Bicycling Magazine – Editorial Review
The F4 is a bike you can grow with. By spec’ing lower-cost parts, Felt delivered an affordable, complete bike with the same frame as the F2 model—a high-performance, 912-gram (claimed) carbon-fiber chassis.
Felt redesigned the F series for 2011, using lessons the company learned during its multiyear partnership with the Garmin-Slipstream pro team. The bikes are lighter and stiffer, and include integrated parts such as a BB30 bottom bracket, tapered steerer tube, and molded-carbon dropouts.
The geometry was tweaked, too: Felt shaved 5mm from the chainstays, and a sloping top tube lowers the standover height. Frames sized 54cm and smaller also now have slacker seat-tube angles, a welcome change. The position is efficient and the short head tube lets you get low. The frame is so good that in a few years you may find yourself bolting on new components, but for now the Shimano Ultegra shifters and derailleurs will provide great service. The 105 brakes provide you with superb power and modulation.
Even the FSA Energy crankset, with its wide, 52/36 chainring split, performed better than we expected. Shifting was smooth, and the gearing straddles traditional and compact; you can race on it (possibly with a little extra spin on the flats), but you also won’t suffer too much on climbs.
The F4 delivers highly efficient power transfer. Despite the stiff chassis, ride quality has also improved over early bikes in the F series. The tapered seat tube and 27.2mm post provide a hint of flex, making the F4 more comfortable on long rides than some similar models, including the Bianchi Sempre reviewed on page 54.
The handling falls midway between crit-friendly twitchiness and the stability preferred by long-distance riders. It’s ever-so-slightly fast; flick the bike into a countersteer for a quick line correction and it follows obediently, but it’s stable enough to let you reach for a bottle on straighter descents.
The orange paint job coordinates with highlights on the tires, aluminum bottle-cage bolts, and some cable housing. It’s the color of the moment and we love it when used well, as it is here. But trendy colors are always a risk on durable goods—know anyone stuck with an avocado-green dishwasher?—and Felt doesn’t give you any options.
Overall, the F4 is smartly spec’d, splits a delicate balance between stiff and comfortable, and has a genuine performance frame.—Joe Lindsey
We have the F4 in stock!
Come by for a Test Ride!
MSRP $3199
