Focus 2026 Izalco Max 9.8 Road Bike

The Izalco Max 9.8 is Focus's aero road race bike, built around a carbon frame that weighs a claimed 865 grams in size M with another 400 grams for the fork. The tube profiles use wind-tunnel-developed NACA shapes, and the Reserve one-piece carbon cockpit keeps the front end clean with fully hidden cables. Shifting is SRAM Force AXS, a 2x12 electronic group with a power meter built into the 48/35 crankset, so you are training with real numbers from the first ride. DT Swiss ARC 1600 Dicut carbon wheels at 55mm deep and 28mm Vittoria Corsa Pro tubeless tyres round it out. At a claimed 7.7kg it climbs as well as it holds speed, which matters on New Zealand roads where few rides are flat.

Key Features

• MAX technology aero carbon frame, claimed 865g in size M, with wind-tunnel-developed NACA tube shapes
• Reserve one-piece carbon cockpit with fully internal cable routing
• SRAM Force AXS 2x12 electronic shifting with a 10-33 cassette
• SRAM Force crankset with integrated AXS power meter, 48/35T
• DT Swiss ARC 1600 Dicut carbon wheels, 55mm deep, 22mm internal width
• Vittoria Corsa Pro 28mm tubeless-ready tyres
• Focus aero D-shape carbon seatpost, with size-specific setback
• Size-specific rotors, 140mm rear on XXS-L and 160mm on XL-XXL
• Claimed weight 7.7kg, permissible system weight 110kg

Who Is the Focus Izalco Max 9.8 For?

This is a race bike for a rider chasing results or personal bests. The aero frame and 55mm wheels make a measurable difference at speed, the bottom bracket and fork are built for stiffness so nothing flexes when you put the power down, and the integrated power meter means you can actually measure what you are producing.

It suits New Zealand road racing and fast bunch riding, where the courses tend to mix sustained climbing with exposed, windy flats. A sub-8kg aero bike is a rare combination, and the 2x12 Force group gives you tighter ratios than a 1x setup for holding a steady cadence in a fast group.

Full Specifications