Factor unveils new Ostro Vam race bike

Factor Bikes holds a somewhat unique position in cycling – the business owns and operates its carbon production facility. Further to this, the business openly states it is the only bike brand in the world overseeing and controlling every step of carbon bike production, from concept to final assembly.

With that in mind, Factor has announced the next generation of its Ostro Vam.

Designed and developed for all-around speed, Factor points out that the new model has been shaped around precisely managed aerodynamic gains while offering riders what it calls an uncompromised and highly responsive racing bike.

The launch announcement states Factor’s engineers sought to find balance across weight, stiffness and aerodynamics; refusing to concede any one of these three critical components at the expense of another.

The result is a modern racing bike, as ridden by Israel – Premier Tech, designed for riders who demand pinpoint handling, immediate power transfer, comfort on unforgiving roads and low weight for optimum performance on the climbs: All the things you’d expect a WorldTour team to want.

In that elite level racing environment the new Ostro Vam has already been proven to perform, with Stevie Williams taking the general classification win at the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under.

Aero performance in numbers

Of the performance claims, the brand points to its rapid design iteration, analysis and optimisation process, which has resulted in a claimed 70 gram reduction in drag (a seven-watt saving) compared to the previous Ostro Vam frame, with aerodynamic benefits becoming more pronounced at five- to ten-degree yaw angles that most represent real-world riding conditions.

Wheelsets, frameset, and complete bike

As has become an integral part of an aero bike development programme, a new Black Inc 48/58 wheelset is part of the package delivering on those performance claims.  At 1,270 grams a pair, the 48/58 combination add little weight for their claimed aero performance gain. Fair to say, there are heavier climbing wheelsets currently in the market.

Talking ‘weight’, a size 54 Ostro Vam, with off-the-shelf components, can (it is claimed) be readily built up as a sub 6.8 kilogram complete bike, when paired with the new Black Inc 48/58 wheels. The launch announcement points to a 267.8 gram weight saving versus the previous generation.

Pricing and availability

The new Factor OSTRO VAM is available exclusively from factorbikes.com and authorised Factor dealers worldwide, with UK pricing starting at £5449 for a frameset, £7,799 for frameset and wheelset, and £10,799 or £10,999 for Shimano Dura Ace or Sram Red, respectively. Ultegra and Force equipped bikes are also available, as are Quarq power meter options for Sram equipped bikes.

Whether purchased as a frameset, frameset with Black Inc 48/58 disc brake carbon wheelset, or as a complete bike, sizes include 45, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 61.

To see frame geometries and learn more click here. 

Main image credit: Israel Premier – Tech