What a huge relief to my pelvic bones! I can't believe a 205 gram saddle could be this comfortable. The shock absorption is amazing! The San Marco Blaze Gel I was riding should be classified as a weapon of a$$ destruction and banned! Lucky for San Marco there is no category to review that medieval torture device. I bought the Titanium rail version of the Bontrager Race Lite CRZ, and it was worth very penny of the $85 price tag. Highly recommended if you want a high comfort ultra light saddle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CJ Parker
a Cross Country Rider
from NY Date Reviewed: April 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
light and well designed for technical manuverability, looks nice also. comfortable.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
multiple selle italia models road and off road, WTB SSX
Bike Setup:
Fuel 100, mostly stock except CK headset,egg beaters, and whatever tire choice is for the day.
Bottom Line:
Saddles are personal preference IMO but I was surpised at the negative reviews here. This is a race saddle on a race bike. The best Mtbike racing saddle I have ever used. I would even buy it as an aftermarket product. Never catches on technical situtations and provides easy manuverability. It's strong with the ti rails (a tad amount of flex) and is reasonably light at 220grams. I ride this on race day and 3-4 hour epic rides. It's comfortbale to me. I can't ask for more in a saddle. For road use, will keep my Flite Trans Am though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
loonyOne
a Weekend Warrior
from Waterloo, IA, USA Date Reviewed: November 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Sugar Bottom
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Nice design with definitive accents meant for a reason. Titanium rails. Very light.
Weaknesses:
Very 'slippery' and very narrow.
Similar Products Used:
WTB, Coda, and various other cheap ones
Bike Setup:
DeKerf Generation...Fox RCL100, XT and XTR bits, flavored with King hubs
Bottom Line:
First off, I'm a bonified WTB saddle guy. They fit me well. I have had quite a few of them and have never strayed...til now. Had some bikes stolen and this saddle came on one of the bikes I have replaced. Me no likey! Very slippery! It always felt as though I was in a different spot on the saddle, nothing like the 'grounded' feel a WTB gives. I am willing to give it some more chances, but as winter approaches, time in the saddle must be valued and appreciated, not fought with. Maybe I'll give it another shot next year. I slightly downgraded the rating to reflect my personal opinion of the fit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ross
a
from Scotland Date Reviewed: October 28, 2005
That bontrager dont advertise there products! wish id found it sooner
Similar Products Used:
Titec armour, specialized body geometry
Bike Setup:
Fisher hardtail, sram x9, rockshox reba race with poplock, fsa and bontrager carbon parts.
Bottom Line:
Just a well made good saddle, its really cheap so i was weary but its been really good, so comfy and when combined with the titanium rails and a carbon post takes the sting out of my hardtail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Kent, WA USA Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Singletrack Bikes
Strengths:
The length of the saddle let's you really move around. Comfort, Shape. Styling.
Weaknesses:
It took awhile to get it adjusted right for me.
Similar Products Used:
FS2000, San Marco Concur, Sella Italia TurboMatic
Bike Setup:
Klein Palomino Race, Stock
Bottom Line:
Saddles that feel great to some people don't to others. Obviously they are very personal. But for me this is a great saddle. Note that this is the Race model without the extra padding/gel and all the extra stiching. I would rather not have all the bells and whistles in a saddle. It did take awhile to get the nose angle adjusted properly, once I did the comfort level went up, Big Time.
So the lesson is take the time to make minor adjustments to your saddle and it may pay off. Also you need to break in the saddle as well as your body.
If you only ride occasionally you may never be comfortable on ANY saddle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (native of New York) Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
I like it rough an' dirty baby!
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$80.00
Strengths:
Ti rails--If I knew before now that titanium rails made such a difference, I would have been using them for years and years by now.
Gel insert--it's not too mushy. It does the job just right.
Fantastic design--lots of stitching, just enough give, shaped just right for to be comfortable but perform better than any other saddle I've used.
Weaknesses:
That I didn't find out about it earlier.
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager FS 2000--which the Race Lite was a replacement for. 1995 Selle San Marco--I think that was the model as well as the brand; a real torture trap which came stock on a 1995 TREK. TFI Liberator--made in Italy, extremely comfortable, but I completely wore it out. And a Vetta Gel, back in the day.
Bike Setup:
2002 Trek 8000 with Shimano 959 pedals, Shimano XT bottom bracket and crankset, titanium skewers, Bontrager Race Lite titanium rail saddle, and Panacer Fire XC tires.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those saddles that, years later, your going to hang like a trophy on your wall or keep on the mantle just for show.
