The Factor Monza offers race bike precision in its handling, with a slightly more upright, comfortable fit, but the comparative value for money might be the most surprising part of this road bike.
Factor sees itself as a luxury bike brand, and depending on who you ask, it has become awfully successful at it. And based on the sheer number of people who thought this Factor Monza road bike cost much more than it actually does, people see Factor similarly.
I think that's exactly what Factor was going for with this Monza road bike. Yes, it's meant to be a more approachable road bike than its Ostro VAM race bike with its slightly more upright geometry and bigger tire clearances, but its lower price point is meant to make the bike more approachable, too.
This isn't the first time a luxury brand has attempted a more accessible-priced offering that doesn't dilute the rest of the offerings. While the Monza isn't perfect, I think this is an awfully good bike that feels like a Factor. And somewhat shockingly, I think the value for money here is better than one might think, at least here in the US.
Yes, the Monza is meant to cost quite a bit less than the Ostro VAM. Despite it looking a whole lot like Factor's main aero race road bike, this Monza is quite a bit simpler in construction.
The differences between the Factor Monza and the Ostro VAM start with the front-end shaping. It lacks the outright slimness of the Ostro VAM's front end, and while it still has a bit of an hourglass shape in the name of aero efficiency, it isn't quite as obvious as on the more expensive Ostro. Part of that extra size comes from the Monza ditching a D-shaped seat post for a standard 1 1/8-inch round one, which Factor says should make the Monza easier to travel with, even with internal cable routing.
The fork, meanwhile, appears wider than the more expensive bike, which contributes to the bike's larger 34 mm tire clearance.
The same story of simplification goes through the rest of the bike. The seat tube junction might use a similar rear-mounted seat post clamp, but the tubes themselves are larger on the Monza to keep costs down. The seat post profile itself is shared with the first-generation Ostro VAM.
The downtube is still pleasingly big on the Ostro VAM, though this area has been opened up to make way for a downtube storage hatch. Factor claims its new hatch design, shared with the Sick time trial bike, is big enough to fit a pair of TPU tubes, two CO2 cartridges, tire levers, and a patch kit. I couldn't comfortably fit all of that, though those more clever than I could potentially make that claim work.
Elsewhere, the Monza receives a standard T47 threaded bottom bracket (rather than the T47A system of the Ostro VAM). It also gets Factor's own version of SRAM UDH it calls UDH mini. Essentially, it introduces a 4.5 mm spacer between the frame and the standard UDH bolt that ensures compatibility with SRAM Transmission, but keeps the chainstay narrower to ensure good heel clearance. I wouldn't call it the most elegant-looking solution, but I appreciate that the option is here nonetheless.
All of these changes don't seem to have affected the bike's aero performance over its Ostro VAM, however. Factor claims that removing a saddle bag saves about 6 watts in aero drag, and moving that gear to the downtube keeps the bike fast but ensures riders have the essentials. Perhaps more interestingly, Factor claims the Monza is 2.5 watts less aerodynamic at 45 kph (28 miles per hour) than the Ostro VAM. Per their testing, the Monza is still "faster than the Cervélo S5, [Specialized] Tarmac SL8 and others".
So, just as fast in the wind tunnel as the Ostro, less expensive, and it looks like a Factor? What gives? Well, there is a weight penalty here.
Specifically, Factor says a 54 cm Monza frame tips the scales at a somewhat weighty 1,100 grams. That number is heavier than most of the competition at or around this price point, be it race road bikes, endurance or all-road bikes, or even some gravel bike frames. Fully built, the bike's 8 kg (17.6 pounds) weight means the overall bike weight is heavier than much of the competition, too.
A downtube storage hatch - as well as a simpler carbon layup to bring the price down - means that frame weight goes up. In this case, Factor says a 54 cm frame with hardware weighs in at about 1,100 grams. That number is certainly heavier than most Ultegra-level race road bikes at this price point, but none of them have the hatch.
