Focus Fat Boy 2010

Review from Bicycle Buyer

What's it like to ride? - Incredibly responsive and stiff, the Focus' alloy frame is beautifully finished and offers the rider the opportunity to really push the limit of their riding skills confidentally and with the minimum amount og wasted effort. Engineered with a racier profile and riding position than some of the other bikes we tested this bike feels as competition driven as it undoubtedly looks. Driven by a combination of Shimano drivetrain components, including an XT rear derailleur the shifting is immediate and uncluttered and a BRM486 Shimano hydraulic disc brakes offer incredibly responsive feather soft stopping power. The RST Omega-T fork with remote, bar mounted, lockout works perfectly competently and the Alex rims shod with Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres should deal with anything you roll them over just fine.

What we liked... Where to start? On looks alone the Focus is deffinitely a standout of the bikes we've assembled with its butch competition-ready profile, colour matched white brake calipers, brake levers and hydraulic fluid reservoirs, Focus-logoed Omega forks and its neat cable routing. But setting aside it's ice-cool appearance for just a moment, we were really taken by the feel and ride quality of the Fat Boy and the quality of components that Focus have managed to squeeze onto this bike. Shimano SLX shifters and XT rear mech, Alex rims and Schwalbe tyres are a bit of coup on a £550 bike.

In conclusion...

Would we buy it? - Yes we would, without hesitation. Offering phenominal value for money component wise, and the looks and performance you'd expect from a much more expencive bike, the aptly named German company have their eyes on the main prize, your cash.

Test winner against the following competition... Cube Analog, Dawes XC1.8, Merida Matts 40-D, Ghost SE1800 and the Giant Revel 1

Rating: Test Winner

Review from Triathlete's World

The company


Every FOCUS bike is hand-built in the company's factory, near Hamburg in Germany. A relatively new brand to the UK, FOCUS works solely with online cycle-product providers Wiggle to control the import and distribution of their bikes. FOCUS is keen to hit all the major price points with a suite of good-looking and value-for-money offerings.

The bike Once again this is a classy-looking bike, though the name does lack a little sophistication. It featured a robust hydroformed frame, and we were impressed to note the quality Shimano XT rear mech and Shimano SLX gear triggers on geartrain duty. These sort of components are usually reserved for bikes costing £700 or more, so we expected some refined shifting and good feelings from this bike. Stopping power is supplied by some all-white (very cool if slightly bulky) Shimano disc brakes. This was more like it.

All the bikes in this bracket carry home-grown (or own-brand) finishing kits - bars, stem and seatpost. On the Fat Boy the kit is ergonomically pleasing - it's black anodised, and it suits the bike well, creating a tidy-looking package.

The ride On the trail this bike felt different to the rest of the pack. Stepping up onto the pedals and pushing away, it felt secure, well balanced and light on its Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres. It almost seemed keen to get down the track.

The cockpit on this machine is great, wide enough risers with a good sweep offer comfort and good handling. In fact it's hard to pick many faults with this machine - even the RST Omega T RL 100mm fork does terrific work for the cost, providing smooth bump absorption and no nasty noises.

As a novice jumping aboard the Fat Boy, you can expect to find a delightfully neutral yet encouraging ride - the combination of a great set of components hung from a lighter frame and fork option makes for a sound starting point.

In conclusion...

Verdict (from test against Merida Matts 60-D, Specialzed Myka HT Comp Disc, On-One Inbred, Giant Talon 2)

We're aware of the spread of prices of these test bikes but even bearing that in mind, one machine stood out.

It seems obvious from the test that up to £500 the entry-level bikes that can be bought, such as the Merida and the Giant, come with certain weaknesses - weight being the most obvious.

They also call for a more relaxed riding style than a competitive triathlete might look for. But as entry-level rides, they're fine. The On-One Inbred, while a little outside the boundaries of what we were looking for, whispers "potential" to anyone wishing to trade up as they become acquainted with off-road riding and racing.

But our favourite is the FOCUS Fat Boy, thanks to its decent frame, racy look, great components and a ride that matches that of a bike far above its price ticket

Rating: Test Winner