Focus JAM² SL Review | Bridging The Gap Between Full-Powered & Lightweight e-MTBs

[@SzymonWawrzyniak]

Today i got a test ride on it and i've never had more fun on bike in my life.

[@rydalnehro8233]

Bike is great as well, 430Wh battery was one of my deciding factors to pick up this bike. I had no issue with assistance, motor is powerfull, but after 500km torque sensor goes to no response. Replacing motor was not easy but relative quick, got new one direct from Fazua without any question (I was not first, obviously;). After next 500km I see noticeable wobble on crankset bearings (new motor). Charging battery outside bike: is get to used to it. Battery extender? Only in parallel universe. I think this bike will suffer from lack quality assembly of drive unit.

[@jerryofthebikes]

and how is your fazua motor after two (?) replacements? I've heard from my friend who has focus on fazua that fazua solve the problem and now they improved the motor assembly process. He had 3 motor replacements and from last one it just works. What is your experience? I'm buying new ebike, my previous spectral:on on ep8 was greate but I never run out the battery (750wh) as I was mainly riding it on short local trails and bike-park, around 2 - 3 hrs.

[@spinthatup3851]

Another awesome review Will. Currently looking at what to get next for a SL e-bike. Love that this has a removeable battery too!

[@sandycarmichael31]

Hi Wil, great review as usual. The Jam2 SL does have some features which I'd really love on my Rise H15 like adjustable geo particularly headset cups to slacken hta and 10mm more travel on each end. I too queried why Focus omitted the ability to mullet it using the flip chip. Having rode a Whyte e180 and a Commencal Meta power Sx over in Rotorua and Queenstown respectively, im mullet curious as to what i could do with my rise- over fork and use offset bushing or maybe try the new cascade linkage? Do you think that a mullet set up and a taller front end would be the key to unlocking this bike's downhill potential? Removable battery has pros and cons as you pointed out, I couldn't take the Rise to NZ, but can take it to Tassie on the Spirit 😊

[@corance2956]

I would love to see a review on the gravity fsx boost comp eagle from bikes direct. I’ve noticed a lot of people buying them yet no professional reviews!

[@dallasdrew2390]

Dont waste your money on a toy like that it will break in half the first jump you hit.

[@chrishurley5711]

Can you do a video on the Vam? Pleaasee

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

We've got a VAM² on the way soon for a review - stay tuned to the Flow website for that one! [Wil]

[@G00glieS]

Did you complete the review of Santa Cruz Heckler SL?

[@dmedved9242]

Thanks heaps for reviewing the jam 2 SL 9.9! It's been on the list of bikes in really keen on. How do you think it compares to the trance X elite 2? I'm also keen on it as with the battery out, the weight is well within capability of 20kg roof racks

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Glad you enjoyed the review mate! In regards to the Trance X E+ Elite, I found it to be a more agile bike with its mullet setup. It's got 10mm less travel at each end, and the geometry isn't quite as raked-out as the JAM2 SL. The 85Nm SyncDrive Pro 2 motor has more power for sure, and I like that you have access to that power if needed. And the 200Wh range extender is a great option for turning it into a more conventional full-powered e-MTB with a decent amount of capacity. In comparison, the Fazua system on the JAM2 SL is more compact and quieter overall. Power is excellent for a lightweight e-MTB, and not too far behind the 85Nm motor on the Giant. And the lower output does mean you can get more range out of the battery. There's more geometry adjustment available with the JAM2 SL chassis, and the ride quality overall is more stable at high speed. It's also a better climber with the dual 29in wheels. Between those two bikes, the deciding factors will likely come down to your preference of a mullet vs 29in setup, the Fazua vs Yamaha motor, and battery setup. Hopefully that helps, but just sing out if you've got any other questions for us! [Wil]

[@dmedved9242]

Thanks so much mate, really appreciate you answering in such detail and all you/the team do for mtb in Oz. Cheers!!!!

[@MrFlapstick]

Without a external charge port I’m guessing this will not be compatible with a range extender if fazure actually bring it out

[@jakubmajsniar3693]

but you can put another battery into your backpack ? ... it takes app. 7 seconds to swap them ... and woalaaa you have more capacity than full Ebike ... and extender costs more in capacity/price ratio

[@ondrejjanoska660]

210wh range extender? Show me one!

[@josemiguelbermudez6324]

A suggest a review on the transition relay

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Great suggestion! Keen to check out some of the new Transitions - stay tuned!

[@fernandom6811]

what’s it’s like to ride without the battery?

[@javid6680]

does it have throttle?

