Rob Gitelis, founder of Factor Bikes and Black Inc , said: " With the launch of the new OSTRO VAM, we are pushing the boundaries of carbon bicycle design and production to improve what was already a proven winner. The overall victory at the Santos Tour Down Under of 2024 was a dream debut for the OSTRO VAM, and we hope to see professional riders and users reach new heights with this bike." 

My Factor Ostro VAM

After 2000km on my new Factor Ostro VAM, I’ve come away with only a few thoughts, that's a pretty good sign.

Buying a production bike is usually easier than buying a custom bike. You pick the make and model and you're off. But Factor gives you the option to get a bike that fits you perfectly right out of the box. That's not the case with many other premium bikes.

I used to choose a bike on looks and hope it would perform as expected. No matter how good the specs were, if the bike didn't catch my eye, it was out of the question for me. These days, I take a few more "factors" (get the pun?) into consideration, but a good looking bike is still essential. Luckily, the Factor Ostro VAM is perfect for me. Plus, the team at Factor is amazing.

As I said before, choosing a stock bike is much easier than choosing a custom bike. You just have to choose the right size and color. I usually ride a 51cm frame, but being 5'7 with short legs (700mm saddle height with 165mm cranks) and a long torso, I often find that a custom geometry bike suits me better.

Luckily, Factor gives you options.

I chose the 120mm stem for the Black Inc. 36cm cockpit. What I really like about Factor is their great lineup of integrated bar/stem combos in various lengths and widths.

Looking back, my previous bike (frame size 51cm) came with a special 40cm/80mm cockpit that cost 699 euros to replace...

Unlike many brands that incorrectly assume that a 14cm stem requires a wider handlebar, Factor takes a much more sensible approach.

To perfect the fit, I lowered the stem as the saddle height is quite low. As a result, the overall fit is much better. I found the fit to be pretty comfortable, but it did take a few rides to get used to the frame and longer stem. At first, I had to adjust my downhill style a bit, since I was sitting further forward than the front wheel. The first descents took a little getting used to. But over time, everything fell into place.

Overall the bike is fantastic.