Featuring a special shape suitable for any type of bicycle, the XO has a low profile and wider seating area. Using the time proven Flex Control padding and differentiated thickness shell design, the XO offers comfort in critical areas.
Submitted by
Rolf Sindoe
a Cross Country Rider
from Kyringe, Denmark Date Reviewed: November 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Comfort and price
Weaknesses:
A little shorter than normally I prefer. Not the flashiest SI saddle for your Uber-bike.
Similar Products Used:
Too many to mention :-(
Bike Setup:
58 cm. frame. Musing Crozz cross bike w. Shi. gears and 700X1.8 tires
Bottom Line:
A very good saddle, even though it's a little short. _A lot_ better comfort than what you expect, judging from the length. Good looks, surprisingly good ergonomics, cheap and relatively light.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Rawlinson
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton Date Reviewed: July 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Snow Valley
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
United Cycle
Strengths:
Light weight, rigid, and yeah, I'm not much for flash on my bike, but the stitch and style attracted me to it.
Weaknesses:
This is a racing saddle, nothing more. The gel simply does nothing, I'm writing this review in hopes that those who recognize the truth behind it will prosper and those don't might have a racer's ride, but will never reproduce. I wouldn't be surprised if saddles like tis are the reason Lance lost a ball.
Similar Products Used:
Stock Bontrager, which I replaced and Specialized carbon rail
Bike Setup:
2001 Cannondale F900 Hardtail, maybe that's why my kids always have headaches!
Bottom Line:
Don not by, unless you want a Darwin award!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
a o
a Weekend Warrior
from toronto Date Reviewed: May 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
e'erything
Similar Products Used:
cheap saddle on old bike (1000000000 times better)
Bike Setup:
trek 6500 with hayes hfx 9's
Bottom Line:
worst saddle ever, gave everybody that has ridden it a rash from the rubbing and where it hits you--thats 8 different people with the same problem!!! cheap saddle that came on old bike was so much better, but i sold it with the bike not thinking that this seat was going to be such crap!!!
It gets one on each for the sole reason that u can't get lower!!! so in my books it gets 0 flammin' chillies!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Saskatoon, SK Date Reviewed: April 11, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
-Very comfortable -no numbness -not too bulky, but enough padding so you don't bust your butt
Other Selle italia saddles, Selle San Marco, stock saddles
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro, Specialized Roubaix
Bottom Line:
Basically, I love this saddle. It may not be for everyone, but it's the right one for me. You can't beat the price, and it is super comfy on rough xc trails, or on 250km road rides. When I buy I new bike I pretty much buy this saddle at the same time. (Selle Italia Trans Am XO)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, PA, USA Date Reviewed: September 5, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Rothrock State Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Very comfortable, no numbness ever.
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia C2 Genuine Gel (hard)
Bike Setup:
Fetish frame, titec seatpost.
Bottom Line:
This seat is great. I spent a lot of time looking for a stylish, durable, comfortable seat that doesn't make me numb on the long rides. This seat was perfect. I have the X0 Trans-am model and I couldn't be happier!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roy langman
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart, tasmanaia Date Reviewed: February 27, 2005
None yet (perhaps the price initially but the comfort makes it worth the price for me)
Similar Products Used:
Vetta Ti SL, Serfas thing with cut out, Giant cut out, Brooks leather, San Marco Rolls (not sure which one)
Bike Setup:
2005, Cannondale F1000 with Hutchinson Python tires & OURY grips. ( and the Selle Italia )
Bottom Line:
I wanted a new seat and asked my shop to get me something decent and flat in profile - I don't like seats with scoops or cut outs. They got me this (it was about $120 Aus) I thought ok I will give it a go and loved it from the first ride. So much so that I went out and got another one for my road bike. Saddles are so much a personal thing - this one works for me. Check with the shop that can exchange it for a differnt brand\type if it is no good before you hand over the cash. Obviously of you bend, you mend. I hate those shops that say "its supposed to hurt to start with, you will get used to it" That's total crap. If it hurts on the first ride your butt is trying to tell you something!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago Date Reviewed: February 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$14.00
Purchased At:
nashbar
Strengths:
cheap, light, not uncomfortable
Weaknesses:
Not super durable or comfortable, small size
Similar Products Used:
Sella Flite Ti
Bike Setup:
S-works hardtail
Bottom Line:
This has been a servicable seat for me but is probably not for everyone. If you are fit and/or young and on a budget it is a good alternative to an expensive seat. The small size is not versatile for cranking away but can work ok on a mtn bike cause you can slide off the back easily on a descent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Damien
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal Date Reviewed: July 23, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Mean streets of Mtl
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$22.00
Purchased At:
Yeti Plein Air
Strengths:
Lighter than most cheapo saddles I've used.
