Exclusive review: FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER 2021 – Brand new Shimano EP8 motor and a modular battery system

The JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER 2021 features Shimano’s brand new EP8 motor and relies on FOCUS’ proven T.E.C. Pack battery system, which combines an internal battery with an external one, both with a 378 Wh capacity. But what has changed? And most importantly, did the JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER manage to impress us on the trail? We are the first magazine to have tested the new FOCUS and give you all the answers here!

You can order your new FOCUS JAM² either with the new Shimano EP8 motor with the T.E.C. Pack system (378 Wh internal + 378 Wh external batteries) or a Bosch Performance Line CX motor with an internal 625 Wh battery and choose between three different wheel size configurations: 29”, 27.5” or an MX setup, with a 29” wheel up front and a 27.5” wheel out back. The choice is yours! After recently reviewing the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE with a Bosch Performance Line CX motor and 29” wheels, the 2021 FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER we’re testing here comes with a Shimano EP8 motor and a mullet wheel setup (29/27.5” front/rear). Read on to find out everything you need to know about the new bike and whether it’s the right FOCUS eMTB for you.

The FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER 2021 with Shimano EP8 motor in detail

With the new 2021 JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER, FOCUS are introducing several changes regarding the motor, spec and retail price. The old Shimano STEPS E8000 has been replaced with the brand new EP8 motor. You can read our comprehensive review of Shimano’s latest eMTB motor with key information and details here and get to grips with the differences between the new and old Shimano motors here. The new SC-EM800 display looks a lot like the old STEPS E8000 version and sits in the same position, safely tucked away behind the handlebar. Thanks to its small internal 378 Wh battery, the new FOCUS JAM² 9.9 maintains its streamlined silhouette and harmonious proportions – at least until you add the external 378 Wh battery.

The spec of the FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER 2021

At € 6,299, the new 2021 FOCUS JAM² 29.9 DRIFTER with its carbon frame has become significantly cheaper. However, to shrink the price, FOCUS have swapped some of the high-end components of the predecessor with a number of more affordable parts. For example, the top-end 150 mm FOX Factory Kashima chassis has been replaced by a cheaper FOX 36 FLOAT Rhythm fork at the front and FLOAT DPS Performance shock at the rear. There’s no more shiny Kashima coating on the dropper either. The black Kind Shock Rage-i 150 mm travel dropper fails to match the outstanding performance and good looks of the FOX Transfer Factory dropper found on the previous version of the JAM². For the wheels, FOCUS rely on a Race Face AR30 wheelset and Maxxis tires, with a 29 x 2.6″ Minion DHF at the front and 27.5 x 2.8″ Rekon at the rear. Both tires come in the lighter EXO casing, which holds up fine on moderate trails but is too flimsy and prone to punctures on demanding terrain.

A 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain with an SLX cassette takes care of the shifting. While the new Shimano EP8 motor is lighter than the previous STEPS E8000, the cheaper and heavier components make the FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER 2021 slightly heavier overall than its predecessor. While the previous model in size L weighed 20.49 kg (without T.E.C. Pack), the latest rendition of the JAM2 hits the scales at 20.96 kg.

The geometry of the FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER 2021

The 2021 JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER will only be available in the three frame sizes: S, M and L. In terms of geometry, the new model is identical to its Shimano STEPS E8000 equipped predecessor and shares the same frame platform. The short reach of 445 mm in size L makes the JAM² feel rather compact.

