Video summary

FELT VR Long-Term Review : Everything you need to know!

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed

Felt VR (FELT VR) — 2024 endurance/all-road bike, tested over ~3 months and ~3,000 km. The reviewer calls it a redesign of the older VR and positions it as a road bike with “all-road” capability.

Main features highlighted

Endurance geometry / comfort-focused handling

  • More relaxed front than race bikes; described as “less nervy” with more stable turning behavior.
  • Comfort improvements attributed to design choices such as:
    • Longer wheelbase / fork angle
    • More predictable steering

Ride comfort tech

  • Drop chainstays
  • Vibration-dampening sleeve in the seatpost area
    • Rubber insert between the seatpost and seat tube to reduce harshness on cracked/rough roads
  • D-shaped forks/steerer design
  • Clean integrated hose routing for a cleaner, more aerodynamic-looking setup

Fit and assembly via dealer network

  • Not direct-to-consumer; available through the Felt dealer network in North America and Europe.
  • The bike is fully assembled by a local bike shop from the dealer’s order.
  • The reviewer views this as a reliability/peace-of-mind advantage.

Gearing

  • The reviewer emphasizes the “34” gearing as making climbing easier.

Tires / tire clearance (key to the “all-road” purpose)

  • Reviewer runs a 32mm GP5000 tubeless-like setup using TPU inside, typically at ~60–65 psi, reporting no punctures.
  • Clearance claims:
    • Can take 32–38 mm slicks/tires depending on tire type, with noted limits.
    • Practical fit varies based on rider size and tire shape.

Trims and spec tiers

Three trim levels discussed:

  • 105 mechanical
    • Listed at $3799 CAD
    • Uses alloy wheels
  • 105 Di2
    • Reviewer says it’s a big price jump
    • Higher tiers add lighter/race-oriented components (top tier mentions carbon Reynolds wheels)
  • Top tier
    • Has an integrated cockpit
    • Uses a Vision Metron–type integrated handlebar (brand described as “unbranded”)
  • Reviewer likes that sizes are widely available.

What the reviewer liked (pros)

  • Comfort that improves sustained performance
    • Main theme: the bike stays more comfortable over long rides.
    • Less lower-back fatigue helps the rider feel better later and maintain power more consistently.
  • Stability and predictable handling
    • Corners feel less “nervy” than the reviewer’s prior aggressive carbon race bikes.
  • Race-bike look despite endurance intent
    • Reviewer “slammed” the front (only a small spacer left), uses an integrated cockpit, and notes it earns compliments (“damn it looks good”).
  • Group ride capability
    • With 32mm GP5000, the reviewer says they can keep up and even make friends “suffer.”
    • Typical estimate: ~40 km/h average, sometimes around ~38 km/h with headwinds and near 50 km/h with tailwinds/strong conditions.
  • Dealer assembly
    • Local shop setup reduces friction and technical risk for buyers who aren’t DIY-minded.

Performance comparisons made (important)

Felt VR vs Felt AR (race bike)

  • Reviewer says VR is slower than the race-focused AR, but not by much at moderate speeds.
  • Approximate difference:
    • Around ~40 km/h: about 4–5 watts slower
    • Around 48 km/h: described as still “4–5W slower” (the claim varies slightly by speed in the review)
  • Under 40 km/h, the reviewer says the difference is “barely” noticeable.

VR vs “real gravel bike”

  • Reviewer frames the VR as not a true gravel/singletrack weapon.
  • It’s presented as good for non-technical to lightly technical gravel.

Downsides / issues called out (cons)

  1. Tire clearance problems (especially for 38mm knobby tires)

    • Says 38mm knobby tires may not fit on smaller sizes.
    • Reviewer is on size 51 and reports:
      • 38mm knobby 100% does not fit
      • Rubbing occurs near the front derailleur area / DI2 cable routing
    • Had to switch front tire during an event to 35mm Terra Speed (Continental) because 38s wouldn’t clear.
    • Reviewer notes a spec-sheet mismatch: website suggests ~38 mm, but clearance varies by rider size and tire shape.

  2. Dropper post claim described as misleading

    • Reviewer questions marketing about droppers.
    • They claim they don’t know anyone building their VR with a dropper and believe it’s unnecessary for most gravel use.

  3. Bottle cage placement too low

    • Mounts are so low bottles touch the down tube, risking scratches/abrasion to paint/carbon.
    • Bottle access is slightly annoying when replacing bottles.