[@lee.j7077]

Hi seems like a nice bike but I want to try a mullet,can you please review the norco e fluid when I comes out,It’s on there website now so should come out soon thanks

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

You bet - we've already requested a Norco Fluid VLT for testing, so should hopefully receive it in the near future! Any other e-MTBs you'd like to see reviewed? [Wil]

[@lee.j7077]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin that’s great thanks,the other one I like is the Santa Cruz heckler sl

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Right on - we had a Heckler SL turn up for testing, but unfortunately encountered a problem with the Fazua motor during the first ride. We're waiting for it to be diagnosed and repaired, so hopefully we'll be able to carry on with the review in the near future! [Wil]

[@lee.j7077]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin looks like there will be a new fork on the norco fluid vlt c3 model as it’s blocked out on there website so will be interesting to see what it is

[@NH61975]

If Specialized put a 400 ~ 450 w battery on Levo SL it would become unbeatable, I don't understand this 320W option on their part. With each review I see of bikes in this category, the Levo becomes better.....

[@brentcollins9727]

I rented a Levo in Sedona and it felt like I was riding a Harley. It practically looks like one too with that giant bottom bracket area. Not my cup of tea. I want an E bike that looks and feels like a normal bike.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Personally I really like the way the Levo SL handles with its smaller and lighter battery, and if you need the extra juice you can add on a Range Extender battery to bring the capacity up to 480Wh. That goes for a lot of the other lightweight e-MTBs like the Fuel EXe, all of which benefit from the flexibility of adding on a range extender to suit different riding applications. [Wil]

[@MYMOUNTAIN_122]

Rode this bike, however the full 29er, and cables through the stem, I bought the heckler SL, awesome bike.. The only complaints are the ring control feels cheap, the display is too simple needs a screen like the levo SL. I find the fazua drive unit has heaps of grunt considering, nothing like a full powered Bosch, but it's for a different purpose.

[@jerryofthebikes]

Hey What do you mean " fazua unit has heaps of grunt considering"? And also if you can tell how is your fazua motor now? Do you have any problems? Do you recommend this motor system? I've heard from my friend who has focus on fazua, and got 3 motor replacements.. that fazua solve the problem and now they improved the motor assembly process, from last replacement it just works. What is your experience? I'm buying new ebike, my previous spectral:on on ep8 was great but I never run out the battery (750wh) as I was mainly riding it on short local trails and bike-park, around 2 - 3 hrs. So now I'm thinking to buy lighter ebike with smaller battery.

[@MYMOUNTAIN_122]

@jerryofthebikes considering it's only got 60nm, feels pretty peppy, I'm on my 2nd motor with over 1400ks, non issue, the new firmware definitely has made it alot more linear in terms of power delivery, and if you change the controller config from urban to mountain bike, to engage boost it's just a push and not a hold up button situation anymore. Would I recommend the fazua, depends on the bike, for me on heckler I love the setup, and with the 430wah batt I can get around 55ks and 1300m of climbing with 3% left, so heaps for me, but I still prefer my full fat Bosch.

[@brettmansfield]

Really not a fan of the bent looking top tube, thought it was an Orbea in the thumbnail.

[@sandycarmichael31]

It does look very much like a Rise, suspension platform layout looks almost identical

[@PPPYT2]

I have this bike. The 210w range extender is not available after 2 years from the bike launch and at this point clearly they have technical issues and it will never be available. For the rest is a great bike but the extender story is a joke.

[@jakubmajsniar3693]

Do you have another battery ?

[@PPPYT2]

No, it would very uncomfortable to carry it 2,5kg and it costs 750€..

[@jakubmajsniar3693]

@@PPPYT2 ? ... extender weights 1.6kg... 2kilos in backpack is uncomfortable? You have to have hard life my friend ...

[@PPPYT2]

@@jakubmajsniar3693 the 210w extender doesn’t exist!! They keep talking about it but it’s not on the market! The alternative would be to buy and additional 430w battery to keep in the backpack, nobody would do it!

[@jerryofthebikes]

@@PPPYT2 what about motor reliability? Did you have any motor failure? I heard ppl had problems with this motor but fazua replace these for a new one, I heard that at least their warranty process is fast. But from some time now after they improved the motor assembly process it works fine, what about Yours? I'm buying new ebike, my previous spectral:on on ep8 was great but I never run out the battery (750wh) as I was mainly riding it on short local trails and bike-park, around 2 - 3 hrs. So now I'm thinking to buy lighter ebike with smaller battery, but I'm a little bit worried about fazua reliability.

[@iffy_too4289]

Cables through the headset... I'm out.

[@mactheknife74]

Easily enough to change to a standard headset. My mate has done it on his.

[@chrishurley5711]

@@mactheknife74 easy enough? Wouldn't it require disconnecting the brakes and needing bleeds etc?

[@jimsteinway695]

Don’t like the e-bike frame set. Looks like a full on e-bike. That’s why I like the fuel EXe