Submitted by
Erik S
a Cross Country Rider
from Sumter SC, USA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2002
Strengths: Strong, does not get slimey from sweat.
Weaknesses: Not for all tail ends
Bottom Line:
It may not fit your butt. If it does go for it. I makes for a strong springy XC saddle that is plenty light. It would be top dog for desert conditions because the Kevlar cover is slow to dry if you dunk it in the rain or on a wet ride. I rairly ride in the wet so it works great for me. Don't pay list and if you like a more narrow saddle go for it.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager, Selle Italia, flight, max flight etc, Advocet o2
Bike Setup: Hardtail, light weight climbing XC ride, Al frame XT tranny
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Charlie
a Weekend Warrior
from Sunnyvale, CA
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2002
Strengths: comfortable, slippery for ease of movement on technical terrain, light, durable, strong
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
On the first ride I thought the saddle was too hard, but it broke in by the second ride and is now very comfortable. No numbness, no bruised sitz bonz. Narrow and slippery so it's easy to get off the back for descending trails fit only for a burro. Riding on the tip of the saddle going up hill is also comfortable. And the saddle is quite light for something so comfortable. I also have crashed far too hard for my health, digging chunks of aluminum out of various accessories but the saddle is unscratched. I know a saddle is a personal thing, but the 7000 really does it for me.
Similar Products Used: Schwinn Classic seat...also rock hard
Bike Setup: Schwinn S-20, Judy XC's, Rock Shox Deluxe, XT/LX, Avid Brakes.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Scot
a Cross Country Rider
from Frisco, TX, US
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001
Strengths: Light-weight. Small.
Weaknesses: Hard.
Bottom Line:
It's a hard saddle, which doesn't bother me too much--saves the back in the long run.
But I pulled a massive endo and split the cover/foam on it. It's a doozy of a 3 inch split that I don't think can (or should) be glued back together. Add a dead saddle to the parts gaveyard.
It's light. It's small and it doesn't hurt my back. I'll live with a raw butt after a long ride if my back hasn't been played slinky the entire ride.
After 2 years I could do the 100km of pot-hole filled trails and not have a raw backside. It does get softer with age. But once it got soft enough to love it split.
I'll give it a moderate 3/3 since it was stock on the bike and I didn't know it was supposed to set me back a hundred bucks. I'd not pay $30 if I were getting today.
Bike Setup: 99 GT Backwoods w/ upgrades. Time ATAK pedals.
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Submitted by
Bunnamma
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Como, Italy
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2001
Strengths: I have the Ti rail version, it's light (not as a SanMarco),confortable for me, I have very narrow heaps and bones, I weight 147 pounds,I keep it in a perfect level position (other saddles on other bikes are more tilted down), I believe that full kevlar is good in heat because it cools down when wet, better to buy the black version.
Weaknesses: The full kevlar cover is not indestructible, but the broken spot can easily repaired with a drop of Loctite-Attak, I collected two broken spots up to now. It took some to break in, not the padding but the cover, which is pretty abrasive when new
Bottom Line:
For my butt design and my weight is good, but the price is outworldly high, I bought second hand (used only once or twice). No problem of affordability up to now.
Submitted by
Bill Bernacki
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, Fl
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2000
Strengths: Kevlar Cover
Weaknesses: Ouch my butt sure does hurt. Before, after, and during
Bottom Line:
Great kevlar cover but it hurts my sit bones way to much. I whis LBS would have trial versions of saddle's they sell. If you could ride for a few rides before you buy that help bad fitting saddles. Everyone's butt is different so try the saddle before you buy. Rating was down since it hurts my butt to much.
Submitted by
Dave Macki
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ont
Date Reviewed: November 19, 1999
Strengths: - kevlar cover - good fit, not to big - excellent customer service
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to my previous review. I broke the Ti rails on my '2000 seat , but Mike at SDG quickly replaced the rails free of charge. I would highly recommend this seat just for the great customer service (they have a customer for life!) . I do firnd that the kevlar seat is the smartest idea I have seen on a saddle to date. I ride with Corerat shorts so I have had no problems with chaffing etc....
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairmont, WV
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1999
Strengths: hmmmm its comfy
Weaknesses: i have the cheapo normal model with no kevlar... the sides are all scraped up from just setting it on the ground... an airbubble must have been caught under the surface and came out, now i have a small void just off the mid-line of my saddle, give your saddle a thorough look over before buying... squeeze it a lot to make sure there are not air bubbles
Bottom Line:
good seat... quality lacks and needs scuff guards.
Strengths: Great durability, especially resistant to tearing during a crash, retains its color with little or no fading. Relatively lightweight.
Weaknesses: If it gets muddy, the saddle absorbs a lot of the mud, and you have to wash it out. Due to the grippy nature of the saddle, it can wreak havoc on your cycling shorts. Absorbs water like a sponge and takes a long time to dry. Can be uncomfortable on long rides, but every back-side is different, and it depends on the set-up.
Bottom Line:
I have the Ti Comp model, and overall it is one great saddle, especially for those who are prone to crashing, and want a saddle that can take some real abuse. Not slippery when wet like with vinyl or leather saddles. Definetly worth getting.
Bike Setup: GT STS-1000DS with Marzocchi bomber Jr. T.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Macki
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ont
Date Reviewed: October 18, 1999
Strengths: - all kevlar cover - seat size and shape
Weaknesses: - broke one of the Ti rails
Bottom Line:
- great idea with the full kevlar seat , extremely durable - the Ti rails are pretty weak - I expect more strength when paying alof of money for something as simple as a saddle
Submitted by
Bruce
a Cross-Country Rider
from Mukilteo, WA
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1999
Strengths: The SDG is the most durable Saddle that I have used. It has taken a lot of abuse and the cover still looks like new. I also think it is very comfortable for such a narrow saddle. The narrowness is a plus in technical single track and for drop offs because it is so easy to get over the back wheel!
Weaknesses: None yet, just sad to see the 7000 model is no longer made!
Bottom Line:
Great saddle for those used to ridding some miles and have their rear used to it! Damage resitant. Flat out bullet proof. Would buy again!
Submitted by
Foochow Ang more
a cross-country rider
from Oz then Borneo
Date Reviewed: May 27, 1998
Bottom Line:
Had the 2000 ti now for over a year. Well padded. Grips your shorts, you don't slip unless you want to. Very comfortable. Survived mountain bike touring up and down old rocky gold mining tracks for 3 days, as well as 6 months of borneo mud riding. Holds dirt, which is an advantage for posers and a disadvantage for the rest of us. Did I mention confortable for my foochow hip bone? 5 shots of premium.
