Hmm. The V1 Druid was on the prettier side of bikes I've ever seen. The high single pivot gave it such a sleek silhouette which the new linkage and rear end has lost... The V2 reminds me a bit of some of GT's iterations of i-drive. Not having touched one, the finish looks great, but some of the magic (or, using Forbidden's words, the Witchcraft) is gone.
I'm sure it's a good update. I know quite a few local riders whose main complaint is that the midstroke wasn't there with the Druid, and the increased-over-the-board curve of the new bike is probably a big upgrade in that department, especially for a 130mm bike that is meant to be charged hard AF. All the upgrades suggest it's a better bike to ride and own.
Having spent a lot of time on the current gen Range (also with upside-down linkage high pivot craziness) and Mr. Pemberton's first foray into the high pivot game, the Aurum HSP, I can imagine the suspension action under braking is indeed much improved on the Druid V2. However, I think the Aurum taught me to be a better rider in a short time frame when spending years on more forgiving bikes never did (the Aurum is a bit like an old-timey Catholic school teacher who will slap your wrists with the ruler when you screw up: "what are you doing dragging the brakes here?? Drop those heels and commit to braking or let the bike ride, one or the other - IDIOT!"). For the record, I still have the Aurum and don't have the Range, despite treating both as bike park bikes.
The Druid V1 would absolutely make it into my personal bike museum. I guess there's no possible iteration of the V2 that would get that honour, because the V1 is more important: with a few other examples, it showed the world this modern high pivot thing can work on bikes that aren't meant to have a chairlift, truck, or motor help them get to the top.
May 9, 2023, 9:46 a.m. - Lu Kz
Hmm. The V1 Druid was on the prettier side of bikes I've ever seen. The high single pivot gave it such a sleek silhouette which the new linkage and rear end has lost... The V2 reminds me a bit of some of GT's iterations of i-drive. Not having touched one, the finish looks great, but some of the magic (or, using Forbidden's words, the Witchcraft) is gone. I'm sure it's a good update. I know quite a few local riders whose main complaint is that the midstroke wasn't there with the Druid, and the increased-over-the-board curve of the new bike is probably a big upgrade in that department, especially for a 130mm bike that is meant to be charged hard AF. All the upgrades suggest it's a better bike to ride and own. Having spent a lot of time on the current gen Range (also with upside-down linkage high pivot craziness) and Mr. Pemberton's first foray into the high pivot game, the Aurum HSP, I can imagine the suspension action under braking is indeed much improved on the Druid V2. However, I think the Aurum taught me to be a better rider in a short time frame when spending years on more forgiving bikes never did (the Aurum is a bit like an old-timey Catholic school teacher who will slap your wrists with the ruler when you screw up: "what are you doing dragging the brakes here?? Drop those heels and commit to braking or let the bike ride, one or the other - IDIOT!"). For the record, I still have the Aurum and don't have the Range, despite treating both as bike park bikes. The Druid V1 would absolutely make it into my personal bike museum. I guess there's no possible iteration of the V2 that would get that honour, because the V1 is more important: with a few other examples, it showed the world this modern high pivot thing can work on bikes that aren't meant to have a chairlift, truck, or motor help them get to the top.