Focus not only showed us the Sam² at the launch, but also had another surprise up its sleeve. Focus already caused a stir with the Jam² last year. In 2018, the tried-and-tested model, the Focus Jam² C, gets a lighter brother with a carbon fiber main frame, which is around 200 grams lighter than the aluminum model.
Focus Jam² C – In a nutshell
- 140mm E-MTB All Mountain
- Carbon frame with aluminum rear end with 27,5″ Plus or 29″ wheels
- Shimano E8000 drive with 378 Wh battery integrated in the down tube
- Optional TEC Pack for 378 Wh extra battery
- FOLD rear end
- 5 equipment variants 4.999 € – 9.999 €
- from approx. 18,6 kg with pedals
Focus Jam² C – The frame in detail
With the Jam², Focus has already created a very potent E-MTB for all-mountain use. The new carbon version has adopted all the details and geometry of the aluminum version and was able to save another 200 grams thanks to a light carbon main frame. Care was taken to ensure that the carbon frame offers the same stability and so special attention was paid to the position of the fibers. The down tube was specially designed and reinforced to be stable despite the large cut-out.
TEC system
The term "Tailored Energy Concept" hides behind the term TEC and is already known from the Focus Alu Jam² and Sam². Focus wants to ensure that you always have the right amount of energy with you without losing agility. With the Jam² C, a 378 Wh battery is integrated very discreetly and slim into the down tube. 378 Wh is not much in comparison, but it will be enough for most people for the short trail loop and you have a much more manageable bike. If that's not enough, you can also purchase the TEC Pack for €499. The TEC Pack contains an additional battery and various mounts for mounting on the down tube. If you need more range, you put the extra battery on the rail on the down tube and connect the battery to the bike with a cable, then you have a full 756 Wh battery available. As soon as the additional battery is plugged in, the power is only drawn from this. An application example would be, for example: You ride with the additional battery to the distant trail area and then put the battery down there to have a lighter and more agile bike for the trail.
FOLD suspension
The FOLD suspension system is already known from other Focus bikes, such as the Jam or the O1N. Two linkage levers work together with a one-piece rear triangle. The rear triangle has been further developed for the Sam². With the new bike, the focus was not only on absorbing bumps, but also on better traction, whether uphill or downhill. The kinematics of the rear triangle are divided into two phases, first a degressive phase and then a progressive second phase. The degressive first phase has the advantage that it works in the opposite direction when rebounding, practically progressively, and should thus ensure better ground contact of the rear triangle and thus improve traction, whether when braking or accelerating. The bike is very plushy and sensitive at the beginning of the suspension travel. The second phase then offers reserves for larger impacts with a maximum of 140 mm travel and is progressive, but still very effective. The rear end of the FOLD consists of one component. This reduces the unsprung mass and ensures a good central weight distribution of the bike.
Airflow
More and more e-bike batteries are hidden in the down tube, as is the case with the Sam². However, there is often no cooling and drying after washing is also made more difficult, since the batteries are often very dead. The airflow system could also be implemented in the carbon version. Air scoops are attached to the left and right of the head tube. The air can then escape again at the bottom bracket and this creates an air suction that cools the battery or dries out moisture in the shaft.
Focus Jam² C - engine
For the Sam², Focus relies on the tried-and-tested Shimano E8000 motor, as it provides enough power in its various support modes and its construction enables an E-MTB to be constructed very similarly to conventional mountain bikes. The motor offers 250 W of power and is fed by the integrated battery with 378 Wh or optionally with the TEC Pack with an additional 378 Wh. The 3 different modes (Eco, Trail, Boost) are switched using a shifter on the left side of the handlebar, which is similar in form and function to a Shimano DI2 shifter. A small screen is mounted on the handlebars to the right of the stem, which displays the most important data such as speed, battery status, range, current performance, etc. In combination with a Shimano DI2 circuit, the current gear is even displayed. In addition, the motor has a strong pushing aid.
Focus Jam² C – equipment variants
The new carbon e-MTB is available in five different configurations. Two of them feature 5"+ wheels, and the other three feature 27,5" wheels. Starting with four.999 €, with the top version, which is only available with 29″ wheels, at 9.999 € For comparison: The aluminum version with roughly comparable equipment costs 1.000 € less.
