TESTED: Factor Lando XC
The Factor Lando XC is certainly in the new school realm of cross-country and marathon bikes.
Photographer: Gerard Lagana
Tester: Mike Blewitt
Riding Experience: More time on bikes than off them.
Generally Rides: Norco Revolver FS 120
Height: 178cm
Weight: 73kg
Bike Test Track: Samford Conservation Park, Brisbane Forest Park
Factor jumped into the world of mountain biking in March 2022, releasing the Lando XC and Lando HT, a carbon full-suspension bike (tested here) and hardtail respectively. The Lando models are designed for XC, marathons, stage racing and fast, extended off-road adventures. The Lando made a sneaky appearance pre-release at the 2022 Cape Epic, a suitable testing ground for the full-suspension frame. It was ridden by the Team Amani, who create opportunities for racers in East Africa with gateways to international racing.
Factor need little introduction if you are familiar with road racing, but Factor may not be a common name to mountain bikers, however they have been the manufacturing partner for several mountain bike brands. Many mountain bike frame designs have come to fruition thanks to the work of those in the Factor design team. And that depth of experience in composites, suspension design and kinematics means the Lando XC, despite being a first attempt, is ready to hit the trail.
Factor's entry to the world of dirt has been in planning for 6 years – and while the Lando is the first mountain bike to be made under the Factor brand, they expect to expand in time, with longer travel bikes, e-bikes and a pro team on the cards. But for now, the Lando is the logical step for Factor's customers in the road, triathlon and gravel markets. Racing is core to the brand, so cross-country, marathon and endurance riding is the best fit to start.
You can order your bike direct from Factor Bikes with free global shipping. This model has all the fruit, with SRAM XX1 AXS Eagle gear, Black Inc carbon wheels, post and bar/stem and DT Swiss 232 One suspension. It would cost you approximately $14600 – which is no small amount of change. This is similar to a Specialized Epic EVO Pro, although that bike has Fox Factory gear (including a dropper) and Shimano XTR mechanical shifting – not the wireless SRAM gear on this bike. At the moment the XX1 AXS is the only spec available, although you can get the frame set for about $6400, which is $1000 less than an S-Works Epic EVO frame, and about $300 less than an Orbea Oiz frame. Expensive? Yes. Off the mark? Not at all.
Initial Impressions of the Factor Lando XC
The Factor Lando XC is certainly in the new school realm of cross-country and marathon bikes.The frame has huge tubes for the lower area around the bottom bracket, neatly integrated cable routing, additional mounting points, and inbuilt frame protection. The chainstay is one big piece of moulded carbon, pushing through the split seat tube to the main pivot. Factor say that specific design is a key part of keeping the frame weight at 2100g. The bike runs on 29” wheels with a full carbon frame. The geometry is progressive cross-country, which means a 67 degree head angle and a 75.5 degree seat angle. The frame can be run with 100mm or 115mm rear travel, depending on the shock stroke length (40 or 45mm). And those can be matched with 100mm or 120mm forks. Our test bike has a 120mm fork and 115mm travel, with DT Swiss 232 One suspension items and remote lock out.
The frame is a linkage driven single pivot with a flex stay – and Factor really focused on pivot location to keep a very flat antisquat. The very forward pivot means the antisquat stays similar across the whole gear range, and is optimised for a 32 or 34t chain ring. A 36t chain ring fits fine for those with the legs to push it.
There is clearance for 2.4" tyres on wide rims, and the Lando is 1x only. It is routed for internal droppers and uses a huge T47 threaded bottom bracket, as well as the SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH). The reach is long, at 476mm in a large, and the bikes are designed to be setup with short stems for an aggressive and stable stance.
Factor have included an accessory mount under the top tube – but one traditional bottle mount inside the mainframe. I managed to mount a second cage on the accessory mount, but you need a pretty strong cage to hold a bottle – as it's upside down! There's a mounting position for a top tube bag behind the stem, a popular option for ultra endurance racers and big days out.
The Factor design team aimed to maintain torsional stiffness and deliver a low overall frame weight for the Lando XC. A vertically-oriented shock layout means forces are concentrated in the strong bottom bracket area, allowing for weight savings elsewhere. The frame’s split seat tube and the monobox chain stay adds extra torsional stiffness while its flexible seat stays provide four bar performance without the need for additional pivot points. The use of a shared shock and lower swing arm pivot, mounted as wide as possible, ensures the simplest, lightest and strongest use of available frame material. Lando's one-piece moulded carbon rocker complements its one-piece rear triangle, also minimising weight and maximising stiffness, while eliminating shock side loads or binding. This should improve the performance and life of your shock.
My Factor test bike came part built and boxed, with chocolate box style packaging for the small parts. I opted to have the lockout outer and rear brake hose enter the frame at the head tube, but you can have them enter to headset top cover if you want a neater finish. The spec is all top shelf, from the SRAM XX1 AXS group set, to Factor's Black Inc wheels, cockpit and seat post. I'd like to see a dropper post, but it's an easy addition. Despite the split lower seat tube it is possible to route outer through one side or the other.
