Felt has redesigned the 2014 Virtue Nine trail bike around 29in wheels and 130mm of suspension. There are two carbon and three aluminum bikes in the 2014 Virtue Nine family
Felt has redesigned the 2014 Virtue Nine trail bike around 29in wheels and 130mm of suspension. There are two carbon and three aluminum bikes in the 2014 Virtue Nine family - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The 2014 Virtue Nine 1 is the top bike in the five-model line - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The use of high direct-mount front derailleurs (not needed with SRAM's X01 drivetrain) allowed Felt's engineers to keep the Virtue's chainstay length in check - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The 2014 Virtue Nine 9 frame has gentle curves and ample standover - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Both carbon bikes in the Virtue Nine series have internal cable routing through ports on either side of the head tube - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Virtue Nine uses post-mount disc brake tabs and comes with 180mm front and rear rotors - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
While the 2014 Virtue Nine 1 on display made use of the top tube port for an externally routed dropper seatpost, production versions will come with a RockShock Stealth Rerverb seatpost routed through the down tube - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The 2014 Virtue Nine 20 is the top aluminum bike in the range - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Virtue Nine has a 69-degree head tube angle, making it one of the steeper 29er trail bikes on the market - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Virtue Nine 20 has a Shimano XT drivetrain and RockShox suspension - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Virtue Nine uses Felt's Equilink suspension, which is a variation on a dual-link design with a strut mounted between the two links to control their movement, and (in the case of aluminum bikes) an additional set of pivots on the seatstays above the rear axle - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Carbon Felt Virtue Nine bikes with Equilink use flexing seatstays, while the aluminum models use pivots - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The 2014 Edict Nine FRD has a lightweight carbon frame and top-shelf build kit - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The 2014 Edict Nine FRD uses TeXtreme carbon, which is very strong and dense. It allows Felt to build frames with less carbon, to reduce weight - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The 2014 Edict Nine FRD uses a tried and true 73mm threaded bottom bracket - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Edict Nine FRD has internal routing for the rear derailleur - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
No fancy paint scheme here; the Edict Nine FRD makes do with a clear coat over bare carbon - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Edict family of 100mm-travel 29ers uses a simple single-pivot design with a rocker link driving the shock - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Edict Nine FRD uses RockShox's new Full Sprint lockout for the SID fork and Monarch rear shock - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Felt Edict Nine FRD comes with Easton's EC90 carbon stem - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Easton also provides the EC70 carbon seatpost for the Felt Edict Nine FRD - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The rear brake on the Felt Edict Nine FRD is tucked between the seat- and chainstay - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
While about as far from high tech as possible, Felt's Burner 29 looks just as fun as any of the company's the high-end carbon mountain bikes - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Skin walls and knobby 29in tires on Felt's klunker-inspired cruiser bike - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Felt Rail 29 is equal parts retro cruiser and old-school BMX - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Felt Rail 29 uses a burly three-piece crankset - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Felt Rail 29 comes with a two-speed kickback Sturmey Archer rear hub - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Felt Rail 29 retails for US$529 - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Felt has redesigned the 2014 Virtue Nine trail bike around 29in wheels and 130mm of suspension. There are two carbon and three aluminum bikes in the 2014 Virtue Nine family - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
While Felt might be better known for its high-performance road and triathlon bikes, it also has an extensive line of short to mid travel mountain bikes. For 2014, the California-based company is expanding its MTB range by introducing the Virtue Nine series and creating a pure-bred racer in the Edict Nine FRD.
Virtue Nine long travel 29er
Felt’s Virtue platform has been reborn around 29in wheels. The new Virtue Nine series of 29er trail bikes sport 130mm of rear suspension travel via Felt’s Equilink suspension system. Up front, the bikes have 140mm travel forks (save for the entry level Virtue Nine 60, which comes with a 130mm Suntour fork).
The Virtue Nine is on the steeper end of the 29er trail bike spectrum. Shared measurements across the four-bike size range include 69-degree head tube angles, 74.5-degree seat tube angles and 450mm (17.7in) chainstays.
#: - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Virtue Nine 1 has a full carbon frame, SRAM X01 drivetrain, Avid X0 Trail brakes with 180mm rotors, Easton Haven wheels, a RockShox Revelation RLT Solo fork, Monarch RT3 shock, and Stealth Reverb seatpost
There will be two carbon and three aluminum bikes in the Virtue Nine lineup. The two carbon models feature internal routing through ports on either side of the head tube. All Virtue Nine bikes have 142x12 thru axles, tapered head tubes, post-mount disc brake tabs and high direct-mount front derailleurs.
Virtue Nine pricing (UK pricing TBA)
Virtue Nine 1, US$6,199
Virtue Nine 3, US$4,149
Virtue Nine 20, US$3,799
Virtue Nine 50, US$2,799
Virtue Nine 60, US$2,199
A carbon frame with a RockShox Monarch RT3 shock will also be available for US$3,499.
Edict Nine available in FRD version
Felt offers several of its high performance road and mountain models in no-expense-sparred, race-ready versions. Bikes with the FRD (Felt Racing Development) designation feature the company’s premium carbon construction and top-shelf components. The 100mm travel Edict Nine is the latest bike to get an FRD makeover.
#: - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Edict Nine FRD is equipped with a SRAM XX1 drivetrain, SRAM XX disc brakes, Easton EC90 carbon wheels, a RockShox SID XX World Cup Solo Air fork, and Monarch XX shock with RockShox’s new Full Sprint remote
There are three carbon and two aluminum bikes in the 2014 Edict Nine line. Geometry is unchanged from the 2013 Edict Nine; the head tube angle is still a very steep 71.5 degrees, the seat tube angle is 73 degrees, and the chainstay length is 450mm (17.7in).
Edict Nine pricing (UK pricing TBA)
Edict Nine FRD, US$8,999
Edict Nine 1, US$5,499
Edict Nine 3, US$3,599
Edict Nine 50, US$2,799
Edict Nine 60, US$2,099
As with the Virtue Nine, Felt will offer the Edict Nine FRD as a frame with rear shock for US$3,999.
See our image gallery, above right, for more pictures of the Virtue Nine and Edict Nine FRD, as well as the Burner 29 and Rail 29. And for more information visit www.feltbicycles.com.
Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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