Promising an eye-wateringly quick and efficient ride as well as nigh on unrivalled capabilities on technical terrain, this new cross-country racing bike from FOCUS, going by the name of the FOCUS O1E, looks set to nab some podium positions in the near future – but how exactly?
„Das FOCUS O1E has been built to win XC races,“, explains Thomas Trapp, the head of engineering at FOCUS. Developed with XC pro rider Florian Vogel, the FOCUS O1E has a lightweight 1,830 g carbon frame with 100mm travel and FOCUS’s own patented F.O.L.D rear suspension design.
The F.O.L.D concept takes on a brand new design, seeing a multi-link rear with two rocker arms within the frame to create a two-step suspension curve. The bearings have been designed so that the curve runs degressively until the sag point, with the intention of generating a more responsive rear end. From the sag point onwards, the curve turns progressive so that it’ll deliver sufficient feedback and work more efficiently.
The spec of the FOCUS O1E
Costing between 3,999 € and 7,999 €, the FOCUS O1E will be available from autumn in three different build specs. While the top and entry-level models come with a 1x SRAM drivetrain, the mid-range FOCUS O1E Pro comes with a 2x Shimano XT groupset. And although none of the bikes come as stock with a dropper post, all of the frames are compatible to take one.
FOCUS O1E Team
Fork: RockShox RS1 X-LOC
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch XX
Drive train: SRAM XX1 Eagle, 12-fach
Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate
Wheels: DT Swiss XR 1501
Weight: 9.9 kg
Price: € 7,999
FOCUS O1E Pro
Fork: RockShox SID XX
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch XX
Drive train: Shimano XT, 2×11
Brakes: Shimano XT
Wheels: DT Swiss M 1900
Weight: 11.9 kg
Price: € 4,699
FOCUS O1E Evo
Fork: RockShox SID RL
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch RT
Drive train: SRAM GX
Brakes: Shimano BR-M615
Wheels: Concept EX, Concept XD
Weight: 11.9 kg
Price: € 3,999
The geometry of the FOCUS O1E
A quick glance at the geometry is enough to suffice: this bike is made to win races. Its steep 74.5° seat angle and the long 448 mm chainstays have been conceived to deliver traction and an edge in racing. At 69.2°, the head angle is fairly moderate, designed to deliver the desired compromise between smoothness and agility – not just to hold its line but also for tight turns.
| Size | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 420 mm | 445 mm | 480 mm |
| Top tube | 584 mm | 602 mm | 623 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 112 mm | 125 mm |
| Head angle | 69.2° | 69.2° | 69.2° |
| Seat angle | 74.5° | 74.5° | 74.5° |
| Chainstay | 448 mm | 448 mm | 448 mm |
| BB Drop | 38 mm | 38 mm | 38 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1127 mm | 1146 mm | 1167 mm |
| Reach | 419 mm | 435 mm | 450 mm |
Lighter, more beautiful – the FOCUS Project ONE
Kitted out with an eye-wateringly plush spec, FOCUS claimed that the O1E Team tips the scales at 9.9 kg. But then the German firm went a step further, creating the Project ONE bike which weighs in at just 8.97 kg even with the addition of a dropper post.
For more information on the FOCUS O1E head to focus-bikes.com
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