Focus Raven Review

The Focus Raven Carbon Hardtail was once one of the fastest race hardtails in the World Cup. But the latest evolution wants nothing to do with that. The new Focus Raven is still made of carbon, but otherwise has nothing in common with its predecessor. Can the new school hardtail concept impress?

There are 3 reasons why you should consider a Hardtail when purchasing a mountain bike. Either you have a budget of 2000 € or less, you’re looking for an especially lightweight ride, or you desire a bike that’s going to be a breeze to maintain.

The Focus Raven 8.9 costs €3599 and weighs in at 11.5 kilograms. Although it’s not excessively heavy or exorbitantly priced, it’s not going to knock anyone’s socks off with its price and weight. So, there’s only one reason left to consider buying this bike.

Can the Focus convince with a versatile range of use and a worry-free attitude in the end?

With its 120mm fork, the Focus Raven would fit perfectly into the current trend of the cross-country and marathon racing scene. After all, even the world’s best racers are increasingly opting for 120mm of travel over 100mm. And our extensive racebike concept comparison clearly demonstrates the advantages that this trend brings with a weight penalty of less than one kilogram:

– Bikes handle more securely on descents
– The versatility of bikes is significantly increased
– 120mm bikes offer more fun on the downhill

And all these qualities can also be attributed to the Focus Raven. The upright, comfortable riding position, the Maxxis Recon tires with decent tread, and an overall weight of 11.5 kilograms make it clear:

The development focus of the bike was not on maximizing efficiency. Instead, it seems that the Focus Raven is designed to be a truly off-road capable counterpart to a gravel bike.

In our extensive market overview, you’ll find information and reviews on all available bikes on the market. Using the arrow icon, you can also directly compare geometry data or spec components to ensure you find the perfect bike for your riding style.

Those in search of a sporty race hardtail with 120mm of travel will be happier with a bike like the Rose PDQ, featuring a more aggressive riding position and orientation. With a 120mm head tube on a size L and a 624mm top tube on size L, the sitting position on the Raven is more upright and comfortable.

The majority of upper body weight when seated on the saddle is borne by the buttocks. With a more aggressive riding position, a bit more pre-tension in the thigh and glute muscles allows for a more efficient pedal stroke.

Checking out the specs doesn’t exactly send thrills up the spine at first glance. The Sram Level brakes offer stopping power that’s significantly below the industry average. However, Sram’s mechanical GX drivetrain shifts gears accurately and particularly fits the concept of this bike perfectly. With the cable running from the shifter to the derailleur, there’s no need to worry about the battery life of electronic components.

The fork, which also aligns with the bike’s adventure focus, comes without a handlebar lockout. Overall, the 120mm SID with 35mm stanchions performs well. However, at a price point over 3000 €, other manufacturers typically equip bikes with the higher-tier Select+ model of the fork rather than the entry-level Select model.

Long-travel enduros have set the standard, and now, Focus is leading the pack with hardtails. The storage compartment in the downtube of the Raven provides space for snacks, a spare tube, or even a compact windbreaker. The push-button closure of the hatch can be finely adjusted with a bit of skill, ensuring the lid stays completely rattle-free on the frame.

Thanks to this sleek storage solution, riders can finally ditch the jersey pockets or the tiny saddlebag and still carry the essentials unobtrusively.

The bottom bracket employs the screwed BSA standard for enhanced serviceability. The cables for the Focus Raven only run through the headset, and no longer are routed throgh the stem. This helps for a quick exchange of the Bowden cable for the derailleur or dropper post.

But the design-integrated stem concept implies that the fork must be cut to the exact length if you want to lower the stem. While you can use spacers above the stem as a temporary fix, it completely undermines the intended aesthetic and becomes an eyesore in the rider’s permanent field of view.

On the climb, the Raven ascends solidly, but at 11.5 kg it doesn’t set a climbing benchmark among hardtails. Despite solid tires, the rotating mass (tires, wheels, brake rotors, cassette) is a respectable 4420 grams. The high-quality DT Swiss wheels enable a competitive weight and lend the Raven a touch of sprightliness off the line.

The complete frame conveys an impression of stiffness throughout. There’s no twisting either in the bottom bracket area or in the head tube. However, depending on the rider’s leg muscles and movement on the bike, you might occasionally brush the wide top tube with your thigh while out of the saddle. Still, it’s neither painful nor particularly bothersome. Thanks to the comfortable riding position, one can spend hours in the saddle of the Focus without suffering from back issues or overly strained upper body muscles.

The true strength of the Raven makes itself known when you rise from the saddle or sink it down with the 150 mm Dropper Post. Because on the singletrack, the Raven flexes its all-around capabilities. The tires with solid tread, the increased freedom of movement thanks to the Dropper Post, and the well-performing fork provide the bike with a ride feel that’s worlds apart from that of a stripped-down race bike.

Especially the low bottom bracket and the high front end provide a confident ride feel, even on steep descents. The 66.5-degree head angle further contributes to the bike’s successful overall package. The geometry proves to be truly spot-on for trail riding. When pushing the bike to its limits on a descent, the only shortfall comes in the form of the somewhat underpowered SRAM brakes.

The Focus Raven starts at $1500 and tops out at $3700. We’ve scoped out all the options. With the arrow icon , you can drag and compare each model against any other bike from our extensive market overview.