Weaknesses:
Low density padding, cover bonded to chassis maybe prone to splitting and tearing.
Similar Products Used:
Several stock cheapo saddles, Selle Italia Nitrox
Bike Setup:
Kona smoke, commuter bike.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 04 XO (not the Trans Am model).
Since I'll often spend more time in the saddle of my commuter bike, I decided to spring for a new saddle, and now I can see why people pay upwards of a hundred bucks (or more) for a saddle. It takes me a while to get used to a saddle, so I gave this one a good 4 months, and it's not for me.
The weird way the cover is bonded to the frame (it's sort of melted on, like those sandwich bag sealers on tv) didn't seem to work well, it started splitting on the back left side within a couple of days, and after a couple months, it's splitting and tearing in the cutout. Paint on the rails started peeling within a couple of weeks, so I've got rusty rails too. The padding must be pretty low density, because it's getting less and less comfortable as time goes one (vs the stock saddle on my Schwinn Moab, which is cheap, but still comfortable for up to 25 miles at a time after 3 years). It's better than the extra wide saddle that comes with the smoke, but not much. The rails do seem stiff enough though, I feel no squige or excessive flex at a clyde weight (225 in the summer), and this saddle is easily half the weight of the stock saddle. I don't get any numbness however (just discomfort and sitbone pain), even on pretty long rides (~20 km), so maybe the cutout is for me.
Even when bike components seem excessively expensive in Canada (Selle Flite more than $100! That's 25% of the cost of the bike!), I've learned my cheapskate lesson.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allan
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Price, cut-out may work for some people (didn't for me)
Weaknesses:
Didn't solve numbness problem. Maybe too much cushioning for some people.
Similar Products Used:
Selle San Marco, SDG Comp, others.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the XO Trans Am (with the cutout). I bought this saddle in the hopes that it would alleviate the numbness problem with my current saddle (cheap SDG). The XO Trans Am is initially a comfortable saddle with lots of cushioning. I went for a 3 hour ride and it was only marginally better than my current saddle for causing numbness. Other than that there were no pressure points from the saddle. The cutout may work for some people, it just didn't for me. I returned it and will try a Specialized Body Geometry instead.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Digger
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ USA Date Reviewed: March 12, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Dynamite
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Cheap.
Weaknesses:
Pressure points in all the wrong places. Was painful on a smooth road during the test ride. If you want one - look on EBAY for mine!
Similar Products Used:
None so painful.
Bike Setup:
Giant hardtail, stock + Shimano 424 SPD's.
Bottom Line:
Cheap, but not worth the pain.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Brook
a Weekend Warrior
from Hull, UK Date Reviewed: January 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
?
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Freetown Sports, Hull, UK
Strengths:
Looks well cool, looked well made, cost (£25 in shops, approx $40?), weight.
Weaknesses:
Like sitting on a razor blade, the bike (palisades trail 2002) had some upgrades made instore prior to sale, these included bars, bar ends, tyres, discs and said saddle. Whilst the logos in bright white stiching look ace, i am sure it would dirty quickly and look scruffy.
I rode the saddle once for about 1.5 hrs (it was my first ride on new bike). Half way through the ride my bum was in agony and I was trying anything to rest it for the remainder of the ride. i am glad I could check the reviews here to make sure I wasn't being soft. It seems saddles are a very personal thing, with some liking the XO. I gave it 3 chillis for value coz if it works for you this is a top saddle for the price.I had to take it back after the 1 ride and swapped it for the originally specced WTB Speed V. This seems much better, but looks less cool and weighs more. review to come.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Garth
a Cross Country Rider
from South Africa Date Reviewed: September 25, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
reasonably light, comfortable
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialised BG comp
Bike Setup:
Trek 950
Bottom Line:
I have the Transam model and it is very comfortable. I use the saddle on my commuter bike (which I race on occasion too). I do +- 60 km a day on the days that I commute on terrain varying from asphalt to chatter bump single track. The saddle works well and doesn't pinch my trouser furniture. It has enough width to cater for most wide sit-bone individuals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike tan
a Cross Country Rider
from singapore Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002
Favorite Trail:
sentosa
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
treknology
Strengths:
Lght and comfy for critical areas. Nice design andd sewing work.
