FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE in review – A top spec for the Best in Test?

The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE has already competed against the best eMTBs of the year in our mega 2021 eMTB group test, where it was able to assert itself over some of its far more expensive competitors. This time, we’ve pitted the € 5,499 JAM² against six other eMTBs in the same price range. Does it have what it takes to come out on top?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2021 for € 5,500 – 7 budget eMTBs go head to head

In our Best eMTB of 2021 mega group test of 25 of the most exciting eMTB of the year, FOCUS’ elegant JAM² 6.9 flagship model with its Bosch Performance Line CX motor proved to be a superb all-rounder and, at € 5,499, was also the cheapest bike on test. In our latest budget group test, it’s one of the hot candidates for the Best in Test title. Considering the integration of the Bosch drive system alone, the German brand has hit the nail on the head and shows the competition how it’s done. The 625 Wh battery is well integrated into the down tube, the speed sensor safely tucked away in the dropout and the charge port cleverly positioned on the top tube, where it’s easy to access and covered by a rubber plug produced in-house. One special feature is FOCUS’ proprietary C.I.S. stem, which routes all cables internally through the headset and directly into the frame. This makes for a very tidy cockpit. Unfortunately, the 85 Nm Bosch motor has to make do without a skid plate and is therefore exposed to impacts and the elements. While the Purion display is a good way to save money, the ergonomics could be better. We would like an adapter that allows you to attach the display to the handlebars independently of the brake lever. At 25.58 kg in size L, the JAM² is the heaviest bike in the entire test field. While the high system weight isn’t noticeable on the trail, it’s still a major issue, especially for heavy riders. Here’s why: with a low maximum permissible weight of 120 kg, a fully geared rider weighing more than 94 kg is officially too heavy for the JAM².

Almost perfect for its price – The spec of the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE

For the spec of the JAM² 6.9, FOCUS rely on a well thought-out selection of components to deliver uncompromised trail performance – spot on! The suspension consists of a FOX 36 Rhythm fork and a DPS shock, both controlling 150 mm travel. Braking is taken care of by Shimano XT four-piston brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear. Shimano also supply the 12-speed drivetrain, which consists of an XT rear-derailleur with a matching shifter and SLX cassette. This combination provides great shifting performance at a very decent price, allowing FOCUS to save money in the right place. They’ve also chosen the wheels and tires wisely: 29 x 2.6″ Schwalbe Magic Mary tires in the super robust Super Gravity casing at the rear and Super Trail casing up front allow for very low air pressures and provide excellent grip and traction – an excellent choice! Likewise, the DT Swiss H1900 wheelset delivers excellent durability. As far as the components go, our only criticism goes to the 150 mm Kind Shock Rage-i dropper post. The remote lever is too far away from the grip, forcing you to take your hand off the grip every time you want to drop the seat and unfortunately, the position can’t be changed because it’s attached directly to the brake lever.

Despite the aggressive pricing, FOCUS don’t compromise on trail performance.

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The geometry and riding position of the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE

With the FOCUS JAM², you can run either a 27.5” or 29” rear wheel. A flip-chip in the dropout allows you to adjust the chainstay length and bottom bracket height to suit the respective wheel size. We rode the bike with a full 29″ setup. In terms of geometry, the FOCUS sits in the middle of our test fleet with one exception: the slack seat tube angle. While this ensures a comfortable pedalling position on flat trails, it places the rider far back over the rear wheel on steep climbs. We recommend pushing the saddle all the way forward! This will improve the pedalling position uphill while maintaining a comfortable ride on flat terrain, even on long rides. Here, the sensitive suspension and voluminous tires of the JAM² 6.9 NINE come in handy, filtering out vibrations and small bumps. In direct comparison, only the Canyon Spectral: ON CF 7 with its unique features is a better match for passionate tourers.

size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	400 mm	420 mm	450 mm	490 mm
Top tube	573 mm	600 mm	630 mm	661 mm
Head tube	100 mm	115 mm	130 mm	150 mm
Head angle	66.0°	66.0°	66.0°	66.0°
Seat angle	75.0°	75.0°	75.0°	75.0°
Chainstays	427 mm	427 mm	427 mm	427 mm
BB Drop	33 mm	33 mm	33 mm	33 mm
Wheelbase	1,163 mm	1,190 mm	1,221 mm	1,254 mm
Reach	420 mm	445 mm	470 mm	495 mm
Stack	607 mm	612 mm	625 mm	644 mm

Long rides, flowing trails, challenging terrain, or a mix of everything? The JAM² 6.9 NINE on the trail

As soon as you start climbing, the drawbacks of the relaxed riding position and plush suspension become evident. As the dropper extends, the rider is positioned increasingly far back above the rear wheel, causing the suspension to sink deep into its travel. As a result, you’ll have to actively weight the front wheel to prevent it from lifting. If you fail to do so, the FOCUS will punish you with considerable understeer and plough straight on into the apex of the corner. Here the climb switch really helps, making it easier to control the bike while ensuring sufficient traction on loose terrain. With the rear suspension sitting higher in its travel, technical cruxes and steep climbs are easier to negotiate, while tight corners and flowing trails are simply more fun to ride. However, on very technical climbs, the FOCUS falls far behind the competition in our budget group test.

On challenging terrain, the JAM² 6.9 NINE inspires confidence and follows the rider’s input willingly.

Tuning tips: push the saddle all the way forward for a more central pedalling position | dropper remote (e.g. Shimano SL-MT800-IL to match the brake levers)

Downhill, the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE makes you feel at ease from the get go, regardless of your riding skills. The high front combined with the excellent traction, powerful brakes and intuitive handling convey a huge sense of security and inspire confidence. This is particularly helpful for beginners who are still getting familiar with steep descents. The weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear wheels, making it easy to ride open corners. However, through berms the FOCUS has to concede defeat to the Canyon and MERIDA. While the rear suspension always generates lots of traction and offers a high level of comfort and good progression, aggressive riders will require more support to generate speed on flowing trails. The JAM² prefers to keep both tires on the trail and taking off requires significant physical effort. Technical trails and singletracks is what the JAM² 6.9 NINE likes best. Here it ranks in the top 3 behind the MERIDA and Propain. However, at high speeds, it can’t keep up with the best bikes in this test.

Conclusion

The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE convinces with a clever choice of components and intuitive, good-natured handling. The bike feels at home on natural singletracks, where it inspires confidence at low to medium speeds, proving to be a great choice both for beginners and advanced riders. The comfortable suspension and relaxed pedalling position make it suitable for long rides. However, the low maximum payload and weak climbing/high-speed performance are major flaws. As a result, the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE can’t secure the Best in Test despite its great value for money.

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You can find out more about at focus-bikes.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2021 for € 5,500 – 7 budget eMTBs go head to head

All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7 (Click for review) | FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE | Haibike AllMtn 4 (Click for review) | INFRONT IF-2.1 Fully (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 700 (Click for review) | Propain Ekano AL 29 (Click for review) | SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 920 (Click for review)

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Words: Photos: Jonas Müssig & Valentin Rühl