On that note, that frame weight is closer to what you'll likely find from an all-road or endurance bike, much less a gravel bike. But while all of those bikes are likely to have at least the same tire clearance, the Monza tops out at 34 mm. That's fairly generous for a racey road bike, but much less impressive against the aforementioned all-road bikes.
I mention the Monza against other all-road and endurance bikes because the Factor Monza fit geometry tends to fit right in between a traditional road-race bike and an endurance or all-road bike. Factor claims the Monza is optimized for folks who like riding hard and fast without racing, and the geometry matches that neatly.
As mentioned above, the fit geometry isn't quite as race-aggressive as the Ostro VAM. Stack measurements are roughly 10 mm higher than the Ostro VAM across each of the six sizes, with reach measurements slightly shorter to match. Paired with the new Black Inc HB04 handlebars, there is a noticeable difference in overall fit between the two bikes, with the Monza roughly 6 mm shorter from the bottom bracket to the handlebars.
While Factor's top-end bikes allow riders the choice of handlebar, stem, and even seat post dimensions, the Monza is locked into size-specific dimensions. Factor says that anyone looking to make these swaps should discuss with their local dealer, but I'd love to see a formal customization option from the factory.
While the fit geometry is a bit more relaxed, the handling geometry keeps up with other race road bikes. The three fork rakes across sizes result in a roughly 58-59 mm trail across sizes, offering consistent steering geometry across sizes. That's nice to see, particularly as some bikes at this price point still don't get this right.
In for review is a Factor Monza Force AXS. It features a SRAM Force AXS groupset with a dual-sided Quarq power meter. The bike also gets a Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow saddle, Black Inc's HB04 one-piece road handlebar with lots of flare, and Black Inc 45 carbon wheels wrapped in Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR 28 mm tires.
This size S bike weighed in at 17.5 pounds or 7.9 kg. Add in pedals, the Black Inc. aero bottle cages, and a computer mount, and you get to 18 pounds or 8.15 kg on the dot.
The best trait of the Factor Monza is its overall flexibility. The handling geometry is firmly in the race bike territory, with quick handling that requires some care on the fastest descents, but otherwise feels pleasingly agile and exciting. At the same time, the bike has some real chops for all-day riding, regardless of how high or low you place the handlebars.
Point the bike downhill and the Monza feels as racey as any bike I've ridden in recent memory. Turn-in is immediate, and while not quite as rigid-feeling as the Ostro VAM, the Monza still allows you to really lean into the corners without the feeling of the bike moving around underneath you. Riders looking for more precision will likely want to swap to the one-piece Black Inc. Aero Barstem that offers a bit more stiffness.
Perhaps the most surprising bit of how the Factor Monza handles is how well it fares when you put the power down. While Factor claims the Monza is roughly 10 percent less stiff than the Ostro VAM, largely in the bottom bracket area, I wasn't able to feel that myself. I'd consider the bike as stout-feeling as my personal Specialized Tarmac SL8, with a bit more front-end stiffness than the Canyon Aeroad.
As a whole, the Factor Monza feels race-ready, though it lacks some responsiveness. Much of that comes down to the Black Inc 45 wheelset, which at 1610 grams (actual) with rim tape, is plainly heavy for a carbon road wheelset. Swap it for a lighter wheel and the Monza wakes up in just about every aspect of riding.
The wheelset itself arrived in tension and true with no problems. It uses hidden spoke nipples, however, which forces users to remove and reinstall rim tape whenever the wheel does need to be trued.
I should also recognize the Black Inc. HB04 handlebars, which should be plenty comfortable for most riders. There's a nice aero shape to the tops, as well as a slight backsweep that keeps your wrists in a neutral position when climbing. The bars, however, are relatively short in reach and have at least 10 mm less drop from the tops to the hooks of the drops. Factor says this helps riders access an additional hand position more easily, but I found the bike didn't have enough drop for me, even with the handlebars slammed.
This latest iteration of SRAM Force AXS is one of the best groupsets you can buy at any price point, and Factor did a great job with the spec here. The Monza came with the more expensive double-sided power meter rather than the spindle-based single-sided system spec'd on most bikes. The 10-33t cassette is also a nice choice here, offering a low climbing gear and plenty of top end most of the time.
