ST,
I'm considering purchasing a Felt DA3, however I can find zero reviews. I'm looking for any experience, review, or input.
I would really like to stay away from cervelo as it's impossible to find your bike in the rack. The felt looks like the most bike for the price, Sram Red groupset, integrated headset, decent stock wheels, carbon frame, hidden rear brake. Just wondering if there's something I am missing.
Thank you!
Alwin Reid
Bump
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Weekend bump
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i have the DA2. love it!! I had the older version of the DA before this one and it’s just a completely different and better bike IMO. The only “issue” I can find for others is figuring out your cockpit length with their stem sizes. Mine is the non-adjustable one and just happens to be within a 1/2 cm of my coordinates. Seems to be a fairly long bike, so be sure to check your reach before deciding on a size.
i have the DA2. love it!! I had the older version of the DA before this one and it’s just a completely different and better bike IMO. The only “issue” I can find for others is figuring out your cockpit length with their stem sizes. Mine is the non-adjustable one and just happens to be within a 1/2 cm of my coordinates. Seems to be a fairly long bike, so be sure to check your reach before deciding on a size.
Can you move your arm rests and aerobars back 1/2cm and get the arm rest pad fit you need?
-SD
Actually, I’ve gravitated a bit forward with the saddle since I’ve had the new DA, so technically my reach is now a bit shorter than it was on the old DA. Just small tweaks over time. The 1/2 cm was from the carry-over measurements. Love the bike though! My position is dang near perfect on it, very comfortable. Handling (geometry?) seems to be much better on this one.
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gallery/article/tech-gallery-tour-de-france-prologue-2012-34440?img=11
Where do I get one of these??
Your local machine shop?? 
I wrote a review of my 2012 DA3. Let me know if you have any questions…I will probably write an update to that after IM Louisville this weekend.
Enjoy! Feedback is welcome.
Your review is actually one of the only ones I could find. I very much appreicated it! If you could write an update that would be sweet!
Best of luck in Louisville!
Sure thing. PM me if you have questions on the bike. I’ve put a couple thousand miles on it this spring and summer, so I feel like I’ve gotten to know the frame pretty well.
I will say that adding HED Ardennes clinchers (for training) midsummer was a nice update, which will also help avoid some of the brake adjustments. I have the adjustable (articulating) stem now, but purchased the two fixed position stems and will try swapping in the 70mm version this fall and adding basebar spacers to get the shorter reach I need while maintaining stack height.
It is a very, very solid bike and I will agree…it is kind of nice being in transition and not seeing tons of the same bike next to mine.
Good luck in your search!
I’ve had my DA4 since March and yes, the bike looks great and is noticeably fast, BUT I am a little disappointed about a few things about the bike.
First is the fact that, while it does have a dura-ace front & rear derailleur, it comes with some crappy generic Shimano cassette and FSA chain. While the similarly priced and dura-ace Shiv has an Ultegra cassette and chain at least.
Second, it is/was a pain in the ass to remove the rear wheel. You either have to release air from the tire or open the rear break some. On top of that the rear breaks have begun to stick out from the frame from changing wheels after a few times. I’ve tried to do it myself, but its not really a do it yourself adjustment.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2u6d6xh.jpg
Third is that even though the front fork looks super cool and aero, It can damage itself. You see, they put these (useless) rubber stopper stickers to prevent the aero fork from hitting the frame. But it doesn’t work and I have chipping paint and cracks to as to where they both met.
http://i50.tinypic.com/2hg68tw.jpg
Forth is that I experienced the most severe speed wobble and it’s because their proprietary stem gets loose over time and has to be tightened every now and then.
It is a very aggressive frame and took me about 4 bike fits to feel some what comfortable on it as well.
I’ve done lots of training, took it apart to fly to an event and raced various local events on this thing and I’ve done fairly well on it, but when I spent $4 grand, I was expecting a lot more in terms of quality/reliability.
http://www.bikeradar.com/...ue-2012-34440?img=11
Where do I get one of these??
That stem also requires a special frame with a special shorter fork axis shaft and a relocated cable input hole to the front of the top tube. This makes for a delicate installation and the Di2 wire could be damaged if the bike is allowed to “flop” from steering lock to lock. The stem is also very very low and comes in one length, which suits the PRO bars the team uses, but very few others (save the new Bayonet3 bars that wil begin shipping with the more robust Felt fixed position stems.
-SD
Ignoring fit for now, ideally I am looking for:
Is the DA3 all of these things?
For similiar pricing (+/- $1000.00) by comparison, is there a bike which has more of these qualities?
speed concept or shiv??
SC is a good idea, I should go get fit for one and compare.
Ignoring fit for now, ideally I am looking for:
Is the DA3 all of these things?
For similiar pricing (+/- $1000.00) by comparison, is there a bike which has more of these qualities?
For -$1000, there’s the DA4, which is probably the reason that there’s almost nothing on-line about the DA3. I don’t see the differences between the two bikes being worth $1000, especially if you already have race wheels.
I test rode the Shiv expert this week and compared to the DA4 that I currently ride, it felt noticeably comfortable (I didn’t feel the bumps or imperfections on the road as much). Thus I felt confident in the handling while making turns.
craigj532 - I could not help but laugh, what you said makes very good sense.
It is becoming very obvious to me that owning a bike you’re excited about is boost for training. On that note, I’m going to check out Trek SC this week, and see how the fit is. It’s really down to a SC# or DA# at this point.
Thank you all for your input!
Ignoring fit for now, ideally I am looking for:
Is the DA3 all of these things?
For similiar pricing (+/- $1000.00) by comparison, is there a bike which has more of these qualities?
For -$1000, there’s the DA4, which is probably the reason that there’s almost nothing on-line about the DA3. I don’t see the differences between the two bikes being worth $1000, especially if you already have race wheels.
Well, it doesn’t come with those goofy Metron shifters for one…
but more importantly, the DA3 is red. ALWAYS go with the red bike. Always…