Anyone with a Focus Sam2?

S

Sloberdog

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This is the year I plan to make the emtb plunge. Emtb choices are limited in the USA. Now with Focus ebikes distribution in the USA...the Sam2 seems to be a great replacement for my YT Capra. Anyone take delivery yet and can provide some feedback the good and bad? Do want an ebike with good to excellent steep hill climbing abilities as I plan to ride where the majority of mtbikers cannot...hehehe.
 
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I have a Sam2 and love it, works well on the ups and the downs, I've never run out of battery although I've not been on any super long rides yet. The only times I wasn't able to get up some steep climbs was when I was in eco mode and didn't realise.
 
Looks pretty damn fine to me! 170mm, option for the additional TEC pack too :-)

Focus-Sam-2-EMTB-Test-Review7-1140x760.jpg
 
Only minor downside to the middle priced option is the Sram NX drivetrain which is ok but not amazing. I'm planning on upgrading mine to the EX1 stuff found on the pro model at some point. Only other thing I changed was the grips which I didn't like, I have some Sensus grips on there now which are really nice, soft grippy and apparently wear well.
 
Absolutely LOVE mine ..:love:..transformed my biking........chose the Jam2 over Levo. For its display ,its weight (ie less)and the Shemano motor which is excellent..(y)
I have fitted some guards (not quite sure about the looks but they work really well) changing to more swept bars for better wrist comfort and testing Fabric saddles to suit my bony bum.:oops:
Seriously pleased I bought it and cant wait to go riding ...:p
Have fun.
 
jamied said:
I have a Sam2 and love it, works well on the ups and the downs, I've never run out of battery although I've not been on any super long rides yet. The only times I wasn't able to get up some steep climbs was when I was in eco mode and didn't realise.
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Hi Jamied, how far have gone so far and what mode do you ride in? Also what sort of terrain do u ride mostly and which spec did u get? I think we can only get the lower spec one in Australia. I’m in Brisbane and it’s mostly XC here but I am wanting to search out some jumps. I love the look of the Sam2 but I also plan on riding my EMTB mostly in turbo/boost mode. Also I read the spec isn’t the best for the money, have u had any niggles with the rear suspension or any other part of the bike??
 
OldBean said:
Absolutely LOVE mine ..:love:..transformed my biking........chose the Jam2 over Levo. For its display ,its weight (ie less)and the Shemano motor which is excellent..(y)
I have fitted some guards (not quite sure about the looks but they work really well) changing to more swept bars for better wrist comfort and testing Fabric saddles to suit my bony bum.:oops:
Seriously pleased I bought it and cant wait to go riding ...:p
Have fun.
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Hi Old bean, did u mean Sam2 or Jam2? What spec level did u go with and what sort of terrain do U ride/distance. I’m mostly planning on hammering the local trails for s few hours at a time as that’s all I can get away from the family at the mo but it would be mostly in boost mode!! Would still like to cover up to 30km in a couple of hours tho!! Ahave u had any issues with the spec of the bike? We can only get the lower spec on in Australia. I don’t want to get too caught up in specs but I can’t test ride the bike in the dirt here and have to base my judgement on something!! Cheers
 
ShaneV34 said:
Hi Old bean, did u mean Sam2 or Jam2? What spec level did u go with and what sort of terrain do U ride/distance. I’m mostly planning on hammering the local trails for s few hours at a time as that’s all I can get away from the family at the mo but it would be mostly in boost mode!! Would still like to cover up to 30km in a couple of hours tho!! Ahave u had any issues with the spec of the bike? We can only get the lower spec on in Australia. I don’t want to get too caught up in specs but I can’t test ride the bike in the dirt here and have to base my judgement on something!! Cheers
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Hi. Ihave a JAM2 and still pleased with it so far I have done 40 miles on a charge using eco and trail modes .
I mostly ride local trails ,bridleways and byways with a bit of tarmac thrown in.
I changed the bars for comfort , only Issue is I do not like the very low position of the derailleur as it gets banged on ruts and clogs up with undergrowth.....is there a “higher “ system I could use.
Only other trouble is not a Focus fault but I get lots of punctures in the Maxis even with tubeless due to me riding farm tracks where they cut hedges and the thornes can be a serious problem.
From a weight point of view the 1kg or so that it is lighter is neither here or there and wont be my main concern when I buy my next bike......proper gearbox will be , but thats a while off yet.
Have fun.
 
OldBean said:
Hi. Ihave a JAM2 and still pleased with it so far I have done 40 miles on a charge using eco and trail modes .
I mostly ride local trails ,bridleways and byways with a bit of tarmac thrown in.
I changed the bars for comfort , only Issue is I do not like the very low position of the derailleur as it gets banged on ruts and clogs up with undergrowth.....is there a “higher “ system I could use.
Only other trouble is not a Focus fault but I get lots of punctures in the Maxis even with tubeless due to me riding farm tracks where they cut hedges and the thornes can be a serious problem.
From a weight point of view the 1kg or so that it is lighter is neither here or there and wont be my main concern when I buy my next bike......proper gearbox will be , but thats a while off yet.
Have fun.
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Thanks Oldbean, not sure what to do wit the derailleur, would have thought a mountain bikes design would cover for riding off road!! As for the punctures, tougher tyres, maybe down hill rated ones will work. I used to get a lot of pinch flats but that was more due to my riding style and coming up short on jumps!! There’s a new inner tube system that I want to find out more about, Vittoria Air Liner! Might be worth a look but I hear it’s not cheap, still better than fixing flats all the time!! 40 miles is a long ride on one battery, especially for a small battery, I hear of people only getting that with a 500Whr battery but that was a decent bit of climbing involved.
 
