For the technical run down on the all-new Felt FR road bike, check our launch coverage here. In this post, we’ll show off the full FR range for men and women with spec highlights, pricing, claimed and actual weights and first ride impressions.
Common elements across the range include 3T cockpit parts, with carbon versions finding their way on the highest end bikes trickling down to alloy ones. Prologo saddles are the perch of choice, and some bikes get little surprises like Rotor cranks or the upcoming SRAM Red eTap Hydro disc brake group. We have claimed weights for most bikes, and actual weights on our scale for a select few to see how those claims compare. We also put the FRD frameset on our scale to see just how light it really is…
Other notes on spec: Crank lengths range from 165mm up to 175mm depending on frame sizes, with intermediate sizes getting either 170 or 172.5 lengths. Handlebar widths are also varied, going from 40cm to 44cm. Standard (aka “men’s”) frames are offered in 47/51/54/56/58/61 sizes and women’s are offered in 43/47/51/54/56.
At the top of the line is the FR1 with Felt’s UHC Ultimate + TeXtreme carbon fiber making up the frame and fork. Spec highlights include SRAM Red eTap, FSA ceramic BB, TRP 850-1 direct-mount rear brake, 3T cockpit with carbon bar and post, and Mavic Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL clincher wheels. Claimed weight is 6.34kg / 13.9lb, retail is $8,999, available Sept.
It came in at 13.98lb (6.34kg) on our scale in size 56.
The FR FRD frameset (left, FR1 setup shown on right) includes the fork, headset, alloy replaceable derailleur hanger and all hardware for $3,499. The FRD and FR1 framesets only come in rim brake form and will sell for $1,999 (Women’s available).
Size 56 FRD came in at 684g for just the frame, and the FRD fork at 284g with uncut steerer and expansion plug in place. FRD frameset weight with all parts (headset, seat collar, etc.) is claimed at 1,180g / 2.6lb. FR1 frameset gets a claimed weight of 1,320g / 2.9lb.
The FR1 Disc keeps the Red eTap, but uses the upcoming Hydro Disc version with Zipp 303 wheels. Weight is TBD, but expect it to be marginally heavier not just because of the brakes, but also because it drops down a step to UHC Advanced + TeXtreme carbon. None of the production disc brake FR frames or bikes were available to weigh. $9,499, available December.
The FR2 also uses the Advanced + TeXtreme on frame and fork with Ultegra Di2, Mavic Ksryium Elte Blue 25 wheels. The treat here is the inclusion of the Pioneer powermeter pre-installed on the cranks and Shimano’s Di2 Sprinter switches. $4,999, available October, claimed weight 7.31kg / 16.1lb. (Women’s available)
The FR2 Disc keeps Ultegra Di2 but gets R785 hydraulic disc brakes and switches the cranks to Rotor 3D with NoQ chainrings, DT Swiss FC1600 DB wheels with Schwalbe One tubeless ready tires. $5,499, available Dec., weight is TBD. (Women’s available)
The FR3 gets mechanical Ultegra 6800 with Shimano RS21 wheels and Token bottom bracket. $2,999, available Sept., 7.65kg / 16.9lb.
The FR3 came in at 16.98lb (7.70kg).
FR3 Disc goes with DT Swiss F1800 DB wheels and Schwalbe One 700×25 tires. $3,499, available Dec., weight TBD.
The FR5 keeps the UHC Advanced carbon but loses the TeXtreme fibers. Spec includes Shimano 105 and Felt’s housebrand RSL3 tubeless ready wheels with a 22mm width and 28mm depth. $1,999, available Sept., 8.03kg / 17.7lb. (Women’s available)
The FR6 ends the carbon fiber models, getting the same frame as the FR5 but with Shimano Tiagra 2×10, a Felt cockpit and wheels (still tubeless ready) and Schwalbe Lugano 700×25 tires. $1,799, available Sept., 8.37kg / 18.45lb.
The alloy FR line starts with the FR30, which gets their custom butted, Dynaform TIG welded 6061 aluminum but keeps the UHC Advanced full carbon fiber fork. Spec is Shimano 105 with non-branded dual pivot brake calipers and the Felt cockpit and RSL3 wheels. $1,499, available August, 8.7kg / 19.2lb. (Women’s available)
The FR30 hit 19.16lb (8.69kg) on our scale. Everything we weighed was within spittin’ distance of the claim…very good.
The FR40 drops down to Tiagra 2×10, including the brakes. $1,199, available August, 9.21kg / 20.3lb. (Women’s available)
FR60 has Shimano Claris 2×8 with a Felt cockpit and the same RSL3 tubeless ready wheels and Felt-branded wire bead tires. $799, available Aug., 10.55kg / 23.3lb. (Women’s available)
Geometry for the alloy and carbon bikes are shown above and below, along with select spec dimensions. Disc brake models will have a 135mm rear spacing, not 130 as shown, for use with the 12×142 thru axle.
The lowest level frame’s geo varies slightly due to the different BB shell and other small changes. Click to enlarge.
Other than cockpit parts, women’s bike specs are the same. Claimed weights are slightly lower because average size is smaller. Shown above are the carbon models – clockwise from top left: Women’s FR2W Disc, FR2W, FR1W Frameset, and FR5W. Pricing and availability all match the men’s/unisex versions listed above.
The alloy women’s FR bikes include the FR30W at the top, and the FR40W (left) and FR60W. Women’s geometry is:
Not shown, the smallest of the bunch is the Felt F95 Jr., which runs 650c wheels and a UHC Performance carbon fiber fork with alloy steerer. It gets Microshift short reach levers and front derailleur, Shimano Sora rear mech and FSA Tempo 50/34 crankset. $TBD, weight is TBD.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I rode the F at SRAM’s eTap launch last year and really liked it. It’s a responsive, fast and light bike, and the new FR seems only to improve on that. The bike handled predictably and cruised along in a straight line without any needing any extra attention. If there was any twitchiness in the F, something I’m usually quite sensitive to, it’s gone now.
It’s also very light. I rode the FR2, which doesn’t have the FRD level carbon, but the whole bike felt sprightly. That should come as no surprise since the claimed weight for this level frame is just 765g. Remember when sub-800g was impressive? It still is. I rode a size 58, so add a few, but still. What’s more impressive is that they’re able to achieve these weights without compromising performance. The bike is laterally stiff but lively. With thoughts of “tail wag” fresh in my mind from the prior day’s presentation, I tried to whip the bike back and forth and carve silly slaloms through dashed lines, and everything remained in plane. Perhaps they could address vertical wag, though, as the rear end is so light I ended up pulling the rear wheel up off the ground on a few sprints!
All kidding aside, the rear end did seem to offer some vertical movement, or at least an ability to tame bumps and notches in the road nicely. Combined with the carbon handlebar offered at this level, it provided a smooth ride over 2+ hours of climbing, descending and cruising. Our crew held a 20+ mph average for the first hour as we headed to the main climb, and at no point did the bike lack for power transfer. I tend to ride toward the rear and chat up the staff, or let my mind wander, which inevitably requires sprinting or hammering to catch back up, and the FR rewarded those efforts. I did feel a bit stretched out, which the geometry numbers wouldn’t suggest as they fall right where I typically want them for ETT. I’m thinking a 10-15mm shorter stem would put me in my sweet spot (I believe it was spec’d with a 110).
First impressions are good. It’s a race bike that’s enjoyable to ride, which seemed to be the goal. And Felt’s attention to detail in the size specific layups and designs, well-spec’d options (particular this FR2, in my opinion) and wide range of price points make the FR a road bike for everyone.
