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Home | Product Reviews | Saddle | Fizik Gobi | ||||
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Submitted by
BartSimpson
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: 3/2/2008 7:28:48 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | Great quality, light weight |
| Weaknesses: | Uncomfortable |
| Similar Products Tried: | Various |
| Bike Setup: | Orange 5 custom |
| Bottom Line: | I bought this saddle on the basis of all the good reviews it had received, and alas also on recommendation by a friend. However, no matter how I adjusted it, sitting on it was akin to mounting a bad tree stump in the woods. I guess my arse is misshapen or something... |
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Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Farnham, UK
Date Reviewed: 11/14/2007 5:03:12 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $90 |
| Purchased At: | secondhand |
| Strengths: | This is a narrow saddle which dispenses with all those nonsense slots and cut-outs and fits like a glove. It's the only saddle I've ridden which puts the pressure over such a long area. For me, all of the modern "flat" style saddles with silly cut-outs put intense pressure on a very small part of the pelvis. This results in sores and boils on sit bones. The Gobi is just superb, it's narrow curved shape really spreads the load. - Yet still hardly any pressure on the perineum. (Who needs cut-outs?). |
| Weaknesses: | None |
| Similar Products Tried: | WTB race Titec Ithys Gove Selle Italia Fluid Similar unbranded ones - all just as bad! |
| Bike Setup: | Alloy hardtail, off-raod. Saddle set slightly low at the front. You need to sit well back on the Gobi for it to work. |
| Bottom Line: | This is the best saddle I've ever had. |
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Submitted by
Leonard
a Cross Country Rider
from the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: 11/11/2007 12:44:27 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | * comfy * light * wing flex * looks |
| Weaknesses: | * price * not allround: XC only |
| Similar Products Tried: | selle italia, fizik pave, san marco, bbb, and lots and lots more. |
| Bike Setup: | Cube Elite SCR |
| Bottom Line: | If you are a XC rider, BUY THIS SADDLE. Light and comfy, together! |
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Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from manchester, ct , u.s.a.
Date Reviewed: 10/7/2007 2:02:11 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | case mountain |
| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Price Paid: | $100 |
| Purchased At: | bens cycle |
| Strengths: | the tail flex,side flex,long nose |
| Weaknesses: | NONE |
| Similar Products Tried: | fizik aliente,selle san marco & aspide,specialized gel toupe |
| Bike Setup: | scandium kona kula primo,all xtr & bontrager xxx lite components |
| Bottom Line: | this is hands down the best xc saddle ever.i've tried a lot of saddles (fizik aliente,selle san marco & aspide,specialized gel toupe) and just keep going back to the gobi.i'm a heavier rider (185 lbs.) and the flex in this saddle is great.this is the only saddle out that has tail flex and i love it.all other saddles i've tried are flat and my lower back starts to hurt about 10 miles into the rides, with the tail flex it doesn't bother me at all because of the flexing.it also has the wing flex to so there is no thigh rubbing.at 185lbs. this saddle flexes but not to much to cause sag in the saddle.the only draw back,if you call it that,is that the gobi weighs 250grams.my bike weighs 19lbs , so i've tried lighter saddles to cut weight to get in the 18lb. range but it's not worth it.the gobi only weighs 50grams more than other saddles but the results from this saddle are well worth the 50grams.this is my second gobi and i have nothing but great things to say about it.also at only $100 it's cheaper than other saddles.i've payed $250 for a saddle before and it didn't hold up against the gobi.after 25 to 30 mile rides you still don't hurt from this saddle due to the tail and wing flex.i HIGHLY recommend this saddle if your looking for a great xc saddle and it is also a great value at $100. 5 flaming chilis for value and rating!!! |
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: 8/21/2007 11:54:50 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Sparrow Hill |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | Light, comfy... |
| Weaknesses: | Shape wrong for me... |
| Similar Products Tried: | Fizik Arione, Selle Italia C2 Gel |
| Bike Setup: | Was using it on my road bike. |
| Bottom Line: | Overall it was a fairly comfy saddle, and thought I was going to really like it after my first few rides. In the end, I just didn't like the shape. I prefer flat saddles like the Arione. If you like something which back raises up, and nose raises up too, then this would be the saddle for you. If you like something flat. Run away... |
