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Focus Izalco Max vs Specialized Tarmac SL7
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 Focus Izalco Max starts €800 cheaper (€2,499 vs €3,299 for the Specialized Tarmac SL7).
- Our verdict scores the Focus Izalco Max higher overall: 73/100 vs 71/100.
- The Focus Izalco Max's lightest build is 0.07 kg lighter (8.2 kg vs 8.27 kg).
- Tire clearance: up to 30 mm on the Focus Izalco Max vs 32 mm on the Specialized Tarmac SL7.
Focus Izalco Max
Specialized Tarmac SL7
| FocusIzalco Max | SpecializedTarmac SL7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Focus | Specialized |
| Build | Izalco Max 8.9 | Tarmac SL7 Sport - Shimano 105 |
| Build notes | Colours Red and Black. Claimed weight in size M without pedals. EUR price from Focus's German shop. No power meter. | Colours: Gloss Oasis Tint Silver Dust (US), Gloss Black (Germany), Gloss White. Not listed on Specialized's UK store. Weight of a painted production bike as pictured. |
| Price (MSRP) | €4,299€4,299€4,299 | €3,299$3,300€3,299 |
| Bike weight | 8.2 kg18.1 lb | 8.27 kg18.2 lb |
| Weight measured on size | M | 56 |
| Model year | 2026 | 2021 |
| Generation | 4th generation (G4), 8 series | SL7 |
| Launched | 2023-10 | 2020-07 |
| Newer generation | — | SL8 (2023) |
| Discipline | Aero road | Aero road |
| UCI legal | Yes | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 73 | 71 |
| Aero | 68 | 58 |
| Frame | 70 | 60 |
| Components | 58 | 55 |
| Fit | 74 | 82 |
| Practicality | 72 | 76 |
| Price | 100 | 98 |
| Weight | 72 | 71 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon ('MAX technology', 8 series) | FACT 9r Carbon |
| Fork material | Carbon (same fork on the 8 and 9 series) | FACT Carbon |
| Frame weight | 1,050 g2.31 lb | 1,010 g2.23 lb |
| Weight measured on | Frame, as listed on Focus's 8-series product pages (size not stated) | Frame 1,010 g as stated by Specialized on the Tarmac SL7 Sport product page |
| Max system weight | 110 kg242.5 lb | — |
| Frame sizes | XXS (470), XS (500), S (520), M (540), L (560), XL (580), XXL (610) | 44, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61 |
| Colours | Red or Black (8.9), Black or Blue (8.8), Grey (8.7) | Gloss Oasis Tint Silver Dust, Gloss White, Gloss Black (varies by region) |
| Also available as | Izalco Max 9 series with a lighter carbon frame (865 g claimed) and a one-piece Reserve cockpit | Tarmac SL9 (FACT 10r) and S-Works Tarmac SL9 (FACT 12r), the current generation |
| 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 (160 mm front, 140 mm rear mount; 160/160 mm rotors fitted) | Hydraulic disc, flat mount |
| Max rotor size | 160 mm | — |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 30 mm | 32 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | BB86 press-fit (SRAM DUB86 PF41 / Shimano Pressfit BB86 as built) | BSA threaded, 68 mm |
| Front axle | — | 12x100 mm thru-axle |
| Rear axle | 12x142 thru-axle | 12x142 mm 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 | Internal through the Focus C.I.S. headset system | Internal (Clean Routing) |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Cockpit | 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 | Focus Aero Carbon D-shape seatpost; 0 mm setback on XXS-L and 15 mm on XL-XXL | S-Works Tarmac Carbon seatpost, 20 mm offset, Tarmac integrated wedge |
| 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. | Seven sizes from 44 to 61 cm in the geometry chart; the US store offers 44-58 and the German store 44-61. Stock bar width 360 mm (44) to 440 mm (58-61), stem 70 mm (44) to 110 mm (58-61), crank 165 mm (44-49) to 175 mm (58-61). |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Tube profile | — | FreeFoil-shaped tubes, dropped seatstays |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Headset bearings | Acros IS52 top and bottom (integrated C.I.S.) | — |
| 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 | 6-year warranty on the carbon frame and fork for the original owner (2 years on paint) | — |
| Sold via | Through Focus dealers, and online from Focus in some countries (e.g. Germany) | Specialized retailers and specialized.com |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | Shimano 105 R7100 |
