The Felt SPORTe is part road bike, part city bike. You get a stiff, relatively light weight aluminum alloy frame (though not as light as their NINEe hardtail) with efficient narrow tires mounted on a 700c medium-dish rim. While aluminum is known for being durable, it’s not super comfortable over extended distances at higher speed… That’s why many road bikes offer a carbon fork and some city bikes, like those from Surly, opt for Steel. Given the soft gel saddle, ergonomic grips and five frame sizes this ebike strikes a balance between power transfer and comfort but I’d consider adding a seat post shock for daily use with 10+ miles of riding. There are plenty of mounting points for fenders and racks and Felt even offers their own as add-ons along with quality lights from Busch & Muller that can run straight off the main battery pack. At ~$4K this bike is well priced given its use of the Bosch Centerdrive but similarly priced electric bikes like the Haibike Trekking include fenders, rack and lights as well as a suspension fork for the same price. The only downside there is 11 pounds of additional weight… I’m so excited to see Felt entering the ebike space because they produce quality gear with an emphasis on performance. The question with this particular bike for me is, why doesn’t it have drop bars if it’s meant to be a road bike and if not, why isn’t there more emphasis on comfort?
The drive system in use for the Felt SPORTe features a 350 watt geared center drive by Bosch. It’s their second generation system built for the US market capable of reaching 20 miles per hour with pedal assist mode only. I love how responsive this system is; it senses your pedal torque, pedal speed and wheel speed on the fly. I also love that Felt has added a custom chain guard cover that conceals the front cog and keeps your pants clean. The motor itself is mounted low and center which creates excellent balance (especially since the battery is mounted just above) and it leverages the 10 speed cassette in the rear to perform optimally as you switch from low to high gears. One downside to this system is increased noise when compared to a gearless direct drive motor like that found on the Specialized Turbo S or Stromer ST2. The mid-drive wins out when doing wheel, tire and tube maintenance and it also reduces unsprung weight… but for a road bike like this, that doesn’t really matter as much and I prefer the quiet with some motor systems even offering regenerative braking. The Bosch system is smart, sensing when you shift gears to limit strain on your chain, but most ideally suited to climbing and distance applications in my view.
Powering the motor and optional lighting kit is a 400 watt hour Lithium-ion battery pack. It mounts directly to the downtube and is so narrow that it won’t touch your legs when pedaling. I love that in addition to the pack there are braze ons in the central triangle space (on the seat tube) so you can add a standard bottle cage. I’m actually a big fan of the battery pack and mounting design for the aforementioned weight distribution and balance benefits. I love that the pack can be charged on or off the bike and includes a solid metal core lock (by ABUS) for security. Considering how light this bike is to begin with, if you choose to remove the 8.8 pound battery you can actually enjoy riding in non-electric mode just as you would with a regular bike.
To turn on this bike you simply connect a charged battery and then press a power button at the lower left corner of the display. The large backlit console is mounted front and center for easy viewing and offers several readouts with a constant show of speed, battery and assist level. I love that the display is removable in case you’re parking in a rough area or want to reduce sun exposure. There’s a button on the top right of the display, as well as the remote button pad fixed near the left grip, that has an “i” on it and this lets you cycle through overall distance, trip distance, max speed, average speed, estimated range, and time. My favorite readout is range because it dynamically adjusts as you arrow between four levels of assist. The higher levels provide more power and torque but also drain the battery more quickly. So, using the left mounted button pad you can literally change assistance without taking your hand off the grip and without even looking down. It’s a great design that lets you focus on riding the bike vs. interpreting menus and it’s native to all Bosch Gen2 systems.
Overall this bike features some excellent hardware accessories (Shimano hydraulic brakes, Deore XT derailleur, Selle Royal saddle) and a solid frame setup (stiff light weight 6061 aluminum, rack and fender attachment points, CNC ferrules for integrating wires through vs. on top of tubing) but I’m left with a few gripes. Sure, I’m being extra hard on Felt because they’re a leading bike manufacturer and this is their “regular” edition bike that most people will gravitate towards (the others are fat tire or mountain / trail specific). Electric bikes tend to be ridden more often, over further distances and at higher speeds than traditional bicycles and this one could have been designed with a greater emphasis on comfort in my view. On the flip side, if it’s a road bike then comfort could be less of a focus but the geometry isn’t aggressive enough and it should have drop bars and weigh even less. What remains is an in-between solution that’s meant to be an affordable catch-all and uses nylon pedals that aren’t as stiff or grippy, ergonomic grips that don’t have lockers and can end up shifting and rotating as you ride and some great city “options” that cost extra money to add. Frankly, I’m a bigger fan of the Felt NINEe hardtail for commuting because it’s more comfortable but still fairly efficient given the large 29″ wheelset and suspension lockout for reduced bob.
