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Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Comfort, durability | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | older Shimano BG, stock Bontrager seats | | Bike Setup: | '07 Gary Fisher Tassajara, older steel frame roadie commuter | | Bottom Line: | This saddle is a great all round design. I use it every day 20km on my commuter and weekends on my hardtail on various singletrack/xc, very happy with the design and excellent value. Looks good! No numbness unlike some of the stock saddles I've used, I'm happy to say. I'm 5'11", 180lbs. Worth a try if you're looking for a saddle, if it doesn't fit you're not out a ton of money. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Coaster
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Kept hearing about it and it's true, very comfortable. A great cost for a damn good saddle. | | Weaknesses: | Not much really. Hurt like hell when I first rode on it but glad I persisted. | | Similar Products Used: | A few that are more padded and larger which makes moving around a bit tricky. | | Bike Setup: | Avanti Ridge Rider | | Bottom Line: | Heard lots about it and thought I'd take the plunge. First thought was how hard it was and after my first ride knew how hard it was!!! Sore, but kept going, made a few position changes and it's great. I commute 50km a day and XC for about 40km on the weekend and it's a gem. Amazed that something so firm can be that comfortable. Great price too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from VA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Fountain Head | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$62.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Very comfy and easy to move around on. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Stock saddles on my giant iguana and old specialized hardrock. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Giant Iguana | | Bottom Line: | I bought this saddle when the rails of the stock saddle bent. My LBS tried to sell me an equally squishy recreational saddle but I opted to pay a few bucks more for this high quality saddle at performance since it was almost $50 off. I have been very impressed with this saddle. My last saddle, despite being big and squishy would leave my butt sore for the next days ride. This saddle is smaller, firmer, and lighter weight and it is far more comfortable and I can ride it forever and not have any problems. Since it is smaller I can move my butt back behind my saddle to get my center of gravity further back on the downhill sections. This is something I couldn't do with my old big squishy saddle. I didn't know a saddle could make this much of a difference. This is an awesome seat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Redwood
a Cross Country Rider
from Eastleigh, Hampshire, UK
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Internet retailer | | Strengths: | fantastically comfortable after bed in, nice to move around on, reasonably light, looks quite cool when new, | | Weaknesses: | requires bed in period, Gets dirty, and once mucky remains mucky. stitching may give cause for concern - looks to be vulnerable | | Similar Products Used: | Generic Giant saddle | | Bike Setup: | Giant steel frame, tora forks, sram gears, mavic x221 wheels, panaracer xcpro hoops | | Bottom Line: | bought after reading the reviews, saying how comfortable it was. After an hour on the first ride, my backside felt like it had been flayed with a cat-o-nine tails. Persevered with it, and it got comfy - can now sit on it for 4 hours plus, and I might get a small ache. It seems to need a bedding in period. Now it's really really comfy. Nice to move around on, can easily slide off the back when I need to. After 2 years it looks pretty skank though - stitching is worn, but holding everything together and has turned a uniform grey colour. Rest of saddle is starting to look pretty tatty too, but it still does what it's supposed to.
ultra comfy saddle once bedded in, watch the stitching though, and don't expect it to stay looking pretty. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zachary
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | looks fast as hack and it cooshies the tooshies | | Weaknesses: | haven't found any | | Similar Products Used: | selle flite, san marco era, koski | | Bike Setup: | hardtails, one is full rigid | | Bottom Line: | This is the best thing ever to grace my seatpost. I ahve run it on my steel hardtail for 2 years and it has taken some serious abuse. It has one rip on the nose, but what do you expect when the bike bounces down the mountain off of sharp rocks! It is so durable it has outlasted some knarly crashes that folded up two seatposts. It's unheard of light for a chromo and ohhh so comfy on long in the saddle climbs. I tried to run it on my road bike but I think it was too flexy in the shell. I liked it so much that I put one on my fully rigid one speed. I haven't been disappointed and I have taken that thing through some wicked things and on 30+ mile treks. Overall I am seriously impressed. Best mountain saddle at any price! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GlowBoy
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland OR
