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Berria Belador Essential vs Focus Izalco Max
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The Berria Belador Essential starts €500 cheaper (€1,999 vs €2,499 for the Focus Izalco Max).
- Our verdict scores both 73/100 overall.
- Tire clearance: up to 32 mm on the Berria Belador Essential vs 30 mm on the Focus Izalco Max.
- The Berria Belador Essential comes in 5 sizes, the Focus Izalco Max in 7.
Berria Belador Essential
Focus Izalco Max
| BerriaBelador Essential | FocusIzalco Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Berria | Focus |
| Build | Belador Essential 105 Di2 CW | Izalco Max 8.9 |
| Build notes | Top Essential build: 105 Di2 with Vision TC45 carbon wheels ('CW'); no power meter. White Pearl-Red Racing 'Collection' paint. Model code PT27.10.10. | Colours Red and Black. Claimed weight in size M without pedals. EUR price from Focus's German shop. No power meter. |
| Price (MSRP) | €3,099€3,099€3,099 | €4,299€4,299€4,299 |
| Bike weight | — | 8.2 kg18.1 lb |
| Weight measured on size | — | M |
| Model year | 2027 | 2026 |
| Generation | Belador 6G | 4th generation (G4), 8 series |
| Launched | 2024-10 | 2023-10 |
| Discipline | Aero road | Aero road |
| UCI legal | Not stated | Yes |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 73 | 73 |
| Aero | 64 | 68 |
| Frame | 70 | 70 |
| Components | 58 | 58 |
| Fit | 74 | 74 |
| Practicality | 70 | 72 |
| Price | 100 | 100 |
| Weight | — | 72 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon (HM2X: Toray T700 and T800 intermediate-modulus fibre; triple monocoque with EPS cores) | Carbon ('MAX technology', 8 series) |
| Fork material | Carbon (Belador Blade 6, internal routing) | Carbon (same fork on the 8 and 9 series) |
| Frame weight | — | 1,050 g2.31 lb |
| Weight measured on | — | Frame, as listed on Focus's 8-series product pages (size not stated) |
| Max system weight | — | 110 kg242.5 lb |
| Frame sizes | 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 | XXS (470), XS (500), S (520), M (540), L (560), XL (580), XXL (610) |
| Colours | White Pearl-Red Racing (105 and 105 Di2 CW builds), Black-Red Racing (105 Di2 build) | Red or Black (8.9), Black or Blue (8.8), Grey (8.7) |
| Also available as | Belador Pro (HM2X carbon with the aero seatpost and one-piece cockpit) and Belador BR (UHM3X carbon) | Izalco Max 9 series with a lighter carbon frame (865 g claimed) and a one-piece Reserve cockpit |
| UCI frame approval | — | On the UCI list of approved framesets as 'IZALCO MAX G4' (code DCW-IZ06) and 'IZALCO MAX G4 V2' (code DCW-IZ07), both approved 7 Jul 2021 in sizes XXS-XXL (7) (UCI list version 2026.10.02); the list doesn't say which entry is the 8 series. Focus says every Izalco Max complies with UCI rules and carries the sticker |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Hydraulic disc, flat mount | Hydraulic disc, flat mount (160 mm front, 140 mm rear mount; 160/160 mm rotors fitted) |
| Max rotor size | — | 160 mm |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 32 mm | 30 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | T47 | BB86 press-fit (SRAM DUB86 PF41 / Shimano Pressfit BB86 as built) |
| Front axle | 12x100 thru-axle | — |
| Rear axle | 12x142 thru-axle | 12x142 thru-axle |
| Drivetrain compatibility | — | All road groupsets, electronic or mechanical; designed for 2x but 1x is possible |
| Mechanical shifting possible | — | Yes |
| 1x compatible | — | Yes |
| Cable routing | Fully internal (Berria ICS2) | Internal through the Focus C.I.S. headset system |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Cockpit | Separate Avanforce AF3 alloy handlebar; cables routed internally (ICS2) | Focus C.I.S. 2.0 integrated aluminium stem with a separate alloy Road Bar; cables run internally through the C.I.S. headset |
| Seatpost type | Round 27.2 mm alloy seatpost (Avanforce AF3, 0 mm offset) | Focus Aero Carbon D-shape seatpost; 0 mm setback on XXS-L and 15 mm on XL-XXL |
| Fit notes | — | Each size comes with one stem length and bar width (80-120 mm stem, 380-420 mm bar). The C.I.S. stem comes in 70-120 mm lengths and can be swapped through a dealer without removing cables; spacers can be moved above the stem to lower the front. |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Tube profile | Smaller tube sections with less frontal area ('Aero Shape Efficiency' shaping) | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Headset bearings | Oversized semi-integrated (O2HS), 1-1/2 in upper and lower | Acros IS52 top and bottom (integrated C.I.S.) |
