Faction II FACTION 2 COMPLETE

In MTB terms, the score is mostly about momentum on flats and climbs, rather than jump or drop capability. It trends this way because of typical trail-width tires, wheel momentum that helps it carry speed between pedal strokes, smaller wheels that can lose momentum sooner, and a basic drivetrain spec that prioritizes practicality over outright performance.

Uphill performance score: 9.2/10. Within Mountain bikes, it sits near the top. The easiest gear is very spin-friendly on hills. That lowest gear comes out around 16.3 gear inches. On the ‘easier low gear’ scale, it sits around ~91% versus similar bikes. Gear inches is basically “how easy is the easiest gear”. Lower numbers help you keep your legs spinning on steep bits. It’s set up so climbs feel controlled rather than a grind. Different builds can shift the feel a bit, and some manufacturer specs aren’t always publicly listed, so consider this a helpful direction.

Overall suspension support: 5/10 (“Confident trail control”). This usually points to stronger bump control and steadier tracking when the surface gets choppy. You get suspension movement at the front, while the rear stays firm and direct. Expect steadier tracking on rougher sections without feeling like a long-travel downhill setup.

Sporty fit - you'll lean forward more and feel ready to push the pace. You get this posture because the cockpit sits 129 mm below the saddle (a very large drop), and the cockpit stretches you forward by ~573 mm (long). Plan for roughly 44 degrees of lean.

Net result: Moderately Adjustable. Here is the simple reasoning behind the fit flexibility rating: This front-end is not locked into a one-piece system, which helps adjustability; Less routing complexity makes swaps and adjustments more practical. This mainly reflects how easy it is to adjust or swap key fit parts over time.

This scores 5.9/10 for comfort, so it feels fairly neutral out on the road. That’s the reason it lands as Balanced. The posture is forward, attacking (posture 8/10, torso ~44°), which puts you in an attack stance, which can feel more intense on long, rough descents.

This sits around the normal range for similar bikes. The value score is 1–10. Higher means better value for money; lower means the price is high for what you get. Uses MSRP as a baseline; real-world prices can be lower (discounts can change the value). On the spec estimate, the price is close to what we’d expect for a comparable build. In its peer group, it’s one of the pricier listings, beating only about 19% of them. Quick reference: €1.999 listed versus about €2.117 for a comparable build. Some manufacturer details aren’t fully published, so use this as a helpful direction rather than a final verdict. Overall, it sits in the expected range for the category.

This setup is built to handle steep lines and heavy impacts. It has about 100 mm of suspension travel (how much it absorbs bumps), which is useful for big hits and steeper descents. Overall, the setup matches this surface range well.