We headed out to Germany recently to get the low down on Focus Bike’s 2020 roster, and there was plenty to choose from. So, here's our pick of the bunch from a range that included town bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes and a wide range of electric bicycles.
- These are the best electric bikes of 2019
- Here's why the Focus Paralane 8.9 GC is one of our favourite road bikes
- Best road bikes under £1,000 for 2019
2020 Focus Raven 8.8
- £2,799 / €2,999 (Germany) / €3,099 (France, Spain, Benelux)
The Raven hardtail frameset remains one of the most advanced carbon chassis around, with a flyweight claimed weight of 885g in an unspecified size.
The most interesting bike in this range is this bold red Raven 8.8, which comes equipped with a RockShox SID Select 100mm travel fork up front and Shimano XT M8100 1x12 gearing with matching brakes.
Wheels come courtesy of Mavic’s Crossmax with BBB providing a smattering of lightweight finishing kit.
Focus claims a complete bike weight of 10.75kg.
Focus Jam 6.7 Seven
- Price: £1,999 / €2,199 (Germany) / €2,299 (France, Spain, Benelux)
Focus describes the Jam as its bike for those who like to earn their downhills and aren't afraid of a meaty climb.
The aluminium frame uses Focus’s F.O.L.D. Suspension design, which is claimed to balance sensitivity while being progressive enough to not bottom out when being put through the wringer.
We like the look of the 6.7, and especially the price — it looks to be a very well-equipped sub-£2k machine.
The frame has 150mm of travel at the rear controlled by a RockShox Monarch RT that's matched up front with a RockShox Revelation RC fork. The drivetrain is SRAM’s 12-speed NX Eagle, and braking comes courtesy of Magura’s MT5s.
It runs on a combination of 27.5 Maxxis High Roller II and Minion DHR II tyres wrapped over Race Face rims on Novatec hubs. The 6.7 is also available as a 29er (the 6.7 Nine).
Focus claims 15kg for a complete bike.
Focus Izalco Max Disc 9.7 AXS
- Price: £5,699 / €6,199 (Germany) / €6,199 (France, Spain, Benelux)
The Izalco Max launched over a year ago now, and with similar bikes from bigger manufacturers being launched this year, it seems the Max has had an influence.
Any bike with as much integration as the Max is always going to look good with one of SRAM’s wireless groupsets, and the £5,699 Max with Force eTap AXS is a great looking machine.
With its understated palette and graphics and, of course, tan wall tyres, we reckon it’s one of the best looking of the new breed of lightweight race bikes.
The sub-kilo frame is matched with DT Swiss ARC 1450 Dicut carbon wheels running Vittoria Corsa G tyres, a SRAM Force AXS group and a dedicated stem that internally routes the disc brake hoses and holds a carbon Easton EC90 aero bar.
At the back, a dedicated D-shaped carbon post is topped with ProLogo’s short Dimension saddle.
Focus claims 7.85kg for the 9.7 AXS.
Focus Paralane² 6.8 GC
- Price: £3,899 / €4,199 (Germany) / €4,299 (France, Spain, Benelux)
The Paralane² was the first e-road bike that proved that e-assistance needn’t be heavy, bulky or ugly.
The Fazua system is both light (a little over 3kg) and comes in a small package, so the Paralane doesn’t look too dissimilar from a standard bike.
Focus has also introduced road-Boost to the rear to ensure ideal chain line with the wider (motorised) bottom bracket shell.
Since we first tried out the Paralane², we always thought it had the ability to go beyond the road, with generous tyre clearances giving it gravel potential. Well, it seems Focus has been thinking the same and, this year, there are now a smattering of GC models in both carbon and alloy (the 6.8 is the alloy version), which come equipped with grip-laden gravel tyres and a more off-road outlook.
The bike runs Fazua’s Evation 60Nm/250w motor system with a 250w/h battery, and gearing from Shimano’s new GRX 400 group with 46/34, 11-34 gearing.
The Alex Boondocks wheels are shod with Vittoria’s gravel-specific Terrero Zero TLR 33c tyres.
Focus claims 15.65kg for the alloy 6.8 GC. The more expensive carbon 9.6 GC has a claimed weight of 14.15kg.
Focus Paralane² 6.6 Commute
- Price: £3,399 / €3,599 (Germany) / €3,799 (France, Spain, Benelux)
The Paralane² range has also expanded to include this new commuter special. It uses the same alloy frame as the 6.8 but adds in full mudguards and a flat bar cockpit, a Shimano 105 drivetrain (46/34, 11-34) with Shimano RS700 flat bar shifters and RS405 brakes.
The Alex Boondock wheels are shod with fat commuter-friendly Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 32c tyres and Focus claims an all-up weight of 15.95kg.
Focus Thron² 6.9
- Price: £4,499 / €4,699 (Germany) / €4,899 (France, Spain, Benelux)
The Thron² is Focus’s e-assisted trail machine and uses its aluminium F.O.L.D. suspension frame, with 130mm of travel controlled by a Fox Float DPS damper that’s paired with a Fox Float 34 Rhythm fork.
