Faktor O2 VAM Disc RED AXS

The new O2 VAM is the definitive aero climbing bike. We didn’t invent this category, but we did perfect it: nothing else this light is as fast, nothing this fast is as light. It’s also extremely stiff, beautifully smooth and descends with the precision, confidence and speed of a fighter pilot. It’s the ultimate choice for riders seeking full-course performance on big days in the mountains, whether you’re riding the Étape du Tour or racing the Tour de France. It’s everything you dreamed of and didn’t think possible, a unicorn among bikes.

The O2 VAM was born to climb, so it’s seriously light, from just 6.4kg out-of-the-box for a 54 with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2. Few disc brake bikes can compete and none of them are aero. Crucially, that figure means the pros can line up with a bike that’s still very close to the 6.8kg minimum once their pedals, cages, transponder and race number are added. One thing we all share with the pros is that when you’re about to take on thousands of metres of climbing, we want the lightest bike possible. The new O2 VAM uses ultra-high-grade materials, tube shapes optimized by super-computers for stiffness-to-weight, and a new manufacturing process so advanced that we built a whole new factory.

Why make an aero climbing bike? Firstly, because the climbs are only part of anyone’s ride and on the rest of any route it’s as important as ever to be aero. Secondly, because the pros climb so fast that aero remains a significant consideration even at typical gradients of 8%. Of course, everyone wants both lightness and low drag, but with aero shapes being heavier, the challenge for a climbing-focused bike is to save the most watts while adding the fewest grams. Our team nailed it. How aero is it? In the wind tunnel, at effective wind angles of 0-5 degrees (ie a calm day, or headwind to moderate crosswind) the new O2 VAM is only 5W behind the OSTRO VAM, which itself is the fastest aero bike on the market. Across a full sweep of angles, it slashes the gap by 50% versus the previous version. For such a light bike, that’s outrageous. On the road, it means that your climbing bike will be faster than many brands’ much heavier dedicated aero offerings.