FOCUS VAM2 SL 9.0
£9,699 A terrier of a bike – fast and fun with plenty of character
While on paper the idea of adding motor assistance to a lightweight short-travel trail bike seems like a pineapple-on-pizza calamity, in reality the FOCUS VAM2 SL 9.0 is a very tasty bike.
THE FRAME
To keep the VAM2 SL as light as possible, FOCUS make the frame from carbon fibre and use flexstays, instead of a rear pivot, to link the single-pivot swingarm to the rocker-actuated shock, which dishes out a downcountry-esque 125mm of rear-wheel travel.
The German brand have opted to use FAZUA’s lightweight RIDE 60 drive unit, powered by a 430Wh battery. This is non-removable, to help reduce frame weight. The motor punches out 60Nm of max torque and 350W of peak power, which can be boosted to 450W for a 12-second burst.
Our medium test bike has a sensible 450mm reach and well-balanced 440mm chainstay length. A low 602mm stack height gives a sporty feel. The head angle is 65.5 degrees as stock, but can be steepened to 66.5 degrees by twisting the headset cups through 180 degrees. A modest 75.5-degree effective seat tube angle combines with the previous figures to give a 606mm effective top tube length. The bottom bracket (BB) sits 35mm below the axles.
FOCUS have developed extensive frame protection for areas that are more exposed to impacts, such as the down tube and driveside chainstay. A custom mud flap on top of the chainstay yoke protects the area between the front and rear triangles from dirt and debris.
THE KIT
The suspension comprises a 130mmtravel Fox 34 Factory fork, fitted with the brand’s more tunable GRIP2 damper, and a Fox Float DPS Factory shock. A wireless SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission controls the shifting, and the brand’s Level Ultimate Stealth brakes do the stopping. The VAM2 SL 9.0 rolls on Mavic Crossmax XL R 29 carbon wheels shrouded in Schwalbe Nobby Nic and Wicked Will tyres, with the SuperGround casing specced at both ends and the grippy ADDIX Soft compound up front. FOCUS supply their new MTB One Piece SL integrated bar and stem. A Fox Transfer SL Factory
dropper post and Prologo Proxim W850 Nack saddle finish off this high-spec build. THE RIDE
Pedalling seated, the VAM2 SL feels roomy but not stretched out, thanks to the 25mm of bar rise and the stack of spacers under the integrated stem, with adequate weight over the front wheel to help on the climbs. While the 75.5-degree effective seat tube angle may be slacker than on some modern enduro bikes, we never found that our weight was positioned too rearward.
It’s easy to whip the bike around tight hairpins and it doesn’t understeer, even with the motor helping you to accelerate out of corners. While the FOCUS is light for an e-bike, it has enough heft to keep it feeling calm on rough trails, and your body weight is well-positioned for traction and control.
We were most impressed with the VAM2 SL’s efficiency. The fastrolling tyres help here, as does the low weight. We never needed to use the shock’s climb switch, because the rear end provides good support while still offering up decent traction. The bike has a zippy feel on climbs, without the motor assistance detracting from a natural ride feel. Technical ascents are fun and challenging.
If the climbing is good, then the descending is great, for a short-travel bike. The initial stroke of the rear suspension is supple, providing traction and ironing out the worst small bumps. There’s then smooth progression and good support deeper in the travel, and it feels like there’s more than 125mm of bounce on tap. It can’t, and doesn’t, take the sting out of bigger hits like a longer-travel bike would, but it mutes the trail with surprising capability. The weight of the battery and motor give it some additional stability, which improved our confidence in the bike and allowed us to ride faster than it is perhaps intended for. The 130mm fork and speedy tyres can’t match the capability of the frame on rougher trails, but we say this as a compliment to the rear suspension.
On smooth singletrack, the FOCUS is brilliant, with a playful character that rewards commitment with precise handling. It covers ground quickly and hides its weight well, with well-balanced geometry helping to make it feel light on its wheels. Luke
ON SMOOTH SINGLETRACK THE BIKE IS BRILLIANT, WITH A PLAYFUL CHARACTER THAT REWARDS COMMITMENT WITH PRECISE HANDLING
On the right trails, the VAM2 SL 9.0 gives you a wind-in-your-hair feel on all but the steepest climbs