Is ABS the Future of Mountain Biking? | Focus Thron² 6.8 Review

Focus has quietly developed what is likely the most diverse range of e-bikes offered by any major brand in 2026. From the light and zippy VAM² SL right through to the thundering long travel SAM², there seems to be a Focus E-MTB to fit just about any bill across the 20 different models on offer. Sitting right in the middle of the range is the Thron range of bikes, the bike we have on test is the Focus Thron 6.8, designed for mountain touring and flowing singletrack.

By designing a bike which prioritises comfort, integration and cutting edge technology Focus promises a bike that focuses (pun intended) on the pure experience of riding – boosted by the latest Bosch CX motor. As a card-carrying member of the ‘I am a core mountain biker who enjoys pedalling’ club I was curious to see if the Thron could inspire me to take the path less travelled and enjoy a different side of mountain biking. Let’s go! 

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Initial Impressions

The Focus Thron 6.8 ABS model sent to us for test is the top spec version of the Focus Thron available, coming in at $7999 – impressive when you consider the drive unit and specification on offer. As the name suggests, the build kit on this bike is headlined by the inclusion of Bosch’s own ABS control module, which has been designed to improve safety for riders while also decreasing the anxiety of difficult braking scenarios. 

Through the use of wheel sensors and inclinometers, the ABS module detects if the front wheel is about to lock up or if the rear wheel is going to lift under heavy braking. Depending on which setting you have selected through the Bosch Kiox 400c headunit, the ABS module kicks in and decreases the braking force to ensure the front wheel doesn’t lock up or you don’t go over the bars. The module itself is placed in-line with the front brake, mounted directly to the left hand fork leg, with two small cables running back to the head tube for power and control. 

Sitting at the heart of the Focus Thron 6.8 is the fifth generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor, powered by either a 600Wh (tested) or 800Wh PowerTube battery depending on your chosen specification. 

All this technology is housed within a fairly futuristic looking aluminium frame featuring oodles of integration – something that is becoming common on e-bikes from European brands. All of the handlebar mounted cables go through a port at the front of the headset, which integrates nearly through Focus’ own CIS stem. 

This cable integration includes a cable for a front light (sold separately) along with the required power cables for the Bosch Kiox 400c display and ABS module. The ‘next millennium’ theme continues with Focus’ inclusion of a USB-C charging port on the top tube, the inclusion of an AirTag holder and a rear light that’s integrated into the seat stays. Welcome to 2026.

On the mechanical end of things, Focus has chosen parts that are familiar to us here at AMB. The 140mm Rock Shox Deluxe air shock is nestled under the top tube and driven by a small yoke. The 150mm travel Rock Shox Psylo fork up front is also air sprung, while also having compression and rebound adjustment. 

TRP Trail EVO brakes are tasked with slowing down this beast of a bike, as the 4-piston calipers are mated up to 203mm rotors. The drivetrain is entirely Shimano Deore, excluding the 165mm crank and 36 tooth chainring which are provided by Samox. Size specific dropper posts have been included, with the travel varying across the size range from 125mm on the small right through to 200mm on the XL we have on test. A pair of WTB Sti30 29” wheels finish the package off, which are tubeless ready when combined with the Maxxis Minion DHF EXO casing tyres. Actual weight of the XL test bike came in at 26.5kg. 

On arrival at home, the Focus Thron’s ABS cables were loose and needed to be tidied up. We here at AMB have been yelling into the sky about headset cable routing for the past few years, so I am not going to repeat myself here but to be put simply – we are not into it. Once the cables were sorted I set the bike up tubeless. Much to my surprise, sealant and valves were not included with the bike, so I had to dive into my personal stash to get the Thron up and running. The install was smooth and simple, but regardless tubeless valves and sealant are things I would expect to be included with a bike costing $8000. 

If a Focus Thron 6.8 is on your wish-list, your local bike shop should have the cables sorted and tubeless set up before you go – if you’re not sure it’s good to ask ahead of taking it home.

The Focus Thron 6.8 On The Trail

After setting the recommended pressure in the fork and the shock to 25% sag, it was time to get out on the trails. Focus touts this bike as a comfortable all-rounder, and my first ride did nothing but confirm that. The geometry is fairly upright and tall, putting the rider in a very relaxed position that keeps weight off the hands – perfect for the mountain bike tourer. On the XL test bike we have a 140mm head tube, 66° head tube angle, 75.5° seat tube angle and subtle 30mm bottom bracket drop which all combine with the 30mm ride handlebar to provide a very tall riding position regardless of if you are seated or standing. 

Happily, I headed straight to some steep local fire roads to see how well the bike and its Bosch CX motor could whizz me up the hills. This is where I first noticed yet more features to the bike which add to its adventure capabilities. The saddle has dense yet comfortable padding, which does a great job of holding you in place as climbs get steep. Long chainstays are also a fantastic thing to have if you are chasing stability, predictability and comfort on wider and less technical trails, proven by the 455mm stays on the Thron. 

My weight felt tall yet central on the bike even as the grade got over 20%, as the front end maintained good contact with the ground. Traction was ample, although could have been increased with alternate tyre choices – but more on that later. 

Technical climbing was also good fun on the Focus Thron, and in all honesty the climbs quickly became one of my favourite things to do on the bike during my time with it. The weight of the bike, power of the motor and length of the chassis combined to make a bit of a freight-train of a machine that climbed more like a motocross bike than it did a mountain bike. 

