With the Felt Breed 20, another affordable gravel bike is trying to join the big players. An aluminium frame, mechanical SRAM gears and many mounting points are supposed to provide utility for everyday gravel riding. We tested the € 2,649 bike for you in our group test.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test
With the Breed 20, Felt want to bring classic road bike handling to the gravel world. To this end, the Californians have equipped the aluminium frame with many mounting points, mudguard mounts and bosses for luggage racks. Compared to the Felt Breed 20 from 2020 (read review here), which rolled on 650B tires, our test bike comes with larger 700C wheels. With this wheel size, the bike has clearances for up to 45 mm tires. Costing € 2,649, it’s an entry-level build which is reflected in the components. Can it still beat the big names in this test?
The mechanical SRAM Force 1×11 drivetrain with a 40 t chainring and 10–42 t cassette, could do with more range at either end and is comparatively clumsy to operate. That’s quick enough to get used to and gear shifts with the single paddle are problem-free.
The minimal bend in the seat tube gives the rear tire of the Felt Breed 20 more space and helps to achieve the maximum clearance of 45 mm.
The saddle clamp of the Felt Breed 20 also doubles as a mount for an optional luggage rack.
The Felt makes no secret of its origins. Why should you when you come from California?
Felt Breed 20
€ 2,649
Specifications
Seatpost Devox
Brakes SRAM Force 1 HDR 160/160 mm
Drivetrain SRAM Force 1 1x11
Stem Devox 100 mm
Handlebar Devox DBar.A1 GXA 420 mm
Wheelset Devox WheelRDS.A0 GXA
Tires Vittoria Terreno Dry Graphene 2.0 700 x 38C
Technical Data
Size 47 51 54 56 58 61
Weight 9.47 kg
Specific Features
seat post clamp also serves as a rack mount
curved seat tube for increased tire clearance
threaded T47 bottom bracket
can carry up to three water bottles in the front triangle
Overall, the Felt Breed 20 is cleanly finished and has neat weld seams. But where many tubes meet, it does look a bit wild. Nevertheless, we like the bike’s threaded bottom bracket.
No, the drops of the Devox handlebars haven’t been sawn off, but they look like it. This not only makes for poor ergonomics but also for one or two unsettling moments when you reach out into thin air.
Fortunately, Felt didn’t follow through with their cost-cutting programme as far as the tires are concerned. The Vittoria Terreno Dry Graphene 2.0 are almost single-handedly responsible for the bike’s comfort, as well as providing efficiency and grip.
Bolt-on points as far as the eye can see – a bike made for price-conscious bikepacking fans and everyday graveliers.
The wheels, handlebars, stem and seatpost come from Devox, Felt’s in-house component brand. They ensure that the price of the Breed 20 remains as low as possible, but also put the bike at a disadvantage in terms of spec compared to the group. For example, the Devox RDS.A0 GXA wheels with an inner width of 21 mm are simply too narrow for gravel use. The excellent Vittoria Terreno Dry Graphene 2.0 tires require a little more support to unfold their full potential.
| Size | 47 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 440 mm | 470 mm | 500 mm | 520 mm | 540 mm | 570 mm |
| Top tube | 530 mm | 540 mm | 555 mm | 570 mm | 585 mm | 600 mm |
| Head tube | 120 mm | 135 mm | 150 mm | 165 mm | 180 mm | 200 mm |
| Head angle | 70.0° | 70.5° | 70.5° | 71.0° | 71.5° | 71.5° |
| Seat angle | 74.0° | 74.0° | 74.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 72.0° |
| Chainstays | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm |
| BB Drop | 72 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,013 mm | 1,019 mm | 1,030 mm | 1,035 mm | 1,039 mm | 1,048 mm |
| Reach | 374 mm | 380 mm | 385 mm | 389 mm | 393 mm | 397 mm |
| Stack | 544 mm | 561 mm | 575 mm | 591 mm | 607 mm | 626 mm |
Pants Maloja Second Hand | Shoes Suplest Crosscountry Pro
Socks Rapha Pro Team Extra Long | Special Watch Uhr
The Devox CBar.A1 GXA aluminium handlebar has a well-judged amount of flare but the drops look like someone sawed them off to save weight. They are clearly too short and sometimes you almost reach into emptiness. Where the Felt Breed 20 really shines, is in the mounting points: everything has been thought of here. In addition to three bottle mounts in the frame triangle, there are mounts on the fork, one on the top tube, mudguard mounts and rack mounts. And all this without looking like a warthog – chapeau!
The price reveals that the Felt Breed 20 is an entry-level model and should also appeal to newcomers with its riding characteristics. It does this very well with handling that is always predictable and that balances agility and smoothness well. In this way, the Breed provides a safe riding experience and doesn’t overwhelm anyone, as long as you stay on moderate terrain. Because of the stiff aluminium frame in combination with components that provide limited comfort, the bike staggers awkwardly over bumps and uneven surfaces. This is not only uncomfortable, but also affects the handling off-road – here the bike is too nervous or becomes an underbiking challenge for experienced riders.
Tuning tips: wheels with more inner width for better support of the tires | cockpit with longer drops for more safety and compliance
Exactly when it gets bumpy, the drops would have to be longer to offer more grip, and thus control and safety. The SRAM Force 1 HDR brakes with 160 mm discs are sufficiently powerful without coming close to the level of the latest generation of SRAM stoppers. Nonetheless, the tires are standout performers: the Vittoria tires are among the best in the field and convince with good cornering grip and energy-saving efficiency. But to make the most of this efficiency, the bike first needs to be brought up to speed. That takes some time – both because of the comparatively high weight of 9.47 kg and the equally heavy wheels, the Felt is sluggish when accelerating.
With these characteristics, the Felt Breed 20 feels most at home on compact surfaces ranging from gravel highways to all-road tracks. Here, you can cruise along in a relaxed manner, even with a lot of luggage on the frame, without being restricted by the comfort, the range or the sluggish acceleration. Thanks to the many mounting points, the bike also serves as a versatile companion on the daily commute. However, it is too limited in its range of use to prevail over the best all-rounders in the test, even disregarding the cheap components.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Felt Breed 20 conclusion
For relatively little money, the Felt Breed 20 offers a solid spec without flash and impresses with its many mounting points. With its good-natured and balanced handling, it is an attractive option for gravel newcomers with bikepacking ambitions. It loses out to the best all-rounders, because it lacks both off-road capability and speed.
Tops
- many mounting options
- premium tire
- predictable handling
Flops
- handlebar drops too short
- reduced comfort
- components limit the bike
You can find out more about at feltbicycles.com
The testfield
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test
All bikes on review: 3T Exploro Ultra (Click for review) | BMC URS LT ONE (Click for review) | Cannondale SuperSix EVO SE (Click for review) | Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension (Click for review) | Cervélo Áspero GRX Di2 (Click for review) | CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT (Click for review) | Curve Kevin of Steel III (Click for review) | Falkenjagd Aristos R (Click for review) | Felt Breed 20 | FOCUS ATLAS 6.8 (Click for review) | GIANT Revolt Advanced 0 (Click for review) | OPEN WI.DE. (Click for review) | Ridley Kanzo Fast (Click for review) | ROSE BACKROAD EKAR LTD (Click for review) | SCOTT Addict Gravel Tuned (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Crux (Click for review) | Stelbel Nina XCr (Click for review) | Storck GRIX.2 Platinum (Click for review) | Wilier Rave SLR (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf, Peter Walker