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Greg Harm
10 years agoI bought mine on September 22 and it has bosses in place for the water bottle on the vertical seat post, facing the battery. I ordered a plastic bottle cage from Amazon that was less that 10 bucks. Felt had supplied to bolts for the bottle cage and it only took a moment or two to mount it. For my 10.6 mile commute, I use a Camelbak, which I find less distracting to drink from while pedaling.
Great review. My only “con”‘is that they didn’t include a shock-absorbing set of forks. When asked, an employee at the bike shop said that it was not possible to purchase a shock-fork for it, but sometimes they are mistaken. If anyone knows whether the bike can accept a different Felt fork, let me know. On balance, I have never owned a bike I have enjoyed riding as much as this SPORTe 95. It simply rocks!
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoGreat feedback Greg! Glad you were able to mount a bottle cage to your seat tube. Maybe they offer those bosses on larger frames? I realized that the one I was riding may have had them but there was an ABUS lock attached to the seat tube… probably right at those mounting points (I’ll update the review). Glad you’re enjoying yours so much. Consider a seat post shock vs. suspension fork as it will be less expensive and still smooth out the ride pretty well.
ReplyGreg
10 years agoThanks, Court. My frame is a 48, so smaller than the one reviewed. I did add a Thudbuster Seat Post which has a shock/vibration-damper type device in it. So far, I give it a thumbs up, as it works but does not impose a bouncy feel to it.
Inasmuch as these are major purchases, you do all consumers a major service by honestly reporting your reviews in a welcoming unbiased fashion. I’ve told many people how satisfied I am with this investment and I have your guidance in part to thank for helping me make an informed major purchase decision.
We all owe you a debt of gratitude for all of your reviews, especially the manufacturers who seek your educated and well qualified opinions. Kudos to you, Court, from all of us who read up your commentaries!!!
ReplyChris Nolte
10 years agoGreg – It’s definitely possible to add a suspension fork. We just got a RockShox Paragon fork that we plan to test on the Sporte but there are several others that would work as well. RST also makes many forks that are made for a bike like this. I’ll try to update here when I get one installed but feel free to reach out if you’re interested in the meanwhile. I’ll be happy to help. I’m really into customizing bikes as it opens up the capabilities of the bike and you can reach me through http://longislandelectricbikes.com/
ReplyJon Smith
10 years agoIs the motor noise distracting? Would you be able to hear it when riding in a suburban environment? Or in a city bike trail?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoGreat question Jon… I usually ride these bikes in level one, occasionally level two for short distances, and in these reduced-power output modes the noise is not bothersome. Now that I think about it, that might be a subconscious incentive to pedal that I hadn’t realized before! In any case, I’m very sensitive to noise myself and at high pedal cadence the motor is more audible (as you probably hear in the video review for this and other Bosch powered ebikes). Ultimately, I’ve gotten used to it and am thrilled with the Bosch Gen 2 drive system. There are times that I purposefully arrow down to “no assist” when passing other cyclists or riding around lots of pedestrians, it makes me feel less threatening and I feel like I’m drawing less attention and this is probably due in part to the sound thing. I’d recommend testing one of these out in person if you can. Any Bosch powered ebike will give you a good idea for what to expect, just keep in mind that you may only be using the lower assist levels and that this could significantly reduce the noise. I hope this helps and I’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve ridden some!
ReplyNEight
8 years agoI bought one a couple of months ago and have been using it as my “daily driver” since about 700 miles in. You can hear the motor any time it is running. Completely quiet it ain’t. But “whisper quiet” is pretty accurate for it most of the time. It’s not much louder than the sound your tires make on wet pavement.
I rode a bike path with a friend and intentionally turned it on TOUR just to check, and we had a perfectly normal conversation at 18MPH cruising speed and he could barely tell it was running. It was audible, but not much more than our tires on the damp pavement.
