Strengths: Right out of the box, this was the best looking, most comfortable saddle I've every ridden on: beautiful, bright yellow perforated glove-soft leather; wide, flat profile with supple gel padding; a perfectly placed and shaped cutout (it really works, and it's cheaper than Viagra); flexible suspension wings that lets the shell flex over bumps and pivot with each pedal stoke. What more could you ask for in a saddle?
Weaknesses: The best saddle ever...until you actually put a dozen miles on it. One ride, and the beautiful yellow paint--yes, thick, rubbery paint--failed. Within a hundred miles, the coating had worn completely away in spots--right down to the raw leather! Half a year later, and the acne continues to spread--it looks like crap, and the flecks of yellow embedded in my shorts doesn't look too hot, either. But then again, it might not look too bad much longer...because the cover is peeling off the shell! You would think that Selle Italia would have found a glue to secure leather to plastic after all this time, but apparently they don't have access to American hardware stores (contact cement stopped the rot). And that's not all: just a couple of weeks ago, I discovered that the rails are too close to the edge of the narrow nose of the shell, which now shows signs of bottoming out on the post clamp (and I'm not a chunky guy). Now I know why you can't sell Fiats in this county.
But...it IS the most comfortable saddle out there.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the Gel Flow variant, with the center cutout and gel padding:
I can say, without trying to be cute, that this is both the best and the worst saddle I have used.
Strengths: Comfortable, large enough for a big guy, good padding, stylish, bomb proof.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
Great saddle. Looking around now, the saddle doesn't sell for less than $80, but even for that, I'd pay it. One of the big problems with being a bigger guy (I'm around 200 lbs) is that unless you want to go throught the bother of wearing padded shorts, most race or road saddles hurt. Further, I don't have bike shorts; I ride mainly in Dickies. That said, this saddle is heaven. I have the flow edition and it is the most comfortable seat I've ever had. I had it on a fixed gear for about a year before I changed it to a track bike. Then my girlfriend started to hate her seat, so I gave it to her and she loved it. I have it back again and my precious will never again leave my sights.
Similar Products Used: Fizik Pave, San Marco Concor Light, E3 Form, Selle Italie Nitro, Selle Italie Turbomatic.
Bike Setup: Which One? The bike this seat usually stays on is an old schwinn rebuild with a dura ace fixed/fixed rear wheel, armadillo tires and grab bag BMX parts.
Strengths: Suspension takes the edge off less than ideal roads.
Light.
Good Value.
Well made.
Weaknesses: Must be comfortable with the Flite shape.
Bottom Line:
I never really fell in love with the Flite, but did take more to this variation. The padding seems a little thicker than the Flite and I have no doubt the suspension helps over washboard, road seams, etc.
Strengths: Very durable. In-seem helped with numbness.
Weaknesses: Padding and shape made this seat very uncomfortable for me.
Bottom Line:
While the suspension mechanism and quality of chraftsmanship are good I found the seat to be very uncomfortable. After 30 mile rides I could not ride the next day because my butt would be too soar.
Strengths: High quality
Weight is ok
Once you dial in, you cand forget all the bumps and potholes in the road
Weaknesses: I've found it difficult to addapt to the saddle. I still have a lot of setting up to do
Bottom Line:
The review is for Max Flite:
I find this saddle's quality very good. No manufacturing flaws and the elastomers do their job.
I've found it quite different from the Flite Titanium i have used before: On the Titanium I sat about at the middle of the saddle.
Because of the round shape(from side to side) of the Max Flite, I must sit way back to avoid numbness. It's something I still have to adapt my position to. Trying to use the Max Flite with the setup of the old Flite resulted in quite painful experiences.
Hi,
I'm interesting for the Selle Italia Max Flite gel flow saddle but I can't find reviews anywhere.
Any users of that saddle here? Any reviews?
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