| Derailleur hanger | UDH (SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger) | — |
| Maintenance | — | Disc mounts are flat mount 160 mm front and 140 mm rear; Focus fits 160/160 mm rotors. |
| Proprietary parts | — | C.I.S. stem and headset parts, D-shape seatpost, derailleur hanger |
| Frame warranty | 8-year limited frame warranty if the bike is registered within 30 days (otherwise the legal warranty only); 3 years on the fork and on Avanforce bars and seatposts; racing use voids the warranty | 6-year warranty on the carbon frame and fork for the original owner (2 years on paint) |
| Sold via | Online at berriabikes.com and through Berria dealers | Through Focus dealers, and online from Focus in some countries (e.g. Germany) |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 |
| Launched | 2022 · current generation | 2025 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | — | Yes |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Shifters | Shimano 105 Di2 ST-R7170 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 |
| Notes | — | Combined shift and hydraulic brake levers |
| Crankset | Shimano 105 R7100 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 |
| Chainrings | 50/34 | 48/35 |
| Crank lengths available | 170, 172.5 or 175 mm | 165 mm (XXS-XS), 170 mm (S-L), 172.5 mm (XL), 175 mm (XXL) |
| Bottom bracket | Shimano T47 | SRAM DUB PF86 |
| Standard | T47 | BB86 press-fit |
| Front derailleur | Shimano 105 Di2 R7150 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano 105 Di2 R7150 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 |
| Cassette | Shimano 105 R7100 | SRAM Rival XG-1250 |
| Range | 11-34 | 10-36 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M6100 | SRAM Rival E1 |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake calipers | Shimano 105 BR-R7170 | SRAM Rival AXS E1 |
| Type | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc, flat mount |
| Rotors | — | SRAM Paceline |
| Front rotor | — | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | — | 160 mm |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Vision TC45 | Reserve 40|44 Road |
| Front rim depth | 45 mm | 40 mm |
| Rear rim depth | 45 mm | 44 mm |
| Internal rim width | 23 mm | 25 mm |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Tubeless ready | Yes | — |
| Notes | Center Lock rotor mount | Internal width 25.5 mm front, 25 mm rear |
| Tires | Vittoria Zaffiro | Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR |
| Tire width | 28 mm | 29 mm |
| Notes | — | Listed by Focus as Corsa N.EXT wide, tubeless ready |
| Cockpit | ||
| Handlebar | Avanforce AF3 | Focus Road Bar |
| Widths available | 400, 420 or 440 mm | 380 mm (XXS-S), 400 mm (M-L), 420 mm (XL-XXL) |
| Bar reach | — | 74 mm |
| Bar drop | — | 116 mm |
| Flare | — | 4° |
| Material | Aluminium (6061) | Aluminium |
| Notes | — | 31.8 mm clamp |
| Stem | — | Focus C.I.S. 2.0 |
| Stem length | — | 80-120 mm by size |
| Notes | — | Integrated C.I.S. stem, -8°, with Garmin/Wahoo computer mount |
| Headset | — | Acros IS52/IS52 (ICR), FOCUS C.I.S. |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Selle Royal Orma | Fizik Vento Antares R5 |
| Saddle width | 150 mm | — |
| Saddle length | 250 mm | — |
| Rails | Steel | — |
| Seatpost | Avanforce AF3 | Focus Aero Carbon D-shape |
| Offset / setback | 0 mm | 0 mm (XXS-L), 15 mm (XL-XXL) |
| Material | Aluminium (6061) | Carbon |
| Notes | 27.2 mm diameter, 350 or 400 mm long | — |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XS (51), S (53), M (55), L (57), XL (59) | XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL |
| Rider height min | 155–192 cm5′1″–6′4″ | — |
| Rider height max | 165–192 cm5′5″–6′4″ | — |
| Stack | 518–590 mm20.4–23.2″ | 500–611 mm19.7–24.1″ |
| Reach | 369–418 mm14.5–16.5″ | 370–420 mm14.6–16.5″ |
| Seat tube angle | 73.7–74.9° | 73–75° |
| Head tube angle | 70.5–73° | 70–73° |
| Head tube length | 110–180 mm4.3–7.1″ | 90–195 mm3.5–7.7″ |
| Effective top tube | 510–590 mm20.1–23.2″ | 505–607 mm19.9–23.9″ |
| Seat tube length | 445–565 mm17.5–22.2″ | 455–585 mm17.9–23″ |
| Chainstay | 405 mm15.9″ | 410 mm16.1″ |
| Wheelbase | 970–1,018 mm38.2–40.1″ | 975–1,033 mm38.4–40.7″ |
| BB drop | 72–74 mm2.8–2.9″ | 72 mm2.8″ |
| Fork length | 375 mm14.8″ | 371.5 mm14.6″ |
| Fork offset | 42 mm1.7″ | 46 mm1.8″ |
| Trail | 62–83 mm2.4–3.3″ | — |
| Standover | — | 746–857 mm29.4–33.7″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Crank length | — | 165–175 mm6.5–6.9″ |
| Stem length | — | 80–120 mm3.1–4.7″ |
| Handlebar width | — | 380–420 mm15–16.5″ |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).