Tt Factor Hanzo Frame

Factor Hanzo | Precision and speed

It has become fashionable to say that bikes have become as aerodynamic as possible. However, the Factor HANZŌ proves otherwise. When designing it, we decided to take advantage of the revised UCI rules with the aim of making the fastest time trial bike in the world.

By focusing on every part of the bike, both individually and as a functional whole, we have pushed every UCI directive to the absolute limit in an innovative way. Other manufacturers who do not own their own factories cannot come close to this level of process control that makes such precision possible.

This means we were able to make the HANZŌ faster and more aerodynamic than the SLiCK and even faster than non-UCI legal time trial and triathlon frames.

HANZO The origin of the name

The name HANZŌ belongs to a famous 16th-century ninja known for being an expert tactician and master of sword fighting. The name has come to symbolize precision and expertise, as with the master swordsman Hattori Hanzō in the Kill Bill films.

By merging the myth behind the historic name with our own expertise, the Factor HANZŌ slices through the air with the slashing efficiency of a samurai sword.

Refine the leading edge

The front end, which is the leading edge of the frame, defines the level of aerodynamic efficiency. A change in the UCI rules now allows the minimum section of all tubes to be reduced to 1 cm, compared to 2.5 cm previously.

With this new rule, we can reduce the frontal area by up to 60%. But it’s not as easy as it sounds, because the front of the bike is inevitably subject to significant functional constraints, such as headset bearings and cable routing. We had to get creative to overcome the functional difficulties of sizing conventional bearings, which normally have much larger external dimensions.

However, as we focused on reducing the surface area, we managed to reduce the net aerodynamic drag of the area exposed to the undisturbed airflow. Simultaneously selecting the perfect aerodynamic profiles while taking into account the angle of attack remains the key to ensuring optimum performance in real racing conditions.

Aerodynamic design adjusted according to wind conditions

When designing the frame, we took into account the different flow regimes that a rider will encounter in a free airflow. This means that we considered as separate conditions in the design process the undisturbed flow at the back of the rider's body, the rotating reaction air from the wheels, and the turbulent flow from the rider's legs and calves.

The goal was to achieve the thinnest possible frame thickness to minimize airflow disruption. The goal was to allow ample clearance for the rotating wheels in the areas of concern, while design considerations focused on stiffness in areas where the rider's body dominates the flow. Finally, the radical seatstays and lower saddle shapes were designed as in-line aerodynamic flow conditioners to attempt to channel vortices from the rotating rider's legs and feet.

A true aerodynamic profile is the key

Having a super slim front end, where the fork shape combines with the frame shape, creates a true aerodynamic profile that optimizes the lowest possible drag by facilitating full laminar fixation at low yaw angles.

This incredibly aerodynamic design, with a one-piece fork, external steerer and single riser, also improves structural efficiency since it is a single-piece solution, whereas it would normally require dozens of bolted and stacked parts. The ability to mold the entire assembly as a single piece provides exceptional improvements in stiffness and weight compared to systems that overlap materials in glue joints or sliding joints.

Having the front end reduced so dramatically, resulting in the narrowest possible head tube, also reduces the projected area. The projected area is equivalent to the area obscured by the object as it passes in its direction of travel. Reducing the projected area of ​​the HANZŌ by 31% compared to the SLiCK effectively reduces drag at all speeds.

Every part of the bike has been carefully shaped, with special attention paid to the transitions between tube shapes to deliver the best possible performance at low and high yaw.

Stacking blocks without constraints.

Having the ability to tailor the frame to each rider is just as important as making it as aerodynamic as possible. HANZŌ's has been designed to work well with aero extension bars from several popular manufacturers.

We have provided popular component manufacturers like AeroCoach and WattShop with CAD profiles for the mast, allowing us to offer riders a variety of solutions beyond our own Black Inc TT extensions. We understand the importance of contact points to our riders and were determined to make it easy to fit their favorite aero bars for ultimate comfort and control.