  4. Seatpost vibration sleeve: top cap fit issue

    • The plastic top cap is described as hard/tight to remove and may twist.
    • Reviewer solved it with electrical tape to keep it in place.

  5. Integrated cockpit stem sizing may not match rider needs

    • Reviewer’s size 51 came with a 90mm stem.
    • They like endurance positioning on hoods, but feel drops are too short, limiting sprint comfort/efficiency (they also note it isn’t meant for criterium-style sprinting).

  6. Top-trim tire choice felt too slow

    • Top tier uses Rubino Pro tires; reviewer later calls them slow.
    • Early rides felt comfortable, but over 40 km/h they struggle to follow mates.

    • Reviewer attributes it to rolling resistance, citing a comparison such as:

      • Rubino Pro ~25W per tire vs GP5000 ~12W (numbers are described as not fully verified in the subtitle, but the claim is “much higher resistance”)

    • Conclusion: they’d prefer a faster 32mm option if spending around $8,000.

User experience / long-term impressions

  • Puncture experience
    • With 32mm GP5000 + TPU insert at ~60–65 psi, the reviewer reports no punctures over the test period (including no pinch flats).
  • Long-ride comfort
    • Reported rides include 100–150 km, sometimes up to ~200 km.
    • The reviewer describes the bike as staying comfortable and productive late in rides, including with climbing and flat-day routes.

Who it’s for (as stated by reviewer)

  1. First-new-bike buyers (not very tech-savvy)
    • Want a do-it-all bike: comfort + group-ride capability
    • Benefit from dealer support and assembly
  2. Ex-racers who don’t race now
    • Want long rides, comfort, and enough speed for riding with friends
    • Occasional gravel is fine
  3. Single-bike / minimal-bike-ownership riders
    • People who want one bike that can cover road + light gravel + endurance use

Condensed verdict (recommendation)

Recommended if you want a comfortable endurance/all-road road bike that can keep up on fast group rides and handle light/non-technical gravel, especially with 32mm road tires.

Not ideal if you:

  • Need technical gravel capability
  • Want to run large knobby tires (e.g., 38mm)—particularly on smaller sizes
  • Are sensitive to spec-marketing mismatches (droppers, tire choice, bottle cage placement, integrated cockpit sizing)

Unique points mentioned (all distinct topics)

  • Long-term test: ~3,000 km over ~3 months
  • 2024 release, redesign of older VR
  • Availability via dealer network (North America & Europe)
  • Transparency note: reviewer previously had a sponsorship/ambassador relationship (sponsorship ended after ownership change)
  • “Endurance/all-road not race” positioning
  • Comfort improvements:
    • drop chainstays
    • vibration-dampening seatpost sleeve
    • relaxed front / stability via geometry
  • Predictable handling: “less nervy”
  • GP5000 32mm + TPU insert at 60–65 psi
  • No punctures reported
  • Group ride performance: keep up / “make friends suffer”
  • VR slower than AR:
    • approx 4–5W difference around 40–48 km/h
  • VR can appear race-like:
    • “slammed” front + integrated cockpit + two-tone paint
  • Tire clearance:
    • can fit 32
    • mentions 35–38 limits and size-specific issues
  • 38mm front knobby fit failure on size 51 (rubbing near front derailleur/DI2 area)
  • Gravel use case:
    • good for rolly/less technical gravel
    • not for singletrack/serious gravel racing
  • Dropper post claim likely unnecessary
  • Anti-vibration sleeve reduces harshness on cracked roads (vs AR)
  • D-shaped forks/steerer + integrated hose routing
  • Three trims:
    • 105 mechanical
    • 105 Di2 (price jump)
    • top tier with integrated cockpit and higher-end components
  • Trim tire note:
    • Rubino Pro on higher tier felt “slow” vs GP5000, affecting >40 km/h group rides
  • Bottle cage placement too low (scratches risk)
  • Vibration sleeve cap can twist; fixed with electrical tape
  • Integrated cockpit/stem length mismatch for rider size; drops feel too short
  • Reviewer’s upgrades:
    • chainrings 50/34 → 52/36
    • wheels changed (Reynolds AR46 mentioned as original)
    • carbon through-axle upgrade
    • tires changed to GP5000 32mm
  • Fit/ordering advantage:
    • local shop fully assembles
    • easier maintenance/support
  • VR target audiences: first-bike buyers, ex-racers, and riders wanting one bike for everything

Different speakers/views

  • Only one speaker (Charles) is present in the subtitles; no other distinct speakers with separate viewpoints are identified.

Original video