Description:SELLE ITALIA's MAX FLITE uses a suspension that gives all-over cushioning without any moving mechanical parts. The front of the saddle features a combination of “Active Suspension” and “shock absorber”. Inserting the rail into a “wing” located on each side creates suspension in the rear of the MAX FLITE. Also available is the MAX FLITE TRANS AM with extra padding and “Specific Soft Tissue Relief” design that reduces pressure in the soft tissue area.
Submitted by
gunner
a Cross Country Rider
from marietta GA usa Date Reviewed: February 22, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
very light weight and cool looking
Weaknesses:
stiff, no padding and the leather starts to peel off after a while
Bike Setup:
trek 4300 flat carbon bars eggbeaters lx and xt drive train saches new success hubs
Bottom Line:
great saddle for racing but not for just a leasure ride
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Submitted by
Rex Paladin
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Rosa, CA, USA Date Reviewed: June 2, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
beautiful construction, its italian and comes in red, its fairly comfy, its a comfort saddle that doesn't look like a "cruiser saddle", oh and did I mention it comes in red...
Weaknesses:
its just "fairly" comfy, it has a fairly high suggested retail price of over $129.99 but I imagine you can always find it for less as I did...
Similar Products Used:
a cheapo original equipment Schwinn seat made of faux cast iron that I got off ebay just to get my bike on the road...after several hundred miles on that, anything was an improvement.
Bike Setup:
2000 Schwinn Homegrown HT Frame (in red), Race Face Next LP Crank (in red) spinning Crank Brothers Hans Rey 5050 XX Rasta platforms, Rock Shox Recon 351 Fork, Ahead ICBM Headset, SRAM PG-990 Cassette with red spider, SRAM X.7 derailleurs and triggers, Avid Single Digit Ultimate brakes with Speed Dial Ultimate Levers, Race Face Next XC Carbon Seatpost, Race Face Next XC Carbon Riser Bar lovingly held by a Deus XC stem, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires (in red) mounted on Bontrager Modified Race Wheelset (in red), Selle Italia Max Flite Saddle (you guessed it...in red)
Bottom Line:
Ok I admit it, my main draw to this saddle was that it came in bright red. I was obsessed with sticking as close as possible to the "red" theme on my Homegrown build. It also helped that this seat was billed as a comfort seat for larger riders as I am currently pegging the scale at 215#. The gell cushioning seems to fall directly under my sit bones while the cutout serves its intended purpose well. The seat does flex well which helps provide a good buffer between my butt and the bumps. All in all I am happy with my selection and it really looks beautiful on my red bike as I get stares and compliments everytime I ride. If your a big guy and want a beautiful comfortable saddle that is easy on your but give the Max Flite a go. I give 4 (red) chillies for value based upon its fairly high suggested retail price (even though you can always find it for less). I give 4 (red) chillies for overall rating since it met my needs well but most would probably be less obsessed with the asthetics of the saddle than I was.
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Submitted by
Robert Fehse
a Cross Country Rider
from Garland Texas Date Reviewed: August 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Rowlett
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
good quality, stiff, durable, great leather i am 205lbs and it held up good for me even afer hard hits
Weaknesses:
It is very hard after a while and makes noise if you move on it
Similar Products Used:
vette ti selle flite ti
Bike Setup:
Team Marin with a Bergmann Fork (now that is a fork no wrench on it in 3 years)Magura brakes XTR
Bottom Line:
Its a good saddle but its more at home on the road, its too hard to ride off road. buy it for the road or if you have a real soft fsb
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Submitted by
john
a Weekend Warrior
from windsor Ct Date Reviewed: October 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:
wells woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
Cambria bike shop cambria, CA(dont buy from here bad customer service sent me wrong parts etc...)
Strengths:
Looks, weight, comfy after breakin time
Weaknesses:
Break in time, nose is hard, broke after 2 months
Similar Products Used:
fs+10, sella italia flite, wtb sst.x2
Bike Setup:
2000 gary fisher supercaliber, sid race, full xt, some xtr.
