MMM....Felty....
 

Ok, so until 2006 Felt had most of their road frames in the badass yellow+matte black scheme (I have this on my road bike and I can't stop staring it). Then they switched to the muted red+black paint job which to me looks kinda lame and Trek-ish. Now all of a sudden they release their track frame in the yellow+black scheme again (photo from interbike via FGG):

http://fixedgeargallery.com/reports/...y1/30x1000.jpg

Needless to say, I am in love all over again. I'm thinking I should start saving my pennies now but then again I noticed that Felt hardly gets any mention around here....any reason for that? I'm guessing part of it is the "Taiwanese crotch rocket" factor that puts off all the purists riding NJS-approved Keirin this-and-that, but other than that is it a good bike?

hmm. I looked at/tested the "muted red+black paint job" model year and all the components felt cheap to me -- I can't really put my finger on why...

After reading more and more about Felt, I feel like they are the Mercedes of bikes. Somehow convincing people their name matters more than their history or the quality of their products.

There is no question they have the visual design thing down, the bikes look hot but I think they are overpriced for what they are....

ever notice that felt, apparently, uses the same frame for their tk2 and their s32 (their first-tier TT bike)?

aside from the non-aero seatpost, that track bike looks identical to my s22.

felt are good guys, their lower offerings may look like the higher ones but you're getting something for your money.

By cheap do you mean light? The two can become confused sometimes. I can't tell what kind of components are on this one, but don't they at least carry Sugino 75s?

I noticed the same thing. They're essentially the same frame, only the TK2 has a higher bottom bracket, steeper headtube angle, and track ends. I like my Red/Black/White Felt more than that thing, and that is actually cheaper. They are using cheaper wheels on that bike than were on mine. The now more sloping toptube is meh, the bottom bracket and crank still look to be Sugino 75.

my s22 HAS track ends. but yeah, the head tube angle is different, you're right. . . .

They seem to be the same components or better than everything else in the price range. What did they "feel cheaper then?"

Many companies make a track bike with similiar tube shapes to their tt bike. It just makes sense.

It does look liek they fixed the short dropouts that prevented me from buying a felt.