I am going to look at a 2012 Felt B16 tomorrow and from the pictures it looks like it is in excellent shape. I am new to tri bikes so I wanted to get opinions on the B16 and also wanted to see if the price point seemed fair based on excellent condition. He is selling it for $1,100. I have already talked him down from $1,400. Let me know what you think. Thanks!
BicycleBlueBook shows ‘Like-New’ at $1119 and ‘Excellent’ at $1066, so it seems to be in the ball park.
http://www.bicyclebluebook.com/SearchListingDetail.aspx?id=2024444&make=1006&model=61383&year=2012
FWIW I sold a 2012 B16 that was Like-New (<500 miles) for $1400 last Dec.
2014 felt b16 retail costs 1800 $. I’m sure you can find a shop that has or soon will have some sale. Around 15-20% maybe… And with that you will also get a professional fitting for about 1450$ + tax… You also get a brand new bike. With that said 1400 was definitely too much. 1100 I guess that’s a little better but personally I still don’t think it’s a great deal. My two cents
I am going to look at a 2012 Felt B16 tomorrow and from the pictures it looks like it is in excellent shape. I am new to tri bikes so I wanted to get opinions on the B16 and also wanted to see if the price point seemed fair based on excellent condition. He is selling it for $1,100. I have already talked him down from $1,400. Let me know what you think. Thanks!
I just saw a local retailer with one for $1499 on sale during their 4th of July sale.
I’d check with your local Felt Dealers on buying a 2014 new and see if the warranty and typical service/fit that comes with a new bike purchase makes it worthwhile.
Good luck,
SD
I’d be a buyer at 8 or 9 hundred for that bike. IF all is in working order and is has reasonable tires and brakes. I hated the stock shifters on the 2013 I test road. they were microshift. FWIW.
Keep in mind the 2014 downgraded components from the 2013 including no ultrega. Retail for 13 was like 2100.
I just got a 13 with under 100 miles for 1150. Had a couple nicks on it and hadn’t kept perfectly clean. May or may not have been a great price but thought it was very fair for the mileage assuming that’s all that was on it.
Just got it and got fit adjusted last night. I’ll report back after the first ride to tell about the 5+ mph improvement over my road bike 
Bought my 2012 last October for $1100. It was like new condition.
Got my 12 in Jan for 1K. VERY happy with it.
I’d be a buyer at 8 or 9 hundred for that bike. IF all is in working order and is has reasonable tires and brakes. I hated the stock shifters on the 2013 I test road. they were microshift. FWIW.
Wow, I think that is a first, what didn’t you like about the M.s shifters and what do you prefer?
-SD
New or used, the B16 is a great entry-level bike, not to be confused with a superbike in any way. Our household has 2x experience with new B16’s (2010 and 2014), and comments would be:
1 - the shift cabling is problematic on both. The cable bend radius on the front-D routing was an issue on both. Both had to be reworked, re-routed, replaced, and lubed.
2 - the 2014 with down-rev components was obviously a cost choice, but it should get upped back to Ultegra
3 - the front aerobar is the obvious first aftermarket addition, but the problem is you gotta replace and spend labor on 4 cables and installation. It’s best invested at initial purchase, when you don’t have the incremental cost of cables and labor.
Otherwise it’s a great bike. Would continue to recommend it, as I recently have. The 2010 is still going strong and looks good, except the front fork no longer matches the original bike paint scheme (because of the fork recall, and you “get what you get” when the factory sends the replacement fork.
I thought that was odd too. I got my 2013 B16 3 months ago and I think the shifters work very well, esp. the rear.
On another note, the stock bar on the B16 is very adjustable–a good one to start with to dial in your fit and you can upgrade later if you want.
Perhaps it was just the installation of the particular bike I rode, or perhaps it was me. The microshift setup was friction and not indexed at all. After reading SuperDaves reaction it appears they can operate in both modes? I only rode the bike about 20 miles, and in that time I spent a lot of it making sure i wasn’t getting a ton of chain rub and noise. I also had the unfortunate experience of an aero bar coming loose while in aero position (totally the bike shops fault for not torquing the bars). Sounds like a lot of this could have been sorted by the shop but wasn’t. FWIW I love Felt bikes and currently ride an AR5 and I am saving for a DA. I was not trying to sway the OPs opinion of the brand just giving my .02
What City/state are you in? I recently saw a couple of 2013’s (matte black) still sitting on the racks in my local shop in socal, however I failed to look at the price. This one has the Ultegra RD… The point is the bike you are looking at is a “reasonable” price point, however if new is not that far away and possible with your budget, I would take a look around. Tax is the only negative thing you have to factor in on a new bike purchase (and pedals depending on the used bike if it comes with any).
I have a 2013 B16 and it does well for me. With wheel upgrades it goes fast. Sure superbikes will be a bit lighter and more aero and that comes with price obviously, and this frame still is a looker. Climbing is average and most of it comes with being heavier than a road bike and the triathlon geometry just doesn’t help with that.
The Felt stock bars are very adjustable and you can get dialed in from mid-height to mid-low. I’m swapping out my front cockpit to get even lower and lighten up the weight. That will follow with an Ultegra 11sp crank/BB replacement to stiffen it up (currently a FSA)
Lastly, get a bike that best fits you. Felt’s are known to be long and low - a great fit for me as i have a shorter inseam and a longer torso. My 54 is great for my 5’10" frame, even though general concensus tells us 55-56cm for my height.
Thanks for all of the feedback!! I live in Minnesota, just south of Minneapolis. I have seen some 2013s at 1699 and 2014s at 1749-1799. The 2013s are hard to find a medium in though (54). This guy isn’t selling the pedals with the bike so I’d probably just use the shimanos I have on my road bike.
Bought a 2011 B16 new and still ride it today. Fantastic bike with no major issues in lots of riding over three years. Much faster than the fat dentist down the street with the $5,700 P3.
If you are willing to buy new old stock I saw that Valley Cycle and Ski (Apple Valley) has a 2012 B12 on closeout in a 54cm frame $1999. This has Dura Ace 7900 derailleurs, a little bit better crankset, slightly deeper wheelset and and the Vision Metron Shifters. I picked up this exact same bike last fall on clearance but paid a few hundred more than what it is listed at now (different LBS). Otherwise, maybe hold out for clearance on 2014 B12’s instead (end of season) and see how much they drop as those have Ultegra 6800 drivetrains instead (11speed).
Fits me well (54cm also) and I am just over 5’9". I did replace quite a bit of parts though so mine is setup differently than stock. Been seriously lacking in bike training this year compared to last season but still putting out faster splits despite that with the help of the bike (and aero wheels).