Dave:
I just bought an F55 this weekend and it is speced differently than the website lists. Specifically, it has Am Classic CR420 wheels rather than Velomax wheels. I have no problem with this spec but was wondering when the change came about and why. Can you provide any info? Any feedback on the differences between the two wheels, other than the obvious physical ones?
ars
I’m not Superdave but I asked him the same question and this is what he told me:
There have been some on-going spec changes to several bikes, including the F55, due to supply issues with various vendors. In each case, thei change in spec has been a benefit for the consumer since it has constituted an upgrade. The American Classic wheel upgrade is an example. The new A.C. wheels are lighter and have a nicer finish and better hubs than the previous spec.
We put the A.C. wheels on a scale and discovered they are 174 grams lighter per pair than Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL’s. That is significant since the Mavic’s are a $800 wheelset.
I’m not sure how Felt does it, but they are the master of OEM bike spec. The ability to remain fluid and adaptable throughout the model year has kept them at the top of the game by a large margin. This is just one example of quite a few in their line.
Tom:
Thanks for the quick reply. As I said, I have NO problem with the spec change and was fairly pleased that the new spec came without a price change, as it was my impression that the Am Classic wheelset was a step up from the Velomax. I have heard that Am Classic actually over states the weight of the wheels. I always like a firm that under-promises and over-delivers. Kinda unusual in the bike business.
ars
You’re right. That was a good question too. They made a similar spec change on the home-run F2C carbon bike shown here at our store:
What he said. Please also note that the wheels are substantially more expensive at OEM and retail. There may be other bikes that are specced with Easton/Velomax wheels that get similar upspec as vendors run low on product and we scramble to get more bikes into the pipeline for our dealers.
If you have an F55, you probably already know how lucky you are to have it already.
-SD
Dave:
Thanks for the reply. Ifigured it was a supplier issue but I was pleasantly surprised to see what I considered an upgrade at no increase in price. On top of that, the shop, Wheel & Sprocket in Appleton, gave me a pretty decent deal during their spring sale this weekend. Went in poking for bits and pieces and came out with a shiny new (matte finish) F55. Looking forward to trying it on the road this weekend, as work will have me socked in all week.
ars