Bottom Line:
I liked the seat when i got it it was a little hard but once the seat broke in it was great. until right above where the pipe enters the shell in the rear the plastic cracked all the way from the rear middle half way down the seat. i was just riding it no crashes on it. i was dissapointed but im gonna get a new one on warranty and give them another shot. if it happens again sella italia no more. 3 chilis cause it was nice when it wasnt broken but it broke and thats no good.
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Submitted by
T.J.
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern Illinois Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Iron Mtn. and Kettle-Morain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
Pricepoint.com
Strengths:
Excellent craftsmanship,Great styling...
Weaknesses:
A little hard up in the "nose area" of this saddle...
Similar Products Used:
Have used the WTB SSTx for 2 yrs.,but will switch over to Selle Italia "Max flite" on a full-time basis now...
Bike Setup:
"Access Alu" W/lx and xt components,Manitou SXr front end, Kore-lite Bar and stem,Selle max flite,IRC Mythos 2.1's on Mavic rim's...
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent saddle,It performs about as good as it look's.At first glance when looking at this saddle, it's almost a shame to put your "butt" down on it, because the style,look, and craftsmanship is so good on this thing. I ride 40mi. long hauls in this saddle with very little discomfort.In general this saddle is very light, but feels pretty plush, the only gripe I have is, that the front end "Nose area" is a bit hard, but nothing too bad as I don't find myself on that region of the saddle too much.The "Gel" area in the center works very well and the shape of the rear area of this saddle offers alot in way of position-change if you like to move around the saddle alot when going around "switch backs" etc.I have the "Vanadium" rail's on my MaxFlite,and I'm about 175Lbs.this saddle is as strong as hell and I expect to get mucho miles out of it. I'd like to give this piece of art 5 flamin' jalapenos for craftsmanship and value amd 4 flamin' jalapenos for overall. I will though, go for a full "10" if Selle will promise to push a bit more stuffing up in the "nose" next time.
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Submitted by
Erik van Lier
a Weekend Warrior
from Driebergen Date Reviewed: June 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Local Store
Strengths:
The look
Weaknesses:
Not real leather, saddle broke on the Max point
Similar Products Used:
Giro Fizik Nisene
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Mt Tam 99
Bottom Line:
My wife used to bike with this saddle for 2 years. She weighs about 65 kg's (= 125 lbs.) and the point where the rail comes into the saddle with the word Flite broke (plastic). No warranty because it was a 4 year old model..... But we bought it 2 years ago..... So a saddle may brake in 2 years with a light person on it and just XC riding...... No more Selle Italia anymore!!
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Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Seattle Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001
Favorite Trail:
None - Road Racer
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
from a friend (I thought)
Strengths:
Weight
Weaknesses:
So painful!
Similar Products Used:
Selle San Marco (Bontrager) Race Day; Selle San Marco Squadra Chromo, Specialized OEM (not Body Geometry)
Bike Setup:
Alu Specialized Allez M2 and Airborne Zeppelin Ti -- Both with Shimano DA and Ultegra mix
Bottom Line:
Ouch! I didn't know how badly I was suffering until I got a Bontrager Race Day, then tried to swap the Max Flite with a forward seat post for Time Trials. The narrow part of this saddle sticks up and applies pressure right where you don't want it. Moreover, it applies no support to the sit bones, and I have a fairly narrow butt. This was the most painful saddle I have ever ridden.
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Submitted by
Susan
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, NJ, USA Date Reviewed: March 3, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Can you say vinyl??? I didn't even put it on my bike. I can't have a vinyl seat in hot, humid, nj summers - you can figure it out. Not worth the money... I saw in a previous review that Price Point says its a leather saddle. They admitted to me that it is synthetic leather, but won't re-imburse my shipping. I feel ripped off. Gonna by a saddle from Speed Goat - not sure which one yet - perhaps the real leather flite trans am. :)
Weaknesses:
Fake, artificial, cheapo, synthetic, stick to your buns leather.
Similar Products Used:
WTB "fake" leather seat that came on my bike
Bike Setup:
Stumpjumper M2 Rockshox, Ask my fiance the rest.
Bottom Line:
I give it only 1 chili for not being open about the synthetic leather. 1 chili to Price Point also.
