Focus Jam2 or Trek Rail - First time ebiker, long term biker

[Beatjunkie98]

Hi there, after hiring a trek powerfly FS in the lake district ive decided that adding an ebike to my gravel, road and mtb collection is a good idea!

Therefore looking around £5k and think i am fixed on Rail or Jam2 - is there anything else i should be looking at.

It will be used for local trails, and occasional bike park use in Wales, my current mountain bike is a Calibre Bossnut therefore i am all about getting the most from my money!

Any help id be appreciated! Cheers Ryan

 

[2WheelsNot4]

I think the Jam 6.8 has better spec that the Trek rail 5 which are both just below the £5K mark, although I'd prefer to see a heavier duty fork than a fox 34 as specced on the Jam.
Slightly better brakes on the jam and more slx in the drivetrain(XT rear)and also on the jam you get a kiox display. Doesnt say but I'd guess the Rail is a purion.
Rest of the kit on the Rail is generic bonty, more a smattering of brand names on the Jam
I dont rate either set of wheels, but would lean towards the Jam more than the generic bonty ones. No idea which actual make those are, and on the jam its only Joytech, which were always a cheaper brand, but these days I see them on more bikes so i think they've come along. I suppose they need to makes savings somewhere.
Overall the Jam is the better kit, suspension at least and on a sus bike the sus bits are more important than the rest of it

Going up in price to the Jam6.9, the spec is way way better. More XT including the brakes,shifters and mech and thats pretty good there, and a 36 fox. DT swiss H1900 wheelset. Same kiox display.
Comparing it against the equivalent Rail 7 its making the Rail look like the poor cousin.
Rail 7 is a Yari(Although I see an option with a stiffer 38 domain RC, i have no experience of that fork though) which is probably a step down from the RS gold 35 on the rail 5, and the 7 has a bit more slx, but only deore 6100 in the brake department, simply no comparison to the Jam6.9's XT
Same majority of generic bonty other bits, including the wheelset which again are no comparison the the DT Swiss on the Jam 6.9.
Rail is offering the same basic purion display.

Overall in my humble opinion, and being a confessed gear freak,Id opt for the Jam 6.9, even if it means saving for a bit longer and any amount of wait. The Trek Rail 5 and 7 in comparison is a complete let down. It's like they've not thought it through properly.

 

[Beatjunkie98]

That is probably the best overall review ive ever had on a forum, thank you! To be fair I agree with every point mentioned regarding the spec!

My only concern with the Focus is that there is not a dealer near by, I have just walked to a Trek store and they can get me a Rail 7 in a couple of months apparently and due to this only being up the road any warranty claims can be be done in store although the spec isnt as good the warranty might be better?

 

[Zimmerframe]

I think your main problem will be availability. When I wanted a Focus 6.9 I spoke to all the local dealers and they said March next year at the earliest, fortunately I found one online. Really is a nice bike. The Rail's a nice bike too. Ultimately, you can't really go wrong with either so grab what you can and get riding it !

 

[Beatjunkie98]

Yes appreciate they are both decent bikes, the new 2022 Trek Rail 7 is available January for £5800 and the Focus Jam2 6.9 seems to be £5000, therefore £800 for a lower spec in alot of areas doesnt really make sense, not too fussed when i get in unless its like October next year! Ill speak with some Focus dealers! Although the new Trek does look nice and literally the store is up the road!

Also the weight of the Focus is stated 25kg rather than the Trek 7 is 23.5kg which seems quite a bit!

 

[2WheelsNot4]

and get riding it !

And end up unhappy.

I'd wait to get what you want rather than snapping up the first thing available. We're not all like Zimmerman there in his mansion, and its a lot of money to spend, so the choice has to be right.

 

[Zimmerframe]

And end up unhappy.

I'd wait to get what you want rather than snapping up the first thing available. We're not all like Zimmerman there in his mansion, and its a lot of money to spend, so the choice has to be right.

Totally agree, but as we all spend our time working on our virtual ideas of what is and isn't better, because we're scared we'll make the wrong choice, rather than be happy and enjoy what we have. Sometimes you have to go with what you can get, rather than what you can't get ?

Better to actually have a bike which you think is great ? than have no bike whilst you wait for one you think might be better ?

That said, your overall comparison is spot on though. The 6.9 is the one to go for and if you're going to wait, wait for the 6.9, not the 6.8.

A lot of people have problems with the hubs on the 6.8. The 6.9 is pretty much perfect out of the box once you've done a bolt check !

 

[Zimmerframe]

We're not all like Zimmerman there in his mansion

Hey, that's my bike shed/cabin..

The general point is that there's lots of good bikes out there, some might be better than others, but on the whole, most are actually good. Even the MK1 Kenevo is still faster than the others going down most things and the 1.3 motor doesn't miss a beat unlike the Mag 2.1/2.2's.

 

[Beatjunkie98]

All great comments, I already have gravel, road and a full suspension bike which is only a Calibre Bossnut but had amazing reviews at the time! And does ripp the local trails but be good to cover more ground in a shorter time, also this is a 27.5.

As people have said 5k is alot and if spending 4k I'd rather get the right one and not need to keep upgrading the bike! I mainly have specialized bikes and know that rear wheels are junk, with joytech hubs seem to just rot, so the 6.9 does make sense with the better DT Swiss wheels!

I'll see what the deal is with Focus wait times, and how warranty is dealt with!

Cheers people

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Hey, that's my bike shed/cabin..

Thats a lovely mantelpiece. Do you know the age of the building.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Thats a lovely mantelpiece. Do you know the age of the building.

It is quite impressive. The buildings not actually that old, 1973 I think. The fireplace was apparently pulled out of an old manoir which was being demolished at the time, I've never found out which manoir it came from though or why it was demolished - would guess fire damage as it's quite unusual.

 

[Ogofmole]

Like you, long time mtb rider, but never had a eMTB before. Wanted to stay under £5,000, so was looking at the Trek Powerfly4 FS and the Orbea H25, both of these were in stock locally at different shops. In the end I went for the Orbea as the spec was higher with Shimano XT and Shimano 4 pot brakes and Rockshox forks.

Also living in Wales, Brecon Beacons.

 

[Kevlasultanpus]

Hi there, after hiring a trek powerfly FS in the lake district ive decided that adding an ebike to my gravel, road and mtb collection is a good idea!

Therefore looking around £5k and think i am fixed on Rail or Jam2 - is there anything else i should be looking at.

It will be used for local trails, and occasional bike park use in Wales, my current mountain bike is a Calibre Bossnut therefore i am all about getting the most from my money!

Any help id be appreciated! Cheers Ryan

I suggest another consideration might be the after sales service / warranty. Downunder I'm having no luck with Focus dealer but have never had any issues with Trek (I've own 2 Trek acoustics) .

 

[Sidkop]

I suggest another consideration might be the after sales service / warranty. Downunder I'm having no luck with Focus dealer but have never had any issues with Trek (I've own 2 Trek acoustics) .

Interesting…considered the Focus Jam2 but low maximum weight limit (120kg) was significantly lower than the Trek/Merida

 

[Kevlasultanpus]

Interesting…considered the Focus Jam2 but low maximum weight limit (120kg) was significantly lower than the Trek/Merida

There has also been a thread on this forum re focus frames failing at rear end. Im sure it happens to all brands though.

 

[steve_sordy]

I loved my Focus, a lot! The only fly in its ointment was how far away the dealer was.
When you have a problem that you can't fix, or it's under warranty, having to do a round trip of 3 hours, plus finding something to do in between is a proper pain. Its either that or two round trips!