We’re Jammin’ and we hope you like Jammin’ 2
FOCUS has built a reputation for excellence with its analog bikes, earning the trust of riders who seek quality and performance. This success has now seamlessly transitioned into their expanding e-bike lineup. Curious about how the entry-level models measure up, we set out to test whether they maintain the high standards synonymous with the brand, all while catering to riders with a more budget-conscious mindset. The 2024 Focus JAM2 6.8 sits in the middle of the three bikes in the All-Mountain range and comes with a very tantalizing price tag.
All three models in the 2024 JAM2 series have been targeted at the “All-Mountain” rider and have a burly aesthetic to the overall design of the bike. They all feature alloy frames with 150mm of travel, a Bosch Performance CX motor with a 750 Wh battery (625 Wh JAM2 6.7 model), 150–160mm Fox front suspension, and Shimano brakes with 203/200mm rotors. You can also change the geometry from steep to slack from 65.5° to 64.5° by turning the headset cups.
The three bikes in the Jam2 range feature similar components with only the top-end 6.9 model offering slightly more expensive components than the other two. It’s also worth noting that the Jam2 6.8 has had some confusion over what forks it was going to have for the Australian market. Super-cool note…The bike was supposed to come with a Fox 36 Rhythm fork, but this has been upgraded ( in Australia) to a Factory Series Fox 36 GRIP2 fork with no change to the price tag. Winner!
2024 FOCUS JAM2 6.8 Features
The 2024 FOCUS JAM2 6.8 is the proverbial piggy in the middle, sitting smack bang in the middle of the three bikes in the JAM2 range. In terms of aesthetics, it does have a burly look and feel giving off a heavy vibe with its chunky 7005 hydroformed aluminum frame and 2.6 tyres but this doesn’t hold the bike back, in fact, we would say FOCUS has conjured up some sort of black magic in terms of how well it handles the trails. More on that later.
The FOCUS JAM2 6.8 is a full 29er setup and comes equipped with the most popular and best-performing motor right now, the Bosch Performance Line CX motor with 85nm of torque and a full-powered 750w battery. The removable battery, possessing a capacity of 750 Wh, and is charged through the integrated charging port located at the bike’s seat tube. Alternatively, for ease of handling, the battery can be swiftly removed without the necessity of any tools. Simply unlock the buckle and lift the cover to extract the battery.
The FOCUS JAM2 6.8 comes with the market-leading Bosch Performance CX motor, 85nm of torque, and a full-powered 750w battery.
Photo credit: ©Sam Clarke
A bombproof SAMOX crank combined with Shimano cassette and XT derailleur provides a solid drivetrain system. On the top tube is a USB port for charging your phone. Interesting concept. If you have enough battery left and desperately need to charge your phone, it makes sense. The only negative for us was the ugly cables in the cockpit. A wireless display or remote would help clean this up.
The JAM2 6.8 comes with the Bosch LED Remote and a Kiox 300 display. The LED Remote connects your eBike with the eBike Flow app, letting you access ride data easily. Keep your hands on the handlebars while changing riding modes, using walk assistance, and controlling your smartphone display. With its smart system, you can update your eBike yourself.
The JAM2 6.8 comes with 160mm of travel up front and 150mm of rear travel. The bike usually comes with a Fox 36 Rhythm fork, but in Australia, it now has a Factory Series Fox 36 GRIP2 fork. This is an impressive upgrade at no extra cost to the buyer.
Out the back is a FOX Float DPS shock that compliments the 150mm frame kinematics. You can change the geometry of the bike from 65.5° to 64.5° via the adjustable headset cup, providing a steeper or slacker riding experience.
Running on the 29er wheels are a set of 26″ Maxxis Minion DHF front and back (our test bike featured tan sidewalls), with Raceface rims and Novatec hubs. The bike comes with an 800mm width aluminium handlebar with a rise of 30 mm, a backsweep of 9°, and a chunky pair of Focus Locker SL grips.
