Felt Bicycles is showing off a completely updated version of the Compulsion. For some time now, it’s been their heavy hitter in the Enduro category, but with the latest iteration, they’ve gone back to the drawing board in some ways. Full details below…
[Press Release]
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (May 7, 2018) – Felt Bicycles announced today the release of an all-new version of its popular line of enduro bikes, the Compulsion. Four years in development, the new Compulsion is versatile enough for everyday trail riding, but was specifically created for the most technical descents of the world’s roughest enduro racecourses. With 165mm of rear suspension travel paired with a 170mm fork, the Compulsion features Felt’s revolutionary Equilink suspension technology that maximizes pedaling efficiency while handling anything the trails throws at the rider.
The previous generation of the Compulsion featured an aluminum chassis, and so Felt engineers drew upon the company’s decades of carbon fiber expertise to give the new Compulsion the most advanced carbon frame of any trail or enduro bike in the company’s history. The full-carbon platform also features carbon links for an ultra-lightweight frame. All of the suspension pivot hardware was redesigned from the ground up to remove excess weight, improve durability, and provide easier maintenance. The axles at both ends of the Equilink are permanently bonded to the link, eliminating the need for heavy fasteners. And the Equilink pivots feature IGUS bushings, which will provide a lifetime of consistent low friction and quiet operation.
The new Compulsion also features Flip Chip technology, which allows riders to dial in their preferred setup and geometry through the adjustment of small “chips” inside the seat stays. By flipping the position of the chips, riders can adjust their Compulsion’s head angle by 1 degree, along with adjusting their bottom bracket height by 10mm. In addition, the Compulsion also comes with Felt’s newest “mid chips,” which let riders achieve geometry in between the high and low settings offered by the standard flip chips. Bottom line, riders get three different geometry options in one frame.
Designed specifically for single-chainring (1x) drivetrains, the Compulsion also features other contemporary elements such as Boost hub spacing, internal cable routing, a trunnion-mount metric shock, and massive tire clearance (up to 2.35-inch-wide, measured). A 73mm threaded bottom bracket provides the ideal foundation for a bike like the Compulsion, providing the optimal level of performance, protection from the elements, and serviceability, all the while negating abhorrent creaking sounds.
