"You have to ride a race enduro bike. They're awesome!", my colleague and enduro racer Chris Schleker told me. At the time, he had beaten seven of these super speedsters over the trails in Finale Ligure. And yes: I was also attracted to these high-powered speed machines. Thanks to their downhill-orientated geo, they are supposed to iron down everywhere and accelerate like ball lightning thanks to their gram-foxing. But the name abbreviation "Race" also somehow obliges. Or is it possible to ride a race enduro bike without any racing at all? Because I have a racing phobia. Wet palms, gasping for breath and stomach pains like I used to have before an English vocabulary test attack me as soon as I even think about the stopwatch. So now: confrontation method! Because if I'm going to choose such a device as my endurance test bike, I have to at least take part in a race.
After extensive test rides (we had tested all the racers), I chose the Focus Sam 1.0 because I felt comfortable on it as soon as I sat on it, even though the rather stretched seating position was new to me. I also liked the powerful chassis, the geo and the simple look: straight black pipes with subtle red lettering. I made very few changes to the equipment. I replaced the Fizik Gobi saddle with a comfortable 66Sick saddle and fitted Conti Baron tyres.
If you live in Munich, you know what you ride most often here: Isar trails. So I pedalled my Sam up and down the Isar. According to the calendar, exactly 108 times (January to October). The trail undulates up and down the forest floor, with short climbs and fast, rooty descents. This is fun for those whose bike accelerates quickly. The Sam does this quite well, but it only really comes into its own when the trail starts to descend steeply. Thanks to the slack steering angle and long wheelbase (1178 millimetres), it provides a hell of a lot of security and tempts the rider to take their hands off the brakes. The Sam then lives up to its enduro genre in the bump dip. The chassis harmonises. Even if the fork was too willing to rush through its travel. On test rides with other bikes, I felt that the RockShox Pike RCT3 felt much more potent than the built-in RC. Unfortunately, nothing can be done with token tuning on this model. I was delighted with the Reynolds carbon wheels. Never before have my wheels remained so intact in an endurance test. I have never regretted deciding in favour of the Sam. Even when another batch of new test bikes arrived. Oh, I almost forgot: I didn't go racing after all. Bad?
ConclusionThe Sam 1.0 is a thoroughbred race bike. It wants to be ridden fast - even on rough descents. It was not fully convincing on winding trails. The weight reduction of approx. 600 grams in the new carbon model is good for it.
PLUS Smooth running, equipment, wheels
MINUS Lack of manoeuvrability
GENERAL INFORMATION
Distribution Derby Cycle Werke GmbH
Material / Sizes Aluminium/S, M, L
Price / weight without pedals 4999 Euro/13.1 kg
Measurement data
Front/rear suspension travel 160 mm/160 mm
Reach / Stack 436 mm/596 mm
Steering seat tube angle 66°/75,3°
Top tube length / chainstays 569 mm/436 mm
Wheelbase / bottom bracket 1178 mm/338 mm
Legend to the picture above: Laurin Lehner in a trail outfit. Helmet (Troy Lee A1, €150), jersey (Mondraker Enduro Jersey, €42), lightweight shorts (Royal Hexlite, €80), socks (no name, from mum), shoes (Adidas Terrex Trailcross, €130).
Laurin Lehner
Editor
