Dan reviews the Focus SAM²

Focus has been investing heavily into electric mountain bikes for a long time, and that early adoption is very much apparent when looking at its 2024 model range. With more e-MTBs than regular mountain bikes, you could say the German brand is quite, err, focussed on electrifying the riding experience.

We’ve had loads of good times aboard Focus e-MTBs over the years, and have recently reviewed the mid-travel JAM² and its lightweight counterpart the JAM² SL.

While they’ve been great bikes, for many folks the key advantage of having a motor is the ability to carry more weight and bigger suspension. To serve those who want to zip their way up the mountain and bomb back down with maximum confidence and control, here we have the Focus SAM².

An overview of the Focus SAM²

The Focus SAM² is the biggest and brawniest e-MTB in the lineup. Whereas the JAM² is designed for all-round riding, the SAM² features more travel and burlier components that slot it straight into the e-Enduro category.

Built around a tough-looking 7005 hydroformed alloy frame, it features 29in wheels and 170mm of rear travel. Up front is a 170 or 180mm travel fork, depending on the model.

Between the crank arms is the venerable Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which is clocked upwards to get the battery down as low as possible. Opening up the hinged skid plate allows you to unlock and slide out the PowerTube battery should you need to charge it separately. A rubber port on the seat tube means you can also charge it while inside the frame.

Up at the top tube you’ll find another rubber port that conceals a USB-C charging port, a potentially handy addition for those who use a smartphone on their handlebars. You can adjust the motor’s assist mode using the LED Controller next to the left hand grip, which also provides the current battery status. Top-end SAM² models also come with the Bosch Kiox 300 display that provides a heap of extra live ride data.

Geometry & size chart

With four sizes to choose from, geometry on the Focus SAM² is what we’d expect for a modern gravity e-MTB these days. Each size features a long reach, a steep 77.5° seat tube angle and a 450mm rear centre length.

As with the shorter travel JAM², the SAM² incorporates modular headset cups that allows you to switch between a slack (63.5°) and steep (64.5°) head angle. Adjusting the cups doesn’t require any special tools, and it largely allows you to change the head angle independently of the rest of the bike’s geometry.

There are no other flip chips to be found on the SAM², and that means there’s no easy way of compensating for the change in BB height were you to try and fit a smaller 27.5in rear wheel. As such, Focus doesn’t recommend mulleting the SAM².

Focus SAM² price & specs

There are four Focus SAM² models available in Australia this year, all of which are built around the same alloy frame. Prices max out at $13,999 AUD for the premium 6.0 model that features the limited edition Bosch CX Race motor and Fox Factory Series suspension.

Our test bike is the cheapest option in the lineup; the Focus SAM² 6.7. It’s the only model to come with an air shock and a smaller 625Wh battery, which helps to get the price down to a level that makes this one of the best value e-MTBs on the market.

2024 Focus SAM² 6.7

• Frame | 7005 Hydroformed Alloy, Four-Bar Suspension Design, 170mm Travel
• Fork | RockShox Zeb, Charger R Damper, 44mm Offset, 170mm Travel
• Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select, 230x65mm
• Motor | Bosch Performance Line CX, 85Nm
• Battery | Bosch Powertube 625Wh
• Wheels | Novatec Hubs & Rodi TRYP30 Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
• Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF EXO+ 2.6in Front & Minion DHR II EXO+ Rear
• Drivetrain | SRAM SX/GX Eagle 1×12 w/Samox Alloy 36T Crankset & 11-50T Cassette
• Brakes | SRAM Code R 4-Piston w/220mm Rotors
• Handlebar | Aluminium, 30mm Rise, 800mm Width
• Stem | Focus C.I.S Integrated, 50mm Length
• Seatpost | Post Moderne Dropper, Travel: 125mm (S), 150mm (M), 170mm (L-XL)
• Saddle | Focus Trail SL
• Confirmed Weight | 26.01kg
• Price | $8,999 AUD

Testing the Focus SAM²

With its DH-adjacent geometry and 170mm of travel at each end, the Focus SAM² is designed for some seriously rowdy riding. To push it to its absolute limit, we put it into the hands of our toughest tester Dan. A former national-level enduro racer, Dan has reviewed a heap of  big travel e-MTBs over the last year including the Superior eXF, the Husqvarna Mountain Cross MC6, the Canyon Torque:ON and the Polygon Siskiu T7E. Given the SAM² 6.7 is on the cheaper end of the spectrum, we were eager to see how it would hold up to his unrelenting riding style.

