So far the only bikes I have test ridden and reviewed have fit under the $700 mark. So I have decided to take a ride on something with a little higher price tag for review. The Felt F65 is one of the most stunning bikes I have ever layed eyes on. The “hi-tech” brushed silver finish may look somewhat dull in a picture, but in person it works really well with the carbon and the red accents.

The first thing I noticed about the F65 was it’s weight. Built on Felt’s efficient custom-butted 7005 aluminum alloy frame and carbon accents, this bike was built to be light. The F65 features carbon fiber wishbone seat stays and a carbon fork which helped take away some of the vibration normally associated with an aluminum frame. The ride was very pleasant, and compared to my Bianchi steel, hills were a breeze. The carbon seat stays and fork aren’t the only premium parts included with the F65. Some other major upgrades include Shimano Ultegra 20-speed drivetrain, FSA carbon cranks, a quality Shimano wheel set, and Vittoria tires. This is exactly why many Felt fans argue that no other brand offers as much bang for your buck. Here is a full list of features on the F65:

Frameset/Fork

• Felt 7005 Superlite custom double-butted aluminum frame with carbon fiber wishbone seat stays
• Internally relieved integrated head tube, machined bottom bracket, forged dropouts with replaceable hanger and internal brake cable routing
• Felt carbon fiber fork

Wheelset

• Shimano 550 wheelset
• Vittoria Action HSD folding tires

Components

• Felt carbon micro-adjust seatpost
• Felt 6061 oversized handlebar with ergonomic drop
• Felt ST 3D-forged stem
• Felt Race-lite saddle with carbon injected base

Drivetrain

• Shimano Ultegra 20-speed shifters and derailleur
• FSA OMEGA, 2-piece carbon compact crankset with external BB and 7075/T6 CNC alloy 50/34T machined chainrings

While I enjoyed every minute of my 60 minute test ride, some current F65 owners aren’t as happy. There have been a few reports of the aluminum frame cracking just above the carbon stays. The only negatives I could take out of my test ride was that the stock saddle was a bit uncomfortable, and the brakes weren’t as responsive as I would have liked.

Overall, at around $1,600 I would totally recommend everyone to go out and test out the F65 or any of Felt’s bikes for that matter. For the most part, they are well built and a lot of fun to ride.

Get more information on the Felt F65 here. [feltracing.com]