Felt AR??

omad65

I'm currently in the market for a new bike am focusing on on a Felt AR. (I thouhgt) I had my mind set on a AR5 2015 but in my travels I came across a new AR2 2009 for slightly less money than the AR5.
Both are nice bikes, the 2009 AR2 has a slighty different aero frame and is fitted with DURA-ACE all round, as opposed to 105 on the AR5.
Any thoughs on which to go for?

pot p

omad65 wrote: »

I'm currently in the market for a new bike am focusing on on a Felt AR. (I thouhgt) I had my mind set on a AR5 2015 but in my travels I came across a new AR2 2009 for slightly less money than the AR5.
Both are nice bikes, the 2009 AR2 has a slighty different aero frame and is fitted with DURA-ACE all round, as opposed to 105 on the AR5.
Any thoughs on which to go for?

I have a felt ar5 2012. I tink it's the same shape as the 2009 ar2 just a different grade carbon. I can't fault it in any way, love the bike. Don't get me wrong, sometimes on the really bad back roads the frame can be harsh but that's the price u have to pay I suppose. Great straight line speed, climbs well.
The new shape ar tho is pretty nice on the eye also and not to be disloyal to my own ar, have been tempted to go for 1. Reviews seem very good.
Whichever u get I'm sure u won't be disappointed

nordicb

I think Felt decals have become a little bit more humble and more appealing to me personally. Certainly not fan of 2009 AR color choice. My friend rides 2009 AR5 and hates his zillion white decals on otherwise beautiful frame.

I'm a happy owner of 2013 AR5 with mere few orange strips, the frame was the deciding factor when buying, however, somehow Felt lets down a little with certain material quality used compared to my other Giant bike. Wherever there are non-kit components, like rivets, nuts, bolts, headset bearings, they don't seem to withstand the corrosion as does my Giant Defy 1. Also long internal cable tubing lacks the gear shifting crispness compared to open wire running along the frame of the Giant. Not sure about 2015 frame, but previous frames where cables enter the frame at the headset is quite poor design - the entrance is too sharp - turn the wheel too much and these cables get jammed or damaged resulting in lazy shifting... These are my perceptions of this bike. Still, love it, but it needs this extra care and feel guilty taking it out in damp weather.

omad65

Cheers for the feed back, any view on DURA-ACE vs 105?, Im not a pro rider by any strech, but would this be a big advantage with AR2. Also, I've read a few reviews critising the stiffness of the 2009 frame. Have you found this at all?

nordicb

My friend mentioned above rides Giant TCR SL as well and whenever he goes out on Felt he complains the bike doesn't climb. He uses same Mavic R-Sys wheels on both.

I find the front fork flexes a lot (side to side) on my Felt, but can't complain it climbs bad though, certainly better than Defy 1.

Personally very happy with 105 set.

pot p

In my opinion there's not too much difference between dura ace and 105 for the purposes that I use the bike. Sure the dura ace has more prestige and a few grams lighter and more polished finish but I find 105 great for my requirements and budget. If I cud afford dura ace of course I'd hav it but hav to factor in replacements an so fourth.
As regards stiffness, maybe that's referring to why I find it harsh on bumpy back roads??

fat bloke

Are they similar money???

Either way, AR2 all the way in my opinion. I nearly bought a 2009 AR2 back in the day when they were recently out. Stunning looking bikes back then and would not at all look dated today. In 2009, an AR2 would've been nearly what?.... 6 grand? Five and a half certainly.

Every component on that AR2 would be an upgrade on the 5, even taking the intervening years into account. I find felt's lower end carbon frames to be frightfully heavy, and dura ace is definitely worth getting if it's there to be bought and in-budget. That's DA 7900, it's only previous generation. The finishing kit is going to be far far superior.

If you're getting a good deal on that AR2, it's a no-brainer for me. Top spec bikes like that always sell, and it'll sell quicker and easier than anything with 105 on it. As well of course being a more enjoyable bike to have and ride while you have it.

Before anyone jumps down my throat, yes 105 is brilliant, yes the 5 is a perfectly good bike in isolation, but it can't compare to it's top spec brethern, and couldn't be expected to.

Cee-Jay-Cee

The AR2 from 2009 is a heavier and less stiff bike compared to a 2015 AR5 and I'd say 2009 Dura ace is pretty comparable to 5800 105 which is supposed to be a huge improvement over 5700. I'd be going for the newer more modern AR5 and in a year or two you'll be able to upgrade to 6800 for very little if you felt the need

I have a 2011 F5 and am upgrading the groupset to 6800 in the summer. The frame is identical to the 2015 frame so I see no point in buying a new bike when I absolutely love my current one...it's just the 105 shifting that lets it down.

