Submitted by
Mike Louvau
a Cross Country Rider
from Sebastopol, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2010
Strengths: Man, this mother is fun to ride. Light, fast, handles great, and she's purty too.
Weaknesses: Stock wheels were heavy, so I jettisoned them for some nice light Easton wheels and a King rear cog. Suspension action on the Reba is good, but it seems a bit flexy. I'll be going through axle on any future 29ers.
Bottom Line:
This bike will make you fast. It handles like a dream, doesn't beat you up over the rough stuff, and it's beautiful to look at (I think). Mine is a 2009, and has a cool powdery looking light green paint job. Bike is really at home on tight singletrack, and climbs like a monkey with it's tail on fire. My riding buddies hate when I ride this bike because I'm faster everywhere. Unfortunately for them, my other bikes never hit the trail, because this one is so much fun to ride. I highly recommend this bike.
Similar Products Used: My other SS is 26" Santa Cruz Chameleon, but I've owned dozens of bikes over the years.
Bike Setup: Stock except for Easton wheels, King rear cog, Thomson stem and seatpost, Easton Monkey light carbon bars, and SLR saddle (so I guess it's not that stock at all ~ frame, fork, cranks, and brakes are stock). I think she weighs about 22.5 lbs after the upgrades. Maybe a hair less.
Strengths: Good parts package, light, solid frame, travel adjustable fork.
Weaknesses: Eccentric Bottom Bracket is a failure.
Bottom Line:
Great bike, fast, light, rides really well, corners incredibly well. The fork comes 80mm of travel and after a very short period of time I took it apart and changed it to 100mm of travel. Much better.
The 2009 version has a "Set Screw" type Eccentric Bottom Bracket which is a terrible design. Fail #1 - 3 mm allen head which very easily rounds out. Fail #2 - set screws are facing down and forward and come in direct contact with dirt, water, mud, etc. Fail #3 - set screw design ovalizes the eccentric bottom bracket. This is a problem because after it is adjusted it will creep back to where the set screws were originally set or where they were set with the most force. Fail #4 - Aluminum frame and steel set screws plus water equals galvanic action and the screws seize in place and cannot be moved because of the tiny 3 mm allen heads.
My phone call and internet communication with Felt was unsatisfactory. They did say that it was a problem, but that I should work it out with my local shop, which means up to hundreds of dollars to remove the set screws and a new "wedge" style bottom bracket, per Felt's recommendation. This last suggestion is almost an admission that the bottom bracket that shipped with the 2009 Felt Nine Solos was a bad design and should be replaced. However, they are not taking any financial responsibility for it.
Strengths: Very durable frame, lightweight, very strong EBB shell, and a great M geometry for my size(5'9"/165).
Weaknesses: Avid Juicy Fives are noisy, but with a little work, they function well(this will be my first upgrade). Stock Maxxis Crossmarks have horrible traction climbing in the dry SoCal hills.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike on CL with about 50 miles of riding on it. It was a super deal and i love the bike for the price. I am not a fan of the shock on a SS, but I am getting used to it. The Reba is great for going downhill, and the lockout helps with the climbs. A great bike at the full MSRP price, but if you can find one for sale used, it's a steal!
Similar Products Used: first 29er but second singlespeed
Bike Setup: Upgraded to a Felt carbon bar and sexy white truvativ aka stem. Has Avid juicy 5's WTB LaserDisc wheelset and Truvativ Stylo cranks
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
bammerhammer
a Racer
from Birmingham, AL
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2009
Strengths: Frame. It is very solid and great welds.
I think the Reba fork may be better than my Fox fork on my other 29er.
Value, seems you acually get a little bit more than what you pay for.
Weaknesses: Just the seatpost. It really isn't weak only too short(310mm)for my inseam. Changed it out with a Thomson.
Bottom Line:
Great rig. I bought it as a training bike and it has made me faster on my race rig. I find myself wanting to ride it more and more due to the simplicity of the SS. The bike is very solid and actually sticks to the ground at high speed and out of the saddle climbing.
Now I'm actually considering upgrading the wheelset and racing some SS with it.
Bike Setup: Stock '08 size L except for the post listed above and also changed out the stem and bar to over size. Gives a more solid feel and it's just personal preference.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
rsquared28
a Racer
from West Sacramento, Ca
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2009
Strengths: Beefy EBB shell so no creaky bottom brackets. Clean welds. Lightweight.
