Stiff yet compliant, lightweight yet durable. The UHC Performance carbon fiber frame of the Nine Elite provides all the characteristics you dream of in a fast, race-ready hardtail. Factor in the smooth, surefooted ride of its 29-inch wheels plus a smart mix of durable SRAM components and a RockShox Reba SL fork- you have a bike that makes riding singletrack more fun than ever before.
Andy Holmes from Felt shows us the line of Nine Series bikes for 2012. The Felt Nine line includes the new Comp with a higher end alloy frame and good quality componentry, the Team, Elite, Race, Sport and Trail models. Continue reading →
Submitted by
Cainam
a Weekend Warrior
from Bremerton, WA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2011
Strengths: Strength to weight ratio on this frame is incredible!
Weaknesses: Painted spokes are a bit cheezy.
Bottom Line:
I've had some bad luck lately with my bikes. My Specialized got stolen, and the Cannondale Flash 3 carbon I got to replace it was a piece of trash, so when I found this FELT on sale (2010 model) for $2000, I grabbed it. For a light weight carbon frame, I can't believe how stiff it is! It does have more flex than a hard core dirt jump frame, but it weighs half as much. BLISS!
The 9 speed SLX stuff on it works perfectly, even if it is a bit heavy. Easy to upgrade a piece at a time to XTR, though. The frame is worth the good stuff. The brakes are already sized up from 185/160 to 203/185, and Avid BB7s do the grabbing.
Similar Products Used: Only other 29er was a Cannondale Flash 3 carbon - junk
Bike Setup: Stock (all SLX stuff) but I swapped in Avid BB7 brakes and speed dial levers, put the 180 front disc on the back, and got a 203 for the front
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Submitted by
h2o-x
a Cross Country Rider
from North Sound, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2011
Strengths: Light, great climber, great geometry, light, quick, light, fast... did I mention light?
Weaknesses: None so far...
Bottom Line:
I got a great deal on the frameset and scrounged the rest of the componentry. The bike climbs and handles incredibly well and it's fast as hell. (It's even faster with others riding it, or so my friends tell me.)
I am currently running the Reba at 100mm, but the geometry is spec'd for 80mm of travel. At the oil change, I am going to insert the spacers for 80mm travel to see how that affects the steering. (Not that it steers poorly now, I just want to see the difference.)
Bike Setup: Reba RL Fork
FSA Headset
Aerus Stem
Titec Carbon Bars
Ritchey WCS 85mm Bar Ends
Aerus/Blue Saddle
Race Face Turbine Seatpost
XT Shifters
XT Front Der
XTR Rear Der
XT Cassette
Truvativ Noir Cranks
Truvativ GXP Team BB
Avid Elixir CR Brakeset (160 rear/185 front)
Roval Control EL Wheelset
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Submitted by
MazzellaMAS
a Cross Country Rider
from Mystic, CT
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2011
Weaknesses: The components on the bike are kind of lame, for the frame it does deserve more, i just put a SRAM X.0 groupset on it thought... the wheels and tires as well can/should be upgraded
Bottom Line:
Great bike, needs some more invested if bought, but i am very very happy and i would recommend this bike to anybody, i will never go back to a 26" bike.
Bike Setup: Rithey carbon stem/handlebar, x.0 groupset, american classic wheelset, kenda karma tires,
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Submitted by
JeanVW14
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town, SA
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2011
Strengths: Unbelievable speed once you get the wheels rolling up or downhill - just aim and pull the trigger! Takes a lot out of the hard work out of technical descents. Very good bang for buck! Identical frame as the top end felt - just a different paintjob so you get all the performance from the frame, and you can upgrade the pieces as it suits your pocket.
Weaknesses: The standard Felt pieces on it (Seatpost, stem, saddle) are on the heavy side, and the bullhorn handlebars are cheap.The wheels and tyres also need upgrading.
Bottom Line:
Nothing else like it in the price band... GET THIS BIKE!
Similar Products Used: Raleigh R9.0 Carbon Hardtail, Scott Spark RC.
