The Selle Italia FliteTi316 saddle is a comfortable saddleThat features a sculpted modern look. Style: Mens Clamp Style: Standard Rails Width: 140 mm Length: 275 mm Rail:Titanium
Submitted by
icemonkey
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2011
Strengths: Weight, comfort
Weaknesses: Comfort - You have to break it in. The first month is hell.
Bottom Line:
Superb saddle, the most comfortable I have owned after it was broken in. It feels like you have so much real estate under your butt, the ability to move around the saddle to get a good position, clamp the nose between your legs and ride in comfort. Mine has died after about 12 years, the leather just couldnt take being so battered. LOVE EM.
Bike Setup: Kona Lavadome (1997) full xt/xtr, Marzocchi xc600 singlespeed (today)
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Submitted by
Gregg K
a Cross Country Rider
from Mendocino, CA, US
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2010
Bottom Line:
I bought this seat in 1988. I remember it as being one of the first things I could buy for a mountain bike that had titanium. I rode on it until 2001. Here it is 2010, and I've put it back on my bike (Ibis Mojo). I couldn't find a better saddle. Then to my surprise I discovered they're making the original Flite again.
It just seemed odd that I'd be riding the seat I bought 21 years ago. Talk about nostalgia. My friend worked in Cambria at the bike shop when it was just a hole in a wall. Good times. And now I can ride without a sore arse again.
Similar Products Used: A WTB saddle. Selle Italia Max Flite $120 saddle (ouch).
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Submitted by
Jacko82
a Cross Country Rider
from York
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2009
Strengths: Very light weight saddle, well designed and looks the dogs b's........
Weaknesses: Take's a while to bed in........pampers recommended!
Bottom Line:
Got my first Flite Ti saddle in the early 90's and i have had 2 since then. Brilliant saddle! They last ages and i hammer off road all over the place. The only downer is that they take a few good rides to bed in properly. Overall i highly recommended this saddle!
Submitted by
Marco
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2008
Strengths: Light, looks good, and comfortable for such a minimal saddle.
Weaknesses: Pointy end sometimes a pain on steep uphill climbs.
Bottom Line:
I got this seat for almost nothing (from the manufacturer) at a European bike show back in the early '90s. It was painted gold with red lettering on the front. Certainly not as comfortable as a broken-in Brooks, it was pretty comfortable for a minimalist saddle; I rode it hard for 3-4 years until it was completely worn out.
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2007
Weaknesses: Redesigned for 2007. It is not the same saddle at all. Paper-thin leather covering wore through along the back edge after 3 rides negotiating simple (XC) drops on the North Shore. And this is wearing lycra not cordura. Selle Italia actually claims the saddle is worthy of freeriding what a joke.
Similar Products Used: Previous flite it was fine actually got 2 years out of it before it blew apart.
Bike Setup: Blur, Fox, Raceface, XT XC setup
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Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Dearborn, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006
Strengths: The Selle Italia Flite Genuine Gel saddle was fairly comfortable for its first season in use. It has Titanium rails which make it strong and fairly light. It's an affordable saddle that is available in many different colors (I chose blue) and its Kevlar sides protect it from your filthy legs... just kidding.
Weaknesses: OUCH!!! After about a year, the saddle became very hard, and after long rides my, ahem, "boys down stairs" would become numb. I couldn't have this! My unborn children demanded a comfortable saddle that could go the distance.
Bottom Line:
If you're a little guy (no offence pee wee), this saddle might be the right fit for you... but for me it wasn't! It was tolerable for awhile, but I have since moved on to greener pastures. If you're looking for an affordable saddle that looks neat and has TI rails, I say buy it, but if you plan on having children within your life time, look else ware. Once this saddle wares out, it's really no good! Riding this saddle I finally knew what the phrase, “numb-nuts” really meant.
Similar Products Used: WTB Laser V TI Team Saddle (a much better improvement!); Black and Blue WTB saddle that came stock on my old Gary Fisher.
Bike Setup: Jamis Dakar XC Frame, Manitou Elite Black Forks, Fox Float R Rear Shock, Mavic XC 717 Rims, Shimano XT Disk Hubs (front & rear), Old School Shimano XT Crank, Shimano XT ES71 Splined Bottom Bracket, Speedplay Frog Pedals, Shimano XT Front Dérailleur, Shimano XT Rear Dérailleur, Shimano XT 9 Speed Shifters (front & rear), Shimano XT 9 Speed Cassette, Shimano XTR/Dura-Ace 9 Speed Chain, Avid BB5 Disk Brakes (front & rear), Old School Avid 1.0 Brake Levers, Cane Creek Headset, WTB Laser V Saddle, Avid Flack Jacket Housing/Cable (shift & brake)
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Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Dearborn, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006
Strengths: The Selle Italia Flite Genuine Gel saddle was fairly comfortable for its first season in use. It has Titanium rails which make it strong and fairly light. It's an affordable saddle that is available in many different colors (I chose blue) and its Kevlar sides protect it from your filthy legs... just kidding.
Weaknesses: OUCH!!! After about a year, the saddle became very hard, and after long rides my, ahem, "boys down stairs" would become numb. I couldn't have this! My unborn children demanded a comfortable saddle that could go the distance.
Bottom Line:
If you're a little guy (no offence pee wee), this saddle might be the right fit for you... but for me it wasn't! It was tolerable for awhile, but I have since moved on to greener pastures. If you're looking for an affordable saddle that looks neat and has TI rails, I say buy it, but if you plan on having children within your life time, look else ware. Once this saddle wares out, it's really no good! Riding this saddle I finally knew what the phrase, “numb-nuts” really meant.
