Focus Atlas 6.8 gravel bike review

While slightly late to the gravel party, the Focus Atlas is a tough, versatile, adaptable and enjoyable way to leave your troubles far behind

Focus Atlas 6.8
(Image: © Future / Guy Kesteven)

Cyclingnews Verdict

A comfortable and easy cruiser with reassuring-rather-than-radical handling, and a standout smooth ride at a good price

Pros

  • +

    Smooth ride

  • +

    Multiple load fixtures

  • +

    Good value

  • +

    Neat cabling

  • +

    Big tyre clearance

  • +

    Suspension fork and dropper post compatible

  • +

    Top tube bag as standard

  • +

    Boost axles

Cons

  • -

    Relatively heavy

  • -

    Not as radical as suggested

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Focus has been a little late to the best gravel bike party but its new Atlas gravel bike should find favour with the burgeoning off-road audience: it's an alloy cruiser with all the barnacles needed to mount up your essentials and head out into the wilderness. Named after the African mountain range it was designed to tackle, according to Focus the Atlas boasts compatibility with a dropper post, suspension fork and 650b tyres. 

It's fair to say that Focus has arrived pretty late to the gravel party, however rather than charging full steam ahead of the pack, the marketing and ride of the Atlas show that the brand is happy to roll in with an easy-going, exploration cruiser. If you’re not fussed about having the lightest, fastest ride then the result is a tough, versatile, future-proofed and fun all-rounder for the dirtier, more distant side of drop-bar riding.