Bike Setup: This is what I have changed on the bike - Custom built wheelset (Hope Hubs, DT Swiss Revolution Spokes, ZTR Crest Rims), Conti 2.2 tubeless tyres (Mountain King front, Race King rear), X9 double crank, KCNC Darkside Flat Handlebars, KCNC ti8000 seatpost, KCNC EVA Grips, Momsen Design Bar Ends, flipped the stem.
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Submitted by
hillslayer
a Racer
from Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2011
Strengths: Great Geometry, light stiff frame
Weaknesses: Terrible spec. The frame deserves better. The only decent stock components are the cassette with a narrow range, the rear derailleur, and the tires. Also the finish of the frame scratches very easily. Mine already has many ugly white and black nicks in the nice blue paint.
Bottom Line:
I like the bike but the components are mostly heavy and cheap. The blue spokes are nice but the wheels are heavy-ish. The x7 is heavy and the shifting is choppy. I am saving up for x9 shifters and a lighter crank. I would give it 5 chilis despite that if it weren't for the easily-scratched finish. I rarely crash and my bike is littered with ugly scratches. Still a decent bike for racing and trails
Similar Products Used: Spesh Stumpjumper ht 26 inch wheels, SC Chameleon
Bike Setup: ea 90 stem, ea 50 400mm post, m520s, otherwise stock
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
jashburn
a Cross Country Rider
from Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2011
Strengths: Lightweight. Great ride quality.
Weaknesses: Matte finish on frame
Bottom Line:
So this is my first review on this site but I have been using the site for years. I had to review this bike because I am really impressed. The first thing you have to know is that I have been riding full suspension 26"s for years and love the ride. I went to 29er's because I like the idea of being able to roll over things easier and keeping my speed up once I achieved momentum. The problem is that I weigh 140 lbs and most 29er's are relatively heavy and feel like you're driving a semi. When I went to pick out my first carbon bike, I walked into my LBS and said "give me a full suspension 29er in carbon." They walked over to this bike and said, this is what you want. With one ride I was sold. Even though it's a hardtail, the carbon stays and tubeless tires I put on the bike give it a soft ride better than my full suspension. And the weight??????? - just shy of 23lbs!!!! Please realize that I swapped out the wheels, tires, handlebar, and seat post but that still isn't bad. The bike is so easy to get up to speed. It corners well because even though it's a 29er, you sit low in between the wheels. Me being a lightweight, this bike allows me to drive a 29er that weighs less than most 26" bikes. The only thing I don't like is that the finish is a matte finish instead of glossy so scratches may show up worse. Other than that, this bike is incredible and I would definitely recommend it.
Bike Setup: SRAM X9 derailer. Hutchinson tires. Easton 90XC wheels. Carbon stem and handle bar - Richey
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Submitted by
Paul R
a Cross Country Rider
from Southgate, MI
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2010
Strengths: Very lively for a large frame and 29in wheels! Excellent craftsmenship and quality.
Weaknesses: SLX Components are a little heavy and could not get the bike to shift very good, swapped for an XTR deraileur and that fixed the problem. WTB wheel set on my 09 model is a bit chunky too especially if u plan on racing the bike.
Bottom Line:
Incredible machine, although if u plan on being anymore than a weekend warrior you'll need to drop some more coin on components to make it a "dream" ride.
Similar Products Used: First 29er, and I would never get back on a 26in bike! Huge advantage and better ride on the 29in wheels!
Bike Setup: Swapped bars and stem immediately for Salsa Pro Moto Carbon riser with Pro Moto Ti stem inverted to neg 5 deg. In the process of upgrading to all XX components and an I-9 wheels, can't wait to feel the ride after that big investment! (Set up to be geared towards cross country racing)
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Submitted by
steve mcnerney
a Cross Country Rider
from Nevada City CA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2010
Strengths: Incredible ride. Great fit .Responsive and lightweight. Climbs almost as good as my road bike
Weaknesses: SLX components are too much of a step down. Snapped a chain and broke a rear spoke
Bottom Line:
I'm 6'5", 200 lbs and ride mostly dirt roads with lots of climbing, The 29" hardtail is a perfect fit for me. The stock wheelset wasn't all that impressive, so I upgraded to Mavic Crossmax. I should have also upgraded to the XT components. Victory Velo in Auburn has provided great service
Bike Setup: SLX, Mavic Crossmax wheels. Tubeless tires. Ergo grips
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
KIt S.
