Forbidden unveils first downhill bike, the Supernought
Supernought fills Canadian brand's gravity gap, with adjustable dropouts and updated Trifecta suspension system
Forbidden has revealed its Supernought downhill bike, featuring 205mm of rear-suspension travel, proportional geometry and modular dropouts.
This is the first downhill bike from the Canadian brand best known for its high-pivot enduro bikes, with the Supernought receiving a familiar but updated Trifecta suspension system.
The Supernought is only available as a frame kit, priced at £3,999 / $4,299 / €4,299 / CA$5,499, which sees a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH Coil shock sitting in the frame and a selection of interchangeable dropouts.
Updated high-pivot linkage
First seen in prototype guise under Forbidden Synthesis riders Connor Fearon and Alex Storr earlier this year, the Supernought features a full carbon fibre frame and shares a similar aesthetic to the Dreadnought enduro bike. The RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH Coil rear shock is located low down in the frame.
The frame sees an updated version of Forbidden’s high-pivot Trifecta suspension system, which the brand says increases sensitivity and grip.
The V2 Trifecta Platform is said to have a DH-optimised leverage curve and braking characteristics that keep the Supernought composed under braking.
High-pivot suspension systems tend to have a rearward axle path, making them better at absorbing square-on impacts in the trail, while the idler pulley reduces pedal kickback.
Forbidden has given the bike an 18T steel idler pulley, which it says features an optimised tooth profile and an updated Race Guide chain guide to keep the chain in place.
The rear of the bike sees modular dropouts that enable you to adjust the rear centre by 0, +10mm and -10mm lengths, giving the bike the option of running 29in wheels or 29in and 27.5in mullet wheels.
The brand says this enables you to customise weight bias and handling to suit your riding style or the type of terrain you ride.
Forbidden say it has tried to use ‘sensible standards’, giving the Supernought an 83mm bottom bracket, 148mm Boost spacing and a 49mm head tube to increase adjustability and durability.
The bike also features fork bump stops and clamping cable ports on the head tube, while the down tube features frame protection and a shuttle pad.
Proportional geometry
| S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach (mm) | 420 | 443 | 466 | 488 |
| Stack (mm) | 631 | 640 | 649 | 658 |
| Horizontal top tube length (mm) | 580 | 604 | 629 | 654 |
| Seat tube length (mm) | 400 | 420 | 440 | 470 |
| Effective seat tube angle (degrees) | 75.8 | 75.8 | 75.8 | 75.8 |
| Actual seat tube angle (degrees) | 68.9 | 71 | 72.8 | 74.3 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 |
| Head tube angle (degrees) | 63.1 | 63.1 | 63.1 | 63.1 |
| Front centre (mm) | 781 | 808 | 935 | 861 |
| Rear centre (mm) | 431 | 446 | 460 | 475 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1,212 | 1,253 | 1,295 | 1,336 |
| BB drop (mm) | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| BB height (mm) | 350 | 350 | 350 | 350 |
| Standover height (mm) | 750 | 760 | 769 | 777 |
| Fork length (mm) | 601 | 601 | 601 | 601 |
| Fork offset (mm) | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 |
The Supernought comes in four sizes, spanning S1 to S4, and features Forbidden’s One Ride sizing, which sees the front-centre and rear-centre measurements grow proportionally through frame sizes.
The frame kit only comes in mullet or MX wheel sizes and sees a front-centre measurement of 835mm and a rear-centre figure of 460mm for an S3 size.
Forbidden has given the bike a 63.1-degree head angle and a reach measurement of 466mm.
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