Submitted by
whydied
a Cross Country Rider
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2008
Strengths: Looks
Snappy stitching
Weight
Pyshological sense of value out the door
Weaknesses: Uncomfortable
Fragile
Bad Adhesive
Bottom Line:
Well when I was in college I worked as a bike mechanic at this hole-in-the-wall cycle shop owned by an ex-drummer from some semi-famous local Chicago rock band or something. The guy wasn't always able to get me my paycheck on time so I used to help myself to some items amongst the stacks and stacks of random stuff in the back storage room. I nabbed this seat, and thought it looked pretty p1mp1n with that fancy stitching all over it and the Ti rails. Plus, it was pretty light. Too bad a canvas bag filled with broken glass would be more comfortable to sit on than this seat. Okay clearly it isn't that bad, but it always felt lumpy and hard in all the wrong places. Perhaps individual ass-bones are like snowflakes, no two are ever the same, and likewise this seat is comfortable to some and miserable to others. In any case I guess I've owned, and used, this seat for about 8 years. Even though it was uncomfortable and has probably made me sterile, I stuck with it. This afternoon one of the seat rails broke. It snapped right behind where it enters the post clamp. So RIP my faithful crude seat with the fancy stitched lettering.
Guess it is time to get one of these WTB seats everyone seams to rave about.
I rate this seat a 4 for value, because I think that if I had actually payed a cent for it, I would have been happy with all the features it sported visually, and despite being torture to sit on at times, I excuse that somewhat due to the probability of anatomical bias.
Overall I rate it a 3 because long term this was a seat that simply did not wear well with time. Rather than develop an aged look with some character, it just kinda started coming apart and breaking down. I probably have too high a pain threshold and am too tolerant. I'd guess most people would have tossed this seat after a year at most. For some reason I kept using it until its structural integrity was completely terminated. Who knows why?
Similar Products Used: Another Serfas Kevlar seat that was as skinny as a thong, A Specialized perforated leather seat, Other various seats that remain nameless
Bike Setup: 95 specialized stumpjumper steel hardtail frame with a hodgepodge of colorful aftermarket upgrade parts.
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003
Strengths: Firm, quiet, not slippery.
Weaknesses: Hard nose, especially on long climbs.
Bottom Line:
I've used this saddle for six years - after 6,800 kilometres it's not the first thing on my bike I think about changing.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager FS +10, Koski engineering, Scott
Bike Setup: Mongoose SX6.7 hardtail, mech and running gear upgrades
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Submitted by
Marty
a Weekend Warrior
from Moncton, NB, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2002
Strengths: economical, works fine once broken in, light for the price
Weaknesses: took a while to break in right..
Bottom Line:
super deal.. for the price.. cant go wrong.. be perfect for a racer on a budget who want light weight parts.. but cant afford much... this puppy saved bout a quater pound off my old shred up seat... still just like new 2 years of hard use later..
Bike Setup: atx 840, judyxc *4"*, titec cockpit w/easton monkey bar, 'xt' v brakes.. yada yada yada
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Submitted by
James Dodd
a Racer
from Walworth, NY US of A
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001
Strengths: Nice fit and finish, the stitching of the logos is first rate. The feel of this saddle beats the crap out of the stock GT saddle that was designed by the Marquis De Sade.
Weaknesses: Little pricey for chro-mo rails.
Bottom Line:
I can do more miles now without saddle soreness thanks to the Serfas Cosmos. Major improvement in comfort. I'd buy it again.
Strengths: Decent weight, good suspension and comfort comfort comfort
Weaknesses: Tacky graphics. Hard to find. Price.
Bottom Line:
When it was time to replace the POS that came with my road bike, I went with the Prolink thinking that it'll be more comfortable for long rides even if it was significantly heavier. Boy was I ever wrong! The ARC Dual Density Pro Ti on my mountain bike felt way better and is 80g lighter. I had thought of exchanging it for the lighter Flite Gel but decided to stick to what's tried-and-true, the only problem now is that I can't find one to buy.