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Somewhere deep in Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Comfy even on 4 hr rides. Still firm enough that you don't sink in too far, putting pressure in the *wrong* places. Reasonably light for its comfort level. Narrow enough to easily slide my butt over the back on descents. Love it enough that I've got it on both of my bikes. Price is cheaper than a lot of other highly rated saddles. Race model has a synthetic cover (hard to find in this quality range) so you don't have to worry about it being damaged by wet weather on top of the car. | | Weaknesses: | One of the two that I own seems to squeak a lot where the rails meet the body. At 305-310g, substantially heavier than advertised (if still reasonable). | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Rocket V Team (too hard), Laser V (just not right for me), Speed V Race and Comp (too bouncy); SI MaxFlite Gel (expensive, decent comfort but too easy to bottom out even at 170 lbs); Terry Fly (just not right for me); Performance Forte Team (too firm), Classic (padding broke down and softened too much after 3 mo.) and Countour (too flimsy). | | Bike Setup: | Vulture custom SS 29" MTB w/EBB, WB1.0 coil shock, Thudbuster, Avid discs, Mary bars. Surly Karate Monkey geared 29" commuter/adventurer w/ Mungo bars, 2x5 drivetrain in summer and 3speed internally geared disc hub in winter. | | Bottom Line: | Best one I've found, and I've tried a lot of saddles. High comfort/weight ratio, and not unreasonably priced. "Just right", offering decent padding without sinking in so much you put pressure on the wrong points. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from st louis
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Quality Bicycle Products | | Strengths: | cheap, strong, super confortable, durable | | Weaknesses: | not the lightest? some of the cover "embroidery" seems to be wearing thin, but no stitching has come loose or anything. | | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | blur and a rigid singlespeed | | Bottom Line: | It really is hard to beat this saddle for the money. granted, i paid dealer cost for it, but i like it so much that i bought a second one. it has worked well for a year on my blur, and i just put one on my fully rigid, aluminum-frame hardtail. if it can keep me comforable while riding that bike, i think that is saying something. WTB really has a good shape for their saddles - not only this saddle, but all of them. i think i may buy another one for my fixed gear commuter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff King
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Godley Head | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Comfort, weight, appearance | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | WTB SSTK | | Bike Setup: | 03 Kona Caldera, Campag K2 rims, Hope XC rear Hayes/Hugi front hub, Deore hydro discs, LX/XT drivetrain, Crank Bros Eggbeater pedals, Hope headset, Thudbuster seatpost and WTB Rocket V race seat | | Bottom Line: | This is a great seat. I thought my old SST (98) model seat was the best in the world when I bought it-then got an ergo seat for my road bike and started wondering about the whole 'love channel' business. Thinking about doing a race minus the trusty thudbuster got me wondering about a lighter, more comfortable seat for long distances and I splashed out before Christmas last year on the Rocket V. Probably the best thing I can say about this saddle is that since installing it I've simply forgotten that it's there. On a long summer cross-country ride of around 65km in 29 degree heat my butt was the only part of me that didn't hurt...coupled with the Thudbuster this seat is simply superb. An added bonus is that it looks great alongside the other custom bits on my bike... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff King
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Godley Head | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Comfort, weight, appearance | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | WTB SSTK | | Bike Setup: | 03 Kona Caldera, Campag K2 rims, Hope XC rear Hayes/Hugi front hub, Deore hydro discs, LX/XT drivetrain, Crank Bros Eggbeater pedals, Hope headset, Thudbuster seatpost and WTB Rocket V race seat | | Bottom Line: | This is a great seat. I thought my old SST (98) model seat was the best in the world when I bought it-then got an ergo seat for my road bike and started wondering about the whole 'love channel' business. Thinking about doing a race minus the trusty thudbuster got me wondering about a lighter, more comfortable seat for long distances and I splashed out before Christmas last year on the Rocket V. Probably the best thing I can say about this saddle is that since installing it I've simply forgotten that it's there. On a long summer cross-country ride of around 65km in 29 degree heat my butt was the only part of me that didn't hurt...coupled with the Thudbuster this seat is simply superb. An added bonus is that it looks great alongside the other custom bits on my bike... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Padre
a Racer
from Costa Mesa, CA
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | the Path Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Comfort, Design, Durability | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Power V, Speed V Titec Berzerker Specialized Body Geo. | | Bike Setup: | Rigid 29er Singlespeed | | Bottom Line: | Flat out, the best saddle I've ever owned. Do I ever experience pain? Sure, bound to happen after 4 hours. But, overall, it's comfy, fits well, doesn't get in the way, isn't so soft that you sink into it, but isn't too hard that it hurts...
Also, this thing is DURABLE. I've had it on my rigid SS for a year now under my 250lb body and still going strong. I'll be purchasing a new one this week for my new full-suspension 29er. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryce
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus, Ohio
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Alum Creek, Ceasars Creek & Mohican - awesome down hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | comfortable, Groove down the middle | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | None with the groove. | | Bike Setup: | Jamis XLT new bike.
