Regulatori

I feel old when I see a Selle Turbo mentioned as "retro."
I remember going to a hole in the wall bike shop back in the early 90's and specifically looking for that model for my Mongoose Expert bmx bike. Think I paid $35 and my mom thought it was ridiculous.

I see a lot of models in the sub $50 range and I know most (or all) are coming from China/Taiwan. Nothing wrong with that as long as they're well made.

If you browse the Chinese wholesale sites, you'll find tons of cheap saddles...but again...are they decent or just junk?

Then you have products like this..

Origin 8 Brooks look-a-like
Product Description | Origin8



Soma Ta-Bo
Ta-Bo Saddles | SOMA Fabrications




I don't care if a company makes a saddle that resembles an old school setup....but PLEASE leave it subtle when it comes to plastering your name all over the seat. The Ta-Bo for example has the name in four different sections. Plus every time I see the name, I think of that old Billy Blanks work out deal.





To me the best bang-for-your-buck inexpensive saddle seams to be the Fyxation.

Simple...the Turbo style....and just a single manufacturers label in the center rear. That's how it should be.



So besides the Fyxation....what other saddles are semi-decent in the sub $50 range?




I've heard a lot of good things about the Charge Spoon. I'm not a huge fan of the stitching but you can't please everyone.






Is the Orgin 8 a decent saddle? What about the Soma stuff? I've found old threads where people talk about how some of these are garbage but we all know that products improve over time.


What do you think is the king of the sub $50 saddles?

bleedingapple

WTF pure V. Best ever.

Phil_gretz

Very nice: 1970s Fujita Belt on eBay in the $50 range.

TejanoTrackie 

For the price the Charge Spoon cannot be beat. The quality is excellent and it is very comfy for me.

franswa

One cannot see any logos or stitching whilst one is sitting on saddle riding bike.

awfulwaffle 

I like the Charge Spoon. Have it on two of my bikes. Very comfortable, though maybe could be a hair wider to fit my backside even better. Of course, that's subjective.

TenSpeedV2

That is completely subjective. I had one, and it was one of the worst saddles I have ever ridden. Nothing could make that comfortable to ride on. I personally am using mostly Specialized saddles now, but those are not sub $50 even used most of the time. The Phenom, Avatar, Riva are all good and you may be able to pick one up used on eBay. I got my Avatar and Phenom each for $50.

j_e_r_e_m_y

I'll put in another vote for the Charge Spoon, I've been riding mine for a few years and love it. Recently tried out a Fizik Allante I got on the cheap, thinking I'd replace the Spoon with something "better" and I couldn't stand it - too narrow and stiff.

I've also had good luck with WTB Speed V's (if you like cushier saddles) and All-City Gonzos, both of which can be found in your price range on ebay.

Of course, unless you're my butt doppelganger, all of that is almost worthless info.

Scrodzilla

All-City Gonzo and Charge Spoon are the same saddle.

Mumonkan

everyones ass likes to be on different things. i know a guy that rode the tour divide on the first one you posted, and i have a different origin8 saddle that cost me $18 and ive put thousands of miles on. lots of dudes around here rock the spoon too on multiple bikes

whats junk? anything your ass doesnt agree with, and/or saddles that break and fall apart

Regulatori

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, when I mentioned "junk," I was more referring to poor construction.

Has anyone used the Fyxation Curve saddles? I really liked my old Turbo...it had a semi-soft feel (but not too plush) and the material wasn't slippery. I was interested in the Soma Ta-Bo but I've come across a few reviews now where multiple people talk about the cheap construction and very slippery material.

Also the Charge Bucket interests me too...it will most likely come down between the Curve and the Bucket. Too bad there isn't any local shops that stock any of these to see/feel it in person.

pressed001

I am so very happy with my latest saddle purchase. Ritchey Comp Contrail. It is not too heavy and very, very comfy.

30 USD

Comp Contrail Saddles

IAmSam

You know, since you seem to really like the Turbo, and the alternatives you mention are Turbo clones (copies?)

The real thing can be had in your $50ish price range if you shop a little. For example...

Selle Italia Turbo Saddle, SADDLES ROAD (I thought this might be vegan but description mentions leather?)
or
wiggle.com | Selle Italia Turbo Leather 1980 Saddle | Performance Saddles

habilis

I have a very comfortable Bontrager SSR that came with a salvaged MTB. It's 2-3 years old - don't know if the design has changed since then. It retails today for about $30 online. So far, I've been on it for only 3 hours of continuous riding, but it feels like an all-day saddle.

oouellette

I think the VO Touring Saddle is nice if you don't mind microfiber. Tickling your $50 bill though.

Microfiber Touring Saddle - Saddles - Components

rreahard

Completely agree. I've been very happy with the quality and my ass seems to really like it, even on longer rides.

Wspsux

Really?

I hate my Spoon with fervent passion but last week I was riding around a Space Horse and while I would immediately replace it with a Cambium, I didn't mind the Gonzo saddle. That being said the riding position of my Trek is much more aggressive than the Space Horse I rode. I need to get a Space Horse, that bike ******' rules.

thermalattorney

Why don't you just pick up a gently used saddle on ebay? If you're patient you can score something like a Specialized Romin or Fizik Antares for $50.

franswa

Been happy with the Charge Scoop on my Nature Boy. $37 at Universal Cycles

nightfly

Nashbar Airone copy:

Nashbar XR1 Saddle

ChengHammer

This looks pretty good for under $50 bucks! Might need some serious miles before it breaks in, but a stretched leather saddle will beat any saddle with a base underneath it. (If you plan to ride more than 30-35 miles at a time) - I scored a nice B17 Brooks saddle with few miles for $50 bucks on Craigslist, so it's possible. The Origin8 listed above has no photos of the underneath I could find, which leads me to believe it's got a base underneath it. Go stretched leather saddle, whatever you do, and you'll never go back.

Phil_gretz

These saddles are superior to the current production B17, by a long, long shot. Shape/size is more equivalent to B17N width and B17S nose. It's really a prefect saddle. But, keep it quiet. No one else must know [whispering].

agmetal

The Origin8 saddle shown in the first post has its rails set quite far back. I had one on one of my bikes very briefly (as in, didn't even ride it)...set as far back as it could possibly go on the seatpost, it was a full inch further forward than the saddles on my other bikes. I returned it and have been pretty happy with one of the Velo riveted road saddles (mine is branded XLC, but I've seen them under a couple different names).

FWIW, both the Origin8 (Viscount) and Velo saddles are closer to the Selle San Marco Regal than they are to any Brooks.

surlymonk

Years ago I was buying a bike and told the mechanic that I liked everything about it but the saddle. He told me that "most people like that saddle, but the ones who don't usually like this one," and put a Serfas Cosmos Amazon.com : Serfas Cosmos Bicycle Saddle : Bike Saddles And Seats : Sports & Outdoors on. I loved it so much I picked up another a few years later and now have one on both bikes. Might not be for everyone, but see if you can try one out at a LBS.

bike manhattan

Big fan of my Charge Spoon! Still breaking mine in but so far really enjoy it. It's kind of grippy with jeans on but I consider that a good thing. On my last bike I had the Charge Bucket. Also a nice sub $50 saddle but I definitely prefer the Spoon. Both in terms of comfort but also aesthetically. It's a bit lighter as well which never hurts.