In the non-electrified mountain bike sector, enduro bikes are drifting further and further in the downhill direction. Thanks to shuttle and lift assistance, they are moving less and less uphill. Increasingly powerful all-mountain bikes are filling this gap. When motor assistance is added, long-travel bikes with suspension that poach in the downhill segment become more interesting again. The new Sam² from Focus bump. The data make the ambitions clear: 170 millimetres of suspension travel on the fork and rear triangle, 65 degree steering angle, 27.5-inch wheels with wide rims and tyres, and all this combined with Shimano's powerful Steps E8000 motor.
The Jam², the Sam²'s little trail brother, so to speakThe new Enduro, with its high riding dynamics, clever details and sleek looks, impressed us last year. The new Enduro builds on this platform. The suspension travel has been increased to 170 millimetres and the geometry is much more downhill orientated. Focus has not tried to copy a non-motorised enduro bike. According to the designers, an e-bike needs a different balance. For example, the chainstays are not extremely short at 455 millimetres, as is the wheelbase. This is intended in particular to improve the uphill capabilities on steep and technically demanding climbs, which are only made possible by the motor support. At 65 degrees, the head angle is pleasantly slack, while the reach is moderate at 455 mm for size L.
Slim battery concept
Different geometry, same basic structure: the Enduro draws on many of the details of its little brother, the Jam2. Thanks to the compact and lightweight 378 watt-hour battery, which is permanently installed in the down tube, the design remains compact and the down tube is pleasingly narrow for an e-MTB. At 21 kilos (top model, size M) without the additional battery, the weight is pleasantly low and the centre of gravity is also very central. As with the Jam2, the battery capacity can be doubled with an external battery on the down tube. This makes extended tours possible, but also destroys the slim design and optimised centre of gravity. The idea behind it: The rider benefits from the low weight and optimum centre of gravity on the home lap and short rides; the additional battery is only used when it is really necessary. However, this is not included as standard in the package and costs an additional 499 euros and weighs over two kilos.
In all model variants, the Sam2 relies on shocks without reservoirs, although these would look good on such a downhill-heavy enduro bike. The reason: With an additional battery, there is no room for a "piggy" in the frame.
Patented fold kinematics
The Fold suspension system is also familiar from the Jam. The damper is articulated via a two-part rocker that is nested inside one another. The patented design of the supported single pivot divides the suspension travel into two phases. The first phase up to the sag point ensures sensitive response behaviour with degressive kinematics. In addition, the rear triangle becomes progressive to prevent bottoming out towards the end. Every Fold rear triangle has a completely closed rear frame triangle. All bearings, rocker arms and the shock move to the centre of the frame, which reduces the unsprung mass on the rear triangle and places the centre of gravity more centrally in the bike. On the one hand, this promises balanced riding behaviour and, on the other, optimally functioning suspension and thus increased grip.
The new e-MTBs from Focus will be on sale from January.
Riding impression of the new Focus Sam E-Enduro
We have already been able to test the Sam² Pro on built and natural enduro trails around Malaga. The suspension is very sensitive and soft, the rear suspension is plush and builds up a lot of traction, which encourages you to leave the brakes open. In the setting we rode with the recommended 30 per cent sag, the rear suspension released a lot of travel early on, which increases comfort. However, if you want to chase after seconds on fast descents, you might miss some counter-pressure in the mid-travel range. The progression only increases significantly towards the end of the shock stroke.
The geometry immediately makes you feel at ease. The flat steering angle provides a lot of security and smoothness, yet the Sam² is still easy to manoeuvre around bends. Compared to its little brother Jam², however, it naturally loses some of its playfulness. Playing with the terrain, jumping off waves - this requires more effort with the full suspension and smooth geometry. Compared to other E-Enduros, however, this is more the norm. The rather long chainstays are also noticeable here, as the enduro bike is reluctant to be pulled onto the rear wheel.
This pays off on the climbs. The Sam² climbs strongly and did not tend to rebel on our test rides. Thanks to the powerful Shimano drivetrain with mountain bike-friendly trail mode, even challenging climbs are fun. The rear suspension does not bob annoyingly even in open mode and offers plenty of traction. If you lock out the rear completely, you can get into an even more propulsion-orientated position, as the shock is then higher in its stroke. An effective platform is available as an intermediate stage. The combination of Steps drivetrain and Sram EX1 drivetrain, on the other hand, takes some getting used to: the large gear steps mean that the right gear ratio is not always available. This is particularly noticeable as the Shimano motor reacts sensitively to changes in cadence. All in all, the Focus Sam2 offers a potent overall package for demanding terrain, both uphill and downhill.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