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Submitted by
Micrastur
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: 8/18/2007 7:42:18 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Jesusita or Knapp's Castle? |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Purchased At: | Velo Pro |
| Strengths: | light comfortable the wings don't get in the way of my thighs kevlar on the back sleek look |
| Weaknesses: | no saddle should cost this much sharp nose (a bad steep uphill dismount can end up very, very wrong) they could have used staples in addition to the glue needs something to protect the underside of the nose edges from chafing and wearing through. |
| Similar Products Tried: | WTB original style: like riding on a road button WTB Devo: like riding on a plastic bench WTB Pure V: nice chair, too wide WTB Laser V: Just fine, but my Gobi feels better Fizik Aliante: Superfantasic, but I can't afford one. Terry Fly: Slid off the two ass-bulges at the back, forced to ride the nose! And the stiches broke through the leather to boot. |
| Bike Setup: | S-works FSR XC, purdy nice, beefed up in the front |
| Bottom Line: | You should be scared by the shape of this saddle, some people find it intolerable, but this is the most comfortable sliver of padding I've ever laid my cheeks on. |
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Submitted by
Carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: 8/17/2007 8:17:56 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Boulder Park |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $109 |
| Purchased At: | RBM Frisco |
| Strengths: | Comfort! |
| Weaknesses: | Maybe price. |
| Similar Products Tried: | WTB Speed V, WTB Laser V Race, WTB Pure V SLT |
| Bike Setup: | 07 Epic Comp |
| Bottom Line: | I started riding about a year ago. My old bike had a Speed V on it that I thought was pretty comfy. When I got my Epic, I wanted the same seat, but lighter. So, I got the Laser V. For some reason, it just didn't work. So, I thought that going wider and thicker would help. Pure V. It was more comfy, but it really bothered my thighs when riding ... it was too wide. I went to RBM looking for something new. I thought there was no way I was going to like something as narrow and hard-looking as the Gobi. One of the sales guys talked me into trying it. He told me to bring it back, if it didn't work. It was more $$ than I wanted to spend, but I needed to try something. WOW! I still can't believe how comfy this seat is. It's narrow enough to let my legs move freely yet padded enough to be comfortable for the rear end. It's not nearly as rigid as it looks. I'm 5' 8", 175lbs for reference. I recommend that even if you don't think you'd like a narrow saddle, give it a try. It will surprise you. Perhaps if you're a clyde, this might not be your first choice, but you never know. 4 chilis for value because how in the world can the materials and labor to make a saddle be more than $50??? 5 chilis overall because this is the market we live in and relative to other saddles I've tried, it was worth it! |
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Submitted by
Pink Dragon
a Cross Country Rider
from Warsaw
Date Reviewed: 7/29/2007 8:02:44 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | COMFORT, very very comfortable saddle |
| Weaknesses: | none |
| Similar Products Tried: | Velo Carbon (painful) |
| Bike Setup: | Hardtail Kona Full Scott |
| Bottom Line: | If u wanna great and comfort sadle you must buy it. You can ride on it without cycling pants, and the wing flex real works, and its perfect saddle |
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Fleet, Hants, UK
Date Reviewed: 6/18/2007 7:14:44 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | It's a secret ! |
| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Price Paid: | $160 |
| Purchased At: | Cycle Kingdom |
| Strengths: | Light and kind on your rear. |
| Weaknesses: | It creaks . . . and so did the last 2 it's replaced. The stitching/gluing is also poor. |
| Similar Products Tried: | WTB, Selle, Club Roost |
| Bike Setup: | '05 Spesh Enduro S-Works, Fox 36, DHX 5 Air etc. |
| Bottom Line: | It creaks . . . and the stitched/glued seams fall apart after only a few months riding. Don't get me wrong, it performs in all other areas, it's really comfy, great for your bot on long rides and looks cool (when new). However, I'm one of those that likes my bike to run smooth and quietly, especially on the climbs when you're digging in. My local bike shop replaced my last two due to them falling apart. Now I have a third and this one creaks too and not just a small creak either. And no, it ain't my seat post either. Am I just unlucky to get 3 duff saddles in a row because no other review I've read mentions the dreaded creaking? 3 in a row says 'no' to me. My advice is this, if you're like me and get distacted by squeaks and creaks, don't get this saddle + plus the stitching/gluing comes apart. Mental comfort sometimes outways physical comfort and if this applies to you, don't get this saddle, it will drive you nuts. |