How have you found the sizing and overall fit of the bike Dan?

I’m 183cm tall and the size Large fits me perfectly. The 495mm reach is quite long, but once I adjusted the seat rails forward to the limit the seated climbing position felt centred and comfortable. The geometry is great for both climbing and descending, and getting this bike through corners didn’t feel as cumbersome as some of the longer wheelbase, full 29er e-MTBs I’ve ridden.

What did you think of the contact points?

All the contact points were pretty spot-on. The bar sweep felt really good given this is an in-house setup, sometimes a bike brand’s own components can feel a bit whack but not these. The grips were quite thin, but actually felt great as I was able to hold on more securely with the smaller diameter. The saddle itself wasn’t the most comfortable for me, but passable.

Adjusting the stem height is worth mentioning as it’s a pain in the neck unless you have three hands or someone to help. Due to the integrated cable routing and stackable clip-together headset spacers, it’s quite a fiddly job that you wouldn’t want to do too often. Even just feeding through the dropper post cable to adjust my saddle height took extra care. That said, once this and the stem height were set, it worked well and didn’t present any issues. Well, apart from looking like a vomit of cables coming out of the stem!

Talk us through your suspension & tyre setup

I’m 83kg and ran sag at 20% front and 30% rear. To get there I needed 62psi in the fork and 152psi in the shock. For rebound I had the fork at three clicks from fully closed, and the shock at two clicks from fully closed.

Both ends of the bike have felt great right out of the box. The suspension is really supple and there’s a good amount of support. Sometimes it’s nice to have such a simple fork and shock that are easy to setup, but still perform really well. With less adjustments to play with and worry about, it was just a matter of set and forget.

The Maxxis tyre combo has been reliable and didn’t miss a beat the whole test. These feature a big 2.6in width and the EXO+ casings, which I inflated to 26psi up front and 28psi out back. Harder-hitting riders and those frequenting obscenely rocky terrain will at least want to fit a tubeless insert in the rear, and I suspect some folks will want to swap the tyres out straight away for heavier casings and more aggressive rubber. The 3C MaxxTerra compound isn’t the stickiest going, but it does offer good wear resistance, which is an important attribute for an e-MTB that you’re likely to do a tonne of riding on.

What have you liked about the Focus SAM² 6.7?

Given the competitive pricing, the Focus SAM² is a great overall package with few chinks in its armour.

It climbs really well, and some of the best fun I had during testing was trying to clean tricky descents we were riding, but back up to the top. The punch of the Bosch CX motor, 29in rear wheel, grippy tyres and centred geo all contribute to it being a capable bike on technical climbs.

It’s also just a really fun bike to ride. I’ve found it to be comfortable across a wide range of terrain, which has included some slippery conditions after rain had soaked the local trails, and it took it all in its stride.

With the slack front end and 170mm travel Zeb I felt like I could push it pretty hard, though I was surprised at how playful it is given the high-speed stability. The overall weight is distributed well, with the battery sitting low down and close to the motor. The 625Wh battery on our test bike is also shorter and nearly 800g lighter than the bigger battery you’ll find in the pricier SAM² models, with the advantage being less mass up at the head tube. This makes it a bit easier to throw around on the trail, and I’ve found it to offer a predictable feel with no surprises.

Did you feel like the suspension performance was lacking without a coil shock?

Not at all, the performance of the RockShox Deluxe shock was actually great! It was nice and smooth, and it never bottomed out harshly. Even though there’s no climb switch I didn’t notice any significant pedal bob on smoother fireroad climbs. And the fact that all you need to worry about is setting the air pressure and rebound damping made for quite a refreshing experience compared to a more complex shock with loads of damping adjustments.

All of that being said, I didn’t get a chance to test the SAM² on any 30-minute long alpine descents. It’s in that application where a coil shock with a piggyback reservoir will offer the greatest advantage, and is something to consider if that’s the type of riding you’ll be doing regularly. Of course you could upgrade the shock on the SAM² 6.7 if you wanted, as it uses a conventional 230x65mm size.

