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Although the Z100’s looks didn’t appeal to everybody, most of our testing team were wowed that such a modestly priced bike had such co-ordinated kit adorning its well finished aluminium frame.
It’s impressive to find the bike’s red detailing extending to the brake block cartridges, cable ferrules and even the rear derailleur cable outer. And refreshing that it’s not just another red, white and black identikit bike.
But it’s not only in its looks that Felt go their own way with the Z100. At this price Shimano is specced virtually without exception – this is one of those exceptions. Rather than go for the 2300 or Sora typical on a £700 bike, Felt have plumped for nine-speed Microshift levers, an FSA triple chainset and Shimano Sora mechs.
It works well – the is shifting firm and reassuring, the nine-speed cassette ensuring there are smaller jumps between gears than on eight-speed equivalents – but Microshift don’t have Shimano’s ergonomics. The former’s hoods have a more angular shape and after a few hours on their hard rubber your hands will certainly start to feel this.
There are also three separate levers, with two different sized paddles behind the brake lever responsible for shifts. The brakes themselves, with their glossy red cartridges, work better than their non-cartridge counterparts often found on bikes at this price though.
Felt’s Z series bikes have a less racy geometry than their F series machines, with a shorter stem, 2cm taller head tube and shallower head angle. Handling, though, is spot-on for a bike at this price. The ride is planted, with no surprises for the rider for whom this could be a first serious road bike.
The upright geometry is comfortable over long rides, and the 25mm own-brand tyres and decent dual-density saddle help to keep comfort levels high. The heavyish wheels mean that acceleration isn’t inspiring, but the comfort and measured, reassured handling more than compensate for this slight sluggishness.
There are compromises. The hubs aren’t the smoothest, for example, but they’re well sealed. At 10.2kg (22.5lb) the Z100 is also no lightweight. However, it’s a a good value mile-eater, and with some of the current discounts we’ve seen it’s definitely worth taking for a serious test ride.

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Product Specifications
Product
Name | Z100 (11) |
Brand | Felt |
Available Colours | Gloss White |
Available Sizes | 54 56 58 61cm 54 56 58 54 56 51 51 61cm 61cm 56 54 56 58 54 56 58 54 56 58 54 56 54 56 58 56 58 54 56 58 54 56 58 51 51 56 61cm 61cm 54 56 58 54 56 58 54 56 58 54 56 58 56 58 56 58 61cm 51 51 54 56 58 61cm 51 54 56 54 56 58 54 56 56 |
Brakes | Felt dual pivot |
Frame Material | 6061 butted Alu |
Front Derailleur | Shimano Sora |
Front Tyre | Felt SPEED All-Weather ROAD, 700c x 25c |
Handlebar | Felt VS 6061 Aluminum Bar w/ Felt VariableShape Ergonomic Drop, Ø31.8mm, 51cm=400mm, 54cm-56cm=420mm, 58cm-61cm=440mm |
Headset Type | FSA 1.125" Threadless w/ 15mm Aluminum Cone & 2 X 10mm Aluminum Headset Spacer, 1 x 5mm Aluminum Headset Spacer, Felt Tornado Aluminum Top Cap & 2024 Anodized Aluminum Bolt |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Sora |
Rear Tyre | Felt SPEED All-Weather ROAD, 700c x 25c |
Rims | Alex R500 rims, Felt hubs |
Saddle | Felt D2 Anatomic Road Saddle w/ Double-Density Gel PLUS Base, Custom Embossed Cover w/ Cr-Mo rails |
Seatpost | Felt SL 6061 Aluminum, Ø27.2mm, 330mm |
Shifters | Shimano Sora |
Stem | Felt AL 6061 Aluminum Forged Ø31.8mm w/ +/-10° Rise, 51cm=70mm, 54cm-56cm=90mm, 58cm-61cm=110mm. |
Weight (kg) | 10.2 |