Focus Izalco Max- A road bike for the highest speeds.
Focus has its headquarters in Stuttgart, while the production of the bikes takes place at the parent company, Derby Cycle, in Cloppenburg in Lower Saxony. Derby Cycle took over the original Kalkhoff company in 1988 and was then in turn itself taken over by Pon Holding in 2012. Since 1 July, 2022, the company has gone back to its roots and trades under the name Focus & Kalkhoff Holding GmbH, because the Kalkhoff company has stood for quality products from the region for more than a hundred years. Incidentally, the first Focus bikes saw the light of day in 1993 and they have always worked continuously to get the most out of their bikes. Whether it's a road bike or one of the other bike models, they want to design and assemble everything themselves at Focus, so they know what the end result will be.
The Izalco Max is an extremely lightweight bike that impresses with its aerodynamics and looks very elegant at the same time. You can reach extreme speeds in style and always have the feeling of being in full control of the bike. No matter whether you go for a spin alone, to simply leave everyday life or other cyclists behind, or go for a ride among friends, with the Izalco Max you are always in the right place. The bikes with low weight, in combination with the good aero characteristics, let you virtually shoot over the asphalt and are extremely supple at the same time. In addition to the low weight, which was made possible by a lot of research work, the bikes were also tested in the wind tunnel to make them as streamlined as possible. Maximum riding fun is guaranteed with the Focus Izalco Max Carbon bikes. The Izalco bikes are available in frame sizes XXS, M and XXL and in different colours, such as stone blue, depending on the model.
Among the bikes with the 2022 model year are the Izalco Max 9.9, Focus Izalco Max Disc Pari, which is a limited edition, then the Izalco Max 9.8, Izalco Max Disc 9.7, Izalco Max 8.9, Izalco Max 8.8 or also the Izalco Max 8.7. The Izalco Max 8. 7 can be compared quite well with the Cube Agree C:62 or the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7. Furthermore, Focus also offers the Izalco Max frameset, which can be equipped with all shifting groups and brakes to enable individual configuration of the components.
The frame has a mount for a bike computer including another mount for the GoPro camera. The GoPro can be added to the mount of the bike computer, so that you not only have a constant view of the course and other information, but can also review the great ride through the landscape in the evening in a cosy round.
Besides the Izalco Max road bike, Focus also offers gravel bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. More details on the respective models can be found further down in the text.
An ideal mix of components for the Izalco Max road bike
The components are a perfect mix of Focus' own products and those of well-known manufacturers such as Shimano, SRAM, DT Swiss, Fizik and Vittoria. The carefully selected components ensure that the Focus road bikes are perfectly tuned for pure riding pleasure.
Gear groups & brakes
The shift lever, the crank, the front derailleur or the rear derailleur are part of the shift group and these are either from Shimano or SRAM, such as the Shimano 105, Shimano Ultegra Di2, Shimano Dura Ace Di2, SRAM Rivel eTap AXS or the SRAM Force eTap AXS. In the meantime, only the modern disc brakes are used on all Izalco Max Carbon bikes. These are not only getting lighter every year, but also impress with their better braking power. Although they have worse aerodynamic properties and are considerably more expensive, there is simply no getting around disc brakes any more. Their excellent braking power outweighs all this and the brakes also last much longer. Another advantage that should not be underestimated is the less effort required to brake, which has a positive effect on the hands.
Saddle / Seatpost & Handlebars / Wheels
For the saddle, quality from Fizig is often used, such as the Fizik Antares Versus EVO R5 or the Fizik Antares R7. In addition, the Focus Izalco Max Disc Pari also uses the Prologo Dimension. To guarantee the perfect posture, the seat tube has been moved forward, which is then fitted with the Focus Aero Carbon seat post.
The Izalco Max's cabling is fully integrated into the frame and also runs through the Focus C.I.S. Aero stem, which also guarantees the best aerodynamics. This can be adjusted to 5 different levels to enable the best possible posture for the rider. The handlebars include the Easton EC90 Aero made of carbon or the BBB Basic made of aluminium.
For the wheelset, the DT Swiss DT Swiss ARC1400 or DT Swiss ARC1600 are used in combination with the R.A.T thru axle on the fork. Other wheels come from Novatec, such as the Novatec R4 or Novatec R5 wheelset, both also in combination with the R.A.T thru axle.
For bikes with model year 2022, tyres from Vittoria are often used, such as the Vittoria Corsa Control, Tubeless Ready or the Vittoria Rubino TLR. For the Focus Izalco Max Disc Pari, the Schwalbe PRO ONE Evo is used.
Additional equipment
The Izalco Max has no fixing points for a rear rack or mudguards, for example, as it is designed for maximum speed and therefore every gram of extra weight should be avoided. If you still need pedals, it's best to add them to your shopping basket.
Have I already made the right choice with the Focus Izalco Max?
It's best to look around for other Focus bikes if you still have doubts about whether the Izalco Max is the bike that is best suited to you. In addition to the Izalco Max, Focus also offers gravel bikes that feel just as comfortable on the road as they do on gravel tracks or forest paths. With the Focus Atlas, you can therefore also get off the asphalt road without any problems to explore nature a little.
For those who prefer more demanding terrain or mountains, the Focus mountain bikes are available as full-suspension or hardtail bikes. The full-suspension bikes include the trail and touring MTBs from the Throne series, while the Focus Jam with its sub-models is available as an all-mountain bike. The Focus Whistler is best suited as a hardtail for everyday use on the trail in front of the house or other adventurous excursions. If you like to ride an MTB that is designed for speed, it is best to take one of the Focus Raven bullets, which is also a hardtail MTB. Focus also has an almost equally large selection of high-quality e-bikes in its range, especially in the MTB segment. Except for a little more weight, they guarantee almost the same possibilities, be it on tours across the Alps or on more demanding trails with steep curves. The advantage is that if you are already a little exhausted, or if you are facing a longer and steeper section, you can simply fall back on the electronic help. This guarantees full riding pleasure even on tours lasting several days, without having to struggle on the last sections if you run out of steam. Among the Fully MTBs, there is the Thron² Trail and Touring Bike, the Jam² All-Mountain and the Focus Sam² Enduro MTB, while among the Hardtails, the Focus Jarifa² is in the range. The E-Allround category includes the Focus Aventura² trekking bike as well as the Focus Planet² city bike. No matter which bike you ultimately choose, you should always consider the delivery time, which can be weeks. With a used bike, you are usually on the safe side, as they are available quickly.