Focus Izalco Max 8.7 review

Not yet rated

Tech Deputy Ed Rupert Radley tests the Focus Izalco Max and finds it a good looking and fast frame that's hampered by a poor specification

Cycling Weekly Verdict

Squared, Kammtail tubing and dropped seat stays might well be the hallmarks of a fast bike, but you'll have to work hard to get the Focus Izalco Max to live up to its speedy designs. Swap out the heavy Alex Rims wheels however and the bike sparks into life, with lighter wheels improving the bike's acceleration and giving space for the frame to prove its comfort and sporty design.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Comfortable

  • +

    Great looks

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Heavy and sluggish wheels

  • -

    Cables rattle in the frame

  • -

    Value

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The Izalco has always been the main stay of German giant Focus for many years, but in this latest iteration the bike has undergone a major design change. Boasting a new integrated front end and an aero optimised design, the updated Focus Izalco Max is a far cry from the Izalcos of yesteryear.

Focus Izalco Max 8.7: Design updates

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Paul Norman

Paul started writing for Cycling Weekly in 2015, covering cycling tech, new bikes and product testing. Since then, he’s reviewed hundreds of bikes and thousands of other pieces of cycling equipment for the magazine and the Cycling Weekly website.

He’s been cycling for a lot longer than that though and his travels by bike have taken him all around Europe and to California. He’s been riding gravel since before gravel bikes existed too, riding a cyclocross bike through the Chilterns and along the South Downs.