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Submitted by
Basil Chua
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: 4/28/2007 9:54:11 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $110 |
| Strengths: | Light weight. Fitting. Crash proof. Cushion. |
| Similar Products Tried: | WTB. Selle Italia Trans Am. |
| Bike Setup: | GIANT XTC Team fitted with Thomson Elite stem. |
| Bottom Line: | The Gobi saddle is at its best when you ride offroad. The wing flex cushions your bottom as you ride, absorbing the trail undulations. The bottom line: it's the best shock butt absorber I've experienced. Crashed once. Not a sign of scratch with the side protection. Brilliant design! It's money well spent. Well done, FIZIK! |
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Submitted by
Norman
a Cross Country Rider
from Fredericton
Date Reviewed: 4/13/2007 4:38:46 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 2 Years |
| Purchased At: | LBS |
| Strengths: | Comfort, comfort, comfort. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Various |
| Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur |
| Bottom Line: | This is the most comfortable saddle I've ever used in terms of butt comfort, road or mtb. It came stock on my Blur, but that must have been 1st generation - it didn't have the cordura scuff guards at the back and the leather wasn't anywhere near durable enough for mtb'ing and soon sharp plastic bits were poking out. But it was so comfy that I got another when the new version with cordura came out. I had it on my road bike for a while, and it gave great butt comfort even on long rides and great freedom of motion (no saddle sores), but I got numbness -- personally, I need a cutout on the road bike. If you're not prone to numbness I'd recommend it for the road. Numbness isn't an issue for me on the mtb. The butt comfort is fantastic and with the cordura durability is good. |
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Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: 3/2/2007 12:54:34 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $29 |
| Purchased At: | Ebay |
| Strengths: | Light, comfortable. |
| Weaknesses: | Retail price is steep. |
| Similar Products Tried: | many |
| Bike Setup: | 1971 Fiorelli Campionissimo, 1995 Kona Kula Primo, 1993 Giant CFM 3. |
| Bottom Line: | I had this saddle on my cross-country bike which I put away for the winter after the roads became too salty. I built an old Giant CFM 3 into a decent winter bike and I put on a cheap Cannondale saddle I wasn't using. I believe the rails on the Cannondale were aluminum. The CFM 3 has carbon fibre main tubes but the chainstay and seatstay are built out of beefy solid aluminum. On top of that, I ride this bike in temperatures as low as -20 celsius, and at that temperature the Marzocchi MZ Comp fork just freezes right up. The ride could be called unforgiving at best. After several rides on the winter bike my prostate was getting very sore. I never had any such issues on the Gobi so I swapped the Fizik saddle in for the Cannondale. The difference was amazing. My prostate has been fine ever since, which was the main reason for the swap, but the difference in the ride quality and comfort was truly astounding. Now I can stay seated over the roughest paths where I previously had to stand because the other seat would transmit too much information to my backside. There is so much give in the titanium rails that I wonder if at some point they aren't just going to snap. When I bought that saddle I was 204 lbs and I now weigh 182 so if it were going to give it probably would have done so by now. No saddle is going to fit everybody but for my smaller bum (and prostate) this saddle is awesome. Some people might complain that there isn't alot of padding on this seat but I've gone on some long rides on this saddle and I've never felt uncomfortable on it. Because I got such a good deal I can't give any less than 5 flaming chilis all around! |
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Submitted by
jason
a Racer
from bracknell UK
Date Reviewed: 12/16/2006 10:49:04 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $70 |
| Purchased At: | wiggle |
| Strengths: | strong, light,very comfy once broken in |
| Weaknesses: | can scuff easily on nose |
| Similar Products Tried: | bonti, selle italia |
| Bike Setup: | gary fisher marlin, reba forks,lx running gear, bonti rims, mich dry2 tyres |
| Bottom Line: | give it about 5-6hrs of riding and get the nose slightly up and it gets very comfy all most more than big squishy DH saddles!! |
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Submitted by
David Kimsey
from Indiananapolis, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: 10/9/2006 10:15:37 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Hot Loop Trail, Sedona, AZ |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $85 |
| Purchased At: | eBay |
