Focus turns up the heat: Wild E-Enduro with Bosch drive

Anyone taking a virtual stroll through the relevant online portals these days might rub their eyes in amazement at the sight of the new Focus Sam². Because the Innovations in the world of e-mountainbikes over the past ten days have centred almost exclusively around Shimano's new EP8 motor. The Stuttgart-based company Focus is providing variety with a classic package: Bosch Performance CX, Powertube battery with 625 watt hours. This means that the brand is once again relying on the tried-and-tested combination for its latest enduro offspring, which is also has been powering the fun trail bike Jam² since the last new edition in 2019. And that is not as obvious as it sounds. For a long time, Focus primarily relies on Shimano drives for its sporty E-MTBs. These are now only occasionally found in the range.

But now to the essentials. Because on an E-Enduro, which was developed for absolute downhill fun, the motor is just an accessory, so to speak. "Designed for downhill" is how Focus describes the philosophy behind the new Sam². The tools for uncompromising downhill strength: 29-inch wheels, 170 millimetres of suspension travel front and rear, thick forks with 38 mm stanchions, solid tyres. And the geometry? Longer and slacker, but not too extreme. The newcomer is not intended to be an extreme bike for experts, but a guarantee of fun for everyone. The mission: the most demanding terrain and the roughest descents.

The facts about the Focus Sam²

• Bosch Performance CX motor
• Powertube battery with 625 watt hours
• 29 inch wheels
• 170 mm suspension travel
• Two models for 5499 and 6499 euros >> available here
• Weight: approx. 25.3 kg (size L without pedals)
• Max. System weight: 120 kg

Focus Sam²: That special something

The Focus engineers have invested a lot of time and brainpower in a small detail on the Sam². Keyword integration. All cables, including the mechanical cables for the derailleur and dropper post, run through the stem in an integrated manner. The system, called C.I.S (Cockpit Integration Solution), is designed to give the steering centre a particularly clean and tidy look. The cables run from the front above the handlebars into the stem.

Focus Sam²: The geometry

Flatter and longer? That only applies to the new Sam² to a limited extent. Longer? Yes. The reach in size L grows in comparison to the predecessor from 455 millimetres to 480 millimetres. The steering angle, on the other hand, remains identical, at least on paper: a moderate 65 degrees by enduro standards. However, the wheel size factor should not be ignored. The new Sam² comes ex works exclusively with 29-inch wheels, while its predecessor rolled on small 27.5-inch wheels. Despite the larger wheels, the chainstays have shrunk slightly. 450 instead of 455 millimetres. However, the rear end remains on the long side for a fun E-Enduro. Good news for tall riders: the newcomer is also available in XL, which means that the reach values extend to an impressive 510 millimetres.

Focus Sam²: The equipment

There will be two equipment variants of the Focus Sam² for 2021 and both have the basic idea in common. The components are uncompromisingly designed for downhill riding. Forks with 38 mm stanchions (Fox 38 or Rockshox ZEB), Schwalbes Magic Mary with very robust Super Gravity (rear wheel) or Super Trail carcass (front wheel), four-piston brakes with 200 (Shimano) or 220 millimetre (Sram) disc diameters. These components ensure safety, but also put pressure on the weight. It's clear that the Sam², with its aluminium frame, large battery, 29er wheels and robust equipment, plays in the upper weight class. Not much has remained of the lightweight construction approach that Focus once pursued with its minimalist battery concept on the Sam². However, you no longer have to worry about battery capacity and durability.

The Focus Sam² on the trail

First things first: the Sam² is a bike that is not satisfied with shallow trails. You have to throw more rustic fare at it so that it can show what it's made of. If gravity pulls hard enough on the aluminium bike and there are enough obstacles in the way, then the E-Enduro is in its element. The bike acknowledges flat trails with a tired smile. The rider is penalised with somewhat sluggish handling. This is due to the rather long chainstays and the high overall weight of the bike as well as the robust but heavy tyres.

We were able to test the top version, the Sam² 6.9, for two days on the official trails around Freiburg. The trails offer a good mix of natural, rough passages and man-made sections with a bike park character. Canadian, Borderline and Baden to the Bone - the Sam² feels right at home here. Especially as the trails were already very rutted when we visited and were crying out for a long-stroke bike with braking bumps, loose rubble and berms full of holes.

The Sam² doesn't take long to get used to. Just sit on it and feel good! This is where the balanced, not too extreme geometry comes into its own. Whether on rough steep sections, fast sections or built jumps: the bike provides enormous confidence. The weight distribution between the front and rear wheels is well-balanced, and moments of shock are an absolute rarity on the Sam². The uncompromising equipment with the strong tyre combination plays a major part in this.

On the rather flowy Badish Moonrising feeder trail, the robust design reveals its downside. The trail winds along the slope and you have to keep up the momentum. The terrain repeatedly invites you to lift the bike into the air on small bumps and make hooks. Of course, this is also possible with the Sam² - but it takes strength. The Sam² doesn't feel completely in its element here. At least we have the feeling that a handy trail bike like the Jam² from Focus would be more fun and energy-saving on such trails. Especially with a small rear wheel and super short chainstays, the little brother Jam² flourishes with less travel exactly where we miss some playfulness and manoeuvrability. We would have loved to have tested the Sam² with an MX wheel mix, i.e. 27.5 mm rear wheel and significantly shorter chainstays. But we haven't had the opportunity to do so yet. This could give the play instinct a huge boost! But even in the standard set-up, we have no worries. Because just a few metres later, the Canadian leans steeply down towards Freiburg. The time has come for the full force of the Sam².

A great pity and always present on the rough trails in Freiburg: the Bosch motor accompanies the ride downhill with a constant clatter. A phenomenon that the motor specialist from Reutlingen has unfortunately not been able to stop even more than a year after the introduction of the new Performance CX. If you roll over roots or obstacles, you hear a clacking sound from the motor housing, similar to a chain slap. Some bikers will probably hardly notice this. But if you are looking for an explicitly quiet bike, this noise could get on your last nerve. However, this is not a problem exclusive to the Focus Sam², but one that all Bosch bikes have in common.

And what about Uphill? Even if the marketing department at Focus didn't have this category in mind for the Sam²: The newcomer climbs hard. With the moderate chainstays and steep seat tube angle, the front wheel doesn't climb until late. The rear suspension remains very active on climbs over roots and obstacles and generates traction en masse! The tried-and-tested Bosch drive does the rest to ensure that the Sam² leaves a very positive impression on the climbs.

How does the new Focus Sam² compare directly with the competition? We're currently finding out. You'll find a detailed test of the newcomer in EMTB 5/2020!

Availability Focus Sam²

The new Sam² has one big plus point right from the start: it's available! At a time when the 2020 models are sold out in most shops and many manufacturers are struggling with delivery problems for the 2021 bikes, this is a very decisive criterion. The first new bikes are said to have already been delivered to dealers >> available here.

CONCLUSION on the Focus Sam²

Solid carefree package instead of innovative fireworks. Focus relies on proven technology and robust equipment for its new enduro offspring. This means that the Sam² does not make it to the top of the weight rankings, but e-mountain bikers get a durable aluminium beast that should not give up so quickly even in the toughest terrain. A bike for nasty downhills and wild stunts. And with the ingenious integration of the cables in the stem, the Sam² also scores points in terms of extravagance and innovation.