I paid the difference on this saddle as a warranty replacement for a Bontrager FS2000 which ripped on it's own. It was a real shame too, because I thought that was the best saddle ever. But forget the FS2000; THIS is the best saddle EVER! Everything outside of comfort which is great about the FS2000 is far better on the Race Lite.
When I first put it on my bike and rode it I thought it was actually longer than any other saddle I rode before. It isn't, but there's certainly more space to play around on with this saddle. I never rode a saddle before which allowed me to adjust my position mid-ride so much. And once you get it set just right for yourself it's very comfortable.
Performance wise, it's like it's not even there. It's that easy to move both on it and around it.
I like the colors, but I went with black because it fit the overall design of my bike well. I'm going to get a yellow one to go on my other bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Woodward
a Cross Country Rider
from Soquel, CA, USA Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
West Ridge, Forest of Nisene Marks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
online
Strengths:
This is for a Race Lite Ti ... much superier to the standard Race Lite. Solid, bombproof. A little expensive retailing for $120, but you can find online for less. Hey, it looks *great* too.
Weaknesses:
It's hard as a rock if you're in it for longer than an hour, but my butt is way out of shape and all skin & bones. It's pretty comfortable overall, tho.
Similar Products Used:
Lower end Bontrager.
Bike Setup:
2000 Sugar 2, Thomson post and stem, Monkeylite bars, XT crank and bottom bracket, Panaracer FireXCPros, Eggbeaters, sucky stock wheelset (next and final upgrade)
Bottom Line:
Far better than I deserve. Pretty much a high-end product. Oh, don't buy the non-Ti version. It's a completely different saddle and basically, it sucks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rave
a Weekend Warrior
from zurich Date Reviewed: October 16, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Bottom Line:
"read" not "wrote".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rave
a Weekend Warrior
from zurich Date Reviewed: October 16, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Bottom Line:
To the rider below my post. i wrote the reviews here and bought it for a try, yes this saddle are great as it is rated. to da dukester, No, u have to get the ti version with the gel padding and kevlar sides as it's more comfortable . and not the crappy cheap chromoly version with no extra gel padding and kevlar. Or you might be a heavy rider because i have a nephew too who are quite heavy. light racing saddles like many ranges of selle italia and many more does not suit him and it seems he have to go on for a downhill kind of saddle or pretty heavy SGD saddle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DG
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Zurich Date Reviewed: October 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
Lite
Weaknesses:
comfort
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher full xtr
Bottom Line:
This saddle sucks! The people that have given this product a thumbs up must have purchased the buns of steel video! I have been ridding for over 10 years and have never had such a terrible experience in my life! If its so important for you to take a small amount of weight off your bike then get this saddle. If you would like to have a lite seat with some comfort then get something else. After reading the reviews from the other riders on this web site I went out and got this seat. What a mistake and waste of money!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sebastian
a Racer
from canada Date Reviewed: September 19, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Strengths:
designs,comfort,light,colour sceheme.
Weaknesses:
so far, NO!
Similar Products Used:
ranges of san marco and selle italia.
Bike Setup:
seven custom ti,full xtr,crossmax,sid ti etc.
Bottom Line:
Get the ti version, the padding is different from the cromo version ,enabling more comfort.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
boski
a Weekend Warrior
from utah Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
sleek,cool design, everyhing u asked for in a saddle
Weaknesses:
sleek,cool design, everyhing u asked for in a saddle
Bottom Line:
sleek,cool design, everyhing u asked for in a saddle
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
PREACHER
a Weekend Warrior
from utah Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Bottom Line:
Have been testing many kinds of saddles over the years, although this is not the best of the saddles i have ridden but i reckon to give it 5 hot chilies in terms of design,price and comfort.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
orton
a Racer
from mexico Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Bottom Line:
LOOKING FOR L337 DESIGNS? THIS HAD IT! LOOKING FOR COMFORT? IT GEL PAD HAVE IT! WILL BE BUYING 1 AFTER HAVING A GOOD TEST WITH MY FRIEND'S SADDLE. WILL BE BACK TO GIVE REVIEWS, STAY TUNED.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from canada Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
0
Strengths:
pretty little thing, nice gel pad.
