Focus Izalco Max 56cm eTap - 5.31 or 5.82kg

[VTR1000SP2]

Story - was in the market for a new bike and had my shortlist narrowed down to the Tarmac SL6 or new Venge but then I came across this frameset from Piermont Bikes on their eBay store and the deal was too good to pass up and I've been curious lately about aero vs traditional road. The money saved went towards two sets of wheels, saddle and a barstem. Groupset came off of my Cervelo S3.

Build:
Frameset - 56cm Focus Izalco Max
Groupset - SRAM eTap (FD, RD with Kogel NFI pulleys, Shifters, Chain, Crank, Cassettes)
Chainrings - Fibre-Lyte 52/36
Seatpost - MCFK
Seatpost binder - tune Würger Skyline
Saddle - Bontrager XXX
Barstem - Bontrager XXX with computer and light mount
Bartape - Fizik Lizard Skin combo
Brakes - ee cycleworks
Cables - Bontrager XXX Housing + Jagwire brake cables
Pedals - Favero Assioma Duo
Skewers - Zipp SS Aero
Cages - Carbonworks
Wheelsets - Bontrager Aeolus XXX 4 TLR / 23mm Corsa Speed / 30ml sealant / 11-26 XG1190
FSE 25 Tubular rims / Extralite hubs / 23mm Bontrager R4 tires / 11-28 XG1190

Weights (cage, pedals, computer and light combo mount included): 5.31kg/11.7lbs with FSE wheelset or 5.82kg/12.83lbs with Aeolus 4 wheelset.





(Old chainrings, seatpost, and seapost binder shown in above image)

[velov]

Great build! I was actually looking at getting it from Piermont as well. Focus did such a great job with the Max, perfect balance of aesthetics and weight.
How does it ride compared to your previous bikes?

[AZR3]

I’ve always admired the Max, if I didn’t already have a Hi MOD I’ve have gone after a Max. Great build

[VTR1000SP2]

Great build! I was actually looking at getting it from Piermont as well. Focus did such a great job with the Max, perfect balance of aesthetics and weight.
How does it ride compared to your previous bikes?

Thanks. The Focus brand hasn't ever been on my radar and initially, I figured this would be a temporary build, but it's grown on me and I like the simplicity, tube shaping, profile and performance. Of the bikes I've owned, the 2015 Cervelo S3 was my fastest to this point but with this Izalco, I've managed to offset the lack of top speed with momentum so that's a wash. This bike is also stiffer yet more compliant, very easy to work on, and easy to build light without compromise.

[jbaillie]

I've definitely taken note of the Piermont Bikes deals on a few Focus frames in recent months. VERY tempting. This is a beautiful build.

Which wheels are your everyday set?

[VTR1000SP2]

Which wheels are your everyday set?

The Aeolus 4.



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[ryanw]

Which wheels are your everyday set?

The Aeolus 4.

+1

[VTR1000SP2]

Which wheels are your everyday set?

The Aeolus 4.

+1

You're on the Aeolus 4 too? I am very pleased with the wheelset and while they're not the lightest mid-depth set, the braking is superb. Are you using the TLR rim strip?

[Clean39T]

Dang, I've had those Izalco Max frames in my watch list for quite a while and keep not pulling the trigger despite them being such a good deal. Yours is great looking. Any further thoughts on the ride quality or things you noticed in build quality when putting it together?

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[VTR1000SP2]

Dang, I've had those Izalco Max frames in my watch list for quite a while and keep not pulling the trigger despite them being such a good deal. Yours is great looking. Any further thoughts on the ride quality or things you noticed in build quality when putting it together?

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I think the ride quality is very good. Balanced, poised, very much German engineered. Headtube feels stiffer than my previous bikes but I haven't owned anything I would regard as overly stiff in this area (S3, SSHM, S2, Allez, CAAD10). BB deflection is minimal and smashing pedals results in immediate acceleration.

Putting it together was very very easy, the easiest bike I've ever built actually. BB went in dead straight on my first try, cable housing length is super easy to figure out with the location of the cable stops, derailleur cabling is a non-issue with eTap. So far the matte finish is holding up well and I've only been baby-wiping it after each ride vs my weekly wash with a gloss finish bike.

I thoroughly inspected the frame prior to assembly and found no flaws in the finish. The carbon layup was clean on the inside and so far the dropouts have been quite durable holding up well to my multiple wheel swaps.

[asiantrick]

Love the Focus, this frameset is so underrated especially for the price. I just wish it would be a bit more aero, hence the new Aero Izalco Max is coming out in 2019. I feel like my Addict SL (pretty much same geometry) is a bit more aero than my Izalco Max.

[djcharlou]

Hi,

Looks like my story, I just got a Izlaco Max size 56 brand new for an awesome price too, about to start the built.
One question, my frame is delivered with a FSA headset but the problem is the 15mm high upper cover, way too much ... Is that a FSA for you too, with a lower cover maybe ?

Thanks a lot, great looking bike with the Bontrager combo !

[VTR1000SP2]

Hi,

Looks like my story, I just got a Izlaco Max size 56 brand new for an awesome price too, about to start the built.
One question, my frame is delivered with a FSA headset but the problem is the 15mm high upper cover, way too much ... Is that a FSA for you too, with a lower cover maybe ?

Thanks a lot, great looking bike with the Bontrager combo !

Thanks.

Yes it’s an FSA headset but my dust cap is only 10mm


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[reedplayer]

looks good with the fse wheelset. did you weigh the wheelset?
thank you, regards,

[VTR1000SP2]

looks good with the fse wheelset. did you weigh the wheelset?
thank you, regards,

I did indeed. 980gr without tires, cassette, skewers.