Let’s drift! – The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 Drifter in review

When FOCUS presented the JAM² two years ago, it sent shockwaves through the industry. The smart integration of the battery, the slim silhouette and the excellent handling all set new standards. In 2019 FOCUS will be offering the bike with mixed wheel sizes for the first time. To find out whether this concept has worked, we reviewed the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER.

In essence, the JAM² remains unchanged for 2019, but FOCUS has revised the details of all its models, debuting the DRIFTER, featuring a 29″ wheel at the front and 27.5″ at the back. The large front wheel offers better rollover characteristics and the narrower tyre is more precise, while the wide rear tyre should offer plenty of traction. The front triangle comes from the 29″ model, the rear from the 27.5″ model. Due to the mixed wheel sizes, the head and seat tube angles are about half a degree slacker than with the regular JAM² models.

The Tailored Energy Concept (T.E.C.) remains at the heart of the JAM²: the down tube contains a permanently installed 378 Wh battery, which can be doubled to a full 756 Wh with an additional battery – the T.E.C. Pack – if needed. Putting your hands on the Race Face grips, you will notice the width of the handlebar, which has grown by 20 mm to 780 mm. The brake rotors have grown too, which are now 200 mm at the front and rear – a good decision in our books!

The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER in detail

The € 4,999 FOCUS JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER we reviewed has taken things one step further, with the componentry more downhill oriented than its siblings. Our test bike came with grippy 2.8″ MAXXIS Minions at the back and 2.5″ at the front, with a stiff FOX 36 performance fork providing 150 mm of travel. Braking is taken care of by MAGURA MT Trail brakes, with a four-piston caliper at the front and a two-piston caliper at the rear, which is intended to offer better modulation on the rear brake. The drivetrain consists of a 12-speed SRAM GX-Eagle groupset, which, with its 11-50 cassette, offers more range and smaller gear steps than the EX1.

Fork FOX 36 Float Performance 150 mm
Shock FOX Float DPS Performance 150 mm
Brakes Magura MT Trail Sport 203/203
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle
Battery Shimano 378 Wh
Motor Shimano STEPS E8000
Seatpost Kindshock E30I 100 mm
Handlebar BBB Alu Di2 Riser 780 mm
Stem BBB Alu Di2 50 mm
Wheels Mavic E-XA Drifter
Tires Maxxis Minion DHF 2,5″ / Maxxis Minion DHR 2,8″
Weight 21.84 kg
Price € 4,999

The geometry of the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	410 mm	440 mm	470 mm	500 mm
Top tube	582 mm	602 mm	622 mm	647 mm
Head tube	120 mm	120 mm	140 mm	160 mm
Head angle	66.5°	66.5°	66.5°	66.5°
Seat angle	74.5°	74.5°	74.5°	74.5°
Chainstays	470 mm	470 mm	470 mm	470 mm
BB Drop	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm
Wheelbase	1195 mm	1215 mm	1230 mm	1261 mm
Reach	410 mm	430 mm	445 mm	460 mm
Stack	618 mm	618 mm	636 mm	654 mm

The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER on the trail

On the trail, the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER feels familiar, and while aggressive riders will clearly notice a difference in the wheel size mix it doesn’t turn the new JAM² into a totally new bike. On flat sections, it has lost a little of its balance, the taller front end creating slacker head and seat tube angles, moving the centre of gravity even further back, which is likely to particularly affect tall riders. On rough trails, however, the concept fully exploits its advantages; the front is noticeably more agile and precise than the 27.5”+ model, while the voluminous rear tyre offers excellent traction. All in all, with its slacker head angle, potent fork and grippy tyres, the JAM² is more composed than ever before, without losing its agile nature.

The suspension performs as flawlessly as usual and with its sensitive response offers a lot of comfort and traction on technical terrain. For aggressive riders, however, the JAM² offers too little progression, staying deep in its travel on the climbs as well as descents. The relatively short front triangle gives it a playful character, but in high-speed passages, the compact geometry requires a skilled hand and an active riding style.

Model maintenance breathes new life into JAM².

The T.E.C. concept remains a matter of preference. Without the T.E.C. Pack, the 21.84 kg JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER is very light, but it comes at the cost of limited range. With the optional € 499 T.E.C. Pack mounted, the range is impressive, but, unfortunately, the clean silhouette will be destroyed and the centre of gravity shifted upwards, noticeably affecting the handling. If you predominantly use your eMTB for short after work rides and/or long tours on weekends you will love the system – in the end, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether the concept is for you.

Conclusion

The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 DRIFTER is not an entirely new bike, but thanks to mixed wheel sizes and a solid spec it is the best JAM² we’ve ever ridden. The T.E.C. battery concept remains a matter of preference: without the additional battery you’ll have limited range, with the T.E.C Pack, the look and handling suffers, but the range increases enormously.

For more info head to: focus-bikes.com

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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl