The uncompromising quality of this thoroughbred hardtail carbon racing bike shines through, from its sensational component choice through to its technically advanced frameset, which results in unlimited drive and an unparalleled strength-to-weight ratio.
Just like the new road frames for 2010, the Raven has benefited from the advances in technology, the key features for this years Raven are as follows:
Tapered Head Tube: Using the now standard 1 1/8" steerer tube at the top and then enlarging the steerer as it goes towards the fork crown until it reaches an 1 1/2" results in a front end that follows every input you make and transfers as much power as possible through the frame.
BB30 Oversized Bottom Bracket: The oversized hollow chamber bottom bracket provides the option for a significant increase in chain stay size, this results in a much more efficient power transfer. BB30 also has the added benefit of a narrower Q-factor which provides a more natural pedal position and results in a further increase in stiffness.
SSPS: With the new Stable Stiffness Per Size system the FOCUS engineers have come up with a real stroke of genius. Until now all frame sizes had the same tube dimensions but with SSPS the tube dimensions are exactly tailored to the size of the bike. This means that no matter how tall you are, whether 1.6m or 2.2m, your Focus bike has the same ideal ride quality with consistent rigidity, suspension and strength per size.
Other features for 2010 are the flattened top tube, for improved ride comfort without sacrificing performance. Maximum tyre clearance has also been incorporated into the design, this gives huge clearance for even really wide tyres caked with mud, which also means it can be ridden with lower tyre pressures - for more grip, additional performance whilst providing optimum ride comfort. Full carbon drop outs (using a High Pressure Method) have been chosen, these are aesthetically pleasing, stiff and light and offer a higher loading capacity which results in a more stable connection between chain and seat stays.
The rear disc brake has been repositioned to the new 'beefed up'lower stay, which allows the seat stays to be reworked to allow compliance for improved comfort. This was allowed by the inclusion of a BB30 bottom bracket, the over sized nature of BB30 is perfect for increasing stiffness at this crucial junction of frame tubes. Cable routing has never been so neat, for 2010 the Focus design team thought long and hard and came up with a simple solution, run them inside the frame tubes but not inside the frame. The cables run through a rib that runs the length of the tubes, this rib not only adds extra stiffness to the frame, but also shrouds the cable from the dirty elements associated with riding off road.
Click image to see a hi-res montage of the Focus Raven
There is no point designing a frame such as the Raven if you are going to equip it with poor components, so Focus have selected what they would choose on their own bikes. A mixture of reliable and smooth Shimano XT and SLX gearing, Magura Durin Race 100mm forks, Magura Julie hydraulic discs and a pair of Shimano Deore hubs built with a pair of Rodi D540 disc specific rims wrapped in Conti Race King's, a mixture of Concept finishing components which have offered a proven level of performance and durability on the race scene for years.
About
Hard Tail Mountain Bikes
If you are looking for a mountain bike that can comfortably negotiate bumpy, cross-country, singletracks yet still be quick and nimble on the road, then a hardtail bike is for you. Hard tail mountain bikes have front suspension, weigh less and are more pedal efficient when the terrain is smooth, than full suss bikes. A good number of single track racers still use hardtails for these reasons. At wiggle, we stock a wide variety of hardtail mountain bike brands including Felt, Focus, GT, Kona, Mongoose, Saracen and more. So if you are searching for superb, quality spec hardtail mountain bikes at great value with a legendary service to match, then you've come to the right place.
About the Focus brand
Focus bikes manufacture a range of high quality full suspension and hard tail mountain bikes, as well as road bikes, track bikes, city bikes and hybrid bikes, which offer a much higher specification for your money than any other brand available in the UK. So if you are riding a Focus bike it will offer exceptional pound for pound performance and offer unbeatable value for money! Each Focus bike is handbuilt in their factory near Hamburg in Germany where they are meticulously tested and fitted with market leading components from brands such as Shimano, Ritchey, FSA, Magura, Hayes, SRAM, RockShox, Fox, Lightweight and Campagnolo. Then once they arrive in the UK they are setup and tested by Wiggle's own team of CyTech trained mechanics in their state of the art workshop. Best of all Wiggle source the multi-award winning Focus bikes direct from the manufacturer, cutting out the middle-man and ensuring you get the very best quality Focus bikes at amazing prices!