Author Topic: Replica Factor Ostro VAM  (Read 626829 times)

w1ll337

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #405 on: August 20, 2025, 08:17:20 AM »
It was £864/$1165 delivered to uk including prepaid duty and taxes. The genuine Darimo seatpost was almost half the price of the replica frameset 😂

The darimo parts are from them too? Or only the handlebar is from the polar? If not can you share the seller from the Darimo parts too, please?

Sambo88

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #406 on: August 20, 2025, 08:21:20 AM »
The replica Darimo handlebar is from the same seller as the frame but the seatpost is a genuine one direct from Darimo. The seller does sell replica Darimo seatpost a for other models like sl8 but he doesn’t have it for the ostro V2 yet.

e46guy

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #407 on: August 20, 2025, 08:54:31 AM »
Lol. Nice way to gaslight yourself and others. If you buy a genuine ostro, I doubt you even know there's a FB group about it. But if you get a bad one, you may look for resources, and come across that FB group.
Now people on this forum are much more likely to post about their build irrespective of whether it's good or bad.
I guess that's sampling error?
Either way, if you walk around telling yourself and others that real factors are just as bad as the fakes people have been buying here, you're full of it.

Eh, not quite. Seems like there is a good balance of positive and negative experiences over there just like here in this thread. I believe it’s quite the opposite nowadays, review based consumerism is the norm for everything now. I don’t think my observations classify me as a Factor whistle blower lol. Just my observation between the 2 markets. Now observe me build a sick replica.  ???

e46guy

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #408 on: August 20, 2025, 09:01:38 AM »
Just thought I’d add my 2 cents to this group, as I finally received my frameset at the weekend. I ordered from Polar bicycle store on AliExpress a few months ago. However the frameset took a little longer than others,as I ordered the raw finish with the hologram logo which seems to be more difficult to manufacture and this seller was the first to have it on the market. Honestly I was a PITA customer asking loads of questions and being really picky about every detail, he answered all my questions thoroughly and promptly and never complained.

For a size medium/54cm frame weight was 898g, front fork uncut was 410g, 0mm offset seatpost was 125g and a Darimo nexum drag replica in 380x100mm was 284g.

The quality was outstanding and just as good as any western brand, perhaps even better. The facing on the BB shell meant there was no paint and the threads were super smooth. The handlebar and seatpost were a super tight fit with no play and the mounts for the calipers were also really well faced and the calipers were perfectly parallel with the rotors when I built it up.

Anyway here’s some pictures of the final build, came in at 6.7kg without bar tape.

Yea this thing is very nice man! Thanks for the insight.

aeroskiii

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #409 on: August 20, 2025, 02:59:35 PM »
Very nice bike!
You spent 500 bucks on a seat post? Why?
its a premium build, also a lot of people get deals on darimo. surprised you aren't picking on the OSPW

-Tarantula-

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #410 on: August 20, 2025, 04:16:06 PM »
Just thought I’d add my 2 cents to this group, as I finally received my frameset at the weekend. I ordered from Polar bicycle store on AliExpress a few months ago. However the frameset took a little longer than others,as I ordered the raw finish with the hologram logo which seems to be more difficult to manufacture and this seller was the first to have it on the market. Honestly I was a PITA customer asking loads of questions and being really picky about every detail, he answered all my questions thoroughly and promptly and never complained.

For a size medium/54cm frame weight was 898g, front fork uncut was 410g, 0mm offset seatpost was 125g and a Darimo nexum drag replica in 380x100mm was 284g.

The quality was outstanding and just as good as any western brand, perhaps even better. The facing on the BB shell meant there was no paint and the threads were super smooth. The handlebar and seatpost were a super tight fit with no play and the mounts for the calipers were also really well faced and the calipers were perfectly parallel with the rotors when I built it up.

Anyway here’s some pictures of the final build, came in at 6.7kg without bar tape.

Looks awesome, can you make a short video moving the camera alongside the frame to kind of see the effect please? Thinking of ordering the frame later this year in thé same style.

Sander2177

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #411 on: August 20, 2025, 04:59:59 PM »
Li at Polar, like most sellers, claims to have the best quality frames. And they have only kits started selling that Ostro after finishing its ‘development’.


A few people on the forum have bought his SL8, and the finishing looks excellent—the frame weights are also very close to the genuine version.
The frames come with a copy Darimo seatpost and bar.

I purchased the Nexum Drag copy and can say the quality is also very good. However, one issue I found was with the stem bolts: they’re aluminium, and the head of one snapped during installation. Aluminium isn’t great for bolts, so I swapped them for titanium. I was offered replacements but declined, and suggested they consider using steel or titanium instead.