Size	S	M	L
Seat tube	410 mm	440 mm	470 mm
Top tube	582 mm	602 mm	622 mm
Head tube	120 mm	120 mm	140 mm
Head angle	66.5°	66.5°	66.5°
Seat angle	74.5°	74.5°	74.5°
Chainstays	457 mm	457 mm	457 mm
BB Drop	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm
Wheelbase	1,182 mm	1,202 mm	1,215 mm
Reach	410 mm	430 mm	445 mm
Stack	618 mm	618 mm	636 mm

The FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER on flat trails and uphill

On flat trails, the FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER feels nicely balanced. The weight is evenly distributed between the hands and seat and makes for a comfortable riding position, especially on long-distance rides. However, as soon as you start climbing, the slack seat angle places you far back over the rear wheel, with increased and unpleasant pressure on the saddle. On steep climbs, the bike requires a great deal of physical effort to keep the front wheel on the ground. To achieve a more centred riding position, you can push the saddle forward, so you can try playing around with different saddle positions to find your optimal setup – this really varies depending on your height and preferences. Our test riders, who are 1.80 m tall on average, felt that even the biggest frame size (L) is rather compact. Unfortunately, this means that if you push the saddle all the way forward, the bike becomes even shorter and you’ll end up sitting even more upright. On technical climbs, the FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER is lots of fun and scores with a very lively character, requiring an experienced rider and an active riding style on technical trail sections.

With the T.E.C. Pack installed, the bike feels more docile because the added weight of the battery prevents the front-end from lifting too easily. On bone-dry and muddy terrain, the flat profile of the MAXXIS Rekon tire on the rear doesn’t generate enough grip. An exciting new feature of the Shimano EP8 motor allows you to customise the support Eco, Trail and Boost modes with two different motor profiles via the app. FOCUS delivers the JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER with Profile 1 installed, where all modes are set to maximum power. Profile 2 is significantly weaker and can be used, for example, to save battery power. Of course, you can also customise the profiles to your liking. We’d advise trying out different tunes to find your personal preferences and to understand how different settings affect power consumption. For bikes with a modular battery system like the FOCUS, the two profiles with the plethora of customisation options make perfect sense, allowing everyone to find their optimal setting. You can find more specific recommendations for motor setups and all details about the possible configuration here.

The JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER downhill

After only a few meters on the trail, the FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER makes a great impression with its nimble, light-footed character and reminds us of an analog mountain bike – without the T.E.C. Pack fitted, that is. Active, playful riders who love pumping through rollers and pulling off ledges will love the JAM² 9.9. With the light front end the bike is a true manual artist and a fun rig for playful riders.

With the light front end the bike is a true manual artist and a fun rig for playful riders. With the weight evenly distributed between the two wheels, the JAM² changes direction willingly, making fast berms just as fun as tight trail sections.

The FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER invites you to have fun and encourages you to play with the trail features – its playful character really helps with this! However, if you’re planning to ride with both 378 Wh batteries, you’ll have to compromise on-trail performance

The low profile of the MAXXIS Rekon tire makes it easy to drift around corners in a controlled manner. That being said, beginners who need good grip and a predictable rear end at all speeds, might feel a little unsettled with the FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER. If you want more grip, you should swap the stock Rekon+ tire with e.g. a Minion DHR, which also has a more robust and puncture-resistant casing – the optimal choice for low tire pressures. With its high front end, the JAM² inspires confidence on steep descents but lacks composure on fast and rough sections. With the T.E.C. Pack installed, the bike loses some of its playfulness but still feels balanced, despite the weight of the additional battery that shifts the centre of gravity forward. Unfortunately, the Focus isn’t the quietest ride, with the Shimano EP8 motor rattling on small impacts and the internally routed cables clattering against the carbon frame.

FOCUS JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER 2021 conclusion

For 2021, FOCUS have fundamentally revised the spec of the JAM² 9.9 DRIFTER with the brand new EP8 motor and a € 700 price decrease. All in all, the bike has retained its nimble character and awesome looks (without the T.E.C. Pack fitted). The light, tall front end ensures maximum riding fun on downhills but limits the JAM² 9.9 on the climb to the trailhead. The additional external battery allows for long rides but also raises the centre of gravity, which in turn affects the lively handling of the bike. If the 378 Wh battery is too small for your average ride, you should take a closer look at the FOCUS JAM² 6.8 NINE with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor.

More information at focus-bikes.com

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Words: Photos: Jonas Müssig, Valentin Rühl