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Felt Debuts Carbon FX2 Cyclocross Bike, Leaks Disc Brake Prototype Version, Too

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike
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2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Felt Bicycles took the lessons learned about lightweight, stiff carbon construction making their F1 road bikes and applied it to their all-new FX2 carbon cyclocross bike.

The UHC Performance MMC carbon fiber frame uses their InsideOut internal molding (flexible mold with bladder) like the F1, and it shares its mechanical convertible cable routing, so you can run electronic or mech groups and have each look like the frame was made just for it. The FX2 is designed with a tapered headtube, BB30 and 1-piece forged alloy dropouts and derailleur hanger.

It’s new, it’s light and it’s snazzy, but it was almost outshone by their prototype version with hydraulic disc brakes (built up with the new 3T Luteus fork and TRP converter)! Jump past the break for more info and lots of pics on both…

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike 2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike

The FX2 will come with Shimano Di2 with the cables run internally. The little grommet you see under the downtube just in front of the wire entry point is where you’d mount the cable stop for a traditional mechanical drivetrain (ie. Dura-Ace). By making them removable, the bike keeps a super clean appearance no matter how you run it.

The Felt CXR fork is a monocoque tapered design and has a cable hanger mount on the crown, but they’ve spec’d the FX2 with mini V-brakes. Felt’s marketing man Doug says it’s because a lot of the pros like the more powerful braking and lower profile they offer versus cantilevers.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike 2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike

This model comes with an FSA Energy BB30 46/36 crankset. The finish is called Matte Carbon and Chartreuse, and the complete bike will retail for $6,499 as shown with their house-brand Devox cockpit. There will also be an FX3 and FX4 as well as a frameset option. Frame weight is 1090g for a 55.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike

By pulling tech from the F1, this was their quickest concept-to-sample timeframe for a new carbon bike; just under six months. In particular, they used allot of the same tube shapes and had already figured out the mechanical/electrical cable routing.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike

The FX2 has a Di2 specific seatpost with battery mounts built in and wiring running inside it. The chainstays curve in a slight arc to provide a bit of bump compliance. And oh yes, water bottle mounts, but I didn’t notice any fender mounts.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike prototype with hydraulic disc brakes

The obvious question to anyone showing a new or redesigned ‘cross bike at this point is “where’s the disc brake version.” Regardless of your personal opinion on the matter, it’s coming, and I’m excited for it. Bikes like the one above are why.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike prototype with hydraulic disc brakes 2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike prototype with hydraulic disc brakes

This cyclocross bike prototype uses the same front triangle mold as the new FX2.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike prototype with hydraulic disc brakes 2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike prototype with hydraulic disc brakes

Hydraulic braking is achieved via TRP’s converter contraption, which we’ll cover in more detail in a separate post.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike prototype with hydraulic disc brakes

The rear dropouts use an alloy skeleton inside like on their 29er hardtails for the disk brake mount. Unlike the Redline Conquest Pro that’s ready for use with ‘cross wheels on the market now with a 130mm rear axle spacing, this prototype uses 135mm like current mountain bikes. The wheelset on here is a Mavic Crossmax 29er with tires set up tubeless. It felt like it weighed in around 17lbs at most.

2012 Felt Bicycles FX2 carbon fiber cyclocross bike prototype with hydraulic disc brakes

At best this is a late 2012 product, probably 2013. They also mentioned that everytime they show a prototype, they show it in this matte carbon with one simple logo on the downtube and everyone loves it. I love it. Feel free to tell Felt that you’d like to see something stealth like this, too.

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flech1454
12 years ago

Di2 + FSA Energy crank = error in the build
also carbon stays look pretty light, is it still pretty good with out the brake brace?
still not a fan of the 29er wheel sets though, i understand that the bottom bike is a better single track bike, but i still like rim brakes for racing period.

Kgc
Kgc
12 years ago

Nice work Felt. I’ll buy one, but I’ll be tempted to wait for the disc model. Also, kudos for choosing 135mm spacing: tons of good disc hubs already available in this size, and I can use my XC bike’s wheels as backups.

SuperDave
12 years ago

Flech1454, what crankset would you use for a ‘cross bike with Di2?

bikefx
12 years ago

Di2 front system @flech and SuperDave: Yes, good topic. How is Di2 with non-Shimano cranksets and/or chainrings and/or chains?

yesplease
yesplease
12 years ago

i like the 135mm width, now we can build up our wheels with the plethora of super light disc mtb hubs already out there and we wont have to wait for the 130’s to be made. Super clean bike.

@Flech1454 have you actually raced with disc brakes? Once you dont have that canti chatter any more you will be a believer.

flech1454
12 years ago

@yesplease
i dont have that chatter on my bike, i keep it well adjusted and run wide euro canti’s. I know what you mean about chatter though(shorty 4-6 always make noise)

@SuperDave
a carbon crank, like slk or k-force. or for that matter a DA crank with cross rings
get a crank that matches rest of the bad ass of the bike. You dont buy campy super record and buy a crank like that either, its just not right.

planbike
12 years ago

Love the advent of the disc brake era for cyclocross and LOVE the matte/carbon pattern finish on the disc version of the Felt bike.

When are other bike companies gonna learn that, when it comes to design (especially graphics), minimal is what rules (see Apple).

If they keep that disc brake version as it is, I’ll buy one.

Chris Thornham
12 years ago

SuperDave,

Absolutely awesome work from the guys at Felt! You’re making me want a Cross Bike and I don’t even ride cross!

Chris
FLO Cycling

SuperDave
12 years ago

flech1454,

I used the Energy crankset because the weight is within 15 grams of the SL-K cranks and they use the EXACT same chainrings. Shimano does not offer Dura Ace cranks with ‘cross chairings in 7900 series and they’ve discontinued the 7800 rings. The Energy crankset offers the best possible shifting using Di2 and cyclo-cross gearing with FSA’s Super CNC 7075 chainrings a millimeter thicker than anyone else offers for an outer ring. The combo has been tested extensively.

Campagnolo doesn’t offer a SuperRecord ‘cross crankset either, you have to go with the Chorus spec.

-SD

kgc138
kgc138
12 years ago

@ SuperDave When is the disc version going to be available?

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