FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC 9.9 in review

Quick, playful and sometimes just a little wild: the FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC 9.9 is raring to go! Can it be tamed for everyday riding? And how does the German race all-rounder with its unique geometry perform in our group test?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2020 – 13 high-carat road bikes in review

The designers of the FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC frameset have gone in a new direction in terms of riding position and geometry. To achieve a more open hip angle and a compact but still sporty position, the seat tube is positioned slightly further forwards. In turn, the proprietary seat post, which with its 15 mm offset is designed to offer additional compliance over a zero offset version, has an effective offset of only 2 mm. With clearances for up to 30 mm tires the FOCUS fits right in with many of its co-competitors.

The FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC 9.9 in detail

The top model comes with FOCUS’ own 110 mm stem, featuring completely internally routed cables. In addition, it also allows standard bars with a 31.8 mm diameter to be used with it. The paint job of our test bike reminds us of the Mercedes AMG Petronas race car and is a welcome change from the norm. Equipped with a 2×11 Shimano DURA-ACE Di2 groupset, DT Swiss ARC 1450 DICUT DB wheels and 700 x 25C Continental GP 4000 SII (the production version will come with GP5000s), in a size L, the bike weighs 7.44 kg and costs € 8,999. Together with the Trek Domane and Argon 18 Krypton, the 78 mm largest bottom bracket drop is the largest in the group.

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The geometry of the FOCUS

Size	XXS	XS	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Seat tube	430 mm	470 mm	490 mm	510 mm	530 mm	550 mm	590 mm
Top tube	504 mm	517 mm	535 mm	551 mm	564 mm	582 mm	602 mm
Head tube	80 mm	80 mm	100 mm	115 mm	125 mm	150 mm	185 mm
Head angle	69.5°	70.5°	71.5°	72.0°	72.0°	72.5°	72.5°
Seat angle	74.0°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°
Chainstays	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm
BB Drop	78 mm	78 mm	78 mm	78 mm	78 mm	78 mm	78 mm
Wheelbase	975 mm	975 mm	985 mm	997 mm	1,010 mm	1,024 mm	1,044 mm
Reach	360 mm	368 mm	378 mm	390 mm	400 mm	410 mm	420 mm
Stack	502 mm	506 mm	528 mm	544 mm	554 mm	579 mm	613 mm

The IZALCO MAX is the little fox terrier of our test – it needs movement and action all day long!

The FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC 9.9 in review

In direct contrast to its competitors, the FOCUS shines when accelerating thanks to its ability to sprint in every situation. It reveals itself to be incredibly efficient, whether it’s on the flats or on the climbs and eggs you on to push it hard. The handling of the FOCUS is comparatively agile, with the front of the carbon bike a little more playful than the slightly more sedate rear. Because of its playful character, it feels at home in tight corners and winding passages, though the somewhat nervous front requires a steady hand and focussed riding. The precision and direct handling together with the high level of agility means that practiced riders can make quick direction changes even at high speeds. However, beginners should spend some time testing their limits carefully. When cruising, the comfort of the FOCUS is average compared to the competition. While it damps vibrations effectively, the ride is definitely at the stiffer end of the spectrum. This bike wants to be ridden sportily and only then does it really give up any of its compliance. The FOCUS is also noticeably louder than the other bikes in our test. It’s important to note that this always depends on the combination of wheels, tires and frameset. During the test, we also noticed some compatibility issues with GPS mounts. Because the Easton EC90 Aero bar’s clamp area is so narrow, most bar mounted GPS mounts can’t be used, though FOCUS now offer their own stem-mounted option.

Tuning tips: Bars with a wider clamp area, or FOCUS’ own GPS mount

Conclusion

With its sprinting abilities and playful handling, the FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC 9.9 is a great choice for all the racers and crit riders out there. For tours and more leisure-oriented riders, it’s less appropriate due to the agile front and the comparatively low amount of comfort. While it’s a solid all-rounder, it’s just a bit too sporty to take the win in our test.

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For more info head to focus-bikes.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2020 – 13 high-carat road bikes in review

Alle Bikes im Test: Argon 18 Krypton Pro (Zum Test) | Bianchi Infinito CV Disc (Zum Test) | BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE (Zum Test) | Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Dura Ace (Zum Test) | Cicli Bonanno Futomaki Disc (Zum Test) | FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC 9.9 | LOOK 795 BLADE RS DISC (Zum Test) | OPEN U.P.P.E.R. (Zum Test) | Pinarello Dogma F12 Team INEOS Edition (Zum Test) | ROSE REVEAL SIX Dura Ace Di2 Custom (Zum Test) | Specialized S-Works Roubaix (Zum Test) | Trek Domane SLR 9 eTap (Zum Test) | VOTEC VRC PRO (Zum Test)

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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl