Until a year ago, Factor's portfolio painted a clear picture: racing bikes, triathlon rockets and aero bikes - the manufacturer's core competences were clearly in road cycling. Since the 2022 model year, however, the English company has also been trying its hand in the off-road sector with the Lando family. In order to remain true to the company's DNA, Factor has tailored the Lando HT hardtail specifically for ambitious racers.
Factor Lando cannot deny his racing DNA
The elegant carbon fibre chassis of the Factor Lando HT weighed 1090 grams in size L in the BIKE test lab. A decent value for a debut model, even if the lightest MTB hardtail frames even land on the market well below the 900 gram mark.
Equipped with stylish carbon wheels and components from sister company Black Inc., the Lando HT weighs in at a ready-to-ride 9.3 kilos. This means that the newcomer has no problems parrying crisp intermediate climbs or hard bursts of speed. Even when looking at the geometry data, the Factor Lando HT cannot deny its racing DNA. The extremely long reach and an 80 millimetre stem literally stretch the rider over the frame triangle. Hard-nosed marathon cracks will appreciate the extremely stretched riding position.
However, the Factor mountain bike does not fulfil the requirements of a modern race bike with these dimensions. The 69-degree steering angle is too nervous on the downhill. The stretched riding position offers too little leeway for technical manoeuvres. At 38 N/mm, the stiffness of the frame is also low. Positive feedback downhill is given for the impeccable response of the fork and the surprisingly reliable tyre grip - despite a width of just 2.25 inches, mind you. The riding comfort is also pleasantly high.
Conclusion on the Factor Lando HT by Max Fuchs, BIKE editor:
With its pronounced propulsion and super-sporty riding position, the Factor turns out to be a classic race hardtail. It shows its strengths on long distances. However, you will find faster bikes for technical cross-country courses.
Technical data and notes Factor Lando HT
Manufacturer information
- Price: 6368 Euro¹
- Available by mail order
- Frame material: Carbon
- Frame size: XS / S / M /L (tested size 48 cm)
Measured values
- Weight without pedals: 9.27 kg
- Frame weight: 1090 g
- Weight of wheels: 3893 g
- Acceleration wheels: 2919 kg x cm²
- Handlebar width: 760 mm
- Seat comfort: 7.7 mm
- Frame rigidity (absolute): 38 N/mm
Equipment
- Wheels: Black Inc. Twenty Seven
- Tyres: Goodyear Peak; TC Ultimate 29 x 2.25; Goodyear Peak; TC Ultimate 29 x 2.25
- Suspension travel: 103 mm
- Fork: DT Swiss F 232 One Remote
- Brakes: Sram Level ULT / 160/160 mm
- Gear system: Sram XX1 Eagle AXS 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 34; 10-52 / 520 %
- Seatpost / Ø: Black Inc. MTB Seatpost / 31.6 mm
Valuation
- Driving behaviour uphill: 31.5 from 35
- Front suspension: 15 out of 15
- Rolling resistance: 12.75 out of 15
- Weight: 20 from 25
- Inertia impellers: 10.5 out of 15
- Bottle cage: 10 out of 10
- Seating comfort: 7 out of 10
- Driving behaviour downhill: 21 from 30
- Front suspension: 18 out of 20
- Saddle retractability: 7 out of 10
- Brakes: 8 out of 10
- Tyre grip: 12.75 out of 15
- Driving stability: 3 out of 10
TOTAL UPHILL: 106.8 OF 125
TOTAL DOWNHILL: 69.75 OUT OF 95
- Other: 21 out of 30
- Ease of maintenance: medium
Bike test rating²: very good 197.5 out of 250 points
¹ Price may be subject to additional costs for packaging, dispatch and coordination.
² The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (250-205 P.), very good (204.75 -180 P.), good (179.75 -155 P.), satisfactory (154.75 -130 P.), with weaknesses (129.75 -105 P.), unsatisfactory (104.75 - 0 P.). The weighting of the points in the individual assessment criteria varies depending on the bike category.
Max Fuchs
Editor