Seat used on a GT Pantera. No rear shock. | | Bottom Line: | The groove in the middle is a life saver. The second I sat down on this seat I felt 10 times better than when I used my old seat. After the day of riding was over I wasnt sore at all. Its a great seat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a Weekend Warrior
from Winston-Salem
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | performancebike.com | | Strengths: | Size, shape, comfort level | | Weaknesses: | Not sure yet - see complete review below | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Telluride comp | | Bike Setup: | 01 S-Works FSR, Manitou Black, etc | | Bottom Line: | So far, so good. My first trip on this saddle started with a couple of miles to reach the trailhead, and it didn't feel too good. Kinda hard. Then I hit the trail, and boy did this thing shine! For me, it was always where I needed it to be when going from standing to sitting, easy to grab with the thighs on downhills for more control, or let it slip through to get behind for the really steep stuff. All no problem.
The second ride confirmed the first - this is an awesome saddle. I figure to minor discomfort will go away as soon as I break this thing in.
I reccommend this to anyone who likes a saddle you can move around on, or just move around. Don't know about someone who likes to stay seated all of the time. They may prefer something with a little more cush out of the box.
PS - my purchase price includes freight and tax. Performance was doing a half-price sale. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott
a Cross Country Rider
from florida
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | very comfortable. Rode a koski saddle for 1 year before I finally could not take it any more.
unbelievable low price | | Weaknesses: | supergo took more than a month to get it to me. | | Similar Products Used: | koski--like sitting on a brick | | Bike Setup: | 01 NRS | | Bottom Line: | Probably one of the most noticable upgrades on my bike.
This seat is well worth the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Lexington, KY
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS in Boulder, CO | | Strengths: | Love channel! Comfy! Nice for racing. Relatively inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | Could be lighter...but you can always buy the Ti version... | | Similar Products Used: | Cinder block with saddle rails. | | Bike Setup: | '01 Giant Rainier, all XT, Thudbuster, '04 Mavic Crossland Wheelset, Conti Explorer Supersonics, EA 70 handlebar. | | Bottom Line: | For a budget oriented racer, this is a great saddle! It's fairly lightweight, comfy, and best of all, when coupled with a suspension seatpost (say, a Thudbuster), I have the peace of mind that I'll be able to "perform" when the time comes.
Forget the Thudbuster if you have full-suspension, obviously... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tommi Bass
a Cross Country Rider
from U.K
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The streets of Cardiff, South Wales. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlincycles.co.uk | | Strengths: | It looks cool, well fabricated..super sweet on ya bum! | | Weaknesses: | I got this very cheap, fifteen quid for Merlins..at this price nothing can touch it. | | Similar Products Used: | Some real ball crushers over the years! | | Bike Setup: | Custom built hard tail, that ripps. | | Bottom Line: | I've got the old version of this saddle and it is simply the best i've owned. A month ago I had a very nasty downhill wipe out,the bike did about four spins along the ground which managed to take out the wheels and the bars.
The saddle, I reckon took a lot of puishment as it rolled down the hard pack and rocks...it's still as good as new. Well done WTB!
The version I own is the one that is black,yellow,silver. This is not a poncey as the new design of the Rocket V Race in my opion.
Its all good! Ten ripin flamin turds! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from Florida
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The lost ring | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$89.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Comfortable seat, no numbness. | | Weaknesses: | Poor stitching and seat cover quality | | Similar Products Used: | SDG, San Marco | | Bike Setup: | GT i-Drive 2.0
Trek OCLV 9900 | | Bottom Line: | This is a comfortable seat but is not worth the money if it is only going to last 6 months of good use. After 4 months the back part of the cover started to come off where the so called diamond material is. In my last MTB race the stitching separated and the cover is now ripped. This is a good seat, but will not last an entire race season. I would not buy any of the WTB seats that have all the stitching on the sides of the saddle and the nose unless they use better material. This seat is also not for the casual rider. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Outside | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | R.E.I. (On sale) | | Strengths: | Great looking and superbly designed. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy for its size but solidly constucted. | | Similar Products Used: | Titec,Fizik,Selle. | | Bike Setup: | "Old School" '95 Raleigh 7005 frame. XT drivetrain,derailleurs. DX brake levers/shifters(7 speed) STX-RC cantilever brakes(kool stop pads) LX hubs. Rhyno Lite rims. Michelin "city" slicks. Scuzzy Logic headset. Kooka xc stem. Easton EA70 bar. Manitou 4 front fork. Thomson elite seatpost. Ithys Amore saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I've used these saddles before but I'm using something else I like right now. I found one in the clearance bin at R.E.I. for $19.99 and I couldn't pass up a good deal. When my present saddle dies I'll go back to the Rocket V. Believe what you read, it's a great seat! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a
from Harrisonburg, VA
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Awesome, no numbness, looks like a crotch rocket, little wear. | | Weaknesses: | I can't take it with me to sit on everywhere else. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant stock saddle | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC | | Bottom Line: | I was going to wait longer to post a review, but this saddle made such a difference, forget it. When I first saw it, I thought it was too thin at first for my wide ass, but it is sweeter than I could have hoped. I can just sit on this thing forever up hills, and the narrow profile helps to get your weight over and back on the way down. Plus, for only 30-40 bucks who can argue! If you want a great seat at a great price, you can't go wrong with this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan R.
