Felt DA2 versus DA1 - any difference in flex?

Triathlon Forum
1

Hi Slowtwitchers - may I please ask for your help on the following?

I am relatively new to triathlon and have the opportunity to buy a 2012 DA2 at a steep discount. Beautiful looking bike. Very tempting. Probably more bike than i need, but i love the idea of Di2 electronic shifting. So i am real close to pulling the trigger. Having trouble figuring out one thing though - does the 2012 DA2 handle similarly to the 2011 DA, or does it have more flex?

Here is part of a review of a 2011 DA:
"The DA is the best riding of the new generation triathlon bikes I’ve been on. It is much stiffer than previous DAs and climbs savagely out of the saddle. The front is unerringly connected to the back: long and stable…. Hit a steep climb at the beginning of Tiger’s Back at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon in Thailand? No problem; out of the saddle, touch your Di2 controller to find the right gear and swing the stiff monster back and forth while the Prologo saddle misses the back of your thighs by a country mile.
http://university.tri-sports.com/...07/2011-felt-da-di2/

But then here is part of a review of a 2012 DA2:
"Felt’s DA2 is still a superbly comfortable bike. Frame and wheel flex are obvious in the handling if you’re a more muscular rider, though…frame flex lets it down in the corners compared to the latest flashy chassis kits…This frame flex is particularly obvious when working hard out of the saddle or cornering fast, and it can easily catch you out with a real flop or flutter if you’re not really careful.
http://www.bikeradar.com/...ew-felt-da2-12-45975

I am an average age grouper, with average wattage/output and I suspect the flex is really only an issue for elites. I really don’t expect it to be an issue for me, but given I am about to drop a wad of cash on this bike, I figure its good to be informed.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated. SuperDave, would be great if you could weigh in?

Thanks all

2

I’d just take a look at Felt’s website:

2011 DA: Felt Aero TT/Tri UHC Ultimate + Nano MMC Carbon Fiber Frame w/ 1KP Weave, InsideOut Internal Molding Process, Di2 Optimized Internal Cable Routing

2012 DA2: Felt TT/Tri UHC Advanced MMC carbon fiber w/ 3KP weave, InsideOut internal molding process, Di2 & mechanical internal cable routing, carbon fiber dropout w/ aluminum rear derailleur hanger

So as unintelligible as that seems at first glance, it leads me to believe that the 2011 DA has a slightly different “layup” than the 2012 DA2. The 2011 has a the “Ultimate + Nano” and the 2012 DA2 gas the Advanced MMC. So, would the ride qualities between the DA and DA2 be different possibly? Yes. Do I think that the flex will really be noticeable? No. The 2012 DA2 frame is the same as the DA3 and DA4 and I’ve seen only positive reviews that I recall.

Also, keep in mind that tri bikes are typically a little more flexible than road bikes, and so tri sports baseline and bike radars may be slightly different.

3

“Flex” is mostly a myth, perpetuated by subjective reviews that are forced to come up with something to say that sounds meaningful. I’d hop on the DA2 train in a relative heartbeat.

4

Thanks guys - appreciate the responses.

From additional reading, I do get the impression that less advanced carbon of DA2 = marginal increase in softness compared to DA1.

Any DA2, DA3, DA4 riders care to weigh in? Are you happy with the stiffness of your bikes? (i.e. not too much flexing?)

Thanks

5

Hi Slowtwitchers - may I please ask for your help on the following?

I am relatively new to triathlon and have the opportunity to buy a 2012 DA2 at a steep discount. Beautiful looking bike. Very tempting. Probably more bike than i need, but i love the idea of Di2 electronic shifting. So i am real close to pulling the trigger. Having trouble figuring out one thing though - does the 2012 DA2 handle similarly to the 2011 DA, or does it have more flex?

Here is part of a review of a 2011 DA:
"The DA is the best riding of the new generation triathlon bikes I’ve been on. It is much stiffer than previous DAs and climbs savagely out of the saddle. The front is unerringly connected to the back: long and stable…. Hit a steep climb at the beginning of Tiger’s Back at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon in Thailand? No problem; out of the saddle, touch your Di2 controller to find the right gear and swing the stiff monster back and forth while the Prologo saddle misses the back of your thighs by a country mile.
http://university.tri-sports.com/...07/2011-felt-da-di2/

But then here is part of a review of a 2012 DA2:
"Felt’s DA2 is still a superbly comfortable bike. Frame and wheel flex are obvious in the handling if you’re a more muscular rider, though…frame flex lets it down in the corners compared to the latest flashy chassis kits…This frame flex is particularly obvious when working hard out of the saddle or cornering fast, and it can easily catch you out with a real flop or flutter if you’re not really careful.
http://www.bikeradar.com/...ew-felt-da2-12-45975

I am an average age grouper, with average wattage/output and I suspect the flex is really only an issue for elites. I really don’t expect it to be an issue for me, but given I am about to drop a wad of cash on this bike, I figure its good to be informed.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated. SuperDave, would be great if you could weigh in?

Thanks all

The frame stiffness for all DA models is the same, the differences in the material make for a lighter, more lively ride on the DA1. The wheelset on the DA2 test bike was to blame for the “frame flex” that was reported. We’ve since changed the spoke specificaitons on the TTR1 wheels.

While it is true that the DA is not as stiff as our current road frames, advancements in the material and molding techniques allow us to make the BB on the current DA2 stiffer than the previous generation F1, the same frame used to win UCI World Championship…

Reviews like the one conducted by bikeradar give subjective reports and they are certainly worth absorbing. Likewise, winning a Gold medal in the 2012 Olympic Games on a DA doesn’t mean it is the stiffest bike ever made; each of these are examples you should consider.

Getting a Tour magazine type shootout test where the bikes are actually tested using deflection gauges and static masses to isolate the pedalling loads is a far greater metric to give merit to if you feel frame stiffness is of great concern.

I’d encourage a test ride so you can make up your own mind.

Regards,
-SD

6

Thanks SuperDave.

I have decided to buy the DA2 - I have read enough positive reviews, both here on Slowtwitch and elsewhere. And I just love how the bike looks. But may I ask you to clarify “we’ve since changed the spoke specificaitons on the TTR1 wheels”? Its a 2012 DA2 i am buying - did you guys make this change for 2013 or did some 2012 bikes get the improved spoke specifications? And if some 2012 models got the new wheels, is there a way I can tell which i am getting on the bike i am buying?

Much appreciated.

7

Thanks SuperDave.

I have decided to buy the DA2 - I have read enough positive reviews, both here on Slowtwitch and elsewhere. And I just love how the bike looks. But may I ask you to clarify “we’ve since changed the spoke specificaitons on the TTR1 wheels”? Its a 2012 DA2 i am buying - did you guys make this change for 2013 or did some 2012 bikes get the improved spoke specifications? And if some 2012 models got the new wheels, is there a way I can tell which i am getting on the bike i am buying?

Much appreciated.

All production wheels used 2.0mm aero spokes, not 1.8mm.

Best,
-SD

8

Sent you a PM earlier on some 2013 questions - bars and stem specifically.

9

Great - thanks all!