Strengths: light, has cool looking embroidered marzocchi M on it.
Weaknesses: Not good for long rides.
Bottom Line:
Worked okay for shorter rides but the butt got numb on the longer ones. I like long epic rides and this just doesn't fit the bill. I am kind of a beginer but ride enough to know that my butt is accustomed to the saddle. I will be racing collegiate in the fall and want to get into distance races, marathons, when my fitness level comes around. I am switching saddles. Got this through Marzocchi. Looks cool and is light but doesn't perform as well as I expected. My specialized road saddle is more comfortable than this.
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Murray, KY
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2006
Strengths: Looks Super Cool!
Weaknesses: Uncomfortable, causes numbness and possible reproductive harm!
Bottom Line:
I went for years convinced that this was a great saddle, and like everyone else, I thought it was cool. Well I am here to tell you, don't sacrifice comfort! This thing is awful, it is peaked in the middle, it goes right up the middle of your butt. There are many Many alternatives to this, my current favorite is WTB laser V. Why do this to your butt when there are much better alternatives out there. This thing made me numb after road rides, and on a MTB, you might as well forget it!
Strengths: Plain jane leather with no stitching, gel or embroidery is the way to go. If you can find the older contour version, it is better. Chromo rails hold up much better and a bit better ride with them. The lighter versions are strictly for racers and weight weenies and not to comfy.
Weaknesses: Lol, 15 years later and there is nothing better!
Bottom Line:
The basic flite works well for all aspects of riding. The smooth surface is great for moving around on the saddle. The narrow long nose is great for outa the saddle clearance and you can get your butt way forward on seated climbs. The rear of the saddle is narrow enough to easily behind for the downhills yet perfect size for the sit. Ive read some reviews about it being hard and making there bums sore. You put the padding in the shorts, not in the saddle. A real good pair of shorts is the answer. A saddle with caddilac seat padding will give your hemroids hemroids! If you a xc type trail rider then Your handle bar height should be no higher than your seat height. This keeps alot a weight off yur bottom as well as giving you a much better riding position and better control.
Bike Setup: Which one? Well they all have flites on em!
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Submitted by
Emery
a Weekend Warrior
from MntBrook, AL
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2005
Strengths: Utilitarian smooth black leather version w/o gimmicks, channels or silicone enhancements. Easy to move around on and lite. Durable.
Weaknesses: After many wet rides over several years, the glue holding the leather to the plastic base dry rots. White saddles seem less durable and loose color.
Bottom Line:
I cannot comlain. It has been since 1998 when I purchase the saddle I use now and it is still in good shape and has not started to de-glue. If you ride in wet areas, do not use a saddle bag since it may retain moisture under the seat and cause the leather to debond...over years. OK, this is a great saddle, if you want more cush, wear two pairs of bike shorts.
Similar Products Used: BDG/Giant, Spec Body Geometry Race & Comp,Selle Italia Turbo (1988 and still perfect on hardtail), cheap 1980's gel/fabric saddles, other Flites since 1993.
Bike Setup: Blur, pushed fox rp3 '06, minute 3, Mavic/HighRollers, Avid Juicy 7, xtr/xt/raceface, salsa/thompson, candys
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Submitted by
Rod Munch
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2005
Strengths: Still the sexiest saddle made, could make a Huffy look fast & light. Great fit.
Weaknesses: Back edges coming unglued a bit
Bottom Line:
Discovered a nice Flite Ti from my girlfriend's X's parts bin... decided to give it a try. Felt hard as a rock to the touch, but turned out to be one comfy saddle. Still the sexiest saddle to grace a bike frame, and at 230g [actual weight] or so, tough to beat the weight.
Similar Products Used: Lots of saddles from '87 or so... from blue suede to perf'd leather Turbos to narrow Bontrager's to WTB droopnoses to pain inducing Specialized Body Geometries.
Bike Setup: '04 Hammerhead 100X w/F100RLC, Float R Propdedal, Magura Martas & Pro XC wheelset, XTR, XT, Race Face & Sette
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Submitted by
Wigbanker
a Weekend Warrior
from Newport Beach
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005
Strengths: Light
Weaknesses: Very painful/uncomfortable
Bottom Line:
This is my third Flite saddle and the worst so far. The first two lasted years, were just about comfortable enough and were hardwearing. However, I just couldn't get comfortable on my latest one and yesterday the ti rail broke. Thank god it did - now I can buy a more comfortable saddle and save my manhood. There are plenty of saddles out there these days for the same price or less that are far more confortable, stronger and durable. The Flite was a winner when it came out but is an now an outdated design and no longer deserves the reputation it holds.
Similar Products Used: None - only ever ridden Flites
Bike Setup: Cannondale Prophet custom build
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Submitted by
clarkgriswald
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Rapids, Mi USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004
Strengths: None, this is for the Storika Saddle
Weaknesses: Rail broke at 3 months.
Bottom Line:
The rail on this saddle snapped. The only riding I had been doing was commuting. No trail riding, no drops, no rough and rocky trails, just commuting on city streets. Mailed seat back to Hammerhead in April. They mailed it to Quality? Who then mailed it to Italy. I've spoken with Charles and his hands are tied until Sella notifies Quality. I should not have to wait this f**king long to get resolution. This will be my last saddle that has to return to Italy for warranty. POS $130 saddle. Value: no friggin chilis. Overall: no firggin chilis Who should buy, no one.