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island N.Y.
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ones with dirt on em, and some trees and rocks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Junkie :) | | Strengths: | Has withstood the test of Time and a hell of allot of rides, Great wear no rips or tears, no packing out of the padding, Still has held it's shape will, the rails are in one piece after a couple of good hits and crashes. | | Weaknesses: | All the graphics are rubbing off but thats all right. But the top white cloth areas are starting to come apart. This is mostly cosmetic and has yet to effect it's performance. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Sefas, WTB, Tioga | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpy with all kinds of goodies | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up review from my post below. This saddle has taken some pretty bad abuse. Riding five days a week, transportation in rain, three diffrent states, Has to be over fifty diffrent trails, mud, rocks, sand, crashes, and more sh!t I can't even remember. It has lasted me the entire summer season and into the fall. I wasn't kind to it and it has been a dependable part of my bike thus far. WTB is a company you can trust i use their tires, grips, saddles and othe small parts on my bike and they all have held up very well. I might try the titanium rails next when this one kicks and it will be soon. The damage I listed above is cosmetic but the leather is starting to show it's wear and it will need to be replace soon. I doan't leave componets to chance it's worn, it's gone and this saddle is showing her age. I ride about five times a week for two to six hours a day if time permits and this saddle's got some mileage on it. I ride a full suspention bike so you do most of your pedaling seated so your gonna wear through a saddle faster than someone riding a hardtail. This on lasted me a season and I was tough on it so it's showing it's wear. As for the saddle itself it's still as comfortable as the day I bought it and as for it's wear life I think it's good. Any XC rider would love this saddle it's narrow enough to race but comfortable enought to spend some serious hours in it. For your next saddle try out a WTB you won't be sorry. PEACE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Combs
a
from Pinetop, Arizona
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | White Mountain highways | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Well made saddle with Kevlar sides. Exceptionally comfortable, nice looking, well-priced--especially at other retailers aside from REI. I've seen this saddle at various internet retailers for under $40. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any yet. I don't consider the weight a weakness considering the price. The titanium-railed model is available for those wanting minimum weight. | | Similar Products Used: | Selle, Velo, OEM. | | Bike Setup: | Ibex Corrida LT set up for light touring. | | Bottom Line: | I've ridden on this saddle for several weeks and well over two-hundred miles. This may be one of the most comfortable saddles available: no numbness, very little soreness, even after four or five hours of straight riding. It seems that someone has finally come up with a saddle that won't endanger your sex life or ability to produce children. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jim
a Cross Country Rider
from ontario
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | dagmar | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | proform cycle | | Strengths: | comfort and strengh | | Weaknesses: | could be a bit lighter | | Bike Setup: | specialized rockhopper | | Bottom Line: | i havent tried much seats in my day but id have to say that this one by far is the best seat i have ever used.i know people that have this same type of seat and they all agree that this seat feels great and is a great value.Id recommend this seat to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from CO
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Sourdough | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | airbomb | | Strengths: | This seat fits like a glove. Unbelievable | | Weaknesses: | For the price, none whatsoever, it could be lighter, but then again, I could have bought the Laser model | | Similar Products Used: | WTB SST.K, Variety of Selle (San Marco, Italia) | | Bike Setup: | Aluminum Hardtail w/ Turbine LP/SRX, XTR F/R Der, Cas, Rear Hub, King Front hub, 517 rims, Titec Appendages ... | | Bottom Line: | It was so hard parting with my belo |
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