Focus Sam 2.0 (2014)

clean lines on this enduro/all-mountain machine

Pros

- A beautiful if subtly styled bike
- Great blend of components
- Gravity enduro capabilities

Cons

- Probably better going down than up!

Review

SAM - the name conjures many incongruous images: a friendly riding buddy, the cool girl at high school you never quite got it on with, a missile designed to take down aircraft....and now a bike designed for enduro! The SAM is a new bike from German bike manufacturer Focus and is designed to cater to gravity enduro and all-mountain enthusiasts and racers.

When first viewing this bike I was struck by the clean, simple lines and subtle decals. It's one of those rare bikes that stands out for being so unassuming. It draws attention by doing the very opposite. This is a beautiful machine for sure.

The model here is the 2.0 version - bang in the middle of the three bike range and as such has a no-nonsense collection of parts that are the bread and butter of many riders. We're talking a Fox 34 Talas, Reynolds all-mountain 27.5" wheels, Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes and all this attached to the clean alloy frame.

The geometry numbers perhaps lean this bike more toward downhill speed and stability than true all-mountain climbing ability, but make no mistake - the SAM is certainly capable of being ridden over a variety of terrain types, I just feel it would excel on the downward path. 160mm of travel and 27.5" wheels are a perfect match for aggressive enduro riding.

Overall i am mightily impressed with Focus on creating a bike like SAM. This bike would certainly suit the gravity enduro crowd, but also aggressive trail/all-mountain riders looking for a bike they won't destroy when the ground slopes down and the speed goes up. They will also be able to ride to that special place, rather than walk, and that's gotta be a good thing.