If you’re a cyclist who know’s a good deal when they see one, skip the review and get your hands on a bike now! Buy Now

When Magnus Bäckstedt, pro cyclist and Paris-Roubaix winner asked Felt to build him a no-compromise race bike back in 2008, he wasn’t after something flashy. He wanted a weapon. Something aerodynamic, stiff, and fast. That original request gave rise to the Felt AR.

Now, nearly two decades later, the 2025 Felt AR Advanced Ultegra Di2 is the evolution of that DNA, re-engineered for modern road racers and triathletes who want to go fast, corner hard, and ride longer in comfort.

Thanks to our friends and Hummingbird Elite sponsor’s Bici, we got our hands on the latest edition and took it for a ride, here's what stood out: the good, the great, and the genuinely impressive.

Build Highlights: A Well-Balanced Speed Machine

At first glance, the 2025 Felt AR looks fast, but when you actually throw a leg over it, the design becomes more than just looks. The entire frame is built from Felt’s Aero Road UHC Advanced+ carbon, which they call their 3.0 platform. What that means in practice is a frame that feels incredibly stable at speed and remains responsive when you put power down.

The ride quality is exactly what you'd want from a high-performance aero bike, balanced and controlled, but always urging you to go faster. On the flats, it practically begs you to sprint. On descents, it’s steady, planted, and encourages you to take the extra few km/h you might normally hesitate on. Yes, at 8.6 kg, it’s a touch heavier than a pure climbing bike, but honestly? You don’t feel it unless you're out of the saddle on long inclines.

Paired with Reynolds 58mm full carbon disc wheels, this thing absolutely hums on open roads. Deep-section wheels usually walk the fine line between speed and crosswind twitchiness, but the Reynolds set here felt surprisingly composed.

Shifting & Tech: Ultegra Di2 Just Makes Sense

The jump from Shimano 105 Di2 to Ultegra Di2 isn’t just about prestige, it's about ride feel. This drivetrain is quiet, sharp, and intuitive in a way that you don’t notice until you're back on a mechanical setup.

What stood out immediately was the customisation, something we hadn’t played with much before this ride. You can remap the shift paddles to change how your gears respond or adjust shift speed to your preferences. But the kicker? The integrated hood buttons let you control your head unit (like your Garmin or Wahoo) right from your hands: lap splits, map views, next screens, it’s all at your fingertips without taking your hands off the bars.

For triathletes and data-driven riders, this level of cockpit integration is honestly a game changer.

Comfort on an Aero Bike? Surprisingly, Yes

Let’s be real: most aero road bikes aren’t known for comfort. You buy them to go fast, not feel cushy. But Felt did something smart here, spec'ing the Devox aero handlebars and a Fizik Dimension 143 saddle for a more ergonomic, endurance-focused cockpit.

The geometry is aggressive, but not punishing. Even after an extended ride, we didn't feel cooked. It’s the kind of setup that makes this bike viable not just for race day, but for longer training blocks too.

If you’re on rougher roads or gravel detours, the Continental GP5000 tires help soften things up while keeping rolling resistance low. These tires paired with the carbon wheels are where a lot of the “fast but comfortable” magic happens.

Climbing vs. Descending: Where It Shines

This isn’t a featherweight bike, on steep climbs you’ll feel the extra grams, especially if you're coming from a 6.8 kg climbing rig. But it’s not sluggish. On rolling terrain and fast punchy climbs, the stiffness and responsiveness more than make up for the weight.

Where it really comes alive is descending. With a long, stable wheelbase and aerodynamic tubing, you can bomb down descents confidently. It tracks well through corners and doesn’t twitch under pressure. We found ourselves carrying 3–5 km/h more than usual on familiar descents, and that’s without trying.

Bonus Details & Where to Buy

A shout-out to Bici, where we picked up this build, they threw in two free water bottles and matching cages, which fit flush on the frame and added real function without disrupting the bike’s aero profile. It’s a small gesture, but one that rounds out a premium purchase experience.

If you're thinking about picking one up, Bici has an exclusive Felt AR Advanced Ultegra Di2 offer available.

BUY AT BICI

Final Thoughts: A Bike That Wants to Race

The Felt AR Advanced Ultegra Di2 isn't trying to be a do-it-all road bike. It’s laser-focused on going fast, staying planted, and keeping you comfortable while doing it. It’s perfect for:

Triathletes who want to train on the same rig they race
Road cyclists focused on speed and aero gains
Riders upgrading from mid-tier builds like 105 Di2 and craving better integration and feel

Is it the fastest bike you’ll ever ride? Quite possibly. But more importantly, it feels like a race bike should, fast when you need it, smooth when you don’t, and ready for more when you push harder.

Felt AR Advanced Ultegra Di2 Review: Fast, Balanced, and Built to Launch