The Focus Jarifa Impulse 27R 3.0 is premium hardtail electric bike with 27.5″ wheels that perform well on trails, cross country or a bit of mountain terrain. For under $4k it delivers a sophisticated drive system and enormous battery that together, are capable of 100+ miles depending on the assist level in use. My favorite part of this ebike is actually that it comes in five frame sizes including extra small… there are very few off-road electric bikes that do and I know some petite ladies out there who are stoked about it. It’s only available in one frame style which is high-step but the bar is angled a bit for easier stand over. Diamond frames are sturdier and this one has a gusset (reinforced metal plate) where the top tube and seat tube meet to really make it tuff. You may also notice that the Impulse 2.0 mid-drive motor is positioned above the downtube for added protection (something I haven’t seen with other mid-drives) and this adds even more ruggedness to the bike. As with any bike, this one has a few shortcomings worth mentioning and the first is a lack of seat stay bosses for adding a rear rack. I feel that given the hardtail design, this would make a great commuter during the week and trail blazer during the weekend for those who only want (or can afford) one electric bike. Consider a beam rack like this if cargo-hauling sounds appealing. Here’s a quick video I shot with a beam rack talking about panniers on another electric bike.
The motor driving the Jarifa 27R is a 250 watt mid-drive by Impulse 2.0 that offers 70 Newton meters of torque. For me it’s a mixed bag… You get increased range and efficiency with the smaller motor but have to work a bit harder for it than you would with the Bosch Centerdrive 350 watt system. With three assist modes to choose from, you can definitely dial the performance up and if you work with a certified Focus shop they can dial in “Climb Assist” settings which make the ride feel zippier as you pedal but use more energy inso doing. Given that this bike uses a mid-drive motor, you also benefit from mechanical efficiencies as you change from low to high gears. Use low for climbing and high for hitting that 20 mph top assisted speed. The bike can easily top this (especially when heading down hill) and there is no cogging or drag presented by the motor system as you might encounter with a gearless hub motor. The motor control system measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence and pedal torque to activate and power the bike and it feels smooth but not quite as responsive in cutting out as the Bosch drive system. It is perhaps quieter however and the shift sensing technology felt a bit smoother as it physically measures the wires running from your trigger shifters to the derailleur vs. just sensing how you’re pedaling. I especially like the aluminum bash guard and plastic guide piece they added to the front 38 tooth sprocket. Everything feels solid and the low profile derailleur in the rear should reduce contact and bends if you’re exploring rocky terrain or if the bike tips.
The battery powering the Focus Jarifa 27R offers an amazing 36 volts of power and 17 amp hours of capacity! That’s enough for 100+ miles on the lowest level of assist and I’m not sure any of the other ebikes I’ve tested can claim this kind of performance. Again, this would make a fun commuter for people with a bit of trail on the way to work (or those who prefer a rugged style). The battery pack itself is mounted low and center on the frame, includes a sturdy locking core for security and can be charged on or off the bike. I always prefer to take my batteries inside and top them off after rides (keeping a pack in a cool dry place and targeting 20% to 80% for storage is best). One fun extra with this pack is the magnetic EnergyBus charging port (much like Apple laptops) that secures easily and pops out if someone trips over the cord instead of dragging the expensive hardware off of a counter etc. I love that the top of the battery has a blue LED charge level indicator which can help you to quickly determine the sate of charge on or off the bike. The case is colored to match the bike, has an indentation for making it easier to grip and feels very secure once mounted. The cells inside are from Impulse (not exactly sure on the manufacturer) and offer a Lithium-ion chemistry known for storing higher energy with less weight.
Activating and adjusting the drive systems on the Focus Jarifa Impulse 27R 3.0 is very intuitive and fast. Once the battery is charged and mounted you just press the power button on the control pad (which is mounted very close to the left grip). This button pad as well as the LCD display are are backlit for use at dusk or dawn. The LCD panel itself is not removable but it is small, sturdy and adjustable in terms of angle (to help reduce glare). As it powers up, the display says “Hello” and then quickly switches to show your speed, battery level (with 10 increments), drive mode (Eco, Sport, Power) and trip meter/odometer. You can easily change between mph and kilometers by holding the select button and you can reset the trip meter by holding the minus button. I found myself riding in Power mode for the tests and noticed that this bike requires a bit more torque to activate the motor which means you get more of a workout than some other ebikes. Again, this can be adjusted with help from your shop and isn’t necessarily a bad thing… I never hard issues climbing. There is also a walk mode on this bike which can be activated by holding the plus button for a few seconds, this can be useful if you’re heading up a hill pushing the bike instead of riding it.
