Immediately after its launch month, the new Factor Ostro Gravel has arrived at BikeRadar’s headquarters for testing.
The Ostro Gravel is designed for gravel racing, with tubes aerodynamically optimized to make it competitive in races like Unbound.
Factor says the Ostro Gravel carries the “winning mentality everywhere” of the brand’s Ostro VAM road bike and, in line with this WorldTour-proven machine, has been “developed to master its elegance with aerodynamics, incredible handling, maximum rigidity and low weight. “.
Indeed, bold claims, but before we give our verdict in a review, let’s take a look at this decidedly premium version.
Factor says Ostro Gravel uses a blend of TeXtreme, Toray and Nippon Graphite carbon fibers, a blend that, according to the logo, balances lightness with “a layer” for driving on gravel.
The logo claims a 54cm frame in “Naked Grunge” (a carbon fabric end with white graphics) weighs 900g. It is compatible with electronic groups.
Together with Factor’s Ostro Wide Stance fork, the head tube is striking and, in combination with the cab, contributes to 9-watt resistance relief at the front of the bike.
As for the brackets, there is an option for a bento box in the most sensitive tube, as well as brackets at the bottom of the back tube near the rear bracket junction for a third bottle or tool barrel.
That’s it for mount points. If you want to carry more luggage with you, you’ll want to attach motorcycle bags.
Factor says that Ostro Gravel can settle for gravel motorcycle tires up to 700c x 45mm.
It is not as wide as the clearance of some gravel bikes, with progressive machines intended for bikepacking or more excessive riding with a tyre area of more than 700 x 50 mm, this reflects Factor’s intentions for the bike.
As you would expect from the brand, the front end is integrated, with CeramicSpeed SLT hull bearings.
In theory, you have to worry about converting them and having to undo the brake lines.
CeramicSpeed also supplies the rear bracket, with a touch of blue on this stealth machine in a different way.
The rear stand is T47A (T47 asymmetrical), which uses the same threaded design as the T47, only with BBRight’s wider and oversized interface.
Cervélo pioneered the popular BBRight and Factor was one of the few brands to use it as well. When it comes to mounting the selected rear mount, the T47A means installing some spacers on the transmission side.
Every fortnight, we’ll give you a detailed first look at one of the last motorcycles (or frames) to arrive at BikeRadar’s headquarters, from road to commuting, gravel and enduro, and everything in between.
This is our ability to show the motorcycle and everything that makes it before hitting the road or trails.
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Our Ostro Gravel Factor, in its glossy matte paint “Naked Grunge”, is supplied with a SRAM Red eTap AXS XPLR group. A “White Grunge” paint scheme is also available.
It retails for £8430/€9710/$9799 and starts from £7060/€8120/$8199 for a SRAM Force eTap AXS XPLR version.
There is also a “premium package box set” option. This is the frame, fork, bar/power and a CeramicSpeed helmet and rear bracket, for £4,730/€5,450/$5,499.
There is no deviation from organization in this halo structure and our medium-sized pattern includes a 172. 5mm crank, a 44-tooth tray and a 10-44 tooth cassette.
This style is supplied with a pair of Black Inc Thirty-Four carbon wheels, which have a weight of 1489 g. The 34mm deep wheels, with an internal width of 25mm, are built around Black Inc’s own hubs, which feature CeramicSpeed looks.
The wheels are delivered tubeless in a position for use with Goodyear Connector gravel tires with a width of 700 x 40 mm, intended as a moderate width for flexible gravel driving.
The complete kit is also courtesy of Black Inc, with a built-in bar wrapped in the Factor handlebar strap and, on our bike, a Garmin mount on the front.
The HB02 carbon bar features flattened tops with an aerodynamic profile and, on this 56cm control bike, has a bar duration of one hundred mm and a bar of 40 cm wide.
The HB02 one-piece bar stem is offered in 20 mm wide increments (36 cm to 44 cm) and stem lengths ranging from 80 mm to 140 mm.
However, if you need to use your favorite combination of handlebars and power, Factor tells you not to do so because the head tube is round.
A non-round aerodynamic seatpost fits into the seat tube and a Selle Italia Model X BB FEC saddle with alloy rails fits on top.
All inclusive, our 56 cm motorcycle weighs 8. 12 kg pedals.
Lately we are the Ostro Gravel Factor, so you can expect a full review on BikeRadar soon.