Felt 2014 AR1

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

User avatar
53x12
Posts: 3708
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:02 am
Location: On the bike

by 53x12

So if we are looking at double the UHC Advanced frame, I guess that would put us around $4,100 for the AR FRD based on the pricing of the AR UHC-Advanced frame. Will have to wait until the whitepaper is released, specs on frame weight and stiffness and either ride it myself or read some reviews before I would consider that a good deal or not. If it is close to the S5 and/or better it could be a steal.
"Marginal gains are the only gains when all that's left to gain is in the margins."

SuperDave
in the industry
Posts: 534
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:57 am
Location: San Juan Bautista, CA
Contact:

by SuperDave

53x12 wrote:I think most here, myself included, are most interested in the frameset and price of said frameset. We already have our high end wheels and compnenets on our other bikes.


I've promised our sales teams that we'll sell enough to amortize development costs down to zero so both the AR FRD frameset and F FRD frameset will be under $4000.
For the consumers buying Felt Bicycles in the USA:

AR SERIES MSRP
AR FRD $12,499
AR2 $6,199
AR3 EPS $5,149
AR4 $3,499
AR5 $2,499
Frame Kit AR FRD $3,999
Frame Kit AR 1 $2,499

F SERIES MSRP
F2 $5,149
F4 $2,999
F4130 Athena $2,589
F5 $1,799
F75 $1,349
F95 Jr. $799
F24 $799
Frame Kit F FRD $3,999
Frame Kit FC $1,649
Z SERIES MSRP
Z1 Di2 $7,999
Z2R $5,149
Z3 $2,999
Z4 $2,099
Z5 $1,699
Z85 $1,299
Z95 $899
Z100 $799
Frame Kit Z1 $2,799
ZW SERIES MSRP
ZW2 $5,499
ZW3 $2,999
ZW4 $2,249
ZW5 $1,849
ZW85 $1,349
ZW95 $899
ZW100 $799
Frame Kit ZW1 $2,499

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
53x12
Posts: 3708
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:02 am
Location: On the bike

by 53x12

I figured the AR FRD would be close to $4k. Makes sense. That is very high up on my list and look forward to hearing more about it and giving it a test ride. That AR1 at $2.5k could be a killer of a deal. Dave, I think you guys have a great 2014 line coming up.
"Marginal gains are the only gains when all that's left to gain is in the margins."

SuperDave
in the industry
Posts: 534
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:57 am
Location: San Juan Bautista, CA
Contact:

by SuperDave

spud wrote:Dave,

is the geometry of the new AR series the same as the old series? Personally, I hope you guys adopted the F series geo for the AR.


No, the AR geo is new. The front end is nearly identical to the F in terms of front center, head angle, trail (4 different for offsets) and BB drop. The head tube is a bit longer to aid the aerodynamics and increase the consumer fit range, the standover is a bit different per size, the rear center is the same on the larger sizes and a touch (1-3mm) longer on the smallest sizes. The seatpost has a dedicated 25mm offset that can be positioned rearward or forward of the seat tube centerline. The F-series 27.2mm I.D. seat tube means you can select a post to have whatever offset you desire.

-SD

User avatar
53x12
Posts: 3708
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:02 am
Location: On the bike

by 53x12

Dave, since we have your ear, can you share whether there will be a 'white paper' for the new AR? If there is one in the plans, can you share when it might be released to the public?
"Marginal gains are the only gains when all that's left to gain is in the margins."

cyclenutnz
Posts: 854
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:18 am
Location: Cambridge, New Zealand
Contact:

by cyclenutnz

SuperDave wrote:
No, the AR geo is new. The front end is nearly identical to the F in terms of front center, head angle, trail (4 different for offsets) and BB drop. The head tube is a bit longer to aid the aerodynamics and increase the consumer fit range


From the sound of this the 58 is going to be like you've custom built a frame for me... :D
And sounds like a very promising race size/handling range overall.

SuperDave
in the industry
Posts: 534
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:57 am
Location: San Juan Bautista, CA
Contact:

by SuperDave

Sykes wrote:Transformer,
They are doing away with the F1, so there will be no Nano version in the F series line. Not sure what the AR1 will be made out of, but my guess is that it will get a downgrade to UHC advanced.
Also we can look at the Nine series as a reference for FRD pricing and that was not a huge jump, it is about double the UHC Advanced model.


