The all-rounder has been renewed!
The OSTRO VAM was originally developed as an all-rounder. In collaboration with the pros of Israel Start-Up Nation (now Israel – Premier Tech), the aim was to develop a racing weapon that would be suitable for any terrain; for climbers and sprinters. In short, a bike that is both light in weight and combines aerodynamics with comfort. Our Léon van Bon recently tested this bike for Fiets Magazine; SPECS
FRAME TeXtreme®, Toray®, Nippon Graphite® Pitch-Based Fiber
FORK OSTRO Wide Stance Fork
SEATPOST 0 and 20mm setback available
BARSTEM Black Inc Integrated Aero Barstem Reach 80mm, drop 120mm. Multiple stem lengths and bar widths available.
HEADSET CeramicSpeed SLT 1-1/8″ and 1-3/8″ bearings
HEAD TUBE DIAMETER 1-1/8″ upper and 1-3/8″ lower
SADDLE RAIL CLAMPS 7x7 and 7x9
BOTTOM BRACKET CeramicSpeed T47A Aluminum cups / CeramicSpeed bearings available for DUB, 24mm, or Ultra-Torque
CABLE ROUTING Internal
COMPATIBLE COMPONENTS Electronic
BRAKE TYPE Disc
MAX ROTOR SIZE 160mm front & rear
MAX CHAINRING 54-tooth
FRONT AXLE 12 x 100mm thru-axle
REAR AXLE 12 x 142mm thru-axle
WHEELSET Black Inc 48|58
WHEEL SIZE 700c
MAX TIRE CLEARANCE 32mm Measured
MANUFACTURER WARRANTY Limited Lifetime Warranty 11-2023 and also described the bike as; “an all-rounder with great components”. However, according to the engineers at Factor, there was still room for improvement in terms of weight, stiffness and aerodynamics.
The frame has been tackled at various points while retaining the characteristic appearance of the OSTRO VAM. In order to increase the aerodynamic advantages, but also to lose weight, the frame has been tackled step by step at the head tube, front fork, top tube, rear fork and seat post. An important starting point was to determine how the shape of the bike could direct the airflows around the cyclist more favorably, with the aim of reducing air resistance. The front of the bike has the greatest impact on the behavior of the airflow and how it is guided for the parts of the bike that are yet to come. That is why the focus when redesigning the bike was first on the front and then worked towards the rear.
During the development process, every adjustment was extensively tested in the wind tunnel and outdoors. Naturally, the engineers were able to use the feedback from the pros of Israel – Premier Tech. All this has resulted in a reduction in weight and drag of 70 grams (a saving of seven watts) compared to the previous OSTRO VAM frame.
In the maniacal quest for aerodynamic gains, house brand ‘Black Inc’ has also developed a set of OSTRO VAM bottle cages to bridge the gap between the frame and the bottle cages, reducing localised drag both with and without the bottle.
A painted frame now tips the scales at 820g in size 54. When combined with the new Black Inc wheelset, the weight savings is almost 268g compared to the previous generation. The new Black Inc 48/58 wheelset weighs in at a mere 1270g and has an internal rim width of 23mm. It’s no surprise then that a size 54 OSTRO VAM can easily be built up as a complete bike weighing in at under 6.8kg.
Rob Gitelis, founder of Factor Bikes and Black Inc, on the new OSTRO VAM: “With the launch of the new OSTRO VAM, we are pushing the boundaries of carbon fibre bike design and manufacturing to improve on what was already a proven winner. Stevie Williams’ overall victory at the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under was a dream debut for the OSTRO VAM, and we look forward to seeing both professional riders and consumers reach new heights with this bike.”
The new Factor OSTRO VAM is available now at Dixhoornfietsservice. OSTRO VAM can be purchased as a frameset, frameset with Black Inc 48/58 wheelset, or as a complete bike in sizes 45, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 61. Find out more at factorbikes.com