Cee-Jay-Cee

pot p wrote: »

I have a felt ar5 2012. I tink it's the same shape as the 2009 ar2 just a different grade carbon. I can't fault it in any way, love the bike. Don't get me wrong, sometimes on the really bad back roads the frame can be harsh but that's the price u have to pay I suppose. Great straight line speed, climbs well.
The new shape ar tho is pretty nice on the eye also and not to be disloyal to my own ar, have been tempted to go for 1. Reviews seem very good.
Whichever u get I'm sure u won't be disappointed

Your 2012 bike/Frame is the same frane that's currently used. The design change was in 2011 so unless your bike was old stock sold in 2012 then it'll be the new/current frame model.

noc231073

What can I say the felt AR series are totally underestimated as a series road bike .. Good choice ...
See attached ... my AR1

fat bloke

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

The AR2 from 2009 is a heavier and less stiff bike compared to a 2015 AR5 and I'd say 2009 Dura ace is pretty comparable to 5800 105 which is supposed to be a huge improvement over 5700. I'd be going for the newer more modern AR5 and in a year or two you'll be able to upgrade to 6800 for very little if you felt the need

Felt Bicycles disagree with you I'm afraid

Ar2 2009 is 15.98 lbs here:

http://2009.feltracing.com/09-catalog/road/ar-series/09-ar2.aspx


AR5 is 17.7 lbs here:
http://www.feltbicycles.com/Ireland/2015/Bikes/road/aero/ar5.aspx


And I would respectfully add that 105, while very good, is a long way from dura ace. I have the older dura ace again (7800) on my training bike and it's superb.

Again. 105 is great, but you're comparing apples and oranges. I have a 2009 model trek 6.9 as my training bike. Trek's top of the tree machine in 2009. There's no way that a 105 equipped 2015 trek 2.something is now as good as it. It's "trickle down" not "deluge-down"

pot p

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Your 2012 bike/Frame is the same frane that's currently used. The design change was in 2011 so unless your bike was old stock sold in 2012 then it'll be the new/current frame model.

The frame changed in 2014.

pot p

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Your 2012 bike/Frame is the same frane that's currently used. The design change was in 2011 so unless your bike was old stock sold in 2012 then it'll be the new/current frame model.

There's a pic of the 2012 model and the 2014 model

omad65

noc231073 wrote: »

What can I say the felt AR series are totally underestimated as a series road bike .. Good choice ...
See attached ... my AR1

Good looking bike.

omad65

fat bloke wrote: »

Are they similar money???

Either way, AR2 all the way in my opinion. I nearly bought a 2009 AR2 back in the day when they were recently out. Stunning looking bikes back then and would not at all look dated today. In 2009, an AR2 would've been nearly what?.... 6 grand? Five and a half certainly.

Every component on that AR2 would be an upgrade on the 5, even taking the intervening years into account. I find felt's lower end carbon frames to be frightfully heavy, and dura ace is definitely worth getting if it's there to be bought and in-budget. That's DA 7900, it's only previous generation. The finishing kit is going to be far far superior.

If you're getting a good deal on that AR2, it's a no-brainer for me. Top spec bikes like that always sell, and it'll sell quicker and easier than anything with 105 on it. As well of course being a more enjoyable bike to have and ride while you have it.

Before anyone jumps down my throat, yes 105 is brilliant, yes the 5 is a perfectly good bike in isolation, but it can't compare to it's top spec brethern, and couldn't be expected to.

Yes, both similar money. AR5 is slightly more.

XtotheZ

ar2 is an incredible bike, raced on one for the second half of this year. Lovely light frame however stock wheels are crap

Cee-Jay-Cee

pot p wrote: »

There's a pic of the 2012 model and the 2014 model

Ok sorry. Didn't realise they redesigned the AR as the 2014 F series are the same as the 2011/12/13 frames.

omad65

Ok, test rode both these bikes today and still somewhat on the fence. On one hand the 2009 AR2 felt lighter, compact and the dura ace group set shifted very nicely.
On the other hand the 2015 AR5 felt very sturdy, if a bit heavier. The frame looks great though. The gearing didn't shift as well but I put that down to the display model not been tuned properly.

fat bloke

Worth taking the depreciation curve into account too. I don't how much you're paying for either bike but the AR5 is surely more likely to lose you more money on re-sale being right at the top of the graph. The AR2 on the other hand will already have plummeted from its new price and the graph more likely to level out.

omad65

Good point, the ar5 is about €2250 (i think). The ar2 is a bit less than that...think I'm leaning that way.