The right thing for everyone! According to this motto Focus three new E-MTBs with the brand-new Bosch Performance CX Gen4 motor presented. Instead of building a bike for everything - with potentially many compromises - the Stuttgart-based bike brand is focusing on specialisation. For trail lovers, the popular Jam² has been made sportier and more modern, i.e. longer and flatter, and equipped with a 625 Wh battery. The new throne² emphasises comfort and is designed to appeal to touring bikers as well as everyday cyclists. The Jarifa² hardtail is optionally available in a fully equipped commuter version with mudguards, lights, pannier rack and kickstand. In this version, the bike is called the Aventura². The Jarifa² and Aventura² hardtails can be upgraded to up to 1125 watt hours with an additional add-on battery, which is permanently attached to the bike (625 Wh Powertube battery plus 500 Wh add-on battery).
All new models come with aluminium frames and change hands at fair prices. Starting at 2699 euros, the most expensive new e-bike from Focus costs 4799 euros. All details about Throne², Jarifa² and Aventura² can be found in this article. The details of the Trailbike Jam² follow in this article below.
The new Bosch: motor and battery from the Focus range
The basis for the new bikes is the new Bosch motor, which in its fourth expansion stage is finally ready for use on sporty e-mountain bikes in the eyes of the Focus developers. The drive is significantly smaller and, at 2.9 kilos, also significantly lighter. Both values are roughly on a par with the Shimano Steps E8000. In addition, the new drive no longer relies on the very small and vulnerable chainrings of its predecessor and has noticeably less resistance when pedalling without assistance. It has also become quieter. Depending on the model, Powertube batteries with 500 or 625 watt hours are used in the Focus bikes. Top: The battery variants are largely compatible with Focus. This means that if you buy a bike with 625 Wh, you can also use a 600 gram lighter 500 Wh battery as a spare - and vice versa. The 500 Wh version weighs 3125 grams with cover and adapter, the 625 Wh 3710 grams. >> All the details about the new Bosch Performance CX Gen4 can be found here!
Trail rocket: the Focus Jam²
Focus presents the new edition of the Jam² as its sportiest bike. Longer, flatter, more agile: The new Jam² is designed as an e-trail bike for demanding terrain and experienced riders. It offers 150 millimetres of suspension travel, Focus's well-known and patented F.O.L.D. suspension technology and the choice between 27.5+ and 29-inch wheels. There is a flip chip on the dropouts that can be used to adjust both the chainstay length and the bottom bracket height to the two wheel sizes. The new Bosch motor on all Jam² models is powered by the large Powertube battery with 625 watt hours. This is located in the down tube and can be easily removed using a key.
The facts about the Focus Jam² 2020
- New Bosch Performance CX Gen4 motor
- Powertube battery with 625 watt hours
- Optionally available in 29 or 27.5 inches
- 150 millimetres spring travel
- Weight: from 23.5 kg (manufacturer's specification)
- Two models for 4299 and 4799 euros
- Max. System weight: 120 kg
Focus Jam²: Models and prices
There are two versions of the 2020 Jam with the new Bosch motor, each with 27.5 or 29 inches. The Jam² 6.7 is available for € 4299 with favourable Rockshox suspension, 12-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain and Shimano 520 four-piston brakes. The 6.8 version costs 4799 euros and relies on Shimano XT drivetrains and Fox suspension with a 34 mm Rythm fork.
The Previous Jam² with Shimano motor and T.E.C. battery concept (378 Wh permanently installed in the down tube, 378 Wh in the optional add-on battery) will continue to be available alongside the Bosch Jams, both in aluminium and carbon versions. New: The bikes come with the add-on battery as standard, totalling 756 watt hours.
Geometry Focus Jam²
Compared to its predecessor, the Jam² with Bosch motor is significantly more modern and sportier. The reach has grown by 20 millimetres, the chainstays are 30 millimetres shorter and the steering angle is one degree slacker. In addition, the steps between the four sizes S to XL have been increased to cover a wider range. The chainstay length can be varied using a flipchip to equip the bike for both 29-inch and 27.5-inch wheels. In the short setting with 27.5" rear wheels, the chainstays are extremely short at 427 millimetres, which promises very playful handling. Theoretically, the bike can also be ridden with a wheel mix, i.e. 29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear. However, the bike was not explicitly designed for this by the Focus developers. There will be no production bikes with this combination.
Focus Jam² driving report
We were able to test the € 4799 Jam² 6.8 Nine with 29-inch wheels for half a day on the Focus developers' fun home trails in Stuttgart. We spent the other half of the day on the touring fully Thron². The new Focus Jam² has blossomed into a grown-up E-trail bike and delivers a lot of riding fun for experienced off-road bikers.
Compared to the Thron², the rider has significantly more room to manoeuvre, which provides confidence at high speeds and in demanding terrain. The rear suspension works very sensitively and, typical of the Focus system, releases the suspension travel rather generously. Nevertheless, the rider gets enough feedback from the ground. Jumps and an active riding style are a joy with the new Jam². Although the bike is not a proven lightweight, it can be manoeuvred nimbly over the trail. However, a little physical effort is required. In contrast to the Thron², the E-Jam can also be manoeuvred quite easily on the rear wheel. Our initial impression is that the Jam² requires a little more physical effort on steep climbs than the more composed Thron². There is criticism for the tame choice of tyres, as the weak tread and moderate puncture protection limit the bike in tougher terrain earlier than it should.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