That's partially true. The F1 isn't offered for the US market. The AR1 uses a blend of UHC Advanced and UHC Ultimate and retains the low FAW 1k weave. The AR framesets also must include the patented seatpost clamping mechanism and seatpost as well.

For my $3999 I'd buy an AR FRD over the F FRD but I know this is WW so the "value" of the AR is probably lost because the 908g vs 725g and 331g vs 269g frameset differences.

-SD

SuperDave
in the industry
Posts: 534
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:57 am
Location: San Juan Bautista, CA
Contact:

by SuperDave

53x12 wrote:I figured the AR FRD would be close to $4k. Makes sense. That is very high up on my list and look forward to hearing more about it and giving it a test ride. That AR1 at $2.5k could be a killer of a deal. Dave, I think you guys have a great 2014 line coming up.


No question the AR1 is the sleeper of the 2014 line. Just finished a long weekend riding mine and I'm very pleased with the balanced performance here. It is a road bike. Period. No qualifications, disclaimers, or trade offs.

-SD

User avatar
53x12
Posts: 3708
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:02 am
Location: On the bike

by 53x12

1239g for the AR FRD frame+fork isn't bad at all! Well done.

I am also quite impressed with the F FRD at <1000g. Seems like a great competition for the Scott Addict SL.
"Marginal gains are the only gains when all that's left to gain is in the margins."

SuperDave
in the industry
Posts: 534
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:57 am
Location: San Juan Bautista, CA
Contact:

by SuperDave

53x12 wrote:Dave, since we have your ear, can you share whether there will be a 'white paper' for the new AR? If there is one in the plans, can you share when it might be released to the public?


The 2014 launch is planned for Eurobike. I hope it is through legal scrutiny by then. Doing comparative testing and publishing the data requires a great deal of t crossing and i dotting to get meaningful results but there is a great deal more transparency required globally to avoid any suit-and-tie entanglements.

I have some details on the new AR I can share as they only draw comparisons to our own product:

2014 AR FRD is 39% stiffer than the 2013 AR1
2014 AR FRD is 23% lighter than the 2013 AR1
2014 AR FRD is 24% more aerodynamic than the 2013 AR1

-Dave
Last edited by SuperDave on Tue Aug 20, 2013 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

cyclenutnz
Posts: 854
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:18 am
Location: Cambridge, New Zealand
Contact:

by cyclenutnz

How do those stiffness & weight improvements filter down to non FRD AR?

Image

Testing at 30mph or 50kph? No dummy?
Last edited by cyclenutnz on Wed Aug 21, 2013 12:45 am, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
MarkGiardini
Posts: 493
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:55 am
Location: Vladivostok

by MarkGiardini

I reckon they'll sell a heap of ARs at 4k!
I assume they will be similarly priced here in Australia SD?
KWalker wrote:chill out perv dogs, homegirl is still only 17.

BmanX
Posts: 3841
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:31 pm

by BmanX

Dave,

I see that the seat post will be able to be swapped from 73 degree to 78.5 degree which I really like. What I was going to ask is why did you go from behind the stem cabling on the AR1 but downtube on the AR4?
BIG DADDY B FLOW
AERO & LIGHT is RIGHT for 2 decades

SuperDave
in the industry
Posts: 534
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:57 am
Location: San Juan Bautista, CA
Contact:

by SuperDave

cyclenutnz wrote:How do those stiffness & weight improvements filter down to non FRD AR?


The stiffness improvements are made throughout the line. All the AR models get the same stiffness in 2014 as they did in 2013 with the exception of the aluminum model. The jump in stiffness is the same for each version from '13 to '14.

The weight loss is a bit greater at the high end as more tech is poured into the FRD than previously available to the 2013 AR1.

-SD

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



SuperDave
in the industry
Posts: 534
Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:57 am
Location: San Juan Bautista, CA
Contact:

by SuperDave

BmanX wrote:Dave,

I see that the seat post will be able to be swapped from 73 degree to 78.5 degree which I really like. What I was going to ask is why did you go from behind the stem cabling on the AR1 but downtube on the AR4?


There are two frame molds:

The AR FRD, AR2 and AR3 EPS all use electronic shifting with the cable routing entering behind the stem.
The AR1, AR3 Red, AR4 and AR5 all use cable stops which allow mechanical cable housing to run inside the downtube through the frame.

The cable routing was revised to optimize the balance of performance, user service-friendly, and upgrade-able. Behind the stem cabling remains the most aerodynamic location to route the cables but is less desirable for future 11 speed groups' function.

-Dave

Post Reply