Whether you should really venture into the Black Forest with this bike is questionable. Tektro's Draco brakes made the testers' foreheads sweat on the steep descents of our test round in the Palatinate: insufficient braking power, unergonomic levers and a changing pressure point at the rear were the cause. At least the new Mountain King 2 tyres offer downhill grip and safety. The geometry appeals more to the touring rider. However, the high total weight (12.7 kilos with pedals) and the sluggish wheels (4416 grams) are noticeable on climbs. On steep terrain, you have to lean far over the handlebars to prevent the front wheel from rising. There is also room for improvement in the fork: The cheap Recon version is significantly less responsive than the more expensive Reba SL.
ConclusionAverage tourer where the Tektro brakes spoil the fun.
+ High-quality circuit
- Favourable fork
- High weight
- Weak brake
Web: www.focus-bikes.de
