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Aug 01, 2023

Focus doubles down on Boost

Carbon-framed Atlas is designed for the long haul This competition is now

Carbon-framed Atlas is designed for the long haul

This competition is now closed

By Oscar Huckle

Published: April 4, 2023 at 1:00 pm

The new Focus Atlas 8 is a carbon-framed alternative to the Atlas 6 aluminium gravel bike, teeming with mounting points for long-distance bikepacking adventures.

The Atlas 8 gravel bikes have a comparable geometry to the Atlas 6 series and a fully integrated front end.

Focus is also sticking to its guns with the Road Boost axle standard used on its aluminium sibling.

Prices start from £2,899 / €2,999 for the Atlas 8.7 and rise to £4,199 / €4,299 for the Atlas 8.9. The bikes will not be available in the USA and Australian pricing is to be confirmed.

At the heart of the Atlas 8 is an all-new carbon frame. Focus says it uses three types of carbon to find a balance between stiffness for fast acceleration and stability at higher speeds, as well as being durable and delivering a compliant ride.

The seatstays’ carbon layup and profiles are optimised for flex and comfort on rough terrain, according to the brand.

Focus claims an unpainted size-medium frame weighs 995g, and says the bike is 1.7kg lighter than the 6 series, but doesn't provide a model comparison or size.

The Atlas 8 has clearance for 700c x 45mm or 650b x 2in gravel bike tyres.

Focus includes rubber protection underneath the base of the down tube to protect against rock strikes, as well as on the driveside chainstay.

The Atlas 8 uses a round 27.2mm seatpost and is compatible with a dropper post. It runs on a press-fit BB86 bottom bracket standard.

Like the Atlas 6, Focus is sticking to its guns with Boost axle spacing.

Almost all modern disc brake road and gravel bikes use a 100x12mm front thru-axle and a 142x12mm rear.

The Boost standard, which is used more commonly on mountain bikes, sees this change to 110x12mm at the front and 148x12mm out back.

Focus says using Boost spacing means the bike "delivers high stability and the best spoke tension at the same time".

This will make upgrading to a set of the best gravel wheels more difficult. You’ll need to use mountain bike wheels or re-lace the rim on a gravel wheelset to a Boost-spaced hub.

The rear thru-axle specced on the Atlas 8 bikes includes 4 and 6mm hex keys, as well as a bottle opener for a refreshing post-ride beverage.

The Atlas 8 can accept three water bottles – two inside the main triangle and another underneath the down tube towards the bottom bracket junction.

There are bento box mounts on the top tube and the bikes come with a top tube bag.

Three mounting eyelets adorn each fork leg, with Focus saying you can load up to 3kg either side.

The Atlas 8 has a total system weight limit of 120kg.

Focus is debuting its new Adventure Rack on the Atlas 8. The rack is mounted on the seatstay bridge and at the seatstay-dropout junction.

Like the fork mounts, Focus says you can load up to 3kg on each side and claims it won't wobble, even on rough terrain.

You can also fit mudguards (Focus makes its own, or you can use an aftermarket option) and the Adventure Rack at the same time.

The Atlas 8 is fully integrated. The Atlas 6 routes its cables and hoses externally before they enter a port through the headset cover.

Focus is introducing its upgraded C.I.S. (Cockpit Integration Solution) on the Atlas 8. A similar system exists on the brand's Izalco Max road bike.

This sees the cables and hoses run into the stem from the handlebars, before passing through the upper headset bearing.

Focus says this new solution is backwards-compatible with the Atlas 6.

Because the cables aren't exposed, Focus says the move to full integration provides more real estate to mount bikepacking bags.

The stem is offered in 70 to 120mm lengths and Focus uses two-piece headset spacers so you can easily adjust the handlebar height.

Focus also makes a specific bike computer mount for the stem that attaches at the faceplate, as well as a fitting underneath for a GoPro or front light.

If you’re running a bag at the front, Focus also produces a top-cap mounting option.

Like the Atlas 6, Focus says it has designed the Atlas 8 around a longer reach and shorter stem, albeit with some differences.

The stem lengths are 10mm longer than on the Atlas 6, so a size medium now comes with a 90 rather than 80mm stem.

Focus has also shortened the head tube length for a "more sporty geometry with a lower riding position". This is combined with a lower stack.

The short 425mm chainstay length is designed to make the bike "playful and agile".

Like the Atlas 6, all bikes have a slack 70.5-degree head tube angle and 73.5-degree seat tube angle (with the exception of the XS size, which has a 74-degree seat tube angle).

Technical writer

Oscar Huckle is a technical writer at BikeRadar. He has been an avid cyclist since his teenage years, initially catching the road cycling bug and riding for a local club. He's since been indoctrinated into gravel riding and more recently has taken to the dark art of mountain biking. His favourite rides are epic road or gravel routes, and he has also caught the bikepacking bug hard after completing the King Alfred's Way and West Kernow Way. Oscar has a BA degree in English Literature and Film Studies and has close to a decade of cycling industry experience, initially working in a variety of roles at Evans Cycles before joining Carbon Bike Repair. He is particularly fond of workshop tool exotica and is a proponent of Campagnolo groupsets. Oscar prefers lightweight road and gravel frames with simple tube shapes, rather than the latest trend for aerodynamics and full integration. He is obsessed with keeping up to date with all the latest tech, is fixated with the smallest details and is known for his unique opinions.

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