Similar Products Used: San Marco Concour Light, Selle Italia Prolink
Bike Setup: Yeti mtb, Specialized M4 road
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Submitted by
Mario Javier
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville, ON Canada
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2001
Strengths: Durability, comfortable and looks good.
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
The LBS where I bought this from no longer in business! I guess for durability, this saddle outlast the store. I average 500 Km a year on my bike and I have this on it for the last 3 years or so. I dropped the bike and scrape the side of the saddle but the materials did not tear. I guess that is kevlar for you. I recommend this to anyone thinking of upgrading their saddle. However, I would probably lean more toward the RX version. I am not sure if it is more comfortable than the original, but from others have said, I guess it will be.
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher X-0 with full XT and Raceface components
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Submitted by
Garrick Whitnah
a Weekend Warrior
from Keller, TX
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2001
Strengths: Tough! Clean looks light not real expensive
Weaknesses: Can't really think of any Might be a little firm for some
Bottom Line:
Love it! Bought the Dual Density Pro with kevlar sides to replace the scuffed up SDG that came on my Klein. It was a lot more comfortable for me as well. When I bought my Specialized road bike I could not stand the Body Geometry seat so I replaced it with another identical Serfas. These have really held up well. Real light, also, with the titanium rails. The only problem I see is the new ones have a groove or gel (are they as good?) - I can't find one just like the two I have (I need one for the tandem I just bought).
Similar Products Used: SDG Belair Specialized Body Geometry
Bike Setup: 1999 Klein Mantra Comp 2000 Specialized A1 Sport
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Submitted by
Pup
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2001
Strengths: COMFORTABLE -- AND FOR A WOMAN RIDER!!!!!! DURABLE!! stands up to mud, crashes, sharp rocks... Did I mention comfortable? Narrow and flat behind, super design Light Sexy looking
Weaknesses: Hard to find mail order, so have to pay LBS prices. All-kevlar is sweaty
Bottom Line:
This is an update to previous review, for the Leather/Kevlar ARC Dual Density Pro
Ive now had this (exact same) saddle for 2 solid years of riding in deserts, mudholes, snow, falling down cliff faces... its been thrown in creeks, submerged in mud, bounced off slickrock, skidded on fireroads. Its been through two frames. Ive done everything but douse the thing in kerosene.
Its got a little scuffing on the leather, thats all.
Its by far the all time favorite part of any of my bikes. Padded but not gooshy, firm but not painful, flat but not broad, narrow enough to get off of without a second thought AND WIDE ENOUGH FOR A WOMENS PELVIC BONES, long enough nose to creep up hills on. Comfy enough for five-day riding trips to god-knows-where.
If they ever stop making this saddle, it will break my heart. Twenty chilies.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager Flying Wedgie, in all its versions Fat gel saddles Wide "women's" death trap saddles
Bike Setup: Uzzi DH dream bike, Z1 / XT / HS33s...
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Submitted by
Chris Blau
a Weekend Warrior
from Everett, Wa USA
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001
Strengths: Tough as a Lessbian from Louisiana. The seat has seen flesh tear, bones chip and not nary a tear in the saddle.
Weaknesses: Too damn rigid!!! This is definately a racers only seat, there is no give at all here. It's okay for down-hill, mostly 'cause you're never on it for more than a fraction of a second.
Bottom Line:
I reiterate, this is a racer/down-hill application only. I Like to mix up down hill Jams, with cross country rides. There is no cross country bred into this saddle so avoid it like the plague if you do the same. Just the wrong saddle for the application, it's good if the over all objective is to keep the seat post from finding your arse and that's it. I went and got an RX to see if I could keep my sack safe and it seems to be a good fix to the alternative. Did I mention the RX is very comfortable? Just make sure you don't get the fake suede version, it'll get you in a bind!
As for this saddle, I'm taking it to the local chain gang and see if they can work some boulders into gravel with this baby! Some one want to buy it??? $5.oo & shipping.
