Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Why is it nobody talks about the Felt TK2?

Just curious...

Why did they name the track bike TK2 and their cyclocross bike F1X?

http://www.feltracing.com/2004_bikes/f1x.html

You know it's probably a great bike. Probably really good at the track. The thing is I just prefer traditional round tube, steel bikes. Without "compact" geometry. I say this after owning several aluminum, one carbon and a titanium framed bike. No I'm not rich, I just used to spend everything I made on bikes.

Felt makes awesome bikes at a great value, anyone know MSRP of the TK2? Is the fork drilled for a front brake?

I think that bike looks cool, but I might want to go fast all the time on it. It looks fast.. The newer complete track bikes don't really do it for me, as I don't ride competitively and thus don't need the latest technology, and I like the style of an older bike. Funny thing is that if you look at keirin bikes, they are lugged steel, regular 36-spoke wheels, smooth-curved track bars, etc, while newer say Cannondale tracks, or this Felt track are all teched out. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but I just think it's interesting that a new bike can look classic or look new. It's also interesting that some of the older-style stuff (keirin frames, Waterford frames, Cinelli track frames, etc.) is more expensive than the newer lighter more aero stuff.. Anyways, I'm getting off-topic..

To inject my opinion on why there isn't more talk about the Felt track bike, I would say it is relatively new so there aren't that many out there being ridden yet..

-Jason

Well, if all their dropouts are welded on like that then I'm not interested. Not that's it's unsafe, but that's not a pretty welding job. I always figure that they take pictures of the prettiest bike they can pull off the line, or more probably, one that's made a little extra special for the pictures. When I see that their TIG welder (or welding machine) was rolling over the edges of the dropouts on their show bike, it makes me nervous about the welding on the rest of the bike. I'm also a bit hypercritical of welds but I'd never buy a bike with those particular welds. I might buy the exact same model, but it better have better welds than that.
How much do they cost anyway? Felt's are usually quite a value.

Well, if all their dropouts are welded on like that then I'm not interested. Not that's it's unsafe, but that's not a pretty welding job. I always figure that they take pictures of the prettiest bike they can pull off the line, or more probably, one that's made a little extra special for the pictures. When I see that their TIG welder (or welding machine) was rolling over the edges of the dropouts on their show bike, it makes me nervous about the welding on the rest of the bike. I'm also a bit hypercritical of welds but I'd never buy a bike with those particular welds. I might buy the exact same model, but it better have better welds than that.
How much do they cost anyway? Felt's are usually quite a value.

Well I've been asking about the TK2 for a while now and it seems like nobody has one. I should be getting one in a few weeks so I'll spill some info. It is certainly a track specific bike. I'll be using it for my 8 mile a day commute into NYC from Brooklyn, but with a 74deg head tube 75deg seat tube, short wheelbase and practicaly no rake (25) it's really not for street use. The welds are not the prettiest in the world I'll give you that, but I've seen much worse.

Oh and as for value, the complete bike retails for $999. At least that's what my LBS charges. As far as deals go it's a killer for someone looking to get into track racing.

Just curious...

Probably for the same reason that Felt road bikes are talked about. I talk about mine, but mine is one of maybe three in the Eugene area. They're good bikes, lots of high-end components and great engineering for not too much money.

I should be getting one in a few weeks so I'll spill some info. It is certainly a track specific bike. I'll be using it for my 8 mile a day commute into NYC from Brooklyn, but with a 74deg head tube 75deg seat tube, short wheelbase and practicaly no rake (25) it's really not for street use. The welds are not the prettiest in the world I'll give you that, but I've seen much worse.
Hi,did you end up getting the TK2??? Im looking at getting one when they arrive in Australia in September.Afew minor questions,Does the rear sprocket thread allow for a lockring? Are the front tips pof the forks are rear dropouts alloy? What is the stem length from factory 100mm?Are the Truvativ Elita cranks garbage or half decent?The cranks are 165mm and not 170mm arent they?Thanks,any info would be greatly appreciated.