Weaknesses:
Leather peels of very easily. should be priced at $45.oo
Similar Products Used:
norco team saddle
Bike Setup:
full xt
Bottom Line:
great saddle with gel. comfortable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Karl
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Comfy once broken in Fairly light for the price (£20)
Similar Products Used:
WTB: OEM garbage.
Bike Setup:
Marin East Peak '01
Bottom Line:
Got the XO Trans Am... and would be prepared to go "Trans America" on this one (how corny!). I'm with the other reviewers that have used the Trans Am version (with gap down middle)- we all say its comfortable. And this is against a backdrop of metaphors like "numb nuts" used to describe the standard XO (as pictured at top). Yep- very happy with mine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Seb
a Cross Country Rider
from AC Date Reviewed: July 3, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
local shop
Strengths:
removeable =)
Weaknesses:
OUUUCH!! PAIN!! my butt hurts!
Bike Setup:
CUBE LTD 3
Bottom Line:
this saddle came with my new bike. first rie yesterday. saddle felt very uncomfy ... today i cant sit it ... MY BUTT HURT!! WHAT A PAIN!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brandon
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: April 28, 2002
Favorite Trail:
any trails
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Cotech
Strengths:
-Light -material and geometry allow u to change position easily -maganese rail doesnt rust -suitable for smaller rider as this saddle is prett narrow -looks great -superb after the saddle seasons or ur butt season itself
Weaknesses:
-mine has stitching designs on it...looks great but it dirty easy and wonder the stitching will come loose
Similar Products Used:
The first racing saddle i tried and they are great
Those riders who complain that it is too hard are either weenies or their body positioning is wrong.Most of ur body weight should not be on ur butt, but in front. If u wanna totally sit on it u might as well get a saddle with lots of padding,the type your grandma uses!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from calgary Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
the bike shop
Strengths:
looks cool with maple leaf embroidery
Weaknesses:
a saddle is like a hmmock, not a 2x4
Similar Products Used:
I have tried out more saddles than I dare mention
Bike Setup:
2000, rmb blizzard. xt, raceface, pretty
Bottom Line:
aestetically pleasing with a design which encourages you to stand. it's rouded the wrong way. the opposite of your bu, so it makes a nasty pressure point on your crotch. this saddle was PAINFUL. I got rid of it faster than a girlfriend who says that bikes are dumb
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Edmonton, AB Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
MEC
Strengths:
Quality Looks Fairly light Inexpensive
Weaknesses:
Nose shape Not very comfortable
Similar Products Used:
WTB SST
Bike Setup:
2000 Giant ATX890
Bottom Line:
Bought this saddle as a replacement of the lousy OEM piece on my XC race bike. The yellow & red stitching complements my bike well. However, I only use this saddle for XC races lasting two hours or less. It is not comfortable enough for long rides. Also, the nose is quite pointed, and catches on your shorts when moving back over the saddle on the steeps.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matthew
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, Pa, USA Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
heavy,uncomfortable, fell apart
Similar Products Used:
Flite, Era
Bottom Line:
This seat in the gel version came on my Road bike and I put about 400 miles on it and any ride over 10 miles my stuff would fall asleep and eventually the center gel cover ripped out. what a POS I got a flite gel and love that seat however, everthing stays awake!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Springchic
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
came w the bike
Strengths:
cheap, "good" looking, light
Weaknesses:
poorly padded, the sewing get wet and wont dry 4 couple of hour,
Similar Products Used:
nitrox gel
Bike Setup:
sintesi hardtail, xt,discbrakes
Bottom Line:
The rear part (of the saddle;) is way hard, it feels like they forgot to pad it properly (and I got the gel version) I don't get it, how can anyone feel that this saddle is comfy? I've never heard anyone to take this for a good product (except 4 some weirdoz below:), is there pros that really use this sucker?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ash R
a
from East Midlands Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
D. H. Lawrence/Byron country
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
with bike
Strengths:
Comfy, light
Weaknesses:
covering wore out after 1200 miles.
