Factor - SARANA, Prismatic Gold

The FACTOR bikes are individually assembled according to your wishes. If you are interested, you are welcome to make an appointment by phone or email for a personal consultation!

REDEFINING HOW FAR PERFORMANCE CAN GO: The SARANA represents Factor's deliberate expansion of the gravel spectrum. It’s been created for ultra distance racing, events measured in days rather than hours, where riders are entirely self-supported and performance depends as much on efficiency and resilience as on outright speed. Races that stretch across countries, through days and nights, where riders are their own mechanics, navigators, and occasionally, their own worst enemies. As our interpretation of what a true ultra race bike should be, the SARANA reflects the same instincts that drive every Factor: curiosity, precision, and the belief that speed is something to be felt as much as measured.

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR SPEED: Every Factor begins with a question of performance. For the SARANA we asked: How can a race bike stay fast when the rider is too exhausted to think about speed? The speeds, durations, and demands of ultra racing were unlike anything Factor had optimised for before, yet the principles were the same: efficiency, responsiveness, control. Working directly with Canadian ultra racer and 2025 Unbound XL champion, Rob Britton, the engineering team began translating his racing mindset into design parameters. British Columbia became the SARANA’s testing ground: vast, rough, and relentlessly varied. Each prototype was ridden, refined, and redefined by feedback from the field. Over months of riding in British Columbia, through heat, rain, altitude, and isolation, Rob pushed each iteration of the SARANA through the kind of punishment only real ultra events deliver. Every ride produced a set of numbers, but more importantly, a set of sensations that shaped the next version.

FINDING THE LIMITS OF ENDURANCE: From the first prototypes onward, Rob Britton became both test rider and collaborator. Each prototype was ridden, refined, and redefined by feedback from the field. The engineering team learned where responsiveness gave way to fatigue, and how geometry could hold composure when the rider was running on instinct. At the heart of the SARANA is a geometry designed for sustained high-speed riding across variable terrain. Stack and reach proportions are tuned to maintain control through fatigue, allowing riders to stay low and efficient without collapsing posture. Subtle refinements to wheelbase and trail enhance stability on rough surfaces while preserving the agility required in competitive scenarios. To enhance traction and absorb rough road vibrations, the SARANA introduces a leaf-spring seat-stay system. Dropped stays and a subtly offset seat tube create in-plane flex that smooths vibration while maintaining lateral drive. The seat tube offset also allowed our designers to maintain the 425 mm chainstays across all sizes. This solution keeps the rear end tight and combines with the 65 mm trail (tyre size dependent) to ensure sharp, responsive handling that belies the wide tyre clearance.

MAKE IT YOURS: Available in 2 colourways that capture the atmosphere of endurance rather than speed. It looks the way it rides, calm, deliberate, and built to go the distance. Available in sizes from 49cm – 58cm. With bags or without. Frame only or full build. Because adventure is personal.

- Features:

- IN-FRAME STORAGE: Large integrated down tube storage with a custom bag allows you to stash belongings safely. Carry anything from essential tools to foul weather clothing.

- CUSTOM FRAME BAGS: Working in collaboration with Post Carry, the specially designed frame bags give you ample storage space while enhancing the frame’s aero-efficiency.

- BLACK INC GRAVEL WHEELS: Black Inc FORTY SIX gravel wheels with 27 mm inner rim width offer a 46 mm deep profile and aerodynamically shaped steel spokes for speed and durability.

- DROPPER POST COMPATIBLE: By opting for a 30.9 seat post with an external clamp, the SARANA can accommodate a lighter weight dropper post that offers more drop with less insertion.

- SUSPENSION FORK OPTION: With an eye towards the SARANA’s ultra-capability, it has been designed to be compatible with 30 mm travel forks without impacting the handling or geometry.

- BLACK INC COCKPIT: The SARANA comes equipped with the Black Inc HB05 Integrated Barstem specifically designed for aggressive gravel riding with a short drop and wide flare for assured handling.

Details:

- Product images are for illustration purposes only and the final product will differ from the image.

- Frame: TeXtreme®, Toray®, Nippon Graphite® Pitch-Based Fiber

- Fork: Factor SARANA carbon

- Seatpost: FSA SL-K SB0 Seatpost (compatible with 30.9mm dropper seatpost)

- Barstem: Black Inc Integrated Barstem Reach 75mm, drop 116mm (multiple stem lengths and bar widths available)

- Headset: 1.5" bearings

- Bottom Bracket: CeramicSpeed T47A WIDE Aluminium cups (CeramicSpeed bearings available for DUB and 24mm)

- Cable Routing: Internal

- Compatible Components: Electronic

- Brake Type: Disc

- Max Rotor Size: 160mm front & rear

- Max Chainring: 52T

- Front Axle: 12 x 100mm thru-axle

- Rear Axle: 12 x 142mm thru-axle

- Wheelset: Black Inc 46

- Wheel Size: 700c

- Tire Clearance: 57mm Measured

- Included Accessories: Downtube storage bag/Top tube pack/Frame pack

- Manufacturer Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

- For more information, colour and equipment options, feel free to browse further on the FACTOR page