Our super narrow mono riser solution allows the rider to increase the riser height without sacrificing frontal area. Fully UCI compliant, this system eliminates the need for bolt-on risers that increase frontal area and compromise the bike’s handling. Our ability to mold a septum or baffle between the mono riser walls gives us the opportunity to have unprecedented levels of stiffness and responsive handling in the narrowest mono riser on the market.

Integration and compatibility

The first bike to maximise the potential of the revised UCI design rules, the HANZŌ utilises never-before-applied aero sections across the 16cm of overall length allowed by the alignment of the head tube and down tube boxes. The design also integrates the frame’s base bar and top tube into one aero section, with seamless blends between these shapes to ensure minimal airflow detachment. Cable and brake line integration also play a key role in ensuring the HANZŌ shows the most aerodynamic face possible to the wind.

With a base bar and mast specifically designed to accommodate aero extension bars from a wide range of popular manufacturers, the HANZŌ is the ultimate time trial or triathlon bike for anyone looking to get the most out of themselves and their equipment.

A stiff and responsive ride

Aero isn’t everything. The HANZŌ is more than just one of the fastest time trial bikes in the world. It’s also incredibly stiff, capable of turning every pedal stroke into speed. While the front end of the HANZŌ is all about aero, the one-piece fork and head tube leading to the mono riser keep the front end stiff and respond immediately to the rider’s input.

As we move to the rear of the bike, where measurable aerodynamic benefits are less important, the stiffness of the design takes center stage. The down tube serves an aerodynamic purpose, particularly in the way it integrates an aerodynamic water bottle, but it also provides a solid connection point for the super-stiff bottom bracket. This connection point is not only exceptionally aerodynamic, but also extremely stiff. This design pushes the UCI rules to the limit to achieve ultimate aerodynamic performance while still being able to transfer power efficiently.

While we've improved the aerodynamic qualities of the rear triangle where possible, such as using the width of the seatstays to smooth the airflow off the rider's legs, the key thing about the rear end is its stiffness. We've also made sure it's practical, with features like a Di2 battery-ready seatpost.

Wheel-chassis aerodynamic interaction

Rotating wheels and tires present a unique challenge. The completely reversed flow breaks away from the rotating tire and interferes with the frame and fork that are in close proximity to the affected area. This problem is exacerbated by the trend toward wider tires, which shows no signs of slowing down.

With the HANZŌ, we carefully moved the aero sections well away from the rotating tire, preventing the interaction effect and allowing both sections to function optimally. Additionally, this approach accommodates tires up to 28mm. This design takes advantage of the aerodynamic benefits that come from having more clearance around the tires, essentially reducing the effect of the tire shape on airflow through the fork and frame.

The width of the monobloc fork not only adapts to the rotation of the front wheel to improve efficiency, but at the rear, the seatstays are as wide as UCI regulations allow in order to smooth the airflow between the rear wheel and the frame, as well as the airflow at the rider's calves.

Sixty Minutes of Hell

It takes a special kind of person to attempt the world hour record once, let alone twice. Having previously held the record in 2015, Factor-sponsored rider Alex Dowsett set out on a mission to reclaim the title on November 3, falling just short of the record but still managing to clock a credible 54.555km in the hour.

This time, his weapon of choice was a specially modified Factor HANZŌ for track racing. Thanks to the level of attention paid to the time trial road version of the HANZŌ, this special hour record HANZŌ needed only a few adjustments to become an exceptional pursuit-type track bike.

The HANZŌ is particularly good at low yaw, which translates to an angle of between 0 and 4 degrees, making it an exceptional performer on the track and on the road. The extremely narrow front end improves aerodynamics while the wide forks and rear stays separate the interaction between the wheel and fork, removing the question mark of whether a fast wheel will still be fast when placed next to a fork or stay.
Handling also offers immediacy thanks to the mono riser, which is an extension of the fork. The rider’s inputs are felt instantly. For the rear triangle, Silca 3D printed titanium chainstays that were bonded to the bike. This elegant solution provides the spacing and chain tension required for track bikes while remaining laterally stiff and lightweight.

This is truly a world-class track bike ready to break records.