| Strengths: | Nice leather, Made in Itally, Ti rails. Looks clean and simple. Long nose. The only seat that has ever "Cupped my Butt" It really feels great when the bike pushes through corners and ride over long bumpy trails. I dont get butt fatiuge as fast with seat. The best I have used yet. Much softer than my Fizik Nisene. |
| Weaknesses: | Gobi and Wing Flex Decals wear off after 3rd-4th ride. I expected it since they were placed on side of seat nose |
| Similar Products Tried: | Fizik Nisene Cow seat |
| Bike Setup: | 1999 Intense Tracer, Full 05 XTR, Chris King/317 wheelset, Custom Carbon Lefty fork. Easton Carbon seatpost, riser bar. Stiffy Stem |
| Bottom Line: | Great seat it's home resides on both my Mootaineer and Tracer. Get the version with the Kevlar back. It resists tears better than than the all leather one. |
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Submitted by
JP
a Weekend Warrior
from Finland
Date Reviewed: 10/3/2006 9:02:35 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Price Paid: | $95 |
| Purchased At: | a German webstore |
| Strengths: | -Comfort -Flexible tail -Padded nose -Weight/Strength ratio -Street cred on road, too ;) |
| Weaknesses: | -Wear & tear in the tail section -Nylon lining in the back end: hard to keep it clean |
| Similar Products Tried: | Various MTB and road seats: Selle Royal, Fizik, generic. |
| Bike Setup: | Cannondale R900 & Cannondale 1FG, w/ Tune Starkes Stũck seatpost. |
| Bottom Line: | I think this seat was originally designed for downhill racing: and no doubt it withstands such punishment. I've used it for single speed mountain biking and road riding. For both applications, it serves great. Comfy curved shape (suits my bottom). No creaking whatsoever (w/ Tune seatpost). Generously padded nose makes it comfortable to ride it 'on the rivets', at the tip of the seat. The very tail flexes noticeably, making it cushy over harsh terrain. It's not too heavy either considering how sturdy it is. Can't objectively tell whether the (very attractive) titanium railing is just form over function. My only grunt comes from the finish of the lining at the back of the seat: it's glued with not so elegant finish and being exposed to water, mud and soggy snow, the gluing came apart. Also, even being grippy, the nylon lining in the rear gathers a lot of sand and dirt. Not a biggie though. Got to give it a full five on value. A slightly more careful finish and I would've rated it outstanding overall, now it's just great... rating it purely for functionality it's by far the best seat I've used. |
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Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: 8/8/2006 2:27:02 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Aston Hill and Epping Forest |
| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $129 |
| Purchased At: | A bike shop |
| Strengths: | Light , Super Comfy, Thigh guides that prevent chafing. |
| Weaknesses: | My friend had the same saddle and it split when he propped it up against a wall after a year of use, but Fizik replaced it. :) No other weaknesses apart from takes some time to get used to. |
| Similar Products Tried: | A few other Fizik saddles. |
| Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic with fox forks, hope parts, magura discs, and some easton parts and handlebar. |
| Bottom Line: | Great saddle, the best that I've ever used. Maybe a bit long , but it is really comfy when you get used to it (after a few weeks of riding) and my bum doesn't hurt the next day if I go riding again! Serious XC rider? This is a must buy saddle! |
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Submitted by
David Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane,QLD,Australia
Date Reviewed: 6/25/2006 5:54:50 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Anywhere |
| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $146 |
| Purchased At: | Epic Cycles ,Brisbane. |
| Strengths: | Relatively light,well made and seems to be durable. |
| Weaknesses: | None yet. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Fizik Nisene and Fizik Plateau |
| Bike Setup: | Standard apart from Salsa seatpost. |
| Bottom Line: | I am 6'1" and 90kg and this saddle is the most comfortable i have ever used.Narrow so no chaffing on the inside of your legs and very easy to change position for weight transfer. Places you right on your sit bones so good for those long epic rides. |
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Submitted by
rudy selman
a Weekend Warrior
from san diego,cali
Date Reviewed: 6/17/2006 12:38:29 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $3435 |
| Purchased At: | rei |
| Strengths: | i dont know,you can sit on it? |
| Weaknesses: | this thing hurts, it came stock on my 1mx and i probably just need to take the time to get used to it but damn it is really uncomfortable |
| Bike Setup: | prophet 1mx |
| Bottom Line: | unless u have a really fat cushiony butt or are already used to these kinda seats i would look elsewhere |
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