You’ve been enjoying mullet bikes of late. How did you go with the dual 29in wheels?

It was actually fine. Yes full 29er e-MTBs do take some extra muscling in really tight corners, but the SAM² felt pretty good in this area thanks to its low centre of mass and excellent geometry. It would still be nice to have the option to set it up as a mullet though, especially for shorter riders looking at the Small or Medium sizes.

Overall I think what you lose in the tight stuff with the 29in rear wheel, you maybe gain back on the techy climbs and across rocky terrain. It has to be said that the SAM² is very stable on the descents, and the rear breaks away slightly more predictably with the same wheelsize front and rear.

What haven’t you enjoyed about the Focus SAM² 6.7?

From a riding experience, I think there is very little to be improved on here. The SAM² a great all-round enduro e-MTB, and I like that you can adjust the head angle to tweak the handling to your preference.

However, I did have a few gripes with the finishing details. The battery cover uses a plastic hinged door that’s held in place by a rubber strap and clip. It’s designed to offer tool-free access to the battery, though you’ll still need the specific key to unlock and remove the battery. Unlike my experience with the Trek Rail and Husqvarna Mountain Cross, I had no issues with the battery rattling inside the downtube as it’s held in nice and securely.

Unfortunately I did have an issue with the battery cover, which would get pried open during nearly every ride. Because this part of the frame sits so close to the ground it’s right in the firing line of whatever debris you’re blasting through. I found it only took a stick or a rock strike to force it open, which would result in the plastic cover dragging along the ground before I stopped and clip it back into place. The fact that it happened frequently meant it became an annoyance, and something of a design fault. Strapping it up with tape would help to secure it, but we’d like to see Focus implement a more secure retention system.

As mentioned earlier, the cable routing through the stem and headset is a bit of a headache, especially if you wanted to change to a different length stem. Even just replacing the dropper post cable or removing the fork out to send off for a service becomes more awkward than it needs to be.

Component Highs & Lows

For the money the Focus SAM² 6.7 offers great value in its class. It feels solid on the trail, rides really well, and almost all of the components have performed flawlessly.

The RockShox suspension is definitely a highlight. Setup was easy and both ends felt really capable allowing me to push the bike pretty hard. You could always upgrade the Zeb with a higher-end damper if you wanted more adjustments, and there are loads of different shock options too, but I was impressed with the stock suspension.

It was a similar story with the SRAM Code R brakes, which lack some of the adjustments and finishing details of their more expensive siblings. They were plenty powerful though, which Focus has ensured by spec’ing huge 220mm rotors front and rear. This shows nice attention to detail to help elevate the performance of a lower priced brake.

The mechanical drivetrain works well enough, though it doesn’t offer the same bulletproof shifting of a Shimano Hyperglide or Linkglide equivalent. I also had an issue with the NX cassette out of the box, which exhibited some play on the freehub splines. Despite tightening the locking on several occasions, it would still come loose while riding, resulting in an annoying rattle in the rear when coasting.

Otherwise, everything performed without issue, including all of the Focus-branded components, including the cockpit and dropper post. I had no punctures throughout testing, and aside from tightening up the lower shock mount I’ve not had any excessive play or spoke de-tensioning develop over time.

Flow’s Verdict

The Focus SAM² might be the most aggressive e-MTB the German brand offers, but we were surprised with just how versatile it is for all-round riding.

Focus has done a great job of getting the weight down as low as possible, and combined with the excellent geometry it isn’t as hard to work through tight and flowy singletrack as you’d expect given the dual 29in wheels. There’s a heap of traction on offer from the high volume tyres and supple RockShox suspension, allowing you to lock into turns securely with plenty of control.

It’s a great technical climber thanks to the centred riding position and powerful Bosch motor, and it delivers outstanding stability on the descents with 170mm of well-managed suspension at your disposal.

We’d like to see some refinement of the battery cover, and we certainly wouldn’t be upset if Focus moved away from the integrated cabling through the stem and headset. Those gripes aside, the Focus SAM² 6.7 is a highly competent long travel e-MTB that does a lot of things very well, and for a very decent price.