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2010
Strengths: Great value for carbon frame 29er. Geometry is spot on with good responsiveness and a sure-footed 29er feel. Carbon fiber material qualities.
Weaknesses: Price? But you get what you pay for.
Bottom Line:
I am very impressed with this bike! The stock set up worked great. Switching my old components on only made it better. The geometry is fantastic and I could tell Felt put a great deal of planning and thought into the design and build of this bike. Carbon is very well suited to the 29er platform.
Bike Setup: Reba, Elixer CR Mags, CK Hubs, XTR drivetrain
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Submitted by
berg
a Cross Country Rider
from San Juan Capistrano, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2009
Strengths: Light, good climbing bike (well, to be expected from a hardtail), fits well and looks good. Quality craftsmanship.
Weaknesses: Haven't found any. But when I purchased the bike from its previous owner, he already upgraded the wheels, bar and I upgraded the Juicy 3s to BB7s.
Bottom Line:
I call this bike my Magic Carpet Ride! It just floats over the terrain, makes me a faster, flowier rider through singletrack, over rocks, roots and ruts. I find it suits my riding style better than any of my 26" full sus bikes. I'm 5'6" and my Felt is a 15.5" frame. Fits me perfectly and yes, you can get air on a 29'er! It gets through switchbacks without much effort.
This is a great bike for XC racing, or all day riding. I use it on the same trails as my Giant Trance, but for strictly downhilling, you'd want suspension.
Submitted by
rghbsn
a Cross Country Rider
from Leland, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2009
Strengths: Light, great components, fit, finish
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
The bike fits well and handles well...I was skeptical of getting a 29er because back when I raced, they weren't being used. After several years out of biking, I've done a lot of research and tried several bikes in the 29er catagory. The Felt Nine Elite had the fit and finish I was looking for, great welds, attention to detail in the build and geometry as well as a great components list. It feels nimble and quick, unlike a few of the others I tried that felt long, slow, and "spread out."
I will have to admit that I got a smokin' deal on an '08 model that was left over...added some serious bang for the buck to my purchase!
The reviewer below me has his bikes mixed up, though...the Nine Elite is NOT a carbon bike.
Strengths: Lightweight Carbon Fiber Frame, Geometry, Fit and Finish, Ride, Ride, Ride, oh, and the WOW factor. SLX is decent.
Weaknesses: Top of the line frame with mediocre components. 25lbs for the 18" medium off the rack (heavy for CF). SLX brakes are for beginners. Wheelset a bit weighty.
Bottom Line:
I'll start with the WOW factor. Such a nice ride when compared to the Superfly, though not as light off the shelf. Handling and steering between the two bikes is amazingly different. The Felt Elite bike with its shorter wheelbase and steeper head tube handles so much nicer and predictable, sorry I absolutely did not like the handling of the G2 Geometry Superfly (way too slack and squirrely). The Felt thus far has not even peeped a crick or creek, solid build throughout. The factory wheelset with SLX hubs, cassette, and disc brakes weighed in at just under 10 lbs for the set, and a lot on the heavy side for quickness. A change of hubs, rotors, cassette, and tubeless tire setup resulted in a dramatic reduction of 2 full pounds. Bam, a whole new even better bike. The SLX components are nice, in fact I like them better than the new XT. They are solid, shift nice, brake good, and some parts are even lighter than XT. They are however an entry level set which when pushed to a higher level of expectation, failed to satisfy my needs. This became even more evident after I put on my XTR 960 components and Magura Brakes. Another reduction in weight plus a huge increase of faith. I will ride it more and submit a follow up, but for now I continue to say WOW. I'm still giving it the highest marks, because even at 2300 bones, the ride value makes it worth it.
Submitted by
boodaroo
a Weekend Warrior
from Chiefland, Florida,US
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2008
Strengths: Comes stock with many quality components, little need to upgrade.