Focus Jam² C Plus – equipment variants & geometry
The 27,5" Plus version is available in two configurations and two color options (red & black). It starts with the Focus Jam² C Plus for €4.999 € followed by the Focus Jam² C Plus Pro variant for 6.999 €. The Pro version, including pedals, weighs 19,2 kg in size M.
| Model | Jam² C Plus | Jam² C Plus Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon main frame, aluminum rear triangle | Carbon main frame, aluminum rear triangle |
| Motor | Shimano Steps E8000, 70Nm, 250W | Shimano Steps E8000, 70Nm, 250W |
| Battery | FOCUS TEC, 756 Wh, (378 Wh internal, 378 Wh optional external) | FOCUS TEC, 756 Wh, (378 Wh internal, 378 Wh optional external) |
| Fork | Fox 34 Rhythm, 110x15mm QR, 140mm travel | RockShox Revelation RL, 110x15mm QR, 140mm travel |
| Suspension shocks | Fox DPS, 210/55, hardware: shaft25,0x8mm/body25,0x8mm, custom tune | RockShox Deluxe RT, 210/55, hardware: shaft25,0x8 mm/body25,0x8 mm, custom tune [0T ML3 320] |
| Wheels | Race Face AR40, 584-40, Novatec, 148x12mm / 110x15mm | Race Face AEFFECT PLUS, 584-40, 148x12mm / 110x15mm |
| Tire VR | Maxxis Rekon+ 2.8 | Maxxis Rekon+ 2.8 |
| Tire HR | Maxxis Rekon+ 2.8 | Maxxis Rekon+ 2.8 |
| Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT 8000, 11-speed | Shimano Deore XT 8050, Di2, 11-speed |
| Shifter | Shimano SLX7000 | Shimano Deore XT 8050, Di2 |
| Crank | Shimano E8000 | Shimano E8000 |
| Brake | Shimano Deore M6000, 200mm / 180mm | Shimano XT M8000, 200mm / 180mm |
| Seatpost | Kind Shock E30i, 31,6mm, internal | RockShox Reverb, 31,6mm, internal |
| Saddle | Trail saddle | Trail saddle |
| Stem | BBB, alloy, Di2, 31,8mm, 55mm | BBB, alloy, Di2, 31,8mm, 55mm |
| Handlebar | BBB, aluminum, Di2, flatbar, 760 mm, rise: 0 mm, backsweep: 9° | BBB, aluminum, Di2, flatbar, 760 mm, rise: 0 mm, backsweep: 9° |
| Price | €4.999 | €6.999 |
The geometry was designed for all-mountain use without neglecting the uphill qualities or becoming too extreme. When you look at the geo table, all values are very moderate. Average length chainstays, a moderately slack head angle of 66,5º for downhill qualities and a 74,5° seat angle for decent climbing qualities. The reach (430 mm in M) is rather short. So you sit very centrally on the bike. Tall drivers look down the drain with the Focus Jam² C, as there is no XL version available in carbon. These have to refer to the aluminum version. But it's also very good. Here the geometry data in detail:
Focus Jam² 27,5+
| S | M | L | |
| seat tube (in mm) | 410 | 440 | 470 |
| Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 582 | 602 | 622 |
| head tube (in mm) | 120 | 120 | 140 |
| chainstay (in mm) | 457 | 457 | 457 |
| Wheelbase (in mm) | 1182 | 1202 | 1215 |
| Steering angle (in °) | 66,5 | 66,5 | 66,5 |
| Seat angle (in °) | 74,5 | 74,5 | 74,5 |
| Reach (mm) | 410 | 430 | 445 |
| Stacks (in mm) | 618 | 618 | 636 |
Focus Jam² C 29 – equipment variants & geometry
The Focus Jam² C 29 is available in three trim levels between 4.999 € and 9.999 €. In between is the Pro version for €6.999 €. The highlight of the range is the SL version with carbon rims, XTR components, and Fox Factory suspension. With a carbon frame, the SL version can be reduced to a very light 18,2 kg in size M. However, this also comes with a price tag of just under €10.000.