Bike Setup: fisher level betty(98) lx, bontager crow bar, plat pedals, irc tires, GOOD STUFF
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Submitted by
KWG
a Cross Country Rider
from SACK OF TOMATOES
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000
Strengths: SERFAS CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE BEST. TI rail broke. Within 3 days, Serfas replaced the rails and mailed it back to me. Comfortable, Kevlar lasts forever.
Weaknesses: The titanium rail broke!!
Bottom Line:
This review is for the Kevlar Dual Density Pro:
Serfas knows how to treat its customers. However, as other reviewers pointed out, it doesn't matter how comfortable the saddle is or how nice the company is if you can't trust the product. After reading how many others have broken the rails, I'm not so sure it's safe to ride even with the replacement rails. It's not good when you can't ride and trust your bike parts. I haven't broken any other company's saddle rails. I would've given it 5 flamin' Godzilla dingleberries but it's unacceptable to have this many riders posting about broken rails. It must be a design flaw. Check out the other saddle reviews.
Similar Products Used: WTB SST Kevlar; Specialized OEM on the 1999 FSR; Bontreager saddle that's OEM on Trek STP 200 (nice saddle)
Bike Setup: 2000 Trek STP 200 w/ Marzocchi Z2 Atom bomb & Race Face headset (you must replace that cheesy OEM headset) 1999 Specialized FSR XC w/ Mountain Speed X-Rated bearing kit (you must have the bearing kit) w/ Marzocchi Z1 drop-off
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Submitted by
Baron von Big Ring
a Racer
from Wisconsn
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2000
Strengths: Super Comfy, Cutouts underneith, light, kevlar protection on the corners (ARC Dual Density Pro, women's version)
Weaknesses: Not available mail order
Bottom Line:
Best saddle I have ridden to date. Its held up well on my hardtail. I want to put one on my dual suspension bike but I'm worried about bending the rails. Seats take much more of a beating due to being seated more on the dually...I've already bent my beloved Vetta TT. I also plan on putting one on my road bike.
I have the narrow women's version (which as a 155# man) I find extremely comfortable.
I've got a 60 year old bony butt and I'm a new rider. I recently finished my first 100 miler in horrid wind conditions and was never aware of this fine saddle. (Maybe it was the distraction of the wind.) It was just there all day and no matter how I sat on it it was comfortable. My bike has a stiff ride to begin with and I was concerned that I might get pretty sore by the end of the day. I needn't have worried. Definitly a perfect choice for an older man with not much experience.
I have the Avocet Touring on my commute bike and I love it but after 50 miles it becomes uncomfortable, especially if I need to get on the drops in a headwind. After 100 miles the Serfas felt like I could have done another 100 miles.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Body Geometry, Avocet Touring
Bike Setup: Specialized Allez A1, Serfas RX, SPDM-434
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Submitted by
cdale
a Cross Country Rider
from scottdale, PA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000
Strengths: Cost, weight, looks, durable
Weaknesses: i had a crash and bent the rail out of the seat so i gave serfas a call and they gave me a new one free within weeks. no questions asked. great service.
Bottom Line:
this seat is so great. i got the serfas arc dual density for $50. i've tried many seats and the serfas is the best by far. it's so comfy i never have any pain at all and every other seat i tried gave me pain. none of the stiching ever came out. it is skinny so its so easy to get behind. it's light weight and looks cool. i highly recommend this seat for cross country riders.
This review is for the Pro Duel Density RDG and Women's Pro Density Sweet saddle. I had the mail order company deliver straight to my work place and as soon as I took it out of the box, two buddies already wanted to ride it. The RDG is definitely the most comfortable saddle of the five I have ridden over the past few years. It sports a deep but not overly noticeable groove down the center, generous cutouts, and cushy tailbone pads. The best thing is it looks like a race saddle while still being so comfortable that you essentially forget about it while riding. I know that saddles are a personal preference thing, but let's face it, some designs are better than others. By the way, if you are looking for an awesome women's saddle, my wife rides the pro duel density / women. She loves it.