Rather than being delicate and picking lines I was selecting Bosch’s ‘Auto’ mode and smashing up the middle of the trail with a massive grin on my face. While shorter riders may find the bike a bit of a handful, given the 455mm chainstay length and 26+kg weight, I found it a perfect match for my 193cm frame. 

Small bump sensitivity off the top of the stroke did seem to be lacking from the Rock Shox Psylo fork, with deflections being quite noticeable when combined with the single casing tyres with high pressures. I think it would be wise for Focus to specify even just the larger sizes of the Thron with more supportive tyre casings, allowing lower pressures and increased compliance.

Once the fire roads flattened out I spent some time playing with the ABS settings on the bike. While it went against every fibre of my being, I decided to pedal full gas and slam the front brake on – all in the name of science. As expected, the ABS module registers that the front wheel is going to lock up and releases the braking pressure accordingly. 

I can really see this as being a useful integration and safety measure for riders who are newer to the sport, or alternatively newer to controlling the weight of an e-bike. The ABS system allows you to be really aggressive on the brakes without having to worry about going over the bars or washing out, something that could happen easily if you panic and grab a handful. 

I also tested the rear wheel lift feature, although I found it quite unsettling that the system decreased braking pressure when trying to do a small endo or euro turn. Through most of my single track riding and descending on the bike I was most comfortable with the ABS turned off, while leaving it on while commuting or riding fire roads, but I can absolutely see a best-use case scenario for newer riders, or those new to e-biking.

To really get the most out of descending on the Thron I needed to channel my inner Bruce Lee. ‘Flow like water’, I think to myself as I pilot the Thron down the local blue and black-diamond flow trails. The long wheelbase and heavy weight demands respect and forward planning, as it takes quite some effort and finesse to change direction or stop quickly once the big rig gets moving. 

Get it right and you’ll be effortlessly cruising down singletrack, enjoying the stable chassis and upright riding position. Get it wrong and you will quickly find the limit of the brakes, tyres and suspension. Over jumps and bumps the bike is surprisingly quiet, particularly when you consider how many cables there are in and around the handlebars. 

The clutch on the Shimano Deore rear mech did a great job of minimising chain slap, as did the integrated frame protectors on the chain and seat stays. As mentioned in the climbing portion of this review, I would really like to see size specific chainstays and tyre specification introduced on this bike to make it a more appropriate pick for all riders. The chainstay length was fine for a rider as tall as myself, however a shorter rider is going to have a very tough time lifting up the front wheel or weighting the rear tyre. On the smallest model the reach is actually 40mm shorter than the rear end, which in my mind would make manoeuvring this bike near impossible in technical and tight terrain. 

I would like to see more supportive tyres included on at least the large and extra large models of the Thron. Throughout testing I was running 35psi in the rear tyre just to get the casing support required from the Maxxis EXO Minions, which meant small bump absorption and traction were sacrificed as a result. 

The shock had plenty of support at 25% sag, and although I would have preferred to run a little less air that would have sacrificed some performance through low speed compressions and off jump faces, where the firmer setup I was running helped to keep the bike feeling more alive. 

Across testing, I calculated that I was averaging around 18Wh/km for battery usage. On these rides I was anything but conservative with my power output, leaving the bike on boost and riding up the steepest fire roads I could find. Even doing this I was eking out around 30km and 1200m of climbing from the 600Wh battery – numbers that could easily be significantly increased with some more delicacy and battery conservation behavior.   

I managed to put a few hundred kilometres on the Thron during my time with it, and did have a few minor issues that are worth mentioning. First, the rear hub developed some play at the interface between the bearings and the hub body. Second, the tabs which hold the quick release battery cover in place snapped off. Both of these issues were discussed with Focus and were quickly flagged as warranty issues, with no cost to the consumer required to rectify them. Finally, the headset started creaking – something I have experienced on every bike I’ve ridden with headset cable routing. It’s something that is easily fixed with a quick pull apart and re-grease, but annoying nonetheless. 

Our Take

The Focus Thron² 6.8 ABS is designed as a comfortable, adventure ready e-bike that is at home on both fire roads and flowing single track. After a few months of riding I have to say, they nailed the brief. While I did have some criticism of the parts specification and integrations on this bike, at its core what Focus have delivered is a bike that can power you past the next horizon. For riders who prioritise adventure above all else, and want a pedal-assist bike to help them take the path less travelled, the Thron is worth considering.

Focus Thron 6.8 ABS Specs

Brand: Focus
Model: Focus THRON² 6.8 ABS
RRP: $7999
Weight: 26.5kg (actual, XL)
From: focus-bikes.com
Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL (tested)
Frame Material: Aluminium
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX
Battery: Bosch PowerTube Li-Ion 600Wh
Fork: RockShox Psylo Silver RC 150mm
Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select DebonAir+ 140mm
Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100 12sp
Derailleur: Shimano Deore M6100 12sp
Crank: Samox 165mm
Chain: Shimano CN-M6100
Cassette: Shimano CS-M6100 10-51t
Hubs: Shimano HB-TC500, FH-TC500
Rims: WTB STi30, Alloy
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF TR EXO 29×2.5”
Brakes: TRP Trail EVO ABS
Rotors: TRP RS01E 203mm
Stem: FOCUS CIS 2.0 50mm
Handlebar: JD 30mm rise 800mm
Seatpost: Moderne DP-212 200mm (XL)
Saddle: Selle Italia X3 Boost

Geometry & sizing