The drive train is a mix of Shimano Deore XT and SLX with a set of Shimano MT520 brakes married to 203mm and 200mm rotors. The dropper post is a Post Moderne brand and has 170mm of drop (size large bike) with a very comfortable Prologo Proxim W350 saddle. In terms of weight, the size we tested (large) came in at 25.95kgs with pedals.
On The Trails
We have to admit, our first impression of the JAM2 6.8 was that it was going to handle like a piece of farm machinery. That old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” has never been truer. We don’t know what sort of black magic FOCUS has conjured up here but the bike is not what you may first expect. We advise you to expect the unexpected and be prepared for some pure unadulterated fun.
We had two testers share the bike over several weeks. Our 181cm tester thought it felt right on the money in terms of sizing. Our taller tester (186cm) had a blast (on the normally smaller size), with it becoming more playful. However, if you’re 6 + feet in height, and want a less playful more stable point-and-shoot experience, then opt for the XL.
The overall wheelbase performed admirably in nearly all sections of the trail, with the exception of the tightest and most technical areas. When the trail opened up, this bike exhibited impressive speed.
Perhaps it can be attributed to the frame weight or the 1263 wheelbase combined with 29-inch wheels, but the bike demonstrates a strong inclination towards high performance. On faster cross-country trails, it maintained momentum extraordinarily well, showing minimal signs of slowing down.
On our favorite flow trails, it was pretty much the same deal. Once the bike picked up speed, it just kept cruising. We found ourselves flying over jumps that normally take a good bit of effort on those heavier e-bikes. With the way the suspension was set up and the speed it carried, hitting and clearing jumps felt balanced and controlled.
Setting up the suspension initially suggested the rear shock was under-gunned. It required 250 psi for proper sag. Yet, the bike performed well in practice. It absorbed hard landings and rough terrain without noticeable bottom-outs. This led to the conclusion of some impressive kinematics and suspension linkage design.
The F.O.L.D. (FOCUS Optimised Linkage Design) of the JAM² 6.8 delivered exceptional suspension feel and control on both technical and smooth trails. At first glance, you wouldn’t give the linkage system much attention. However, FOCUS has balanced this fairly heavy bike fantastically well with a relatively low-spec shock offering. We were impressed.
There were instances during the ride when it seemed as though there was some flex in the front. Is this a cause for concern? Likely not. It aligns with the intended purpose of the bike. The bike was being ridden hard in a manner reminiscent of its larger counterpart, the SAM, which is equipped with a more robust Fox 38 fork. The 36 added to the more playful nature of the bike. It allowed for a more compliant front end.
When the speeds slowed down the bike felt great, however, the weight meant that the bike was fairly grounded. You need to find a trail feature to assist in getting the bike off the ground. This certainly isn’t the SL version. In saying that, the suspension tune is lovely and poppy once the speed picks up, but you just can’t overcome physics.
The powerful e-drive with a torque of up to 85 Nm makes sure uphill with the JAM² 6.8 is fun as well as the downs. Even though the motor has got your back on climbs, you can still easily control your bike through the most technical conditions due to the sensitivity of the Bosch motor.
The 750 Wh slide-out battery can be charged through the bike’s seat tube or easily removed without tools by unlocking the buckle and opening the cover. FOCUS has placed the battery as low as possible into the down tube. This improves the bike’s centre of gravity and makes the full suspension bike more stable on descents. Combined with the low stand-over height, this enhances the bike’s handling in technical terrain.
Climbing was great. The bike felt balanced and controlled. The seat angle of 76.5 although not the steepest out there did provide a good body position on the bike. The power and tuning of the Bosch motor, longer chainstays, and 29r rear wheel meant that it powered up climbs with ease. We didn’t notice the weight being much of asn issue, if anything it kept the bike stable while putting down the watts.
We have played around with numerous e-bikes and their respective motors. In our assessment, the Bosch represents the standard by which others are measured. It’s a powerful motor but doesn’t ever feel like it wants to take over and hurl you forward at the most inappropriate times. It’s such a refined system that we think it is still the benchmark for all others to follow.
