I am about a month away from buying my first road bike. I have settled on the Felt F85, but now am thinking about the F75. For an extra $400, I get the upgrades listed below. Is the F75 worth the additional cash? I will test ride both bikes when I am ready, but my gut is saying I will not be able to tell the difference between the two just from test rides. There were also a couple discrepancies between what my LBS told me, and what the Felt website says (see notes at the bottom).
Felt F75:
1/2 lb lighter than F85
FSA BB30 bottom bracket
Shimano 105 shifters/brake levers (upgrade from Microshift)
Shimano 105 front derailleur (upgrade from Microshift)
FSA Omega BB30 crankset (upgrade from FSA Tempo 3-piece)
FSA Team Issue CN-910 chain (upgrade from SunRace)
Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slick tires (upgrade from Vittoria Zaffiro “foldable”)
The frame is essentially the same except the BB30. Wheel rims are the same. My LBS said the steer tube and headset is beefier on the F75, but the Felt website specs on the bikes show them the same. The LBS also said the F75 fork was of a higher quality carbon fiber build, and lighter, but the website says nothing of this.
If it’s not a hardship, get the F75. The 105 components are much nicer, and the CF seat post is nicer too. The rest I wouldn’t worry too much about. I doubt there is a difference in the steerer tube or fork but maybe?
Are you looking at a 2011 or 2012? It sounds like your LBS is talking about the 2011 with regard to the differences in the fork for the F75. If it’s 2011, the fork on the F75 is a bit nicer, won’t be shockingly noticeable but it’s a nice fork.
Here is my 2 cents, no matter if it’s the 2011 or 2012. Since this is your first road bike, either will serve you well as you grow in to the sport. The microshift shifters, in my limited experience with the ones on my wife’s bike, are fairly nice and better than Tiagra. The F85 is a fairly good deal for $1000.
The F75 upgrades are enough to justify the difference in cost. However, before spending $400 on a bike, make sure that doesn’t take away from buying a couple pairs of bike shorts, helmet, tops, shoes and pedals and a flat kit.
Are you looking at a 2011 or 2012? It sounds like your LBS is talking about the 2011 with regard to the differences in the fork for the F75. If it’s 2011, the fork on the F75 is a bit nicer, won’t be shockingly noticeable but it’s a nice fork.
Here is my 2 cents, no matter if it’s the 2011 or 2012. Since this is your first road bike, either will serve you well as you grow in to the sport. The microshift shifters, in my limited experience with the ones on my wife’s bike, are fairly nice and better than Tiagra. The F85 is a fairly good deal for $1000.
The F75 upgrades are enough to justify the difference in cost. However, before spending $400 on a bike, make sure that doesn’t take away from buying a couple pairs of bike shorts, helmet, tops, shoes and pedals and a flat kit.
Are you looking at a 2011 or 2012? It sounds like your LBS is talking about the 2011 with regard to the differences in the fork for the F75. If it’s 2011, the fork on the F75 is a bit nicer, won’t be shockingly noticeable but it’s a nice fork.
I was looking at a 2011 initially last year, but now the 2012’s are out. Perhaps Felt upgraded the 2012 F85 fork and components to match the F75.
Here is my 2 cents, no matter if it’s the 2011 or 2012. Since this is your first road bike, either will serve you well as you grow in to the sport. The microshift shifters, in my limited experience with the ones on my wife’s bike, are fairly nice and better than Tiagra. The F85 is a fairly good deal for $1000.
That’s what I have been thinking.
The F75 upgrades are enough to justify the difference in cost. However, before spending $400 on a bike, make sure that doesn’t take away from buying a couple pairs of bike shorts, helmet, tops, shoes and pedals and a flat kit.
You think just like I do. I know I will have extras that I will want to buy as I get into it, and I am also looking into a set of training rollers for the rest of the winter. And besides,if I get the F85 and really get bitten by the triathlon bug, I will have $400 more towards a TT bike next season.
Are you dead set on the F75/F85? What is your budget? There may be a way better bike for you than either of these options.
Pretty much. My budget is around $1,000. I have not found a way better bike at this price range. Trek has the 1.2 and 1.5 at around the same price point, but with somewhat lesser components. I have been liking the Felt line better.
I’d vote for the F75 too if it’s not a huge hardship. I think you will always be content with 105 components and not need to upgrade from that level for as long as you have the bike. If you opt for the F85, I think you may be more inclined to want to upgrade in the near future. I still have my first road bike that was 105 and I “upgraded” to Ultegra whenever I replace parts, but now my road bike is a back-up/trainer bike and I ride my tri bikes 99% of the time.
I work at a LBS part-time and sell FELT. The frame set is the exact same accept the BB30 on the F75. There is a big difference in power transfer with the BB30 (huge plus) when you jump on it. The 105 is a big difference too. I have a 2006 Aluminum TREK 1500 SLR that I have raced for 4 years. I just bought my 2012 FELT F75 last week. I had several option since i work at a shop. I chose the F75 because it is the best Aluminum bang for your buck! You wont need to upgrade components. 105 is entry level race components that are very reliable. A little heavy, but a nice wheel upgrade takes care of that in a couple years. If you can get a 2011 F75, it also has a BB30 for about $300 less now that it is 2012. Most of all though, cycling is great…have fun and welcome to the community.
I’m new to cycling and had to make the same call in September 2011 – buy the 2012 F85 for $1000 or the 2012 F75 for $1400. I decided to save the extra $400 bucks, and I’m very glad I did. The F85 is a fantastic first road bike for me. Absolutely awesome. It goes super fast. And with the extra $400, I was able to get a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine ($300), a set of Profile Design Legacy clip on aerobars ($75), and a ISM Adamo Prologue Saddle ($110). I’m now riding my *ss off on the Road Machine, and seeing huge gains. I seriously doubt that there is any performance difference in the F85 vs. F75, and if there is it’s been easily overcome a thousand times over by the fact that I was able to get an indoor trainer with the extra money and now am riding 6 times a week.
I work at a LBS part-time and sell FELT. The frame set is the exact same accept the BB30 on the F75. There is a big difference in power transfer with the BB30 (huge plus) when you jump on it. The 105 is a big difference too. I have a 2006 Aluminum TREK 1500 SLR that I have raced for 4 years. I just bought my 2012 FELT F75 last week. I had several option since i work at a shop. I chose the F75 because it is the best Aluminum bang for your buck! You wont need to upgrade components. 105 is entry level race components that are very reliable. A little heavy, but a nice wheel upgrade takes care of that in a couple years. If you can get a 2011 F75, it also has a BB30 for about $300 less now that it is 2012. Most of all though, cycling is great…have fun and welcome to the community.
Actually the F75 frame is quite a bit different than the F85 frame. Felt probably doesn’t do enough to tout how good the F75 is. Nearly every tube is different on the F75 vs. the F85. The only shared pieces are the seat stays and dropouts. Even the cable guides are machined and lightened on the F75.
The F75 is a $400 better bike, but as a novice cyclist, those $400 can go a long way as another poster illustrated. A trainer, the pefect fitting saddle, and the accessories (and clothing) to keep you comfortable are more important than 80 grams of tubing and increasing your BB spindle diameter by 13mm.