| Model | Jam² C 29 | Jam² C 29 PRO | Jam² C SL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon main frame, aluminum rear triangle | Carbon main frame, aluminum rear triangle | Carbon main frame, aluminum rear triangle |
| Motor | Shimano Steps E8000, 70Nm, 250W | Shimano Steps E8000, 70Nm, 250W | Shimano Steps E8000, 70Nm, 250W |
| Battery | FOCUS TEC, 756 Wh, (378 Wh internal, 378 Wh optional external) | FOCUS TEC, 756 Wh, (378 Wh internal, 378 Wh optional external) | FOCUS TEC, 756 Wh, (378 Wh internal, 378 Wh optional external) |
| Fork | Fox 34 Rhythm, 110x15mm QR, 140mm travel | RockShox Revelation RL, 110x15mm QR, 140mm travel | Fox 34 Factory, 110x15mm QR, 140mm travel |
| Suspension shocks | Fox DPS, 210/55, hardware: shaft25,0x8mm/body25,0x8mm, custom tune | RockShox Deluxe RT, 210/55, hardware: shaft25,0x8 mm/body25,0x8 mm, custom tune [0T ML3 320] | Fox DPS Factory, 210/55, hardware: shaft25,0x8mm/body25,0x8mm, custom tune |
| Wheels | ace Face AR30, 622-30, Novatec, 148x12mm / 110x15mm | Race Face AEFFECT R, 622-30, 148x12mm / 110x15mm | Race Face Next-R, 662-32, 148x12mm / 110x15mm |
| Tire VR | Continental Trail King SL, 2.4, foldable | Continental Trail King SL, 2.4, foldable | Continental Trail King SL, 2.4, foldable |
| Tire HR | Continental Trail King SL, 2.4, foldable | Continental Trail King SL, 2.4, foldable | Continental Trail King SL, 2.4, foldable |
| Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT 8000, 11-speed | Shimano Deore XT 8050, Di2, 11-speed | Shimano XTR 9050, Di2, 11 speed |
| Shifter | Shimano SLX7000 | Shimano Deore XT 8050, Di2 | Shimano XTR 9050, Di2 |
| Crank | Shimano E8000 | Shimano E8000 | Shimano E8000 |
| Brake | Shimano Deore M6000, 200mm / 180mm | Shimano XT M8000, 200mm / 180mm | Shimano XTR M9020, 200mm / 180mm |
| Seatpost | Kind Shock E30i, 31,6mm, internal | RockShox Reverb, 31,6mm, internal | Fox Transfer Factory 31,6mm, internal |
| Saddle | Trail saddle | Trail saddle | Trail saddle |
| Stem | BBB, alloy, Di2, 31,8mm, 55mm | BBB, alloy, Di2, 31,8mm, 55mm | BBB, alloy, Di2, 31,8mm, 55mm |
| Handlebar | BBB, aluminum, Di2, flatbar, 760 mm, rise: 0 mm, backsweep: 9° | BBB, aluminum, Di2, flatbar, 760 mm, rise: 0 mm, backsweep: 9° | BBB, aluminum, Di2, flatbar, 760 mm, rise: 0 mm, backsweep: 9° |
| Price | €4.999 | €6.999 | €9.999 |
Since the 29er version comes with the same main frame, the geometry is almost identical to the 27,5″ Plus version. Only the chainstays are a bit longer to accommodate the larger 29er tire.
Focus Jam² 29
| S | M | L | |
| seat tube (in mm) | 410 | 440 | 470 |
| Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 582 | 602 | 622 |
| head tube (in mm) | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| chainstay (in mm) | 470 | 470 | 470 |
| Wheelbase (in mm) | 1195 | 1215 | 1230 |
| Steering angle (in °) | 66,5 | 66,5 | 66,5 |
| Seat angle (in °) | 74,5 | 74,5 | 74,5 |
| Reach (mm) | 410 | 430 | 445 |
| Stacks (in mm) | 618 | 618 | 636 |
Focus Jam² C – driving test
The trails around Malaga were sodden. Very rare conditions in the otherwise rather warm and dry Andalusia. But that shouldn't be a problem, because we were traveling with the Focus Jam² C Plus Pro with 2,8″ wide Maxxis Rekon+ Plus tires. First we went over asphalt roads and forest roads to the trailhead in the hills behind Malága. At 19,2 kg, the Focus Jam² C Plus Pro is one of the lighter E-MTBs in its class. This was also noticeable on the climbs. We almost only ran the Shimano Shimano E-8000 motor in Eco mode. We were almost a little underwhelmed in trail mode. Of course, this also speaks for the general uphill qualities of the bike. The geometry was good for the climbs and the rear triangle behaved very neutrally, although you could still lock it. The bike also had a lot of grip on the technical climb and climbed well without lifting the front wheel on steep sections. The Shimano XT Di2 worked very well. The operation is a bit unusual at first, but after a while you get used to it and get along well with it.
With an all-mountain you are of course curious about the downhill qualities. The trails gave a lot to check this. The geometry was designed so that as many riders as possible will be happy with it. That's how the bike feels. The bike can be controlled and moved quickly over the trails, yet it is agile enough for tighter turns. The chassis with the FOLD rear end feels very good and irons out smaller as well as larger impacts well. The tires offer a lot of grip in every situation and give the bike more travel than on paper. It might be a little too vague for some. For riders who want a little more feedback, the 29er with narrower tires would probably be the better choice. I'd probably go for the 29er too, but that's just a preference. The brakes are well dimensioned and should not be overstrained even on longer descents. The short reach makes the bike playful and invites you to jump.
Focus Jam² C – Conclusion
The carbon version of the Jam² is the optimized version of a bike that was already convincing. That's how it drove with a powerful engine, good geometry and well-balanced chassis. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether the 1000 € surcharge is worth it. We definitely had fun with the bike!