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Submitted by
Kurt
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, MI Date Reviewed: December 30, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Highland
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Lightish
Weaknesses:
Doesn't absorb much shock
Similar Products Used:
Flite, San Marco Ti, Vetta Lite, Turbomatic
Bike Setup:
Breezer with Marzocchi Superfly, ESP 9.0
Bottom Line:
I've tried many different saddles for long road rides and they have performaed as follows.1. Flite, the tried the true and actually the last (and best) one I've tried. I'm staying with Flite's for a long time 2. San Marco Ti, bought a beat up one for $5, it's a reat seat. 3. Vetta Lite, many many mile on this one. It rates as an OK. 4. Flite Max. It didn't hold up to any of my expectations. Seemed even rougher than the Vetta lite. 5. Turbomatic, this one only lasted a couple of rides. We simply did not agree.
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross-Country Rider
from Arlington, TX Date Reviewed: September 2, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light
Weaknesses:
weak rails synthetic leather cover
Similar Products Used:
Flight Flight Gel Vetta SL WTB SST
Bike Setup:
Specialized Hard Tail
Bottom Line:
I paid $40 for this saddle from Price Point who assured me that it was a leather cover. When I received it, the contrary was true. I called Price Point and they argued with me assuring me that it was indeed a leather cover....NOT. I also ordered 5 other saddles from them and picked the best one, which in my opinion is the Flight. Flight Gel is OK, but not worth the money. Flight is also lightest by over 25 grams.
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Submitted by
Tony
a Cross-Country Rider
from New York Date Reviewed: May 17, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Forest Park for those who know...
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Strong as hell. Looks spectacular. Top notch workmanship. ***Customer service is second to none:)***
Weaknesses:
Takes a while to break in.
Similar Products Used:
Various Trek saddles. Bontrager saddles. Specialized saddles.
Bike Setup:
96' yellow alu. frame tricked out to the max.
Bottom Line:
This saddle was a gift it was the sky blue one with the gel spots (very nice, very expensive), it's only weakness is that you have to break it in. On the up side it is one of the strongest saddles out, the Vanadium rails never bend and the leather never comes off. The kevlar edges hold up to all types of mountain abuse and never ripped except... I was cycling on the New York bike tour and on a downhill doing 30 and somebody up front crashed, thus sending me into someone else. I proceded to smash into a rather large pothole with two other cyclists and on impact I came off my cleats and was thus sent flying. Going back to my bike aside from some bloody scratches and a bent front rim I thought my bike was fine, I found my loved sella saddle had snapped off from it's rails. Sending it back to Mike from Pronet he said he'd never something like it and he sent out a replacement free of charge. with customer service like that I will never buy a saddle from another company again, I recommend these to anybody not only for great customer service but because of thier quality and style.
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Submitted by
JB
a Cross-Country Rider
from PA Date Reviewed: April 29, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
light durable suspension
Similar Products Used:
SDG WTB Vetta
Bike Setup:
Litespeed Classic Road
Bottom Line:
The best
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Crabbe
a cross-country rider
from London, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: October 18, 1998
Bottom Line:
I'm 6'4 and 260lbs, and I bent my stock seat like a pretzel. I found the Flight Max on sale at CBO for forty dollars while looking for something a little stronger. The Flight Max was cheaper than just about everything else in its class, so I bought it. At first, I found it hard and too narrow, but after a week or two, we became better acquainted, and we've been good friends ever since. I've put 500 miles on it, and it hasn't bent, hasn't creaked, hasn't misbehaved in the slightest. The suspension aspect of the seat is nice, absorbing more impact than a seat should be asked to. The only thing I'm worried about is how the suspended structure has started to sag. Perhaps my mass is slowly destroying it, or perhaps it's just slowly breaking in. This is a solid piece of hardware that has demonstrated an ability to endure serious punishment. I recommend it to anyone looking for a reasonably comfortable, rather light seat.
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Submitted by
Glen Leis
a
from cross-country rider Date Reviewed: September 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
My butt feels much better thank you very much! An excellent product. I've raced with it, done long rides, rough technical rides etc . . . under all conditions it has been very comfortable. Furthermore it's thin, making it easy to get over your back wheel for steep downhills. An excellent product.