Weaknesses: Samll Block Eight tires spun out too often in rocky terrain - thats easy to fix though....
Bottom Line:
What a fun bike. I demo'd it twice, on totally different trails. Both times leaving thinking I just had the best ride I have ever had on that trail!!! I blew through some rock gardens that normally challenge me on my 5" FS trail rig.
The wheel set could be a little lighter. That would be the first thing for dropping weight, but otherwise, a great bike. I would highly recommend this bike for anybody looking at buying a single speed. It is at the top of my bike buying short list!!
Submitted by
Jrod Hanley
a Cross Country Rider
from Eugene, OR
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2008
Strengths: Decent components for the mula. Light frame with plenty o' flex for aluminum. For me, nice geometry for endurance riding.
Weaknesses: Handlebars were too narrow, but that is an easy fix. Rear cog is cheap - replaced with surly.
Bottom Line:
I don't know how much of this is simply attributable to 29 inch wheels or just the bike, but I am digging it. Things just feel silky smooth, corners seem banked, logs are smaller. All is well when I am on this thing.
Bike Setup: New Monkey Lite H-bar and surly cog. Stock otherwise.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
thubeav
a Cross Country Rider
from Decatur, GA
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2008
Strengths: BIG wheels. Tight frame. Good parts. Solid all around. Big frame. 21.5 in. Now you're talking.
Weaknesses: Maybe the saddle. I'll tell you how long the chain holds up later. Definitely saving for a better cog.
Bottom Line:
On a swoopy down hill yesterday, I rode away from two guys on their 6 in. travel bikes. They couldn't cut the little up hill interruptions. No pedaling. While I was able to hammer a few strokes and be gone. The bike seemed to pull me over the top. It is sooo much faster than my 26 in. "Custom Shop Name" bike.
With a frame that fits right and a roomy cockpit I can actually breath better and my day was so much better than ever. I'm 6' 2" and 216 lbs. My breathing was better, my back didn't hurt and I rode somewhat further than usual. I definitely rode faster than usual.
I think it will take several weeks to train up to riding at this new level. We'll update you then.
Bike Setup: Spec. Avid 5s. Felt stem, seatpost and bars. Basic wheels.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
7iron
a Cross Country Rider
from Florida
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2008
Strengths: handles awesome,very responsive
Weaknesses: stock bars
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike in Feb.`08 and my `06 Giant Trance1 has been hanging on the wall since. I think if you were looking for something a little different this is an awesome bike.Did I say how great it handles? It is a blast to ride.
Bike Setup: 2008 17.5 Felt Nine Solo,stock except I changed the wheels and tires to American Classics and Continental Mountain kings,Funn Fatboy bars,different Felt stem to fit the 31.8 bars,Steve Peaty grips
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
D Houston
a Cross Country Rider
from Auburn, Ca, US
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2008
Strengths: Excellent value for dollar. Well equipped and the frame while light and supple is stiff and durable.
Weaknesses: Juicy Fives are a bit undersized and a underwhelming in performance compared to other Avid products. Stock handle bars were a bit squat.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It has turned me into a true convert. I have a Moots 26' YBB collecting dust ($5,500 invested) because it does not compare in comfort or ride. I have my eyes on an Orbea Alma 29er for gears.
Anyone out there ridden both the 2011 Tomac Flint and Felt Nine Solo? Looking at these 2 framesets for a new SS 29'er rig. Compared the specs on paper, looking for some real world Read More »
Hey I am look at gettting another frame, 09 Felt Solo Nine. If you got one, let me see it, and tell all the good, bad , and ugly.
thanks,
JB Read More »
Hey Gang,
Wil from Felt Bicycles here.
Like all of you, I love bikes, so you can imagine how excited I was when my Nine Solo frame arrived earlier this week! My initial th Read More »
Hey Gang,
Wil from Felt Bicycles here.
Like all of you, I love bikes, so you can imagine how excited I was when my Nine Solo frame arrived earlier this week! My initial th Read More »
Im going to be building up a SS bike here soon and was thinking of basing it off of a 2011 Felt Solo Nine frame. I cant find any reviews at all on the 2011 or even 2010. What im Read More »
