Force, power, strength, might, influence – as the meaning of the Latin phrase Vis Vires, Factor is setting the stage for their first mass produced bike. Well, at least more than 77 bikes that is. As a subsidiary of bf1 systems, Factor bike set out to push the technology envelope using their vast experience in electronic and composites in the automotive, aerospace, and marine industries. Factor has already made a name for themselves with the radical F01, which was followed by the opulent, $38,000 special edition Aston Martin One-77.
According to John Bailey, the Managing Director of Factor Bikes, “The purpose of building the Vis Vires was to advance road bike technology and to bring our sophisticated engineering and precision technology to the production road bike market without the £25,000 price tag. The Vis Vires is competitive with other similarly equipped bikes and is ready to ride straight out of the box. It has been designed to exceed the needs of road cyclists, enabling them to perfect their ride.”
Until now, images of the Vis Vires have been kept to very limited teasers – you can make out almost the entire bike after the break!
By freezing the teaser video below, the Vis Vires silhouette shows the new bike shares some design cues from One-77 like the aero head tube profile. Even though the F01 and One-77 made a big splash with custom hydraulic disc brakes, the Vis Vires looks to employ aero mini-Vs like Tektro’s TTV that are tucked into the back of the fork legs and under the chainstay. Also, this bike at least looks to have Factor’s custom crankset that interfaces with their incredibly advanced bicycle computer that is able to monitor left and right pedal stroke independently among a huge list of other functions.
In addition to the teaser photos posted on the Vis Vires Site, Factor also posted these “spy shots” of FP04 (Factor Prototype 04). Wrapped up in camouflage graphics like auto industry and other bike companies utilize, it seems the FP04 has been put through testing in some local races. Like the original bikes it appear the FP04 has a one piece fork, headtube, and stem assembly that all rotates on a bearing set farther back.
As one of the earliest teaser photos, the seatpost really wasn’t a secret though we can now confirm that it will have an integrated post held in place by a hidden wedge system. Factor looks to have created their own wheels as well which are quite a bit more traditional than the carbon 8 spoke models made for the previous bikes.
Of course the bike is Di2 compatible, with a battery that appears to be hidden somewhere in the frame. Here you can also see the speed sensor for the computer and what is presumably a cadence sensor on the other side.
Check out this last video for a look into the One-77 manufacturing and the computer system built into the bike.