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Submitted by
Marcelo Iannini
a racer
from Brasilia, DF, B R A Z I L Date Reviewed: October 2, 1997
Bottom Line:
The best saddle I ever ridden!!! I had ridden on Turbo's and Regal's before, the Regal was OK, the Turbo a little stiff, but I liked both. These were the only remarkable saddles I ridden. The Max is just the best, comfy, and coolest-looking. It's the most confortable saddle I did ever ride on.
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Submitted by
Drew
a cross-country rider
from Wisconsin Date Reviewed: June 16, 1997
Bottom Line:
Been thru LOTS of saddles -- Velo, Vetta (neither were comfy), SDG (good shape but too rigid and stiff for my hardtail). Avocet O2 was great on my old bike but the rails are too short and far back for proper placement on my current bike. Thought I was outta luck until the Max Flite arrived -- very comfy! I've only been riding it a week or so but I think this saddle will become even sweeter as it breaks in. I got mine new for $57.00 so it was a good deal. We'll give it a 5 chili rating.
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Submitted by
Kenjazz
a
from racer Date Reviewed: June 9, 1997
Bottom Line:
I use this saddle on my road bike. Absolutely love it.
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Submitted by
Ricky J
a cross-country rider
from California Date Reviewed: June 8, 1997
Bottom Line:
I'm using the Max Flite now on my road bike; maintains the positive aspects of lighter Flites without their bounciness under my 215 pounds...best of many I've tried on the road!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
El Man
a weekend warrior
from Seattle WA Date Reviewed: March 17, 1997
Bottom Line:
The rear of the saddle is attached to the rails by wings that flex under impacts. Personally the saddle is very comfortable but a tad too hard in the nose and 1-2 mm too narrow in the back. Nothing beats a foam cushioned leather saddle because over time it conforms to you and gets very comfy. Of course, that takes time, and the leather needs proper care to last. Ive had it for a few years and its my favorite.
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Submitted by
charles coke
a cross-country rider
from Austin, TX Date Reviewed: December 31, 1996
Bottom Line:
I had been using regular Flites for several years and have tried lots of other saddles as well, the regular Flite still my fave, so I thought a Max Flite would be even better! not. to my butt it's harder. I have tried it several times but always end up putting the old Flite back on
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Submitted by
Ronnie Ch
a cross-country rider
from California Date Reviewed: November 21, 1996
Bottom Line:
I've been using this saddle for 2 years on the road. It's a very comfortable and light seat. The sock absorbing qualities take the sting out of small bumps of ripples. It's not like another over-padded, 1 ton seat about 1 foot wide. I think this should work great great fo mountain as well as road. Hey, Armstrong uses one.
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Submitted by
Nick Wilde
a cross-country rider
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: October 28, 1996
Bottom Line:
Shucks, I had to post a review just to get the Max Flite out of the Hall of Shame.Really, I like mine - but saddles are such a personal thing, what works for one person may not for another. I like the Flite profile - it just seems to fit me well - and have regular Flites on my road and commute bikes. I bought a Max Flite about a year ago and put it on my MTB. The profile is pretty much the same as the regular flite, but it's definitely got a bit more cush - takes the sting off of sharp bumps pretty well.Like I said, it works for me. YMMV.(What's the diff 'tween cross-country and weekend-warrior, anyway?) - Nick
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Submitted by
Pieter
a
from Aus/Swe Date Reviewed: October 5, 1996
Bottom Line:
Not as good as a normal Flite - the extra padding REDUCED comfort if anything. And the extra price? I had one of the rails break too.
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Submitted by
Scott (Treeboy) Schlachter
a cross-country rider
from Los Gatos, CA Date Reviewed: June 14, 1996
Bottom Line:
This thing probably weighs half as much as any saddle that I've owned before, but yet it's pretty darn comfortable. Not as shock absorbing as I had hoped that it would be (I'm almost thinking that the simple usage of extra foam would be better than the shock absorbing components found in this and other suspension saddles). Seems pretty durable, but I think that my old Vetta Lite was a little more comfortable (it was heavy though).
$ 110.00
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