Subject: RE: 2009 kestrel talon SL, Felt B14, Cervelo P2 I recently had this same exact problem... except with a kestrel pro sl on sale for $2400. For me this was how it shook out. The Kestrel was really nice but too "flexy" feeling for me. The Talon has been looked at as being more of a road geometry that can't get as aggressive as other bikes on your list because of the seat tube angle. The P2 was nice but I couldn't justify $2800 for a bike that may be exactly as aero as a Felt that is less expensive. I settled on a Felt B16. I originally wanted a B14 but after talking with the people at my LBS we decided that with my budget (2000-2500 ) and my needs the B16 w/ 3 upgrades: an ultegra derailleur, compact FSA crank and carbon T2+ aerobars was the best deal out there. Below is a little more on my thought process. If you're on a budget why not go with the Felt B16, save $500. Then upgrade the rear derailleur to ultegra where you'll notice the difference most between 105/ultegra. Your LBS might do this for cheap if they have one laying around. The B16/14/12 all use the identical frame with different paint and the main difference is the component group and that the B14/12 have a different wheel-set than the B16. The "upgraded" wheels are more aero but are also heavier and not a "race" wheel-set anyway. You can upgrade the wheels on the B16 to the same as the other bikes for $150 at your local felt dealer. The B14 also uses a little more aero set of handle bars but is that worth the extra $500? For me it wasn't. The handlebars on the B16 are similar to those on many much more expensive bikes that I looked at. So at the end of the day I saved some money got the B16 and the difference in performance between my bike and a B14 is really small to none with a set of race wheels. Without race wheels the B14 may be slightly faster but again is it $500 faster if that $500 was invested in a nicer set of wheels? If all the bikes fit you equally I I would go with the Felt, Cervelo then the Talon and wow this post got really really long but I literally just went through the same process that you're going through. Edited by crazyquick23 2010-02-14 10:09 PM
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