Garda Bike Festival Highlights: First Look – Felt Compulsion 1

Last weekend’s Garda Bike Festival saw the launch of the new Felt Compulsion full suspension enduro bike. You rather needed to pay attention though, Felt didn’t so much announce their new arrival, just put it up on their stand and left you to notice it as you walked past. If you did, you got to see a very good looking bike.

The Compulsion features 650B wheels with 170mm front and 165mm rear travel, a good 20mm more each end than the trail orientated Decree. In terms of changes from the 2014 version, Felt simply describes the new Compulsion as longer, lower and slacker.

There will be two Compulsion models, the 1 and the 3. It’s only the 1 that’s been released at the moment with the 3 staying under wraps until componentry is finalised in the next month or two.

Both models get a full carbon frame and linkage, a change from its predecessor’s alloy. As with all of Felt’s longer travel bikes the Compulsion uses the Equilink™ suspension system. Equilink™ is essentially a vertical bar between the upper and lower links which works to separate the opposing drivetrain and suspension action to optimise suspension sensitivity whilst maintaining an efficient pedalling platform.

We’re waiting for full geometry details to become available, but to give you an idea the reach on the medium is 430mm with a BB drop of 350mm and head angle of 65^o and there’s room for up to a 2.6” tyre. There’s a chip at the rear of the upper linkage which slackens off the head angle by a further 0.5^o and lowers the BB by 10mm. There will be four sizes available: small through to extra-large. The Compulsion 1 in medium is a claimed 13.3kg without pedals.

Suspension on the Compulsion 1 comes from Fox with a Float X2 shock and Performance Elite 36 forks. As is becoming pretty much the norm nowadays going and stopping duties are courtesy of SRAM with a GX drive train, Descend cranks and Guide RS brakes. Wheels, bars and stem are all Race Face Affect and there’s a KS Lev dropper.

The Compulsion 1 will be available in this rather fetching red with grey graphics in a month or so from now (late May / early June) with the grey and black 3 following in mid-July. Pricing on the continent will be €5,399 for the 1 and €3,499 for the 3. We’re awaiting confirmation of UK prices and availability and let you know when we have it.

Felt Compulsion 1 full specification

• Frame // Full carbon with carbon linkage
• Shock // Fox Float X2
• Fork //  Fox Performance Elite 36
• Wheels // Race Face Affect 30 Boost
• Tyres // Maxxis Minion DHF 2.6 front and rear
• Drive train // SRAM GX, Descend cranks, 34T chain ring
• Bottom bracket // SRAM Dub
• Chain device // MRP SXg
• Brakes // SRAM Guide RS 180/180
• Bars // Race Face Affect 800mm
• Stem // Race Face Affect 50mm
• Headset // FSA
• Seat post // KS Lev (100mm drop small, 125mm medium, 150mm large and extra-large)
• Saddle // WTB Volt
• Claimed weight // 13.3kg (medium)
• Available sizes // small, medium, large, extra-large

Disclosure

Rachel’s travel and accommodation were paid for by Abus.