speigei
New Member
Hi all, I am eyeing the 2021 Jam² 9.9 Drifter (Link to bike on focus-bikes.com) - I like the concept of the bike (it being lightweight yet with a full-fat motor, the two battery setup and the fact that it is a mullet).
It being last years model, availability is pretty limited, especially in my area, so testing various sizes is somewhat out of the question.
I can get a pretty good deal on the bike in size L (whereas I usually ride bikes in M), and I'd like to ask owners of the bike for some pointers if that size could work.
Firstly: I am 1.78m with an inseam of 83cm.
I currently ride a BMC Agonist (size M) which is a 29er with a reach of 435mm. The size feels good, but maybe I have just grown accustomed to it...
A recent test ride on a 2019 Rocky Mountain Powerplay Altitude (Size M, 27.5") with a reach of ~430mm felt rather cramped (see attached picture).
The Jam² 9.9 Drifter in size L has a reach of 440mm, which does not seem substantially longer than my current bike.
Geometry comparison on bike-stats.com
In fact, several reviewers noted that the size of the bike is rather small: E.g. ebike-mtb.com says "Our 1.80m tester was riding the largest size, size L, and it felt very compact." I also reached out to the tester of the bike on emtb-news.com, who says he is 174cm (5cm smaller than I am) and he would also choose size L for himself. Lastly, Rob himself in his review (and comparison video) also comments on the compact-ness of the bike.
Now, I know that reach is only one aspect of the geometry, and the Focus is definitely the largest bikes of the three, but I am curious to hear if people think the size will be an issue.
It would be great to hear from actual owners - what your height is and what size you are riding - and how you are getting on with it: Did you upsize? Was the size recommendation from Focus accurate?
Any help is much appreciated - thanks!
It being last years model, availability is pretty limited, especially in my area, so testing various sizes is somewhat out of the question.
I can get a pretty good deal on the bike in size L (whereas I usually ride bikes in M), and I'd like to ask owners of the bike for some pointers if that size could work.
Firstly: I am 1.78m with an inseam of 83cm.
I currently ride a BMC Agonist (size M) which is a 29er with a reach of 435mm. The size feels good, but maybe I have just grown accustomed to it...
A recent test ride on a 2019 Rocky Mountain Powerplay Altitude (Size M, 27.5") with a reach of ~430mm felt rather cramped (see attached picture).
The Jam² 9.9 Drifter in size L has a reach of 440mm, which does not seem substantially longer than my current bike.
| Model | BMC Agonist 2018 | Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 70 2019 | Focus JAM² 9.9 Drifter 2021 |
| Frame size | M | M | L |
| Geometry setting | - | Pos 1 - Slack | - |
| Wheel size (r/f) | 29" / 29" | 27.5" / 27.5" | 27.5" / 29" |
| Frame travel | 110 mm | 150 mm (+40 mm) | 150 mm (+40 mm) |
| Reach | 435 mm | 430 mm (-5 mm) | 440 mm (+5 mm) |
| Stack | 605 mm | 604 mm (-1 mm) | 634 mm (+29 mm) |
| STR * | 1.39 | 1.4 (+0.01 ) | 1.44 (+0.05 ) |
| Top tube horizontal | 611 mm | 603 mm (-8 mm) | 624 mm (+13 mm) |
| Seat tube length | 440 mm | 457 mm (+17 mm) | 470 mm (+30 mm) |
| Head tube angle | 69.5 ° | 65 ° (-4.5 °) | 65.6 ° (-3.9 °) |
| Seat tube angle effective | 73.75 ° | 74 ° (+0.25 °) | 73.6 ° (-0.15 °) |
| Seat tube angle actual | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Head tube length | 105 mm | 120 mm (+15 mm) | 140 mm (+35 mm) |
| Chainstays | 445 mm | 426 mm (-19 mm) | 457 mm (+12 mm) |
| BB height | 332.5 mm * | 341 mm * (+8.5 mm) | 336 mm * (+3.5 mm) |
| BB offset | -40 mm | -13 mm (+27 mm) | -18 mm (+22 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 1145 mm | 1180 mm (+35 mm) | 1219 mm (+74 mm) |
Geometry comparison on bike-stats.com
In fact, several reviewers noted that the size of the bike is rather small: E.g. ebike-mtb.com says "Our 1.80m tester was riding the largest size, size L, and it felt very compact." I also reached out to the tester of the bike on emtb-news.com, who says he is 174cm (5cm smaller than I am) and he would also choose size L for himself. Lastly, Rob himself in his review (and comparison video) also comments on the compact-ness of the bike.
Now, I know that reach is only one aspect of the geometry, and the Focus is definitely the largest bikes of the three, but I am curious to hear if people think the size will be an issue.
It would be great to hear from actual owners - what your height is and what size you are riding - and how you are getting on with it: Did you upsize? Was the size recommendation from Focus accurate?
Any help is much appreciated - thanks!
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