Under the "Freestyle" label, Focus is presenting unusual, colourful paint jobs for the Paralane, Mares, Izalco Max Disc and, as pictured, the lightweight road racer Izalco Max models. However, a daring study by the Cloppenburg-based manufacturer is likely to cause a much bigger stir: a racing bike with an electric motor. Focus calls the amazingly perfectly styled e-road bike Project Y, which was developed around a drive and battery module from the Munich start-up Fazua. Unlike other licence-free e-bikes, the Project Y is not a pedelec with a motor that provides support up to a speed of 25 km/h. Instead, the bike with its Dura-Ace Di2 disc groupset and carbon wheels, which weigh 12 kilos, can be ridden normally like a racing bike without assistance. The assistance only kicks in when the rider actively calls for it. The Fazua drive delivers up to 400 watts on hills, off-road or when pedalling. The first studies were not yet ready to ride; the three equipment variants derived from the Paralane all-road model as a road racer, gravel bike and adventure bike are not yet series models, but are intended as suggestions to illustrate the versatility of the frame platform. Focus itself does not yet know exactly where the journey with the Project Y will take it. However, the concept is certainly exciting.
Further information: www.focus-bikes.com
