Forbidden has unveiled the Puritan and the Heathen, two titanium-framed hardtails with different purposes.
The mountain bikes are the first from the brand not to feature the iconic idler and high-pivot layout, as well as its first bikes made from metal rather than carbon.
While the Heathen fits the trail hardtail category, the Puritan is harder to box, with Forbidden calling it an ATB – all-terrain bike.
The bikes are a part of a limited run, with Forbidden saying they are “designed to be ridden hard and kept for a lifetime”.
The brand’s ONERIDE proportional sizing is carried over, meaning ride feel, handling characteristics and weight distribution should remain consistent across all frame sizes.
All-terrain bike
Forbidden says the Puritan is built for long hauls and takes 700c wheels with clearance for 50mm tyres – not dissimilar to modern gravel bikes.
While you can run it with a drop bar, the brand says it is purpose-built to run a flat bar and a 60mm stem.
Running a drop bar is said to stretch out the rider triangle, which the brand is unapologetic about.
It has accessory mounts on the top tube and down tube for bikepacking duties, and room for two 750ml+ bottles for long days in the saddle.
There’s external cable routing, making maintenance easy, and a 73mm threaded bottom bracket, which should help with longevity compared to press-fit options.
The Puritan comes in fours sizes, ranging from S1 to S4, and is priced at £3,299 / $4,199 / €3,999 / CAD$4,599 for the frame kit.
This includes a 50mm RockShox Rudy XL fork and Cane Creek headset.
Super-slack hardtail
The Heathen is an aggressive hardtail designed around a 130mm fork, which has a slack 64-degree head angle.
Forbidden says it has designed it to be cherished or neglected, alluding to its durability and strong looks.
Like the Puritan, it comes in four sizes, with the smaller S1 and S2 featuring an MX-wheel setup, while the S3 and S4 are full-29in.
The brand acknowledges that the slack head angle might raise eyebrows for a short-travel bike, saying, “It’s deliberate".
“A shorter fork keeps the geometry consistent under compression. Meaning the Heathen remains composed when it matters most," Forbidden explains.
The bike also features external cable routing and a 73mm threaded bottom bracket, but is limited to one 750ml+ bottle.
There are accessory mounts under the top tube for keeping tools and essentials.
The Heathen is priced at £2,599 / $3,399 / €3,199 / CAD$3,599.
