Stumbled upon this on the UK Felt website…
http://www.feltbicycles.com/International/2016/Bikes/TT-TRI/b-series/b16.aspx
Is this going to be available in the US and at what price point? What a cheap up-gradable machine.
I got excited thinking this was on the US site and was about to possibly buy one this weekend haha then got let down as they are not on the US website.
That is sweet. But I am totally glad it is not in the U.S.-- I probably would have bought it.
I was leaning heavily toward the B14 because it is just a killer value. But, I bought the IA16, because it was only $800 more than the B14 for a way better frame. If they had the B16 in the U.S., I bet the price point would have been around $1,500. There is no way I would have spent an extra $1,500 to jump from a B16 to an IA16. I would have bought and loved the B16.
For the price point of the current cheapest US B series - I can go to another brand and get close enough specs for a way cheaper price. Slice, Norcom Straight, Shiv, etc…
No desire to order a B series as of now - but if they offered that B15 for the price of the Fuji Aloha or the current S series - yea Ill take that in cash right now haha
For the price point of the current cheapest US B series - I can go to another brand and get close enough specs for a way cheaper price. Slice, Norcom Straight, Shiv, etc…
Huh? I just did the purchase research a couple months ago, and I could not find anything else in the $2,200 range with Ultegra. I think the cheapest I found was an Orbea with 105 for around $2,500. This is current year models, not some 2014 or 2015 that a shop is heavily discounting. No shops in my area had those kinds of deals, and the B14 was (and is) the cheapest bike at any spec for bike at this level. There is no one else even close.
Let me clarify that - with “close enough” specs.
I have to agree that the B series is a great deal at a great price point with a great frame and specs no doubt - but if someone is entry level and willing to go with 105’s (Ultegra v 105 has a debate on whether they are really worth the upgrade in regards to the level of tech with them at current), or sacrifice crank quality, brakes, stem, etc…basically some components that will not matter to a person that is not trying to shave a few minutes off his Ironman time - then you get drop your price point accordingly.
but yes - with the B series, all you really need to do is slap on some wheels and you have a solid race ready bike. However - it would be logical if the budget allowed to upgrade to the IA - much like you did - so they are missing out on a large quantity of buyers who would rather sacrifice some specs and drop $500 dollars then buy the B or pay an extra $800 to go to the IA. They gap their consumer market.
If someone is entry level and willing to go with 105’s (Ultegra v 105 has a debate on whether they are really worth the upgrade in regards to the level of tech with them at current), or sacrifice crank quality, brakes, stem, etc…basically some components that will not matter to a person that is not trying to shave a few minutes off his Ironman time - then you get drop your price point accordingly.
OK, that is a different argument. It is possible to find a bike cheaper than the $2,200 B14. However, I could not find a carbon bike from anyone else that is price-competative with a B14. I did not consider a white-label, generic, open mold bike. All those you initially listed (Slice, Norcom Straight, Shiv, etc.) are more (some much more) than a B14 at their cheapest points.
What other brands offer a modern carbon frame design (the B14 is a 2016 refresh that is on par others like the P2/P3) with any spec at a sub-$2,200 pricepoint?
Regarding the 105 vs. Ultegra, I agree that 105 probably does not sacrifice that much. I was a little worried about dropping to 105 when I got my IA16, but so far the performance has far exceeded my expectations. I am glad I saved the money.
In my personal shopping history, I first discovered Felt through two people I trust who had them and recommended them. But, I had a bias toward Cervelo because that is what all of my friends owned. I initially shied away from Felt because they were so cheap. And the P2 seemed like a total ripoff at its $2,800 pricepoint. Then, seeing a few more people and some pro victory legitimated Felt to me and the rest is history.
I was in the market for the B14 in November. Only one I think I found cheaper was a QR Kilo with 105 components at ~$1,900 maybe. Cervelo P2 with 105 was $2,800. B14 was stickered at $2,200. I don’t know what the LBS I bought from would have gone down to on the B14, but they worked out a deal to get me a B12 at $2k, so I jumped on that. I would have been more than happy on the B14 with Ultegra though. I don’t know of anything full carbon with 105 and higher coming from any “major” brand that is a significantly better deal when looking purely at costs. I shopped for a while.
Biggest downside of the that bike is that it loses the nice aero bar on the B14, that bar is not only fairly fast (giving up very little to the super fast aerobars and faster than other aluminum bars like the zipp), but it is also very adjustable.