With its emergence as one of last year's biggest surprise packages, we knew what to expect from the bang on trend, super slacked out (65.8 degree head angle) shape of Focus’s SAM frame this year.
- Highs: Excellent mini downhill-style frame; benchmark SRAM family gear, suspension and dropper post spec; impressively light for its category
- Lows: Pillowy suspension needs simple tuning to add support; snatchy Magura brakes are powerful but need care in use; fragile Conti treads
While opinion was divided on the Air Defence Grey aesthetics, there was no argument among our testers about how wide the matched neon orange grips were held apart by the 760mm Concept bars. The RockShox Pike fork is colour synced too and while you don’t get as much adjustment as the aftermarket spec RCT3 version the factory tune of the RC on the Focus doesn’t lose any technical trail confidence.
We’re big fans of the matt look alloy cranks from SRAM, and the X01/X1 1x11 gears are a superb ride simplifying, sequential shifting setup. A Reverb Stealth dropper post completes the SRAM family contribution in typically smooth, slick style. Focus has stuck with fellow German Magura for the MT5 brakes. With 200mm front rotor and 180mm rear the already exceptional power levels of the four-pot callipers are turned absolutely brutal in terms of anchorage. The power comes on abruptly a long way from the bars too so be wary with your braking until you’re used to them.
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We found the Continental rubber combo an unconvincing choice
Continental’s new Far Eastern factory means a much grippier compound than previous cheap Conti treads, with overall mass surprisingly low. The Mountain King/Trail King combo doesn’t feel or roll fast and the lightweight sidewalls and massive 2.4in size on relatively skinny 21mm rims leave them feeling perched and vague rather than planted and predictable when you start getting sideways – and during group test rides in Spain they proved prone to flatting.
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