On The Trail
High spec 100-120mm marathon and stage race bikes are my jam. So I'm always keen to test a new one, although my preferences are quite pedantic. The long reach feels spot on, given the steeper seat angle it's not as long as it looks. Besides a change in ergonomics with an over the bar lockout, lack of dropper and SRAM shifting, it was easy to get along with the Lando XC from the first few pedal strokes.
And what was immediately obvious was how direct the feedback through the stout frame is. Looking down, you can see the width at the base of the frame, especially compared to the more slender top tube. With the straight down tube, this creates a very purposeful feel when out of the saddle and pushing hard. This sort of scenario is exactly where the Lando XC should shine, and the precise feel via the frame is excellent. During my first ride I also noted that I was reluctant to reach for the lock out lever. It just didn't seem necessary. For smoother climbs where I wanted to get out of the saddle I would use it, but more for locking out the fork – the suspension kinematics are really very good.
After my first few test rides took place on a local trail network, my next few went into the mountain range behind where I live, with long climbs, long descents, and lots of rutted trails. It's the kind of terrain that is part of most endurance mountain bike races around the world. I was already impressed with how the Factor climbs with the suspension open, but the stability the bike has on fast descents was excellent. Even the response to changing lines at speed on off camber corners was good, and would no doubt be better with a less racey tyre than an Aspen, if you wanted a little more grip.
On the wheels, the 27mm internal Black Inc wheels roll superbly, but may be a little heavier than some would expect, at 902g for the rear and 742g for the front. At 1644g the wheels are far from heavy, but given Specialized's second top wheel set is 200g less, and a more popular 29mm wide, I feel there are options for improvement. Factor list the weight as closer to 1450g – so perhaps these were an early production sample. That said, 27mm is a very good rim width as it works with 2.2-2.4” tyres, without moving edge knobs too far inboard on narrower tyres. Similarly, the Black Inc one piece bar and stem looks smart, but at 331g it's nearly 100g heavier than the Bontrager RSL bar and stem (236g) that I tested in 2021. The stem also required two allen keys at once to tighten, which you may not have on race day if you need to straighten your bars after a crash. The benefit is that the carbon isn't threaded, it's one nut into another so you use a 4mm and 5mm allen key. You won't total the unit with a stripped thread.
When I logged into the digital launch of the Lando XC in March, the staff at Factor relayed that the parts spec may not be exactly what they wanted, due to the current availability of parts. Obviously SRAM Eagle XX1 AXS works superbly, as do the Level TLM brakes, and I think the DT Swiss 232 One suspension is an ideal partner for the Lando XC, given the tuning options and midstroke support that the DT Swiss air spring has. The fork is a 51mm offset, and Factor did suggest that this would change to 44mm offset once they are available. I think this would be a huge advantage. The only time I thought the Lando XC needed some more pep was in tighter singletrack, climbing or traversing. Having made a change to 120mm forks at 44mm not 51mm offset on my own bike, it really does give you the extra travel while not reducing agility.
Our Take
For a first dual-suspension high end mountain bike, I think Factor have knocked it out of the park with the Lando XC. During the presentation in March, I was a little dumbfounded that they released a bike without an obvious option for running two water bottles in the main triangle. For any rider interested in marathon racing and stage racing, this is a clear advantage, even just for the training needed. However, Factor's reasons are sound, based on having a vertically oriented shock to reduce load on the shock and to create a stiffer sub frame. With the accessory mount where it is, I had no dramas running a 620mL bidon in the inverted position, and I think this shold be possible on a medium frame as well. These details should not take away from the very refined suspension kinematics, as I think the Lando XC pedals better than a lot of the cross-country full-suspesion bikes that I have ridden, while still allowing plush performance with midstroke support on descents. This bike should have a dropper post, and many will prefer more aggressive tread and an under the lock out lever. But watch this space, as I think Factor are just warming up, and if I was looking for a new marathon and stage race frame for a top spec build, I would certainly eye off the Factor Lando XC. If the part spec suits you, the whole build is also competitive within its end of the market.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Factor
Model: Lando XC
RRP: $14600
Weight: 10.31kg
From: factorbikes.com
Available Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL
Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
Fork: DT Swiss F232, 120mm, 51mm offset
Shock: DT Swiss R232, 190×50 (115mm)
Shifter: SRAM Eagle XX1 AXS, 12sp
Derailleur: SRAM Eagle XX1 AXS, 12sp
Crank: SRAM Eagle XX1, DUB, 175mm, 34t
Bottom bracket: Ceramic Speed T47 DUB
Chain: SRAM PC-XX1 12sp
Cassette: SRAM Eagle XG-1299 12sp, 10-52t
Wheel set: Black Inc, 27mm internal, 28H
Tyres: Maxxis Aspen 29×2.25”, EXO 3C TR
Brakes: SRAM Level TLM 180/160mm
Cockpit: Black Inc integrated
Seatpost: Black Inc 31.6mm
Saddle: Selle Italia
