"Man that bike looks fast even standing still." was a common comment I heard while testing Felt's S25. I completely agree with them; with its brilliant yellow paint, aero-shaped tubes and tri-bar set-up, it's easy to see why most anyone would think that this is one fast and expensive machine. With its 76 degree seat angle and low head tube, the S25 is designed to be a real racing bike for triathletes on a budget.

At $1,800, the S25 just looks expensive.  For that bargain price you get an aero frame made from Felt’s "superlight custom-formed" 7005 aluminum tubing, a carbon aero fork, Dura-Ace 10 speed derailleurs and shifters, and a Profile Design aerobar with cow horn base bar.  The price is kept under $2K through the use of cheaper parts for the stem, wheels, saddle and crankset.

The S25 shares the same geometry (see below) as all of Felt’s tri bikes, including the $4,700 B2.  It is identical to the frame used for the more expensive S22 ($2,400) and differs from the B2 only in the use of aluminum vs. carbon seat stays.   While a carbon seat stay may be slightly more comfortable and 10 grams or so lighter, it’s certainly not any faster.  Felt’s entry-level tri bike, the S32 at $1200, uses a slightly heavier grade of 7005 aluminum and less expensive components, but is otherwise identical to the S25.

I was able to achieve a comfortable position on the S25 by moving the saddle all the way forward on the slightly-offset seatpost.  This change effectively increases the seat tube angle to around 76.5 degrees, while slightly reducing the reach to the aero-bars.   The result was a comfortable cockpit, with a flat back and my elbows properly supporting my upper body.

For those readers considering their first move from a road bike to a dedicated triathlon bike, it is worth noting that riding a tri-bike is almost always faster. On the Felt I was able to consistently spin one gear higher than when riding my road bike, while maintaining the same cadence. This increase in gear results in a bike that is approximately 1 - 1.5 mph faster than a standard road bike.

Hammering along the flats is what a triathlon bike does best and the S25 handles that task very well.  When racing downhill, the S25 is even faster, mostly due to the more aerodynamic position (the faster you go, the more important aerodynamics are). 

Interestingly, when the road pitches upward, the bike's character changes.  Tri bikes in general, including the S25, seem unhappy pushing a big gear up the hills, preferring a smaller gear and spinning. This is the case with most steep-angled bikes - they just climb differently than a traditional road bike because they limit the use of your hamstring muscles.  Road bikes are generally faster than steep angled tri bikes when going up hill.

Felt is a German company (albeit with American roots) and this bike has a very German character to it. It has a singular focus - to go fast (like many German automobiles) - and it is designed to perform that job at a reasonable price.  All other characteristics take a back seat to this purpose. If you are looking for a comfortable and forgiving bike for pleasure rides through the countryside, then this is not the bike for you. If you're into speed and minimizing your bike split times, then keep reading.

The S25 frame is all aluminum, with a clean beaded weld between tubes, resulting in a stiff, fast and quick-accelerating bike. The upside of a stiff aluminum frame is that you don't lose as much power to flex at the bottom bracket as compared to other designs. The downside is that it takes potholes and expansion joints hard, with a clang and vibration that is not present in steel, titanium and most carbon bikes.

What I liked:

• The frame and fork - the reason for considering this bike.
  
• The aero carbon seatpost. The specs for the S25 include an aluminum alloy post, while the carbon post is part of the upgrade package for the S22. This bike came with the carbon seatpost, which was a welcome addition.
  
• The tight Dura-Ace 10 speed with bar-end shifters.

What I didn't like:

• The saddle was an in-house design, and I didn't care for it. I just couldn't find a comfortable position or angle. The saddle would be the first thing to go if this was my bike.
  
• The Alex wheels were okay as training wheels, but definitely seemed shallow and heavy for such a nice frameset.
  
• The stem was of unknown origin, with a rise higher than I would have preferred.

In conclusion, this is an excellent tri bike for the money. If you're shopping for your first tri-specific bike, then Felt’s S series bikes should be on your short list to consider. Then use the money saved to buy a new saddle and a pair of race wheels. The result will be a fast and good-looking bike that you can enjoy for a long time.

Full geometry for Felt's bike are listed below. Additional specs for parts and layout are available here.

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TgR extends a special thanks to Felt dealer Steve Swann of Madison Cycles for his assistance with this review. Thanks Steve!