| Launched | 2025 · current generation | 2023 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | No |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Shifters | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | — |
| Notes | Combined shift and hydraulic brake levers | — |
| Crankset | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | Shimano 105 R7100 |
| Chainrings | 48/35 | 52/36 |
| Crank lengths available | 165 mm (XXS-XS), 170 mm (S-L), 172.5 mm (XL), 175 mm (XXL) | 165 mm (44-49), 170 mm (52), 172.5 mm (54-56), 175 mm (58-61) |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB PF86 | Shimano Threaded BSA |
| Standard | BB86 press-fit | BSA threaded, 68 mm |
| Front derailleur | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | Shimano 105 R7100 |
| Notes | — | Braze-on |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | Shimano 105 R7100 |
| Cassette | SRAM Rival XG-1250 | Shimano 105 R7100 |
| Range | 10-36 | 11-34 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | SRAM Rival E1 | Shimano CN-M7100 |
| Notes | — | SLX M7100 chain |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake calipers | SRAM Rival AXS E1 | Shimano 105 |
| Type | Hydraulic disc, flat mount | Hydraulic disc |
| Rotors | SRAM Paceline | — |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | — |
| Rear rotor | 160 mm | — |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Reserve 40|44 Road | DT Swiss R470 |
| Front rim depth | 40 mm | — |
| Rear rim depth | 44 mm | — |
| Internal rim width | 25 mm | 20 mm |
| Material | Carbon | Aluminium |
| Tubeless ready | — | Yes |
| Hubs | — | Specialized sealed-bearing thru-axle hubs, Centerlock, 24H |
| Spokes | — | DT Swiss Champion 14G stainless steel, brass nipples |
| Notes | Internal width 25.5 mm front, 25 mm rear | — |
| Tires | Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR | Specialized Turbo Pro |
| Tire width | 29 mm | 26 mm |
| Notes | Listed by Focus as Corsa N.EXT wide, tubeless ready | — |
| Cockpit | ||
| Handlebar | Focus Road Bar | Specialized Shallow Drop |
| Type | — | Drop bar |
| Widths available | 380 mm (XXS-S), 400 mm (M-L), 420 mm (XL-XXL) | 360 mm (44), 380 mm (49), 400 mm (52), 420 mm (54-56), 440 mm (58-61) as fitted by size |
| Bar reach | 74 mm | 70 mm |
| Bar drop | 116 mm | 125 mm |
| Flare | 4° | — |
| Material | Aluminium | 6061 alloy |
| Notes | 31.8 mm clamp | 31.8 mm clamp |
| Stem | Focus C.I.S. 2.0 | Specialized Tarmac integrated stem |
| Stem length | 80-120 mm by size | 70 mm (44), 80 mm (49), 90 mm (52), 100 mm (54-56), 110 mm (58-61) |
| Notes | Integrated C.I.S. stem, -8°, with Garmin/Wahoo computer mount | 6 degrees |
| Headset | Acros IS52/IS52 (ICR), FOCUS C.I.S. | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Fizik Vento Antares R5 | Specialized Power Sport |
| Widths available | — | 155 mm (44-52), 143 mm (54-61) |
| Rails | — | Steel |
| Seatpost | Focus Aero Carbon D-shape | Specialized S-Works Tarmac Carbon Seatpost |
| Offset / setback | 0 mm (XXS-L), 15 mm (XL-XXL) | 20 mm |
| Material | Carbon | FACT carbon |
| Notes | — | 300 mm long (44-52), 380 mm (54-61); Tarmac integrated wedge binder |
| Bar tape | — | Supacaz Super Sticky Kush |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL | 44, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61 |
| Stack | 500–611 mm19.7–24.1″ | 501–612 mm19.7–24.1″ |
| Reach | 370–420 mm14.6–16.5″ | 366–408 mm14.4–16.1″ |
| Seat tube angle | 73–75° | 73–75.5° |
| Head tube angle | 70–73° | 70.5–74° |
| Head tube length | 90–195 mm3.5–7.7″ | 99–204 mm3.9–8″ |
| Effective top tube | 505–607 mm19.9–23.9″ | 496–595 mm19.5–23.4″ |
| Seat tube length | 455–585 mm17.9–23″ | 433–545 mm17–21.5″ |
| Chainstay | 410 mm16.1″ | 410 mm16.1″ |
| Wheelbase | 975–1,033 mm38.4–40.7″ | 970–1,013 mm38.2–39.9″ |
| BB drop | 72 mm2.8″ | 72–74 mm2.8–2.9″ |
| BB height | — | 266–268 mm10.5–10.6″ |
| Fork length | 371.5 mm14.6″ | 370 mm14.6″ |
| Fork offset | 46 mm1.8″ | 44–47 mm1.7–1.9″ |
| Trail | — | 52–71 mm2–2.8″ |
| Front centre | — | 572–613 mm22.5–24.1″ |
| Standover | 746–857 mm29.4–33.7″ | 723–834 mm28.5–32.8″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Crank length | 165–175 mm6.5–6.9″ | 165–175 mm6.5–6.9″ |
| Stem length | 80–120 mm3.1–4.7″ | 70–110 mm2.8–4.3″ |
| Handlebar width | 380–420 mm15–16.5″ | 360–440 mm14.2–17.3″ |
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).