This may sound naïve and probablt is, but I always found Felt bikes good looking but "sensitive" in appearance, meaning they were not made for the streets.

Just curious...


Ugly welds that are more appropriate on bridge overpasses.


fixedgearhead

Guys if anyone was interested,i was able to find out that on the 52cm frame the cranks are 165mm and the stem is 90mm while on the 54cm frame the cranks are 170mm and the stem is 100mm.

Who even has these for sale?

Oddly enough I was walking out the Empty Bottle (a show venue here in Chicago) and I saw this bike a few months ago. At first I mistook it for a tricked out road Felt an then realized it was a track Felt. It was gorgeous I have to admit. The black looks slick. No idea whose it was though.

Not my particular cup of tea (like others I prefer the classic slim look) but it's to be admired in it's own way.

That Felt isn't bad. I spoke with Jim Felt a couple of times at a trade show down here in Melbourne. He seemed okay for a baby boomer engineer welder product ho' kinda guy. I think he did a lot of work with Easton when it was developing it's Aluminium for bikes, which accounts for the multi-shaped tubing on all of the Felts.

Granted, the TK1 doesn't have a lot of street cred short of being matt black, but it's probably not a bad buy if the price is right. The geometry is pretty cool, although the 4 sizes is pretty limiting.

I still gotta insist though - aero on the street loses you points straight away. Same goes for the Aluminium. :P

That Felt isn't bad. I spoke with Jim Felt a couple of times at a trade show down here in Melbourne. He seemed okay for a baby boomer engineer welder product ho' kinda guy. I think he did a lot of work with Easton when it was developing it's Aluminium for bikes, which accounts for the multi-shaped tubing on all of the Felts.

Granted, the TK1 doesn't have a lot of street cred short of being matt black, but it's probably not a bad buy if the price is right. The geometry is pretty cool, although the 4 sizes is pretty limiting.

I still gotta insist though - aero on the street loses you points straight away. Same goes for the Aluminium. :P

are there many fixie riders down under?

I guess. Can't really say we have the same....err....fixie fostering environment that you guys do in places like Chicago or NYC - so the fixed/ss phenomena hasn't been going that long here. Most couriers still ride mountainbikes, but there's definitely a fixie and singlespeed culture going on here. No suprises there.

What does suprise me is the amount of 'A driver just tried to run me over' stories I hear from you guys. It freaks me out. I thought drivers were bad here, but in 15 years of riding in the inner city, I've only had one bad run-in with a driver. I guess bikes are just more 'visable' here, drivers must be used to us more or something.

In chicago, Upgrade cycle has'em (milwaukee/chicago/ogden)

I personally don't like aluminum on the street...but I do like track geometry with a slightly more raken fork (my miyata track bike somehow came with a reeelty raked stock fork so that theres no toe touches...wieeeeeurd)

Anywho, 1 or 2 ppl ride em on the street here, the tk2's, but blah, go lugged steel, the rides nicer AND its purdier. the saddle's nice though, but i have that on my bike anyways :D

and "drilled for a brake?" what??? i wish my fork was't!

They are making a come back after a 8 year or so hiatus from the u.s. market. They had a soid rep back in the day. I cannot imagine Felt making crap now after what they were know for in the past.
However to answer your question I do not know. Most people here are stuck on the big three for bikes.

I'll speak up on the subject

especially since I just nabbed a TK2 today

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7190024678

That's the bike they have for rent at the Home Depot Center track. Gravityhurts, looks like you got a mighty fine deal!

Why did they name the track bike TK2 and their cyclocross bike F1X?

http://www.feltracing.com/2004_bikes/f1x.html

Because they felt like it!!!

http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/a/a1/Lmaonade.gif

No personal experience, so take this with a grain of salt, but I know a guy who has broken TWO of them by riding on the street. Felt warranteed both, but needless to say he does not ride them anymore.

