racing bikes: Test: Focus Mares AL Tiagra - cheap crosser now even better!

Test: For the 2016/17 season, the aluminum crosser Focus Mares AL Tiagra from Cloppenburg is launched with various detailed improvements that are worth a closer look.

The three-time cyclo-cross world champion Mike Kluge was already driving in the mid-90s in the world championship race on a crosser from his Focus brand – at that time it already had a hydraulic rim brake on the front wheel. Focus brought the first production cross bikes to the market at the beginning of the new millennium, around the time when cyclocross was once again the focus of the cycling world.

Focus Mares - a cyclocross classic

The early Focus Mares models were still based on rather heavy aluminum and carbon frames; With the new development presented at the beginning of 2014, the brand made a huge leap forward: A carbon frame weighing less than 1.000 grams, internal cables and lines and, above all, the RAT thru-axles at the front and rear made what was then the Focus Mares CX the most modern cross bike in the world.

An aluminum version was also presented very soon, which shared many features of the top model, but sold them much more cheaply. And that has remained the same to this day: With almost identical equipment, the aluminum wheel costs a whole 1.100 euros less. However, Focus currently only offers the Shimano 105 configuration with both frames.

Two and a half years after the presentation of the new Mares, the series has now been gently revised again, both aluminum and carbon models. Velomotion took this as an opportunity to take another look at the Mares; this time we deliberately chose a model from the lower end of the model range. At 1.499 euros, the Focus Mares AX Tiagra is the cheapest sports version of the crosser; below that there is only the "Commuter" with mudguards, aluminum fork and mechanical disc brakes.

Focus Mares AL – features like the “big ones”

Conversely, this means that the Focus Mares AL Tiagra has the same, almost 400 gram light full carbon fork as the carbon models, which represents one of the innovations of the series. Like other brands, Focus has made the switch from 15mm to 12mm thru-axle up front; the slimmer axle is a little lighter and still works according to the patented RAT principle. Instead of a thread, a T-shaped connecting piece locks the axle in the dropout, and a quarter turn is enough to fasten or loosen it. No conventional plug connection is that fast.

Also new is the routing of the hydraulic line inside the fork leg. The hose exits just above the brake caliper, on the inside of the fork. Of course, this looks nicer than an external cable and, like internally routed cables in general, makes cleaning easier - a criterion that should not be neglected, especially with crossers. With the Alu-Mares, the rear brake lines and shifter cables come to light again in front of the bottom bracket; The fact that the latter are completely guided in outer casings makes them permanently dirt-resistant.

Another innovation affecting the brake system is the switch to Flatmount brake mounts on the fork and rear triangle. We couldn't determine whether this affects the performance of the delay; the brake calipers, which sit close to the pipe, are at least an optical improvement.

Focus Mares AL Tiagra – Impressive Shimano components

The current version of the Shimano Tiagra can also please. Even at second glance, the rear derailleur and crankset can hardly be distinguished from the Ultegra, which is two classes higher, and the shifting behavior is very good. The only concession to the low price of the group is the omission of the eleventh sprocket. But whether you have 11-28 or "only" 12-28 available when crossing is pretty irrelevant. The hydraulic disc brakes are also fully convincing, only the Tiagra lever is rather clumsy compared to the Ultegra counterpart.

The use of a normal compact crank with 50/34 teeth (instead of the Cross gradation 46/36) shows that the Focus Mares AL Tiagra sees itself as an all-rounder, can be used as a training racing bike with road tires or as a touring bike - threaded eyelets for a luggage rack are available . The seat geometry, which has been relaxed compared to the carbon frame, also suits this purpose: with the same head tube length, the aluminum models are 15 to 19 mm shorter, depending on size, which leads to a more compact sitting position.

Focus Mares AL Tiagra – can a modern cross bike weigh 10 kilos?

It is clear that an aluminum crosser in this price range cannot be a lightweight. Our test bike in size L weighs 9,85 kg plus pedals; with other components and add-on parts, you can easily save 600 to 700 grams - not to mention the wheels. These are significantly lighter than those on the previous Focus Mares AX 2.0 model, and the wheels fitted with DT Swiss rims are now "tubeless compatible". Unfortunately, Focus only mounts the "Performance Line" of the slightly rolling and rather snappy Schwalbe X-One on the AL Tiagra; if you want to switch to tubeless, which ensures significantly better handling, especially when cross-country skiing, you have to retrofit the appropriate tires.

Despite these factors, the bike cuts an extremely good figure off-road. With a rather slack steering angle, the Mares is very directional, which has a positive effect on sandy passages, for example; however, it never seems sluggish. A high frame rigidity is a matter of course for the aluminum crosser, and its propulsion is hardly slowed down by the ample total weight. The ten kilos of the Focus Mares AL Tiagra are only really noticeable when carrying it, the flattened top tube at least offers some comfort on the shoulders.

At the end of the test ride, one thing is clear: If you don't want to spend more than 1.500 euros for a state-of-the-art cyclocross bike, you can hardly avoid the Focus Mares Tiagra. The bike leaves nothing to be desired, there is only one thing we would like to ask the manufacturer: Focus should offer the frame set individually with the Mares AL 105 paint finish. Then an aluminum crosser could be built individually in the look of the carbon top model, for example with the SRAM Apex, which does not appear in the Cloppenburg bike manufacturer's cross-country program. However, since this is likely to be at the expense of complete wheel sales, it will probably remain a dream...