Back by popular demand after a six year hiatus! The distinctive drop-nose design gives riders much more freedom of movement–to the tip of the nose on steep climbs, for example–and greatly decreases the chance of snagging baggy shorts while maneuvering rough singletrack.
Submitted by
ClayP
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2012
Strengths: durable
Weaknesses: not comfortable, rails too far back for adjustability
Bottom Line:
I never liked this saddle - it did not fit me well. There is limited fore-aft adjustability compared to other saddles. It has held up well over 10 years though
Similar Products Used: San Marco Aspide, SDG Formula FXR, Selle Flite, Specialized Phenom
Bike Setup: 97 Team LTS
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Submitted by
Ron Kopald
a Cross Country Rider
from Hillsboro, OR USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2011
Strengths: Lasted practically forever, very comfortable, tough as hell
Weaknesses: It's not made any more
Bottom Line:
Full disclosure: This is a review/Irish wake.
My SST98 has been crowning my old war horse since 1998. So..that's 13 years of service from ONE saddle. Impressive. and I've put lots o' miles on this thing. Granted this may sound like ancient mountain biking pre-history, but it's all true. After the comfortable as nails stock Ritchey saddle I had on my Bridgestone finally made my ass surrender, I went through several other saddles. I had an early incarnation of a Specialized channeled saddle that lasted ~1&1/2 seasons before crapping out on me. Then there was an old Bontrager that was fine but I didn't like, a couple others I can't remember, then finally this one. I love this saddle. Funny thing is, I didn't know until 2 weeks ago when I was forced to consider a replacement for it, that it was made in Italy and other people loved it as much as I do. This saddle has been through hell and high water and it's shined for all of it. The only reason I'm replacing it is that it's become ragged. This was the greatest saddle I've ever owned. I put trail miles, road miles, commute miles and drunken bar miles on it, and it was there for every single one of my adventures. I cannot state how much this saddle has been through and how happy I've been with it. I just replaced it with a Fizik Arione, so we'll see how that goes. But based on how well crafted the Italian produced SST98 was, I suspect the Arione is going to be around a long time.
Similar Products Used: WTB Rocket V Specialized, Botnrager, Ritchey.
Bike Setup: 91 Bridgestone MB1 "Frankensteined"
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Submitted by
Bill Kirby
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2009
Strengths: Long lasting and very comfortable. Also like the high quality leather and durable kevlar corner protectors
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I've been riding this saddle for 7 years on a regular basis and still love it. Would like to buy another, but can't find them - not even online. Wish WTB still made as high quality a saddle, but the new ones aren't nearly as well made : (. I could be happy riding this saddle for the rest of my years. After riding several different saddles, I've learned that you get what you pay for. A quality saddle is worth every penny - especially if you want to avoid injuries or nerve problems and numbness. My advice, don't be duped by similar WTB saddles; they are not as comfortable or long lasting. However, if you can find an SST.98 Buy It.
Similar Products Used: Brooks, Avocet, Fizik - but none compare
Bike Setup: Specialized Epic, Moots Titanium YYB, Scott Carbon full suspension
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Submitted by
Doug Gunther
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO USA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2007
Strengths: elastomer cushions between the rails and seat soften the ride. Quality Leather cover, curved nose prevents snagging shorts when going from standing to seated.
Weaknesses: No longer made. Hard to find.
Bottom Line:
Don't confuse the SST.98 with the SST or SST.2K - these saddles are not as well-made or comfortable as the SST.98. WTB originally contracted with an Italian saddle maker known for their fine leather craftsmanship to make the expensive SST.98 saddles. This saddle is extremely comfortable thanks to the unique orange elastomers that significantly reduce vibration between the rails and saddle body. It also has a softer "Comfort Zone" to relieve pressure against the perineum that can cause numbness. (This is the part of the body that contains the nerves and arteries to the genitals.) WTB stopped making the SST.98 saddle because even at a suggested sellling price of $140, it was too expensive to make and so they lost money on it. I've enjoyed the same WTB SST.98 saddle for the past 8 years! It continues to keep me comfortable now on my third bike. If I could find another one of these covetted saddles, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. It is such a good saddle, WTB couldn't afford to keep making them. It is the best saddle WTB ever made.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Blurr with XT, Mavic, and Sram
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Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2004
Strengths: Durable, light, famous WTB drop-nose, gonad cutout hidden beneath shell, strong leather, good kevlar edges, firm but effective padding, gripper section at back for hike-a-bikes.
Weaknesses: No longer available
Bottom Line:
Not having yet tried a WTB Pure V, this is the best of the WTB saddles. It's not squishy, yet comfortable for long rides, it's light, but durable and it has a stealth cutout to protect you from pressure on the 'nads. This saddle is so good that I searched the 'net for another when I got a new bike --the SST 2k I found is a facsimile and NOT nearly as good, see my review on that.
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002
Strengths: It's a WTB. It's light. It works as advertised.
Weaknesses: Friggin hurts my arse.
Bottom Line:
My butt has always hurt on this saddle. I have a WTB Laser V Stealth on my newer Yeti ASR and it is just so much kinder. The cover is just beginning to come off (4-yrs old) as it has held up pretty well. Bottom line: get the Laser V.
