Spyshot | FOCUS SAM Carbon Prototype Spotted | ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine

Just like two years ago at the Specialized SRAM Enduro Series season opener in Treuchtlingen, this year’s race once again gave rise to the rare and exciting sight of a new prototype. Once again, it’s from FOCUS and it’s yet another SAM– but this time it appears to be carbon, not aluminium.

Fabian Scholz beim Saisonauftakt in Treuchtlingen. Wie bereits vor zwei Jahren ist er auf fränkischem Boden wieder mit einem Prototypen unterwegs. — Fabian Scholz opens his season of racing in Treuchtlingen. And just like two years ago, he’s riding one of the new prototypes on Franconian soil.

Not only did he take overall victory at last year’s Specialized SRAM Enduro Series while doubling as the Focus Trail Team manager, Fabian Scholz is also the design and development engineer for the Cloppenburg-based company, and hugely involved in the design of the bikes. Therefore, it’s not surprising that he gallantly hops on their latest prototypes to test-ride them. At their team tent in Treuchtlingen our gaze was captured by their new carbon version of the FOCUS SAM.

Das Rad ist zwar im Bereich des Steuerohrs abgeklebt, einige andere Partien geben aber dennoch Aufschluss über das neue Rahmenmaterial. — While the head tube might be taped up, other parts certainly hint at the new choice of frame material.

So zum Beispiel am Aufnahmepunkt der Wippe am Unterrohr ... — Such as the location of the rocker on the downtube …

... oder dem "Gusset" am Übergang vom Oberrohr zum Sitzrohr. — … or the gusset between the top tube and seat post.

Im direkten Vergleich zum rechts hängenden Aluminiummodell fällt direkt auch der kantigere und deutlich voluminösere Steuerrohrbereich auf. — Compared to the aluminium model hanging on the right, you immediately notice the more angular and significantly more voluminous area around the head tube.

Unfortunately Fabian Scholz and his colleagues Tobi and Markus Reiser were not willing to release any concrete details about the new bike. But – considering how ‘final’ the frame build appears and the now minor use of tape – we reckon it won’t be long until this model is officially released. At this moment in time, we can’t ascertain if – and to what extent – the carbon variant differs from the geometry of its predecessor, or if the mechanics of the rear have changed.

Auch der Hinterbau wirkt wie aus einem Guss und scheint aus Carbon gefertigt zu sein. — The rear end looks like it is made from carbon too due to the lack of visible welds.

For more information on the Focus Trail Team head to their Facebook or the Focus-Website.

Words: Christoph Bayer | Pictures: Axel Brunst/Christoph Bayer

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Spyshot | FOCUS SAM Carbon Prototype Spotted

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