Foldable Bikes Party: Focus Izalco Max Disc

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Focus Izalco Max Disc - first ride review

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With the first trials of disc brakes in road racing imminent, competition in the realm of race bikes with rotors is intensifying. German brand Focus has today announced a disc version of its flagship racer, the Izalco Max.

Claiming to be the lightest disc road bike there is at just 790g for a size 54 with all frame hardware (plus 320g for the fork with 225mm of steerer), the Izalco builds on the success of the mid-tier Cayo Disc. Notably, itâ€™s also the first pro-level frameset to use the Flat Mount brake standard introduced by Shimano last year.

The Izalco shares a lot of DNA with its rim brake precursor including identical stack and reach figures, and the â€˜Stable Stiffness Per Sizeâ€™ approach that varies carbon layups across the size range to keep ride quality consistent. Itâ€™s also undergone some refinement and adaptation to reflect the requirements of a disc frameset, and to improve ride quality overall. The move to discs does away with the need for a seatstay brake bridge, so thatâ€™s gone, while extra reinforcement of the fork and chainstay were required to withstand the braking forces of disc calipers. Focus has also carried out testing to ensure that brake heat canâ€™t compromise the integrity of the carbon around the caliper mounts.

As on the standard Izalco, the gear cables run externally, which Focus says is at the request of team mechanics â€“ weâ€™re certainly not complaining either. It apparently has the fringe benefit of saving around 30-50g over an internal setup.