No personal experience, so take this with a grain of salt, but I know a guy who has broken TWO of them by riding on the street. Felt warranteed both, but needless to say he does not ride them anymore.
who was that?

aluminium and its ugz

aluminium and its ugz

i'll spot ya one out of two:

a.) aluminum

b.) * enter local velodrome, tighten straps, inhale - explode, reach redline, hit the apex, g-plunge down embankment, regain conciseness, grin - repeat as necessary

* note: "ugz void" "no ugz"

I'll speak up on the subject

especially since I just nabbed a TK2 today

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7190024678

congrats. You got a great deal.

who was that?

Don't recall the guy's name, black guy, messenger with lots of skinhead tattoos. I commented on his Pista Concept, he said it was a replacement, and then went on to explain the problems he had with two aluminum Felts. Apparently two in a row broke at the welds. As I said before, this is anecdotal so he might just ride them rough. Either way, I would think twice about buying that bike.

congrats. You got a great deal.


NG----

thanks - I apreciate your kind words


BTW-----

currently on ebay, there are two TK2(s) listed,

a TK2 frame and fork and a complete TK2

http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-Felt-TK2-Track-frame-fork-58cm-brand-new_W0QQitemZ7191133972QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Felt-TK2-Track-Bike-Complete-NEW_W0QQitemZ7191378012QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

watchout for yoshi165 on ebay. they pedal(no pun intended) junk.

You know it's probably a great bike. Probably really good at the track. The thing is I just prefer traditional round tube, steel bikes. Without "compact" geometry. I say this after owning several aluminum, one carbon and a titanium framed bike. No I'm not rich, I just used to spend everything I made on bikes.

It's a good thing you're not rich. Otherwise I would totally hate you. All rich people, well, are well, rich. :p

Also, my teammate has one. He rode it to a Silver in our District's senior omnium. He won the sprint.

Name sounds like feltch. That and the fact that i've never even seen one or even heard of it before today might account for why I don't ride one.

I still think it's a hot bike. If I were going to buy a stock track setup, the TK2 would probably be it.

Because they felt like it!!!

http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/a/a1/Lmaonade.gif




http://www.uploadhouse.com/images/447855419rhaus.jpg

"Why is it nobody talks about the Felt TK2?"

this forum fears aluminum...

sorry to bring this topic from the basement but I am interested in your opinions about the TK2 now.
I have one and I think it's hard to find such a light frame for such a low price. And some people (like me) do like overstiffness on the road.
What do you think?

i've ridden one this season. not my cup of tea for road use due to the extremely tight wheelbase and the jarring combination of nyc streets (10mi one-way commute) and the bike's stiffness.

at the track, it's a good mid-level alu/carbon bike that rides well and handles well. like the fuji track pro and a few other frames, it tends to benefit the buyer when sold used.

Does anyone have any pictures of their built up TK2's?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2632228221_1ce74bdc2a_b.jpg

also you can go to velospace.org and search for TK2, can't you?

Here's mine
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e377/savetherock/IMG_8465B.jpg

holy old thread batman

The Pista Concepts have an ongoing thread. Why can we?!

Bump.

I'm curious if anyone currently rides one. The title still applies, sort of
http://www.feltbicycles.com/Resources/ProductPhotos/Bikes/TK2_2011_SMALL.jpg
- Feltbicycles.com

Nice rims.

Sweet lips.

And bars.

I'm very interested in getting one.

I'm near the end of my first season of track racing, and being that I want to continue it I'm looking into a bike that will fit me. My Schwinn Madison is too small.

And bars.

Yes, major carbone.

Man, you dug something up from the archives, didn't ya?

Are you asking for road or track? Lots of people use them at the track, but there are probably some better bikes at that price point.

It looks like one of the few track bikes I can actually get to work with the reach I need for road. I also may end up going to the track. I have trained on a velodrome with my trackie friend, but I don't own a track bike so I can't race.

I have plenty of time to think about this. My priority on bikes starts with my road bike, then commuter/tourer, then fixed gear. All of them need a little something right now