FOCUS JAM 6.0 LTD
With sorted geometry and plush suspension the new Jam suits a more relaxed riding style
The new Jam is miles sweeter than the old bike it replaces, with much improved geometry and great prices throughout the range. Focus has really thought hard about the process of evolving the Jam into a competitive and modern trail bike, and although it has got some bits wildly wrong, it has mostly got it right.
The old Jam was starting to look a little mouldy round the edges by the time Focus came to rejig it for this latest compote, with a steep 67° head angle and small sizing. The new Jam is fresh and zingy, with a relaxed 64.6° head angle in its low setting and a reach measurement of 475mm on this size large. Yes, that’s right, there’s now a flipchip mounted on the shock extension that lets you modify the head angle by half a degree. My guess is that most riders will just pop it into the low setting and have done with it, I certainly did.
I liked the old Jam’s FOLD suspension system, with the vertically mounted shock. It was actually rather unique for a modern bike, with a digressive feel to the top of the stroke that meant it dipped right into the suspension and felt supple right from the off. It’s a much more conventional design now and progressive from the off. This means you can run it softer and the whole setting up process is much easier and more like any other bike – I settled on around 30 per cent sag. Focus says the change has been prompted by the new shocks from Fox and Rockshox, with larger negative springs, as these already give a more supple start to the stroke.
Your choice of bike is limited to 29in wheels now that Focus ditched its 27.5in options, and there are three spec levels to choose from. All of them are based on the same alloy frame, although
Focus has given us a wink that carbon is coming some time in the not too distant future. This is the top end all-singingall-dancing 6.0 LTD bike with Rockshox Lyrik Ultimate fork, Super Deluxe Select+ shock and SRAM GX AXS drivetrain. Drop down one to the 6.9 at £2,999 and you get a Fox 36 Performance fork and DPS shock, and Shimano XT 12–speed shifting and four-piston brakes. Finally the entry level bike is the 6.8 costing £2,499 – it uses a Rockshox Revelation fork and Deluxe Select shock, and SRAM NX 12-speed gears.
I said the Jam was good and bad, so I’ll start with the latter. The Cockpit Integration Solution (CIS) stem. Focus has built its own stem with internal routing through the faceplate to hide away any unsightly cables – although in the case of this pimped edition with wireless AXS shifting, there’s only a dropper post and a brake hose. Clean sounds great until you try and adjust anything; Focus makes the CIS stem in just one 50mm length so if you want to tweak your balance on the bike you have to unthread the dropper and rear brake.
It gets worse, unlike most modern bikes, and indeed Focus’s own e-bikes,