One other point worth noting: Polar and RK Ultra—also trading under the names Mirror Carbon Fibre and First Class—are actually sourcing their frames from the same place.

Sambo88

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #412 on: August 21, 2025, 03:08:54 AM »
Very nice bike!
You spent 500 bucks on a seat post? Why?

I won’t go into details about some of the other components then 🫣

acino

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #413 on: August 21, 2025, 04:01:45 AM »
One other point worth noting: Polar and RK Ultra—also trading under the names Mirror Carbon Fibre and First Class—are actually sourcing their frames from the same place.

Do we have a proof of this?

Also, does anyone know why this v2 seems to come with Darimo handlebars instead of Black Inc?

BeR

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #414 on: August 21, 2025, 05:15:22 AM »
Do we have a proof of this?

Also, does anyone know why this v2 seems to come with Darimo handlebars instead of Black Inc?

I confirm this.

Because theu already produced the Darimo one for the SL8 and it is very light. So they don't want to develop the Black Inc V2.

Sambo88

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #415 on: August 21, 2025, 06:14:43 AM »
Do we have a proof of this?

Also, does anyone know why this v2 seems to come with Darimo handlebars instead of Black Inc?

I would agree about RK ultra and mirror carbon fibre, as they shared the same WhatsApp number when I requested it. Polar I’m not 100% on because they were the only ones able to produce the raw carbon frame with the hologram logo, RK and Mirror said they didn’t have it

acino

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #416 on: August 21, 2025, 06:20:24 AM »
Because theu already produced the Darimo one for the SL8 and it is very light. So they don't want to develop the Black Inc V2.

That's a strange decision on their end, but it is what it is.

Sambo88

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #417 on: August 21, 2025, 06:21:34 AM »
It's an honest question, i'm curious. How strong are you as a rider and where do you live? I dont understand buying a fake to then put boutique parts on it.

I’ve done it on the last few builds, replica frames but with high end components. I strangely like the juxtaposition of the two and also I get bored of bikes quickly so buying replica frames allows me to have a new bike each year without worrying about how much depreciation I would have lost if I’d have bought genuine ones

PANW

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #418 on: August 21, 2025, 11:30:28 AM »
Just thought I’d add my 2 cents to this group, as I finally received my frameset at the weekend. I ordered from Polar bicycle store on AliExpress a few months ago. However the frameset took a little longer than others,as I ordered the raw finish with the hologram logo which seems to be more difficult to manufacture and this seller was the first to have it on the market. Honestly I was a PITA customer asking loads of questions and being really picky about every detail, he answered all my questions thoroughly and promptly and never complained.

For a size medium/54cm frame weight was 898g, front fork uncut was 410g, 0mm offset seatpost was 125g and a Darimo nexum drag replica in 380x100mm was 284g.

The quality was outstanding and just as good as any western brand, perhaps even better. The facing on the BB shell meant there was no paint and the threads were super smooth. The handlebar and seatpost were a super tight fit with no play and the mounts for the calipers were also really well faced and the calipers were perfectly parallel with the rotors when I built it up.

Anyway here’s some pictures of the final build, came in at 6.7kg without bar tape.

I kind of hate to even ask this since I’m not a fan of blatant IP theft, but I do love the look of the hourglass head tube and fork on the Ostro.
Could you share a picture of a front on shot of the head tube?
Thank you!

estingo

Re: Replica Factor Ostro VAM
« Reply #419 on: August 22, 2025, 02:25:32 AM »
Just thought I’d add my 2 cents to this group, as I finally received my frameset at the weekend. I ordered from Polar bicycle store on AliExpress a few months ago. However the frameset took a little longer than others,as I ordered the raw finish with the hologram logo which seems to be more difficult to manufacture and this seller was the first to have it on the market. Honestly I was a PITA customer asking loads of questions and being really picky about every detail, he answered all my questions thoroughly and promptly and never complained.

For a size medium/54cm frame weight was 898g, front fork uncut was 410g, 0mm offset seatpost was 125g and a Darimo nexum drag replica in 380x100mm was 284g.

The quality was outstanding and just as good as any western brand, perhaps even better. The facing on the BB shell meant there was no paint and the threads were super smooth. The handlebar and seatpost were a super tight fit with no play and the mounts for the calipers were also really well faced and the calipers were perfectly parallel with the rotors when I built it up.

Anyway here’s some pictures of the final build, came in at 6.7kg without bar tape.

Nice build and impressive weight! have fun riding it, every km or mile counts!