Weaknesses: I don't know why they even bother putting a plastic bash guard on the bike. You will have to rip it off after the first rock garden encounter.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that this bike is screaming fast on the trails. I had been riding a specialized full suspension and found myself fighting to keep up on climbs. I was scared to go to a hard tail thinking that I would simply get abused by roots and rocks. Definitely not the case. The front fork locks out for the climbs and at the flip of a swith turns to a very cushy ride for decents. The huge 29" tires absorb the rest amazingly. I actually find myself leaving it completely locked out most of the time and riding it as a rigid. I treat this bike more as an all mountain than I do a cross country and it performs to standards. The only thing I may be changing in the future is a shorter stem and wider bars as the stock ones are definetly designed for XC riding.
Strengths: Great frame geometry for climbing, plus hardtail which I prefer. Great componentry - mine came with the Reba RockShocks SL fork, Juicy 3's, XT rear and deore front.
Weaknesses: Seat is narrow and harsh on the derriere. Handlebars are a little too narrow and not conducive to climbing. TruVativ crank is crap and after it broke twice I replaced it.
Bottom Line:
Really awesome bike for climbing, really solid for single tracks and downhills. If you are short though, avoid this bike - it is a really big frame. The 29" wheels go over obstacles like they are nothing, and especially for the price I paid, the componentry it comes with one of the best purchases I've made. If you are at least 6 foot and like to climb I would highly recommend this bike. If you are a pure downhiller, I would avoid this one.
Submitted by
j
a Cross Country Rider
from chino hills
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2007
Strengths: Tall frame (21.5"), long cockpit, and great components for the total price of the bike.
Weaknesses: Seat (a bit narrow) and handlebars (too short in length for my shoulder width).
Bottom Line:
I've been searching for a bike that can handle my height (6'6"), weight (250lbs) and how hard I ride (Chino Hills SP-rough trails with brutal climbs and descents). So those specifications put me to a more heavy duty bike. I looked at bikes from all dealers throughout the Anaheim, Fullerton, Inland Empire, Temecula, and even Internet ordering. Some bikes I looked at were the Kona Hoss Deluxe, and various Gary Fishers (GF's). The Kona was a great bike, but if I have a chance to go with a bike that fits me, and not one I have to adjust into, then a 29", large frame is where I must look. The GF's had great frames, but I did not like the bike setups with the Shram shifters and lower end derailers. Basically, the GFs seemed priced too high for the componentry. I found a Felt (never heard of them before) from the "Bicycle Warehouse" in Temecula, and after researching it extensively, then test riding it, it was definately the best deal around with: lifetime frame (most have this), great componentry, frame that fit with regards to physical makeup, and can handle what I will do to it on the trail. So, after a solid week of riding, the seat kills, but am getting use to it, and the handlebars are a bit narrow for my shoulder width. But everything else (Juicy 3 brakes, Shimano XT rear, Deore front, shifters; RS Reba fork), is super. So my 4 chili rating is based soley on my physiological makeup with respect to the componetry of the bike. The value is of course 5 chili's for the excellent deal I struck with an 07 closeout with good componentry.
Similar Products Used: Various Gary Fishers 21" frames in 29" rims (both hardtails and full suspension), Kona Hoss Deluxe (26" rim hardtail). Researched a ton, and called many distributers of many models in 29" to get the best info.
Is anybody running a longer travel fork on their nine elite? I love the bike, but would love to have just a bit more travel for the downhill, can it be done without screwing up th Read More »
So this is my first 29er and I love the way it handles on the climbing but would like a more travel on the front fork for the downhill, has anyone run a 120mm fork on one of these Read More »
All,
I have a 3 year old 17.5 inch Nine Elite. I have naver felt comfortable on this and it may or may not be due to riding a road bike 50% of the time. I have messed with stems Read More »
Hi,
I got a 2008 Felt Nine Elite frame. I'm trying to install a Cane Creek IS 8 Integrated Headset. I read that it supposed to be drop in, but it doesn't go in.
Someone posted Read More »
Wondering who else has this bike or know anyone who does. I received the bike and it is around three pounds over the claimed weight or 23.6lbs. What should i do? Read More »
