch OLED full-colour touchscreen control display, along with wireless handlebar controls and an intuitive mobile phone app.

The DJI Avinox head unit is neatly integrated into the top tube, with controls on either side of the handlebars.

Forbidden Druid E Suspension

The special sauce behind the popularity of Forbidden bikes is the high-pivot suspension platform, delivering a rearward axle path. In developing the Druid E, Forbidden further refined the idler position, axle path and kinematics. This results in an axle path that has almost 19mm of horizontal movement throughout the Druid CorE’s 150mm of travel.

Forbidden Druid E Geometry & Sizing

Both the Druid LitE and Druid CorE will be available in four different sizes, ranging from S1 to S4. Geometry does vary slightly between the LitE and the CorE, with the burly CorE model receiving slightly slacker numbers thanks to the longer travel 160mm fork. Head angles remain consistent across all sizes, with the LitE receiving a 64.6° head angle, and the Core slackening out to 64°.

Forbidden has been singing the song of proportional sizing for quite some time, and claims the Druid E is the world’s first truly proportionally sized e-MTB on the market. According to Forbidden, this relates to the relationship between frame reach and rear center length, and having these closer to one another creates a well-balanced bike.

The Druid E also sports a high stack, along with a slightly shorter reach and shorter cranks, with the aim of lifting the body position. Forbidden claims that this body position squares off your stance, placing the rider in a more natural-feeling upright position to attack and maneuver the bike. For a size S3, being comparable to a Large in other brands, the Druid CorE sports a 467mm reach paired with a 662mm stack height, and a 456mm rear centre length.

The smaller Druid LitE has 140mm of rear wheel travel and 150mm fork, and is available in four sizes
The chunked-up Druid CorE comes in the same four sizes, all with 150mm of rear wheel travel and a 160mm fork

Forbidden Druid E Price & Specs

Both the Druid LitE and CorE will be available in three different build kits, consisting entirely of SRAM drivetrains and brakes, Rockshox suspension, and Crankbrothers wheels. The two differences between the LitE and CorE build kits are the suspension and battery size, with the LitE receiving a Lyrik/Super Deluxe combination and a 600Wh battery, and the CorE receiving a ZEB/Vivid treatment and an 800Wh battery.

For the Druid LitE, pricing starts at $14,699.95 AUD for Build 3, and jumps to $15,999.95 AUD and $19,599.95 AUD for Build 2 and 1, respectively. As for the CorE, being a slightly burlier build, pricing starts at $15,499.95 AUD for Build 3, and soaring to $16,899.95 AUD and $20,299.95 AUD for Builds 2 and 1, respectively. There is no word at the moment if the Druid E will be available as a frameset only. Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of the builds and pricing.

It goes without saying, but those are some sky-high price tags. Looking around the room and comparing against some of the latest e-MTB’s to hit the market, the Druid CorE sits over $2,000 AUD more expensive than the Santa Cruz Vala, and a whopping $6,300 AUD more than the Amflow PL Carbon Pro for a similar build kit.

Forbidden Druid LitE Build 1
Forbidden Druid LitE Build 1

Forbidden Druid LitE Build 1

Forbidden Druid LitE Build 2

Forbidden Druid LitE Build 3

 

Forbidden Druid CorE Build 1

Forbidden Druid CorE Build 2

Forbidden Druid CorE Build 3

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