I’m about to buy the new B2. Any comments or anything I should be concerned about?
A buddy of mine just got one - IMO it is nothing special really, nothing really to look at either. I would think that they would offer the 404’s as a tubular as opposed to clincer (customer option?)…and I really dont get it. Not saying it is a bad bike by any means, just that I did not notice anything that set it aside from other run of the mill bikes out there.
Didn’t Tom D say something about a carbon version of the B2 coming out? I think it is a pretty cool looking bike. Seems like a pretty solid bike to me. I know a local pro who traded in his P3 for a B2 and likes it better.
I can see that you never listened to your mother.
Just curious, is it really worth $2,200 more than the S22?
The Zipps of course, did you want these wheels? Upgraded fork, full Aero Seatpost and some upgraded minor components.
I like the B2 looks better, I was just hashing it over a day ago with a bud, we both picked the S22 and bought some different race wheels with our savings, all theoretically, I still wake up and see my S25 on the wall of my garage, but if…
You won’t go wrong with the Felt. Mine’s fast enough for me.
Not to rub it in, but I just placed an order for an S22 - gotta wait until May to get it, but I’m fine on my Allez until then. I considered the B2, but opted against it due to the price difference…
I agree especially considering the difference in components between the S22 and B2. Same frame save the rear carbon triangle and “aero” seapost and tube. Components are similar if not the same as the S22 except the wheels. The difference in Wheelset alone is around 1100-1200$ bewtween the S22 and B2 so that leaves you with around 1000$ to make up in other comonenets. Unless you realy think the carbon rear and the aero seatpost is worth it, I just don’t see it.
~Matt
My other choice is the Argon Mercury but I don’t like the idea of the 700x20 rear tire.
Uh oh, I think SuperDave is going to open up a can of whup ass.
Why’s that?
Not saying the B2 isn’t a good bike, it is. Just that it price point to value, “bang for your buck”, isn’t as good as the S22 or other Felt bikes.
I don’t think this is an unusual scenario for “top of the line” bikes, or any product line for that matter. In fact I equate it to the CPU phenominom. Typically the “fastest”, or possibly the top two fastest, CPU’s are considerably higher than the, only slightly slower, ones.
In most cases unless you have a good deal of expendable cash, or for some reason must have the top of the line it just doesn’t pay to get “the best”. Especially when “good” will do.
~Matt
My tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I wrote that. SD has “corrected” me a few times when I didn’t see the subtle/huge differences in the somewhat confusing specs in the '05 Felt line.
I should mention I own two Felts: a DA and and F1R, each built up to my own specs from framesets over at R and A Cycles in Brooklyn.
I’d agree they are subtle differences.
I actually think that’s a very smart marketing approach. For the person buying a bike it’s easy to be sold on the next model up “because it has this”. It’s like cars and extra’s. The next thing you know your 12K “Econo” model that you had planned on buying is now a 20K not so econo model.
It’s very easy to move up the line but I always try and look for that “Break point”. Again a smart marketing move. You’ll always have those that have enough cash and desire to simply “Have the best”. So you price point it up a bit more than the rest of the line and have a slightly higher margin on it.
If I had money coming out my Wasssooo I’d have at least looked at the B2, but I don’t so it’s not worth it to me.
From a performance standpoint, likely I wouldn’t be any faster on the B2 than the S22, or S32 or even S25 with the same wheels.
~Matt
Matt - would you be faster on any bike? 
So I think the answer is:
Get the S22 and the F35, a whole quiver of new bikes for a few hundred more than the B2.
Yeh, A motor bike…
~Matt
A couple things
Record10 - comsumer poll shows a preference of clinchers over tubulars. safety is a concern too, there are bike shops out there that don’t know how or are unwilling to glue tubulars. Most of my Felt dealers give the option of tubbies vs. clinchers.
S22 is certainly the value leader, and is the exact same frame as the '04 Felt B2. Certainly a homerun. The B2 is as well when compared to other like-specced bikes, but I’d somewhat agree that the price gap does not equal the performace gap. We see that all the time with Renn vs. Zipp disc discussions.
TriPoet: Perhaps what I’ve told you in the past has come off as some sales guy spouting off on how the stuff he sells is great and how everyone else’s bike sucks. I certainly don’t believe that and hope that I’m not some infomercial. I try to be informative first and foremost. I realize that being tied to the industry immediately disqualifies me from being able to offer unbiased viewpoints on products, however I like to think I can speak intelligently on topics I am not selling. If you search my posts, you can find me recommending a cervelo, HED bars and wheels, Shimano components, Continental tires, 3TTT bars, Silca pumps, and Assos clothing when I felt those products were appropriate for the questions raised.
I am not a puppet.
SD
It’s a great bike minus the aerobar spec…
SD - Do you know where to get replacement chainrings for the Truvativ Rouleur Carbon cranks that are on some of the 2005 S22’s? Can’t seem to find any chainrings that match that polished finish…
Your favorite retailer should be able to order the rings from SRAM in Colorado, or their distributor of their products.
-SD