Power assist is delivered by Bosch’s new Performance CX Gen 4 motor, which claims figures of 75Nm/250w and with a Bosch Powertube battery a 625wh capacity. The system is controlled by Bosch’s smart Kiox head unit, with the remote control located next to the grip.
The bike is smartly equipped with Shimano XT M8100 12-speed, a KS E30i dropper post and DT Swiss H1900 wheels shod with 2.6-inch Maxxis Rekon 3C Exo TR tyres.
Focus claims an all-up weight of 23.3kg for the 6.9.
Focus Thron² 6.8 EQP
- Price: £4,099 / €4,299 (Germany) / €4,499 (France, Spain, Benelux)
It’s quite a strange thing to see a full-on full-suss trail bike like the Thron² available in what can only be called ‘commute’ spec. But after talking with the team at Focus it seems that this is a big area of growth for the brand in mainland Europe.
We’re not convinced it’ll catch on in the UK, but if you ever feel the need for 130mm of travel when you're riding to work then Focus has the solution.
The 6.8 EQP shares the same chassis and powertrain as the trail-ready machines — so you still get the big 625wh powerpack and Bosch’s Gen 4 CX motor with its 75Nm/250w of power that's controlled by the Purion head unit mounted at the grip.
Here, though, it's complemented by full mudguards from Tubus and a tubular alloy rear rack (with a 16kg max load). It also gets integrated lights with a Supernova E3 Mini 2 up front and a Hermans H-Trace micro at the rear.
The rear suspension is controlled by Suntour's EDGE LOR unit and up front, Suntour's XCR 34 LOR fork, which all adds up to a claimed weight of 25.8kg
Focus Jam² 6.9 Drifter
- Price: £4,749 / €5,199 (Germany) / €5,299 (France, Spain, Benelux)
The Jam² all-mountain machine combines a 29-inch front wheel with a 27.5 rear, has 150mm travel and is available in Bosch and Shimano versions.
We like the look of the 6.9 Drifter with its Shimano Steps E8000 70Nm/250w motor and 765wh of battery. This impressive battery life is accomplished by combining the 378wh internal battery with Focus’s T.E.C. pack, which fits onto the down tube to provide an extra 378wh of power in reserve.
The 6.9 comes with Shimano XT 12-speed (34, 10-51), a custom-tuned Fox Float DPS rear shock and Marzocchi Bomber Z1 forks. The E30i dropper post comes from KS and Mavic supplies its E-XA drifter wheels, which are shod with Maxxis Minions: a 2.8 DHF tyre and a 2.6 DHR. Focus claims 21.7kg for the complete bike.
Focus Jam² 6.8 Nine
- Price: £4,599 / €4,799 (Germany) / €4,999 (France, Spain, Benelux)
Prefer your assistance with a German flavour? Then Focus also has the Jam² available with a Bosch motor.
The 6.8 comes with Bosch’s Performance CX Gen 4 motor (75Nm/250w) and a 625w/h internal PowerTube battery, which is all controlled by the Bosch Kiox head unit.
Suspension duties come courtesy of Fox's Float DPS rear shock and 34 Rhythm sweep adjust fork. The gearing combines SLX (shifters and cassette) and XT (rear mech) and Shimano MT520 brakes.
Race Face provides the 29er wheels and Maxxis the 2.6-inch Rekon Dual Exo TR treads.
Focus claims 23.5kg for the complete bike.
Focus Jarifa² 6.8 Nine
- Price: £3,299 / €3,499 (Germany) / €3,699 (France, Spain, Benelux)
It’s not just full-suspension e-bikes from Focus, it also has three hardtail models. From the superlight Raven² to the budget-focused Whistler², the Jafira² sits squarely between the two as a more touring-orientated e-mountain machine.
The 6.8 Nine uses Bosch’s Performance CX Gen 4 (75Nm/250w) with a PowerTube 625w/h internal battery controlled by a Purion head unit. You can expand the battery capacity by up to 1125w/h using an additional battery, which mounts on the down tube — it’s a similar system to Focus’s Shimano-based TEC pack system.
Focus claims 22.3kg for the complete 6.8 Nine.
Focus Aventura² 6.9
- Price: £3,799 / €3,999 (Germany) / €4,199 (France, Spain, Benelux)
The Aventura² is the brand's take on a go-anywhere trekking machine. It uses Bosch’s new Performance CX motor system with a 625wh battery (you can, like the Jafira, piggyback a second Bosch battery for a max of 1,125wh) and the bike comes fully loaded with full metal mudguards, a rear rack, Busch & Muller lighting, and Bosch’s new Smartphone hub to take care of motor control.
The hub also lets you use the GPS functionality on your phone in combination with the bike's motor system.
The claimed 23kg bike comes with an SLX/Deore mix and a 100mm travel Suntour Raidon LOR fork.