Similar Products Used:
oktakvia
Bike Setup:
Giant XCX DS2
Bottom Line:
Great looking fabric covering but mine wore out after 1200 miles. I switched to a Selle Oktavia.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
trevor plowman
a Cross Country Rider
from london Date Reviewed: November 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
down the river exe
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
berkshire cycles
Strengths:
cheap, absolute bargain in my case, last one in a clearout box. (no jokes please!) soft, looks the business, and is. instantly comfortable. it replaced a pretty new selle italia flyte, which was lovely but so hard, over 20 miles on rocky terrain (admittedly with a hardtail) and my nuts were saying get up on those pedals. but the xo is a delight. the flyte is a road-bike saddle.
Weaknesses:
no kevlar corners, but at that price you can't expect everything.
Similar Products Used:
none, but i'll never go back to a saddle without a cutaway
Bike Setup:
merlin frame, shimano xt/lx, mavic x-rides, bomber z2 atom race (the dogs'), shimano 636s
Bottom Line:
I have the Transam model, which doesn't feature as a separate category. There must be an immense difference. I defy anyone to feel pain after only 2 hours on this saddle
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Francis
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: November 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Bukit Timah Mt. Bike Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Hike & Bike
Strengths:
Light, Gel Inserts, looks good and sporty
Weaknesses:
None so far but stichings can get easily dirty
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Body Geometry MTB Comp
Bike Setup:
Giant NRS XTC Air frame, Rock Shox XC front and rear, XTR brakes and deraillers, Mavic rims, XT hubs and crank, Thomson Elite stem and seat post, Easton CT2 flat handle bar
Bottom Line:
I was using the Specialized MTB Comp on my old frame for more than a year and decided to use it again when I upgraded to a Giant XTC Air frame this August . I normally do a 2-3 hours combination of on-road and offf-road rides. I really did not feel comfortable with the MTB Comp and after some readings from the Mountain Bike magazine, I felt to give Selle Italia a try of which my bike shop has this model in stock. This seat is far more comfortable than the previous one. I will definetely recommend this to MTB riders who want a light saddle suitable yet comfortable enough for on and off road use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay kwon
a Cross Country Rider
from vancouver, B.C Canada Date Reviewed: November 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:
anywhere with rocks and branches
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
dont need to know
Strengths:
light, good price, pretty stif and strong
Weaknesses:
a little bit hard i guess a little expensive
Similar Products Used:
norco seats, (crap) well, for majority of them
Bike Setup:
norco, charger racing series ones, shimano deore, alvio, and stx rc's
Bottom Line:
really good seat. for the price, doesn't hurt that much except when climbing hills. For the people who says this seat is hard, you don't know ANYTHING about bikes! it's a XC seat duh! if you don't like this seat, get a sponge ones like chidrens do!
This seat is very nice, So far so GOOD~
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fred
a Weekend Warrior
from Lens, France Date Reviewed: October 28, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Decathlon (www.decathlon.com)
Strengths:
quite light, cheap for a saddle made of leather, the central cut (Trans Am) makes it comfortable, great design (mine is black with a yellow central strip... looks great with my grey MTB ! ;o)
Weaknesses:
would need Kevlar or edge protection and stronger rails for intensive use (not my case)
Similar Products Used:
none, I have used the saddle sold with my bike (which was really bad) for 18 months.
Bike Setup:
Decathlon M serie, T/1, SRAM Centera, RST fork
Bottom Line:
I don't know if it will always be so good but, for my first ride with it (50km), it was really good. During the first kms I needed to find my position on it but then it was OK. I think this saddle would suit a sports use but not competition (MaxFlite or Flite would be better). It is comfortable but not _TOO_ comfortable. That's why it suits long distance off-road trek (for me, 50km is a long distance trek !!! ;o) I ride 800km a year...). For those who want a good saddle for family rides, just try the Lookin' Selle Royale serie with gel. Really really comfortable but not made for a sports use !
