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The Focus Raven 8.9 is a hardtail for cross country and down country. Focus has also recognised the potential of a carbon hardtail with a 120 mm fork. The former Raven race bike now comes with downhill-orientated equipment and lays claim to a much broader range of use. To find out whether the balancing act between sportiness and trail fun is successful, we tested the new Focus Raven extensively.
The Focus Raven 8.9 on test: how the carbon hardtail rides
The new Focus Raven wants to be more than the ascetic thoroughbred racer that he once was. This is also noticeable in the weight of 11.54 kilos. The heavy wheel/tyre combination is slow to get rolling. This leaves the current Focus Raven The new bike lags behind thoroughbred race bikes both in endurance marathon use and in the tight bends of a flow trail.
Once accelerated, however, nothing can stop the Raven. Together with the voluminous frame and the 2.4-inch wide Maxxis Rekon tyres, the wide cockpit conveys a very solid riding feel. The new Raven rolls over rough trails noticeably more confidently than its sportier cross-country counterparts.
At 66.7 degrees, the steering angle is slack and gives the rider a lot of confidence on steep descents with the dropper post lowered. The hardtail benefits from the higher reserves of the long fork, especially on big bumps. However, the Rockshox Sid with Select+ damping could respond more sensitively in the first few millimetres of travel. When things get really fast, the weak Sram-Level brakes soon limit the fun factor.
The Focus Raven 8.9: A hardtail for versatile tours
Thanks to the high front, the Raven is pleasantly comfortable to sit on. Contrary to the sporty look, the Focus is more of a versatile but cosy tourer than a racer. This is also difficult to change due to the system integration at the control centre. If you want to lower the cockpit in favour of a sportier riding position, you have to shorten the steerer tube.
Focus has dispensed with a steering stop limiter, exposing the internal cables to the risk of kinking in the event of a fall. Despite the lack of handlebar remotes, the suspension fork is firm and doesn't pump much when pedalling out of the saddle. Annoying: If you pedal standing up, your legs can rub against the extremely wide top tube.
Technical data and notes on the Focus Raven 8.9
Manufacturer information
- Category: Cross Country / Down Country Hardtail
- Price¹: 3599 Euro >> available here
- Available from: Specialist retailers
- Frame material: Carbon
- Wheel size: 29 inch
Measured values
- Suspension travel: 120 mm
- Weight without pedals: 11.54 kg
- Frame weight: 1456 g
- Weight of wheels: 4515 g
- Acceleration of running wheels: 3444.74 kg x cm²
- Handlebar width: 760 mm
- Seat comfort: 7.6 mm
- Frame rigidity (absolute): 47 N/mm
Equipment
- Wheels: DT Swiss X1900 Spline 25 mm
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Exo Protection TR 29 x 2.4
- Fork: Rockshox Sid Select
- Brakes: Sram Level TLM 180 / 160 mm
- Gear system: Sram GX Eagle 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 32; 10-52 / 520 %
- Telescopic post / stroke: Focus Post Moderne / 150 mm
Valuation
- Driving behaviour uphill: 24.5 from 35
- Front suspension: 12 out of 15
- Rolling resistance: 10.5 out of 15
- Weight: 10 from 25
- Inertia impellers: 9 out of 15
- Bottle cage: 10 out of 10
- Seating comfort: 7 out of 10
- Driving behaviour downhill: 25.5 from 30
- Front suspension: 16 out of 20
- Saddle retractability 10 out of 10
- Brakes: 6 out of 10
- Tyre grip: 14.25 out of 15
- Driving stability: 3 out of 10
TOTAL MOUNT: 83 from 125
TOTAL RECOVERY: 74.75 from 95
- Miscellaneous: 19 from 30
- Ease of maintenance: medium
BIKE test judgement²Good - 176.8 out of 250 points
Conclusion on the test of the Focus Raven 8.9
The strength of the Focus lies in its versatility. Comfortable uphill, confident downhill, it strikes the perfect balance between race and trail hardtail. If you prefer varied tours to the race track, the new Raven could be a hardtail for all occasions. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor
¹Price may be subject to additional costs for packaging, dispatch and coordination.
²The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (250-205 P.), very good (204.75-180 P.), good (179.75-155 P.), satisfactory (154.75-130 P.), with weaknesses (129.75-105 P.), unsatisfactory (104.75-0 P.). The weighting of the points in the individual assessment criteria varies depending on the bike category.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
