Felt has added a custom paint option for its FC carbon fiber road framesetJames Huang/Future Publishing
Buyers can choose from up to 14 base colors and 14 logo/accent shades on the new custom painted Felt FCJames Huang/Future Publishing
The Felt Edict Nine 3 features carbon fiber front and rear triangles but a SRAM X7/X9 drivetrain, WTB wheels, and a RockShox Recon Gold TK 29 fork to help keep costs downJames Huang/Future Publishing
Felt uses the same mold on the mid-range Edict Nine 3 as on the top-end Edict Nine LTD, but a lower grade of carbon fiberJames Huang/Future Publishing
Felt has done a good job of giving the Edict Nine 60’s aluminum frame a carbon-like look from a distanceJames Huang/Future Publishing
Whereas carbon Felt Edict Nine rear triangles rely on tuned flex to accommodate changes in geometry as the suspension moves through its travel, the aluminum Edict Nine 60 requires conventional pivots at the dropoutsJames Huang/Future Publishing
Felt’s new 2013 Compulsion LT3 features 150-160mm of adjustable travel, a carbon fiber front triangle, and RockShox suspension componentsJames Huang/Future Publishing
The 2013 Felt Compulsion LT3’s carbon front triangle utilizes a mix of internal and external cable routingJames Huang/Future Publishing
Felt’s top-end Compulsion all-mountain bikes get a carbon fiber front triangle for 2013 but stick with an aluminum rear endJames Huang/Future Publishing
RockShox’s Lyrik RC Solo Air fork and WTB wheels and tires for the 2013 Felt Compulsion LT3James Huang/Future Publishing
This sample Felt Nine LTD was built with high-end – but not totally exotic – parts yet still weighed an impressive 8.6kg (18.96lb)James Huang/Future Publishing
Felt says this sample Nine LTD complete build weighs in at around 8.6kg (18.96lb)James Huang/Future Publishing
Felt’s custom paint program was previously limited to its top-end F1 flagship. For 2013, though, Felt has extended the option to the more reasonably priced FC, bringing the appeal of a personalized finish to a much greater swathe of consumers.
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While the cost of a custom painted F1 frameset ranged from US$3,749 to US$3,999 depending on options, a custom finished FC will be roughly half that, at US$1,999 – a premium of just US$349 over the inline FC. This includes your choice of 14 base colors and 14 logo/accent shades.
Despite the far lower price tag, the FC looks to be an admirably close cousin to the F1, with an identical external shape but more conventional modular monocoque construction, an aluminum BB30 bottom bracket shell insert. It also has a less expensive UHC Performance blend of carbon fiber in the frame and UHC Advanced material in the fork.
Felt contends the static stiffness measurements between the two chassis are identical but the changes will still yield a slight weight gain – about 900g for a raw 56cm frame compared to 800g for the F1. Plus, we expect a slightly less lively ride quality.
Carrying over wholly intact, however, are the same molded carbon fiber dropouts, the cleverly convertible internal/external, electronic/mechanical cable routing, and the use of internal molds to produce more consistent and precise interior tube shapes. Lead time is quoted at 30 days.
In other Felt news, BikeRadar got a firsthand Interbike look at some of the new 2013 mountain bikes that were described – but not all on show – at the company’s launch back in July. These included mid-range Edict full-suspension 29ers and a complete sample build of the ultralight Nine FRD. Check out more of the bikes in the gallery above right.
Felt has done a good job of giving the edict nine 60’s aluminum frame a carbon-like look from a distance: felt has done a good job of giving the edict nine 60’s aluminum frame a carbon-like look from a distanceJames Huang/Future Publishing
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The Edict Nine 60’s aluminum frame looks like carbon from a distance