Even when you are climbing a steep hill and all 350W are engaged, it’s quieter than a normal conversation. I’m not good at gauging such things, but if I had to guess I’d say it maxes at low 50s decibels when flat out at 350W and is in the low 40s when providing minimal assist.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoWell said NEight, I agree with your description of the noise level made by the Bosch drive syste. Sounds like you’re enjoying the bike!
Andrew Weinfeld
10 years agoCan you add a stack to the front stem?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Andrew, I’m really not sure. You may be able to swap out the stem for something shorter and with a higher angle. This would be a great question for dealers and if you find out please share back here :)
ReplyStu Berman
9 years agoHi Court, I can’t believe how much I’m learning about e-bikes from reading your reviews. I’m now beginning to focus on some FELT and Trek offerings. I just rode a FELT SPORT e-95 and really liked it a lot. Is the SPORT e-95 an updated version of the SPORTe in this review? Do you have any plans to review the SPORT e-95?
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Stu! Glad to hear you’re enjoying the site and becoming more informed. My goal is to review “everything” but time is limited. I like Felt products and have been keeping an eye out to cover them, I can’t say whether the e-95 is different. Many times companies will keep most of the bike the same and just refine portions or increase power/battery size but if it’s using Bosch systems that may not have changed. Hopefully I’ll find one and be able to provide and updated review soon :)
ReplyNEight
8 years agoI can’t say for sure, but I own the SportE 95 and I am unable to tell a single difference between it and the bicycle reviewed on this column. It wasn’t until I read your comment that I realized this was not a review of the 95.
ReplyAlan
6 years agoI just purchased a new Sport E-95s! Only had a test ride, go back tomorrow for custom fit. The dealer tells me Felt has switched to Shimano motors and battery pack, pedal assist only (legal on bike paths in AZ). It’s VERY quiet but I can’t compare it to a Bosch as Felt no longer uses them.
I was told its ALL ABOUT riding distance! Bosch was ‘snappier’ but Shimano 11 speed has close to a 100 mile range??? That will have to be tested ;)
The 2019 NEW models now come WITH a front suspension fork. I could add on to my 2018 but for about $1000. List on bike was $2999 / paid $2000.
Christine Frank
8 years agoDoes the Felt Sport E E-Bike have a quick-release axle for trailer attachment? I am searching for a compatible freight trailer and don’t know which type of attachment to purchase–one for a quick-release axle or another kind.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Christine! I believe it does have quick release on both the front and rear wheels. I reviewed the photos and video I shot during this review (which was from 2015) and both of them used 9 mm quick release skewers, the standard type of wheel attachment you’d find on most non-electric bikes. Having QR on both wheels is a big benefit of mid-drive. I hope this helps you out and I wish you good luck :)
ReplyOren Jay
7 years agoHey Court, Everyone,
Just wanted to report on this bike. I purchased one of these a few weeks back from a local dealer. It’s a great bike, but I ended up returning it for a Class 3. One of the things I liked the most about this bike was a how light it is. Compared to most eBikes, this thing is super light! It made it easier to maneuver on public transport. It rode very solid and comfortable. I liked the way they paint the battery to blend in to the frame.
In the end, there were two issues I had — less with the bike and more with the Bosch mid-drive. One was simply that I realized I needed something that goes 28mph. It was very easy to get up to 20mph on this and then I found that I couldn’t go much faster. It felt almost as if the motor was slowing me down or preventing me from going faster (though I know that’s probably not actually true). The other thing that I didn’t enjoy so much was how loud the Bosch system. I read great reviews about the Bosch motors, and the techs at all of the bike shops I went to rave about how great they are… however, in terms of the actual riding experience, the continual whine really took away from the pleasure of riding it for me.
I ended up getting a sweet deal on a Raleigh Redux iE from my local dealer, and love it. I’ll leave a few comments on that bike’s review as well! Thanks for all your reviews & this great online community!
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoAwesome! The Brose motor used on the Raleigh Redux iE should be quieter, I’m glad you found it and were able to make an exchange. Kudos to your local shop and thank you so much for sharing your feedback here with us. I love how lightweight the Felt SPORTe is too, but it also wasn’t as comfortable as the big tire setup on the Redux iE. Thanks Oren!
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