Individual test Factor Aluto: Sporty race gravel bike with adventure features

It seems as if the manufacturer Factor can test at will which innovations, trends and designs work on the road bike market and which do not. The Taiwanese-British company recently caused a stir with the Aero road bike ONE A sensation: An extremely avant-garde designed bike that breaks with current visual habits and technical conventions in many respects. By the standards of the bicycle industry, its development must have been enormously expensive and swallowed up a lot of capital. It is hardly conceivable that the bike will recoup the development costs through sales, as it is by no means a product for the masses.

Factor Ostro Gravel individual test

New Factor ONE: Fastest UCI-legal road bike?

The manufacturer has also made its own mark on gravel bikes in recent years. With the Ostro Gravel presented a race gravel bike in 2022which was one of the first to focus on aerodynamic performance. It complemented the equally sporty LS, which has been in the programme since 2020. Last autumn, the Aluto model was added, also a gravel bike with a decidedly sporty character. In terms of its orientation, it sits somewhere between the two familiar models. It is not really clear from the corporate communication how Factor defines the respective target group for the now three different gravel models. The Aluto is also a sporty bike, emphasising its suitability for racing, but without losing sight of the versatility of a typical gravel bike, which is probably the main difference in character.

Aero with luggage

The appearance of the Aluto is much more restrained than that of the Ostro. Although the front of the latest addition to the family is also reminiscent of aerodynamically designed road racers. The head tube and the carbon fibre handlebar set, which is fitted as standard, emphasise the racing character. The centre section of the bike has a more classic look, with simple lines and a seat tube with a round seat post. This should leave space for frame bags, which also fit into the front frame triangle in an aerodynamically favourable way. The low-set seat stays, on the other hand, could come from a typical aero racing bike with their profile. The geometry is slightly more relaxed than the Ostro; in our test size, the bike has only five millimetres more stack than the razor-sharp Ostro.

A lot of racing, a little adventure

However, the cut is a far cry from a comfortable seating position for relaxed pedalling. The aluminium bike is already recognisable as a sporty vehicle during the seat test. The tyre clearance is only slightly larger, the frame allows for 47 millimetre wide tyres, whereas adventure gravel bikes from other manufacturers offer significantly more. Other elements focussing on practical use are comparatively rare on the Aluto. A fairly small storage compartment in the down tube is sufficient for the bare essentials in the event of a puncture. There are threaded eyelets for a pannier on the top tube, and a third bottle cage can be mounted in front of the bottom bracket; however, the bike has no luggage mounts on the fork or threads for mudguards. However, the round seat tube can be fitted with a retractable seat post, which provides more safety on demanding steep descents if required.

On the trail, the bike looks playful and its steering behaviour is more reminiscent of a road racing bike or an agile crosser than an emphatically track-focused long-distance gravel bike. With its short rear triangle and steep head tube angle, it is exceptionally nimble around sharp corners. Together with the compact riding position, low weight and carbon rims that are easy to accelerate, the Aluto provides plenty of action and riding fun off-road. Only heavy riders are likely to notice that the frameset is not overly stiff; our testers could not complain about a lack of feedback in tight bends. At the same time, the aluminium bike doesn't feel too nervous on long straight sections, although the aerodynamic Ostro is slightly more stable on the track in comparison. However, with its balanced handling, the Aluto can be used on many terrains, while the Ostro prefers to bolt straight ahead. It shouldn't get too rough, because the tyres on the Aluto set the comfort limits. Neither the seat post nor the front end offer any comfort. The fork would allow a tyre up to 52 millimetres wide, but because there is only room for a maximum of 47 millimetres on the rear wheel, this is more of a theoretical nature.

Limited adventure suitability

If you are looking for a comfortable bikepacking bike for adventurous journeys, you should look at other brands - Factor remains true to the gravel race tracks of this world with the Aluto. Competition geometry and the tight gearing are unlikely to please less trained gravel bikers. However, for well-trained athletes who also want to ride with light luggage, the bike can be the right choice, as long as they take the pricing seriously: The test bike is the cheapest version and is already quite ambitious in comparison. The top-of-the-range version with SRAM Red XPLR costs €8,999, while the frame set for self-assembly is available for €4,099.

Factor Aluto: strengths and weaknesses

We liked that:

• Balanced driving behaviour
• Relatively light
• Equipment without weaknesses
• Power meter included

That works better:

• expensive
• average comfort