Factor Saran SRAM RED E1 XPLR Gravel Bike

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 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.

• 18% reduction in vibration amplitude compared to previous endurance baselines.
  
• Zero structural drift in stiffness after 40 hours of continuous simulation.
  
• Stable steering and aerodynamic balance at 30–40 kph, even under endurance load setups.

• Leaf-spring seat-stay system
  
• Clearance for 57 mm (29 × 2.2-inch) tyres
  
• Compatible with rigid and 30 mm travel forks
• Large downtube internal storage
  
• 30.9 mm dropper post ready
  
• T47 wide bottom bracket
• 71.5° head tube angle
  
• 425 mm chainstays
  
• 80 mm bottom-bracket drop

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.

• Frame: Toray®, Nippon Graphite® PAN-based fibre
  
• Fork: Factor Sarana carbon
  
• Seatpost: FSA SL-K SB0 seatpost. Compatible with 30.9 mm dropper seatpost
  
• Barstem: Black Inc integrated barstem, reach 75 mm, drop 116 mm. Multiple stem lengths and bar widths available
  
• Headset: 1.5″ bearings
  
• Head tube diameter: 1.5″ upper and lower
  
• Saddle rail clamps: 7×7 and 7×9
  
• Bottom bracket: CeramicSpeed T47A Wide aluminium cups. CeramicSpeed bearings available for DUB and 24 mm
  
• Cable routing: Internal
  
• Compatible components: Electronic
  
• Brake type: Disc
  
• Max rotor size: 160 mm front and rear
  
• Max chainring: 52-tooth
  
• Front axle: 12 × 100 mm thru-axle
  
• Rear axle: 12 × 142 mm thru-axle
  
• Wheelset: Black Inc 46
  
• Wheel size: 700c
  
• Max tyre clearance: 57 mm measured
  
• Included accessories: Downtube storage bag, top tube pack, frame pack
  
• Manufacturer warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

GROUPSET SPECS

• Groupset: SRAM RED E1 XPLR
  
• Speed: 1×13-speed
  
• Crank: 44T
  
• Cassette: 10–46T
  
• Rotors: 160 mm