Braking is similarly top-tier, light to the touch, controllable, and with plenty of top-end power. It's about as good as it gets in my eyes.
The Factor Monza is an excellent bike under most conditions, but a lighter wheelset levels this bike up more dramatically than anything I've ridden in recent memory.
The Factor Monza wants to be an everyday race bike, and in most situations, I think it has achieved it. While it doesn't standardize absolutely everything, I appreciate much of the work Factor has done here.
Although Factor tried to make the Monza user-friendly, some features aren't straightforward. The T47a bottom bracket isn't as simple as other threaded systems due to fewer options, but it functions well. Similarly, the SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) uses a unique 4.5 mm spacer, but replacements are still easy to find at your local bike shop.
While I appreciate the downtube storage hatch, its small door limited capacity to just a TPU tube, levers, and a plug, requiring effort to fit the included bag. The system's bigger issue is its latch location just below the downtube bottle cage mount. The latch gets sticky from bottle liquids, necessitating a full cleaning every three to four weeks. At some point, I'd rather just use a saddle bag.
All things considered, however, the Factor Monza was trouble-free in my four months with the bike. Folks who ride frequently in the rain will need to clean out the seat post wedge system with its rear-facing bolts, and they'll definitely need to keep an eye on the headset bearings, too. Neither of those things is any different than any other modern race bike on the market.
The key competition for the Factor Monza comes from most high-end race road bikes that offer just a bit more stack height than the average race road bike, or bikes that come in at a somewhat more approachable price point. Bikes that I think match the spec, price, and performance of the Monza include the Cervelo Soloist, Specialized Tarmac SL8, and Canyon Aeroad CF SLX.
The Specialized Tarmac SL8 comes in two builds that compete with the Monza. The Tarmac SL8 Expert might match the Monza's price, but lacks the one-piece carbon bar and stem of the Monza, as well as the power meter in the crankset. You could level up to the much lighter Tarmac SL8 Pro, but that's $1,500 to $2,000 more than the Monza. I personally prefer the lighter overall feel of the Tarmac, but if your budget tops out here, it's hard to beat the Monza.
The Cervelo Soloist is a worthy competitor to the Factor Monza, offering the same all-rounder performance of the Monza at a price point below its top-end S5 and R5 road bikes. Choose the Soloist for its easily-adjustable bar and stem system with a complete build kit at a competitive price point. The Soloist, however, suffers from a stiffer ride than the Monza, which is largely only tunable with a wider tire, and its fit geometry is much less upright than Monza.
Frankly, I suspect most folks looking at the Factor Monza will also take a peek at the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX, which gets you a SRAM Force AXS groupset with Zipp 404 wheels. That appears to be the best value for the money here, but its price comes in just $100 less than the Monza. Choose the Aeroad if you're looking for the utmost in aero efficiency, but I personally prefer the quicker handling of the Monza in its smaller sizes.
I'm not sure I'd equate Factor with value for money, but the Monza is surprisingly competitive against the competition. It may be heavier than most race road bikes, but its modern geometry, full feature set, and premium looks make the Monza surprisingly competitive on both price and performance.
The Factor Monza offers the striking aero bike looks that folks want from Factor, as well as the one-piece bars, aero seat post, and mid-depth carbon fiber wheels with hidden spoke nipples that are sure to draw folks in. At the same time, its geometry does a good job of merging the responsive turn-in of a race road bike with body positioning that is more realistic - and more comfortable - for most riders.
Not only that, however, but Factor has managed to offer the Monza at a surprisingly competitive price point against the competition. This is far from a bargain-basement bike, but there's real value for money to be found here. And frankly, there's a real argument for folks who would otherwise consider the Ostro VAM to look at the Monza, purely because it is better suited to the needs of a non-elite racer.
Don't let the Ostro VAM overshadow the Monza: the Factor Monza is absolutely worth a look.