Weaknesses:
hate the B logo
Bottom Line:
weight 160 and riding a sc superlight. tried many saddle and this is one of them that suit my weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
patrickson
a
from ny Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Bottom Line:
THUMBS UP FOR THIS SADDLE, NTHING TO SAY.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jeffery
a Racer
from NY Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Favorite Trail:
All
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
weight,design,comfort
Similar Products Used:
range of sdg product
Bike Setup:
f3000 connondale full xtr parts
Bottom Line:
I've had this seat for quite a while now and can't get rid of it. It is soo damn comfortable. Highly recomended...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
johnson brick
a Cross Country Rider
from houston Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$47.00
Bottom Line:
A premier racing saddle for road or mountain. Designed to minimize weight while packing in as many features as possible. The clipped ears add to the saddle’s performance while gel inserts, the pressure relieving B-dot groove and an elastomer-cushioned rail mount make the saddle more comfortable. Titanium rails make the structure last a long time while still minimizing the weight.
SO WHATYA CAN I SAY =]]
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
johan hanson
a Cross Country Rider
from toronto Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
A good seat build for race, light. Very cool designs.
Bottom Line:
it has it's strength and beauty that all i can say.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
orion micheal
a Racer
from texas Date Reviewed: September 12, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
build for a racer ,comfortable(sitting posure position must be right.)Very nice designs.
Weaknesses:
TOO CHEAP
Similar Products Used:
selle italia trans am
Bottom Line:
a goody and i mean it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
micheal orion
a
from texas Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
it is a good seat perform like any other racing seat
Weaknesses:
must seat in the right posture position or ass sure pain. beside this is it top top top saddle
Similar Products Used:
trans am
Bottom Line:
it rocks
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from chicago Date Reviewed: August 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
stock on fuel 100
Strengths:
light and well designed for technical manuverability, looks nice also. comfortable.
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
multiple selle italia models road and off road, WTB SSX
Bike Setup:
Fuel 100, mostly stock except CK headset,egg beaters, and whatever tire choice is for the day.
Bottom Line:
Saddles are personal preference IMO but I was surpised at the negative reviews here. This is a race saddle on a race bike. The best Mtbike racing saddle I have ever used. I would even buy it as an aftermarket product. Never catches on technical situtations and provides easy manuverability. It's strong with the ti rails (a tad amount of flex) and is reasonably light at 220grams. I ride this on race day and 3-4 hour epic rides. It's comfortbale to me. I can't ask for more in a saddle. For road use, will keep my Flite Trans Am though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brent
a Cross Country Rider
from Riverdale, NJ Date Reviewed: March 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Ringwood
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
None that I can find. Well it looks good. That's about it.
Weaknesses:
Incredibly uncomfortable. No padding
Similar Products Used:
Advocet
Bike Setup:
Trek Fuel 100
Bottom Line:
Seat came stock on an extremely expensive Bike. I know the bike is intended for racing but good god. This saddle has no redeeming qualities other than the looks. Granted saddles are as subjective an item as they come but I have a hard time believing that many people will find this a good fit. It was so bad I put a ten year old ripped Advocet on my new $3K bike for my third ride. The level of enjoyment was night and day. I'm looking for a new saddle and already spent some serious cash on the bike. I absolutely love the bike Trek but seriously, draw the line somewhere with the home grown components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Jaffe
a Cross Country Rider
from Scranton, PA Date Reviewed: March 9, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
It looks good, I guess? Price
Weaknesses:
IT really hurts my ass. Anything over a 5 Mi ride has me sitting on pillows for days. I just got done with a 20 Mi ride and I don't think that I will be able to ride for days. The hologrammed seat pad that is sewed on not only weigs more, but it is hard and obtrusive. The gel insert does absolutely nothing for comfort.
Similar Products Used:
Fizik Aliante...on order
Bike Setup:
Fuel 100 Lightened up
Bottom Line:
Bontranger is a tossed up company. They make horrible products like this and the comp crank, but then they amaze me with the Race Lite wheels and Crank. Usually the high-end stuff is reasonable, but this saddle is not.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$29.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Looks
Weaknesses:
Too little padding
Similar Products Used:
WTB SST.X, Specialized Body Geometry Comp
Bike Setup:
Standard Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
Bottom Line:
I would only recommend this saddle if you spend most of the time on your bike out of the saddle, or if you have a titanium butt! I spent a few weeks with this saddle - pain, pain & more pain! There is not enough padding where the sit bones (mine anyway) come into contact with the saddle, which meant I had to take a week off after each ride to lett my butt heal. The groove does a good job of relieving pressure where it should. I also found the nose of the saddle had a tendency to catch my shorts when attempting to slide back on the saddle. Oh well, back to my WTB Speed V...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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