Compared to last year, the German manufacturer has tightened the right screws, reduced the weight and made the Black Forest the fun and handling winner in this test. The key to this are lightweight wheels (4347 g), a solid Rock Shox Reba fork and Continental tyres in the high-quality Race Sport version. With the wide riser bar, we hit the ideal lines of our test lap with ease. The voluminous tyres cushion every little bump at 1.8 bar and roll noticeably fast. Together with the powerful Elixir brakes, the bike is a real pleasure to ride in the berms. The powder-coated frame in a matt finish with coloured cables looks classy and at first glance suggests a more expensive bike. Only the warranty of only two years, which also expires with marathon use, could be a little more generous on the Black Forest 3.0.
ConclusionThe sporty Black Forest builds a bridge to racing. The well thought-out equipment and great handling make the Focus a winner in terms of riding fun.
PLUS High-quality tyres, playful handling, lightweight wheels
MINUS Heavy frame, hard saddle, only two-year warranty