ShaneV34 said:
Thanks Oldbean, not sure what to do wit the derailleur, would have thought a mountain bikes design would cover for riding off road!! As for the punctures, tougher tyres, maybe down hill rated ones will work. I used to get a lot of pinch flats but that was more due to my riding style and coming up short on jumps!! There’s a new inner tube system that I want to find out more about, Vittoria Air Liner! Might be worth a look but I hear it’s not cheap, still better than fixing flats all the time!! 40 miles is a long ride on one battery, especially for a small battery, I hear of people only getting that with a 500Whr battery but that was a decent bit of climbing involved.
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I have a Jam2 Carbon and probably getting a similar amount of range out of the battery.

Went out last night for a trail ride, no real elevation so only around 500ft of climbing. 19miles on 40% of the battery, stuck it on Trail and left it alone.
Riding to and from the local bike park (Hadleigh Olympic Course as was), hour and a half with 1,500ft of climbing (1:33min) with between 20 to 30% of battery left.

OldBean, intrigued by your gearbox comment, do you mean two speed or better single speed than Shimano?

M
 
MartinW148 said:
I have a Jam2 Carbon and probably getting a similar amount of range out of the battery.

Went out last night for a trail ride, no real elevation so only around 500ft of climbing. 19miles on 40% of the battery, stuck it on Trail and left it alone.
Riding to and from the local bike park (Hadleigh Olympic Course as was), hour and a half with 1,500ft of climbing (1:33min) with between 20 to 30% of battery left.

OldBean, intrigued by your gearbox comment, do you mean two speed or better single speed than Shimano?

M
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Thanks MartinW148, Just to clarify, when you went to the bike park, you rode in trail mode the whole time and you started with 100% battery?
Cheers
 
ShaneV34 said:
Thanks MartinW148, Just to clarify, when you went to the bike park, you rode in trail mode the whole time and you started with 100% battery?
Cheers
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Hi Shane,

No the bike park was a mix of trail and turbo for the long laborious climbs, I don't really use eco as I find Trail cuts the power down automatically on the trails as speed increases. Eco is reserved for flat riding to and from the park.

Last night's ride which is a flat trail along the rail tracks all in trail, but most of the time at 15mph, hence very little power usage.
 
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Now that looks interesting and I am sure that system will soon be on an Ebike......I dont need carbon etc but no derailleur would be fantastic.
There are other "gearbox" systems mentioned at Eurobike so it wont be long now....Retro fit??
 
IMG_20180816_200605.jpg

I get 25-30km on mountain ness terrain single track on Eco and boost modes

I've change my suspension to cane creek inline coil shock and helm air fork, 175mm drop ks Lev, and Deity 787mm handlebars... Have a nextie carbon wheel set coming for it in the mail
 
Jam2Ride said:
View attachment 4109
I get 25-30km on mountain ness terrain single track on Eco and boost modes

I've change my suspension to cane creek inline coil shock and helm air fork, 175mm drop ks Lev, and Deity 787mm handlebars... Have a nextie carbon wheel set coming for it in the mail
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Nice, i have my eye on a lever for the dropper post and Shimano E7000 controller to clean up the handlebars, but first I need to get some kms on her first!!
 
MartinW148 said:
I have a Jam2 Carbon and probably getting a similar amount of range out of the battery.

Went out last night for a trail ride, no real elevation so only around 500ft of climbing. 19miles on 40% of the battery, stuck it on Trail and left it alone.
Riding to and from the local bike park (Hadleigh Olympic Course as was), hour and a half with 1,500ft of climbing (1:33min) with between 20 to 30% of battery left.

OldBean, intrigued by your gearbox comment, do you mean two speed or better single speed than Shimano?

M
Click to expand...

Maybe get to hook up for a ride sometime, I work on a 2 week rotation at Tilbury and have been out and about at Hadleigh but tend to prefer Danbury Common on a Sunday Afternoon.
 
My Sam2 2018.
2.8 Maxxis tyres, tyre inserts, new grips, Mudhugger fender and suspension tune.
XT 165mm cranks
Spank flats.
I think the NX gears is working realy good and the Magura MT5 is super. I have the TEC pack to.
20180929_173821.jpg
20180929_173821.jpg
 
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Setter said:
My Sam2 2018.
2.8 Maxxis tyres, tyre inserts, new grips, Mudhugger fender and suspension tune.
XT 165mm cranks
Spank flats.
I think the NX gears is working realy good and the Magura MT5 is super. I have the TEC pack to.View attachment 6064View attachment 6064
Click to expand...
hey Setter, nice bike. How do the 2.8” tyres go? They fit ok? Thinking about this as my first mod.
 
ShaneV34 said:
Plus the shorter cranks, I am constantly pedal striking on the climbs!!
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I hade problems with pedal striking and trasht a cople of flatpedals and crankarms... Now it works good, no pedal striking.
Go with Schwalbe apex tyres as Magic Mary, Hans Dampf or new Eddy Current in 2.6. Schwalbe 2.6 same size as Maxxis 2.8 (71mm wide)
I have Maxxis 2.8 DHF and DHR. They are to thin in the sidewall and puncture= inserts...
 
interesting what you say about the Maxxis..had sidewall troubles and considering Vittoria inserts however might give the Schwalbe Apex a try.
Pedal strikes are a pain too.
How do you find handling with the TEC pack? some report CofG changes.
Any deals on TEC packs??
 
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