Focus is a German brand known for producing high quality, sporty electric bikes and the Jarifa 27R definitely fits the bill. It’s not flush with accessories, or spaces to mount them, but it is sturdy, efficient and well suited to off-road terrain. It’s a capable, beautiful electric bike with an impressive two year warranty and some unique engineering that should keep it functioning while other bikes struggle. I love the unique burly frame design, convenient suspension lockout adjust, hydraulic disc brakes, simple control interface and fun bot not overly-flashy color scheme. The bike rides quiet and is capable, it’s much more responsive than mid or low-ed bikes with less sophisticated mid-drives and it’s really not that heavy. If you took the 6.5 pound battery off you could actually ride this as a normal bike and blend in pretty well. As with many off-road mid drive electric bikes that balance the frame by mounting the battery on the downtube, you don’t have room for a bottle cage here but an aftermarket saddle cage or Camelbak would solve the hydration issue. If you’re craving more power and speed than what’s offered with the Jarifa then check out the Focus Thron Impulse Speed… which also lacks bottle cage and rack mounts. With this model more you get a 350 watt motor, 28 mph top speed and full suspension setup.
A full suspension enduro style e-mountain bike with long 170 mm air suspension by Fox, available in three frame sizes and two colors, excellent Magura hydraulic disc brakes. Near-perfect weight distribution, standard 175 mm Q Factor, super short chain stay length for snappy…...
A full suspension trail style e-mountain bike with 140 mm air suspension, available in four sizes and several configurations including 27.5" boost, 29er, and Shimano Di2 electronic shifting. Excellent weight distribution, standard 175 mm Q Factor, super short chain stay length for snappy…...
A lightweight, cross country style electric mountain bike with the Shimano E8000 mid-motor offering high RPM support, traditional chainring size, no reduction gear, and high 70 Nm torque output. Custom downtube-integrated battery is designed and built by Focus, it's completely protected and hidden, very…...
A mid-level cross country style electric mountain bike with remote lockout fork, Shimano Deore 9-speed drivetrain, powerful Bosch CX mid-motor, and mounting points for fenders, a rear rack, and bottle cage. Seems oriented towards female riders because it comes in a smaller frame size option, uses…...
A hardtail 29er, cross country style electric bike available in four frame sizes, quick release wheelset for easy trail maintenance and portability, removable battery pack and display panel. Excellent weight distribution with both the motor and battery pack mounted low and center on…...
A brightly colored, rather funky looking electric hardtail mountain bike with 27.5" x 2.8" plus sized tires, nice 180 mm Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with adjustable levers. Available in four different sizes for improved fit, the motor and battery are mounted low…...
A super clean looking hardtail electric bike with unique side-swivel battery, the display gives you access to many advanced mode settings including shift sensing delay and climb assist. Available in three sizes for improved fit, the high-step diamond frame is stiff and mounts…...
Long range and high speed (28 mph) capable, feature rich electric bike available in five sizes and two frame styles (high-step and step-thru). Well priced considering the air suspension fork with remote lockout, premium Ergon locking grips, Fizik…...
A value priced but still high-end electric bike offering an active frame and bar design that's great for commuting or touring, 100+ mile range in lower assist levels. Available in two low-step and three high-step sizes, quick release wheels, dynamo powered LED lights,…...
Extremely well balanced, high speed 28 mph pedalec with full suspension that's on and off-road capable. Features the highest end components including Shimano XT drivetrain, Fox Float suspension (front and rear),…...
Top of the line commuter style electric bike with 30 speed drivetrain, commuter rack, fenders, suspension fork, adjustable stem, Ergon grips and dynamo powered LED lights. Powerful but efficient high torque hub motor is nearly silent, extra large Lithium battery offers…...
One of the quietest, smoothest and most powerful hardtail electric mountain bikes I've ridden. Efficient 250 watt gearless hub motor offers 1,000 watts of peak output and multiple regen…...
Be the First to Post a Comment