Similar Products Used: WTB Laser V Stealth (which is so nice).
Bike Setup: This saddle is on my '92 rigid Bontrager w/ XT top-shifters/XTR drivetrain. King headset. Crossmax wheels.
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Submitted by
GRR
a Cross Country Rider
from Panama
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002
Strengths: Light (Ti rails), good quality, SST shape is supreme, very confort, italian craftmanship, CHEAP.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
I can't believe what I paid!! It was a real steal. Maybe they didn't know what a great saddle they were givin away. Saddle is a very personal taste. I'm 5'8" and 155 lbs. and this is the best saddle I've tried in my 20 year cycling experience. I don't know much about the tech crap involved in saddles lately, so I read your reviews and decided to try the SST.98 Thanks people, because this saddle is now my best companion of long rides. I'd give 10 flames for value rating and overall rating.
after 2 years one of the ti rails snapped, I contacted wtb and they said send it back for repair, a month later I had the seat back with new ti rails...great customer service
Similar Products Used: vetta, cane creek, avocet air,
Bike Setup: sworks fsr, all xtr, rockshox sid, cane creek wheels
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Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Oak Park, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001
Strengths: VERY Comfy, easy on-off, drop nose doesn't snag pants, nice and light.. GOOD workmanship
Weaknesses: Weaknesses!!! Weaknesses!!! We don't need no stinking weeknesses
Bottom Line:
Best, most comfortable saddle I have EVER ridden.. I weigh 200 lbs and haven't broken it... Maybe I am a little bit less "gonzo" than some.. who knows.. I am real happy...I am going to buy one for my road bike and sell the Selle Italia Trans-Am on e-bay
Strengths: Very comfy, great nose dive for climbing, good looks
Weaknesses: Expensive!
Bottom Line:
You know the saying, "You get what you pay for". Well, we all know it doesn't always hold true. But for this saddle it does. It's pricey but my arse has never been happier. I do long rides on rough trails, and on an aluminum hardtail it can take its toll on your rear end.
This saddle allows me to stay seated and comfortable, especially on the climbing where it counts. TFor those who were baggies (me) the big nose-drop keeps your shorts from getting caught when you slide back and forth on the seat, and really lets you move forward and stay seated on the climbs. On the descents I like the wider feel of this saddle becasue I am able to grip it with my thighs and really move the bike around.
I read lots of reviews before buying this because I don't have money growing in pots around the house. The first day out was a break-in day, and I was a little skeptical. But the second day I was singing this seat's praises. I actually get compliments on how it looks on my bike, and that's from people who don't even ride!
Bike Setup: Klein Hardtail, XT, Thomson, everything else is stock
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Submitted by
prc
a Cross Country Rider
from Batalha Portugal
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2001
Strengths: Basically everything: Good pading, durable, comfy on long rides, Comfort Zone really works.
Weaknesses: My belove no longer exists (crash), price, no longer made.
Bottom Line:
I guess the saddle comfort really depends on your butt. I really never liked the Flite, always had a good experience with the SST format saddles (more comfy than the SST.X. This was the best saddle I ever had, need to get another! Took a fall and the nose of the 98 smacked directly into a tree, broke the saddle and the seatpost. Didn't have the problem with the Ti rails that some of the guys mentioned and I way 235lbs. I'd definitely recomend this saddle to anyone
Similar Products Used: Most WTB saddles, Bontrager, and a selle italia flite
Bike Setup: Hot Chili Lite Rage, XTR, RF Turbine, Hope Discs
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Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette, CA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2000
Strengths: Nose design and appropriate volume and placement of padding.
Weaknesses: kevlar fabric delaminating from the saddle. Same as the other WTB saddles I've had
Bottom Line:
At 210# this Saddle has held up well. On steep climbs the elongated padded drop nose provides the proper positioning and limits traction loss. As with other reviewers...yes the fabric is peeling off. The same thing happened on the SST I had. Just a little glue will do. Having a full suspension set-up I doubt I'll see any issue with the seat rails breaking.
Strengths: Durable & extremely comfortable on long rides. Ti rails do absorb some vibrations.
Weaknesses: NOT for the XXL folk.
Bottom Line:
Great seat for those riders under 180lbs. If you're over 180, WTB does put out a Vandium railed version which is stiffer (and friends have liked very much). I read some of "less positive" reviews below, but I have had no problems over the past 2 years. I've been pretty harsh on this seat, but its still going strong. Plus....its pretty damn comfortable.
Similar Products Used: Serfas Kevlar, other WTB saddles
Bike Setup: Litespeed, XTR, Marzocchi Z2-BAM
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Leicester
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2000
Strengths: Durable and comfortable over long distances.
Weaknesses: a few tears in the cover (after 3 years, though)
Bottom Line:
I rode around the karakorum and hindu-kush in north pakistan on this saddle over many many miles. once you break it in (or your bum) it's fine. and no I don't have callusses on my arse, thankyou!
It's in the bin now but thankfully i have a new bike with the new WTB SST "with comfort zone".. I am happy once again.