This unit features several efficient modes, and we primarily utilized the E-MTB mode, complemented by occasional bursts of turbo power for steep fire road ascents. There is a ton of guts in this motor, combined with a full-powered battery making easy work of its hefty 25kg weight.
The tuning of the E-MTB mode felt so natural. Appropriate power when you need it. Plodding along on the single track- lower output, jumping on the pedals for a trail feature or steep climb- higher output. We don’t usually like the ‘automatic modes’ on e-bikes, but the e-mtb mode on the Bosch motor is at another level.
One of the key plus points for us was being able to switch the geometry via the headset cups. The 65.5 head angle meant that the bike was eager to turn in, but you were reminded of the fairly sizable wheelbase behind the forks. But switch to the slacker 64.5 head angle and you instantly feel the difference.
Fans of FOCUS bikes may be disappointed that there is no mullet option on this model. It’s a pure 29’er. However, having the ability to change to a slacker angle may help ease those concerns. Overall the bike held a nice stable arc through corners. If you prefer to square off and slash corners then it does take more body input.
Switching the head angle does change the feel of the bike. The corners become less responsive in the slacker setup. However, it gave us a lot more confidence in the gravity and tech sections. For us, this is something we will always opt for. Being able to easily do this is a big bonus for an entry-level bike such as this.
Some downsides for us were the brakes. The Shimano spec on this model are pretty low. Plus, for a bike of this weight, we would highly recommend 220 rotors. We’ve said this in the past, full powered e-bikes with large batteries should be coming with larger rotors as standard for extra stopping power. We would also recommend a more durable tyre casing. Such a large tyre 2.6 width, and the weight and power of this bike, the EXO+ tyres are not going to last very long if you like the rocky stuff.
- Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 150 mm F.O.L.D. kinematics, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing
- System: Bosch Smart System, 250W mid-drive
- Motor: Bosch Performance CX, 85Nm
- Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750Wh
- Charger: Bosch 4A (Smart)
- Display: Bosch LED Remote + Kiox 300
- Sizes: S 39 M 42 L 44 XL 46
- Fork: FOX 36 Float Factory 29, Grip 2, 110 x15 mm, 44 mm rake
- Travel: 160mm
- Rear Suspension: FOX Float DPS, 210 / 55 mm, hardware: 25.0 x 8.0 mm, no Bushing
- Wheel Size: 29″
- Wheels: RaceFace AR30 Offset
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF, 2.6 EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHRII, 2,6 EXO+
- Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
- Shifters: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
- Chain: Shimano SLX CN-M7100, 12-speed
- Brakes: Shimano MT520, 4-piston, hydraulic disc brake
- Handlebar: RaceFace Chester 35, aluminium, 780 mm, rise: 35 mm, backsweep: 8°
- Stem: FOCUS C.I.S. integrated, 50 mm, 0°, 35 mm, aluminium
- Saddle: Proxim W350
- Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-214, 34.9 mm
- Weight: 25.5kg inc battery
- Carry Capacity: 150kg inc rider
Conclusions
The 2024 FOCUS JAM2 6.8 is a bike that will surprise you. Don’t be fooled by the chunky, industrial aesthetics. The handling of this bike offers up a well-balanced ride with a top-performing Bosch Performance CX motor system a 750wh battery, Fox suspension and ride capabilities similar to that of much higher-spec bikes.
If you are looking for a bike that can handle the rough stuff, is calm and composed at high speeds, and can take you on big adventures without battery range anxieties, the 2024 FOCUS JAM2 6.8 is a fantastically fun bike at a very compelling price point.
This e-bike is an excellent choice for entry-level riders. It features well-balanced kinematics and a suspension platform. The market-leading Bosch motor is included straight out of the box. There is potential for after-market upgrades. This makes the bike a real steal of an opportunity for anyone looking to get into e-mountain biking.
Price/Where to Buy
2024 FOCUS JAM2 6.8 From $6,999 AUD ($8,499 AUD as tested)
Go to the FOCUS website for more details on local stockists.
