The Sam2 6.9 is the top model in the series. It has 170 millimetres of suspension travel and a very powerful chassis. The Fox suspension strut comes with a steel spring and the 38 mm fork has damping specially designed for E-MTB use. You can tell that the bike is designed for downhill riding. Everything is designed to be robust, resulting in a total weight of over 26 kilograms. An empty battery is no fun. Thanks to the flip-chip, the geometry of the bike can be adjusted and it also allows the use of wheels of different sizes. The cockpit is second to none: The cable routing through the stem and headset is a very smart solution.

"After the first ride, it was clear to me: the Sam² is built for descents and is simply fun. 29-inch wheels, our F.O.L.D. kinematics, the geometry and the chassis. This package can handle everything that awaits you on the trail. No compromises can be made when it comes to the add-on parts. Here we have found the perfect match with the new forks from Rock Shox and Fox with 38 mm stanchions. For the top model, we have installed a sensational fork and a robust, tailor-made steel spring that perfectly matches the character of this machine. The new tires with DH carcass from the lineup are the icing on the cake for the Sam²."

Special features

- Integrated cockpit, cable routing through the stem
- Flip chip at the rear
- Steel shock
- Rubber bumpers on the down tube as fork stop
- Asymmetrical chainstays
- Chain guide

On the flat

The Sam2 is long and heavy and that's how it rides on the flat. Thanks to the powerful Bosch motor, you can still make good progress and if you ride the bike actively, it pulls well around corners. The front end is high so you sit very relaxed. Depending on your height, it is advisable to remove some or all of the spacers to keep the front down.

Up the mountain

You can get up any hill on an e-bike and this Focus makes it very relaxed. However, it is better to choose forest roads than technical single trails. Because that's not what it's designed for, a short-stroke and more playful bike is more fun. On moderate climbs, it pedals without bouncing, only bobbing heavily when pedaling out of the saddle. But with this E-MTB, the uphill is just a means to an end.

Downhill

This is where the Sam2 is in its element. It shoots downhill like a downhill bike. The powerful suspension flattens everything out and nothing upsets it. It provides little feedback from the ground. The high weight requires an active riding style and makes it cumbersome on jumps, but it lands very softly. Thanks to the high front end, the steering is very controlled on very steep and rough terrain. The bike is perfect for park trails, but is also fun on slow and technical terrain. You can master this with great confidence.

Conclusion

Heavy riders will find the Focus Sam2 a stable E-freerider that makes them independent of shuttles and cable cars. Lighter riders will struggle with the high weight, for them the bike rides somewhere between a tank and a sedan chair. The Sam2 is actually "designed for downhill" and designed for use in the bike park or on rough trails. For "normal" biking in the Alps, Focus has a more suitable E-MTB in its range with the Jam2.

Recommendation

Dear residents of mountain regions and second home owners, you no longer need a season ticket for the cable car in summer. With the Focus Sam2, you can master 1000 meters of altitude in around 40 minutes. If you have your battery management under control, you might even manage two runs before the power runs out.
Specifications

Geometry
All data here: Link

Manufacturer/distributor
www.focus-bikes.com

Test report published in issue 02/2021 of Ride magazine