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
neil
a
from london Date Reviewed: September 17, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Strengths:
looks nice, very light, very cheap
Weaknesses:
pain, pain and more pain
Similar Products Used:
none, I opted to spend much more money to make sure I wasn't crippled
Bike Setup:
yeti arc, XT, Hope
Bottom Line:
this saddle hurts. from reading other reviews, it seems that if you weigh more than 100lbs then it won't suit you. I replaced it within two weeks of getting the bike and am now able to enjoy cycling beyond thirty minutes. Maybe it works for short rides but why is that a positive attribute? Do some people have more than one saddle for different occasions?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Furious D.
a Racer
from Berkeley Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Lot's of 'em
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
came on bike
Strengths:
Sleek looks, not too heavy
Weaknesses:
Ouch! this seat hurts your a$$ and lower plumbing, also makes me tired faster, so I got a new, much better saddle
Similar Products Used:
generic specialized saddle
Bike Setup:
xt/xtr trans, sram 9.0 brakes, race face stem, bars, cranks
Bottom Line:
Good for very short rides and those who seldom sit on their bikes, but anyone who spends more than a half hour at a time on the saddle should avoid this saddle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Far more comfortable than the Specialized Body Geometry seat that came stock on my bike.
good price
Weaknesses:
Too much free advertising on the seat.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized body geometry
Bike Setup:
2001 FSR enduro expert, Thomson seatpost & stem, Selle Italia Gel seat XO
Bottom Line:
The original seat on my bike was bothering me a bit. Not enough to purchase a new one right away, but enough that I was looking for a good deal on something else to try. After 6 months I found this seat, and for the price figured it is disposable if I do not like it. I could not believe how much more comfort I found VS the original seat. Wished I had switched a long time ago.
I do not care much for the disco colors, but thats why I sit my A$$ on it!
I give it 5 flames all round, I am very pleased with this product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom M
a Weekend Warrior
from Leonardtown, MD, USA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001
Favorite Trail:
St. Marys Lake
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
I don't know....probably the color and cool go-fast look; that's about it.
Weaknesses:
It hurt! After only about 20 minutes in the saddle, I'd start shifting around, always wary of my rear beginning to hurt. Not a good thing when I was trying to train for a century ride.
Similar Products Used:
Terry Men's Fly
Bike Setup:
Giant OCR3 stock
Bottom Line:
It came on the bike I bought. I gave it a month or so, and a couple hundred miles, with some 3hr. rides, thinking I'd get used to it. I just couldn't, it hurt. Not sure if being a lightweight rider had anything to do with it or not. It seemed that the gel that is right in the front-center of the seat is where it hurt the most. So I went with the 'Fly with the cutout...I was able to finish the century ride pain-free.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
MEC
Strengths:
Looks fancy with all the stitchin's and the Selle Italia name
Weaknesses:
Hard as a rock.
Bike Setup:
GT XCR1000
Bottom Line:
I've been hunting for a good bargain on a saddle for a while and the price and looks of this saddle tempted me to try it out, I could feel in the store that it was pretty hard but I wanted to find out how long I can stick to my "as long as it looks good" motto. However, it took only one ride for pain to convince vanity to step aside. I'm only 150lb so be warned!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joolian
a Cross Country Rider
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Malaysian pot holed roads !!!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$10.00
Purchased At:
KSH
Strengths:
Cheap
Weaknesses:
very..very uncomfortable.
Similar Products Used:
-none-
Bike Setup:
Scott pro racing, Judy C, and XT/LX setup
Bottom Line:
It's affordable, though it makes your arse sore for 2/3 days. Recommended for individuals who bike for less than 30 minutes. More than that, go for something more comfortable like maybe a Avenir traditional or get really comfy baggy shorts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jon webster
a Weekend Warrior
from Staffs, UK Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Peak District
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Lightweight, cheap, looks very flashy in sky blue with silver trim, and best of all - it matched the bike!
Weaknesses:
Bloody uncomfortable
Similar Products Used:
Specialised Body Geometry MTB Comp
Bike Setup:
Trek Y-11 full susser for the MTB comp saddle, and a GT Tempest for the XO.
Bottom Line:
After the first ride on the Tempest, I had to swap the XO saddle for the MTB Comp because it was so hard and uncompromising.
Since the XO is only about six quid cheaper than the low-end of the Body Geometry range, I would say stop the pain, forget the money, and go Specialised!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Pritchard
a Weekend Warrior
from England Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Southern California's North County
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Inexpensive, narrow
Similar Products Used:
WTB SST.X
Bike Setup:
MTB: Gary Fisher Big Sur, Road: Lemond Zurich
Bottom Line:
I actually got this saddle when purchasing my road bike. On the road, this saddle made me numb after 30-40 minutes, which I could prevent by getting out of the saddle regularly. But for those long road rides, I had to replace the XO with the Flite (a better fit for that type of riding) and it immediately solved the numb problem.
However, because the stock saddle on my Fisher (SST.X) was such a bad fit for me, I decided to try the XO for MTB. It turns out to be a very good fit, because the saddle is confortable for me and it is narrow, a very useful feature for descents. I don't get numb either because I don't get to stay seated for long periods of time anyway.
For road, I would rate it 2, but since this about MTB, I'll go with 4. And the value is good, since the saddle is very inexpensive (pricepoint has it for $15)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC Canada Date Reviewed: September 9, 2000
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
MEC
Strengths:
Light, comfortable, great red and yellow stitching.
Weaknesses:
None found yet
Bike Setup:
99 Rocky Mountain Spice
Bottom Line:
I've tried the Gel XO version with great results. It's a little narrow... great for getting behind on steep descents. I've felt totally comfortable in this seat on 6 hour long trail rides, compared to the stock seat that came on the bike. I agree with the last reviewer that this is not a seat for everyone, but will allow one to feel comfortable for those long cross country excursion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pete
a Racer
from London, England Date Reviewed: July 3, 2000
Favorite Trail:
North Circular road behind trucks doing 55mph!!!
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Looks great (in blue). Light enough. Well made.
Weaknesses:
Too narrow and hard. Gel thing is nasty.
Similar Products Used:
Various saddles (mostly non-race)
Bike Setup:
Dawes '99 Giro 500 road race bike
Bottom Line:
Very disappointing for me. I have normal or maybe slightly wider than average sit bones and found this too small and narrow. The width and padding is more generous than some race saddles, but its still nowhere near good enough for any serious distance work.
As for the gel thing - its too large and firm and it is actually raised! This seems to do more harm than good.
If you're well used to narrow saddles then don't take any notice of me, but otherwise if you're thinking of getting a "race" saddle, unless you are of very small build - don't be fooled by the looks. In my opinion, most of us need much more support, and I'm not a fat bloke by any means!
Back to real-world saddles for me - see my Terry Liberator review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Omar
a Weekend Warrior
from Guelph, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Waterloo Hydro Cut
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Confort and weight (or lack of)
Weaknesses:
None yet
Bike Setup:
Stock Rocky Fusion with some add-ons (susp. seat post, Shimano pedals, saddle etc.)
Bottom Line:
No more numb-nuts for me. The difference from the stock saddle was amazing. My nether regions thank me after each ride. Although the price of this saddle must have gone up considerably since 98 (see previous review). I paid $49 (on sale) at Mountain Equipment (MEC). Good for anybody who has experienced that "feeling" after a long ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
IGGH
a cross-country rider
from Victoria BC Canada Date Reviewed: October 2, 1998
Bottom Line:
Inexpensive - $29 CDN at MEC. As comfortable as any Flite saddle in my bum's opinion. Kevlar edges (red) are a welcome complement to the leather cover. The one on my double-boiger is flawless. The one on my hardtail suffered a freak accident after a minor fall. The rail popped out of the nosepiece. Ever try to put one back together? All the kings horses.... Afterwards, I noticed a manufacturing defect in the nosepiece that I should have noticed when I bought it. Oh well. This could happen with any saddle. MEC was great with its no-questions return policy. The new one is exactly what I expected as far as comfort goes. (I checked it for defects and found none.) Easy on the pocketbook without any sacrifice in function or comfort. Maybe it could be lighter but it seems pretty light to me. It seems to stand up under hard hits and I'm in the 100Kg. range. Obviously, the saddle on the hard-tail is going to be stressed more than the one on my duallie. Bear that in mind, I guess. Since I can't think of anything bad to say after several hundred miles I'm going to give it the full five flaming triple coilers with a DQ twist.
Overall Rating:
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