Old Flite vs New Flite

[benb]

Hey.. curious if someone has tried some different variations of the Flite.

I used to ride the original.. it was really great to me.

I haven't had one since around 2007 or so when they introduced the new one... I have the current "Flite Ti Gel" model.. it is pretty close but not quite as good, I think it has more padding & a rougher covering.. I am a little more prone to get saddle sores with it. I am riding on some awful roads and I think between the stitching & the gel I actually am more likely to irritate stuff with the softer saddle then the harder one.

Anyway.. I'm curious how close the "Flite Ti" is to the "Flite Ti 1990". I like the looks of the new one but I don't want to get it unless it feels just like the old one. I don't like the new nose either.. it seems like it is way easier to catch your thighs on it. Is the nose on the non-gel version narrower?

The old style seems to be cheaper as well..

[stusf]

I have both, the old style has a more flexible shell and 'sags' more in the middle.

[benb]

Makes me wonder if that is the issue.. I think my recent problem has a lot to do with leaning sideways into crosswinds..

[jmoore]

Buy an old Flite off ebay and send it to me. I'll put you a new cover on there and it will be good as new.

I ride old Flite's as well and this exact issue is what sent me down the rabbit hole of saddle covers.

[Viper]

I have one of these in a cabinet, the old Flite Trans Am:

http://velobase.com/CompImages/Saddles/201E1A85-04F3-43CD-A1E1-361BBBFD0299.jpeg

One of the greatest saddles ever. It's in super shape. If you want it, would trade for some Star Wars action figures or old Playb*ys. If you want it, let me know.

[kramnnim]

Old Flites and new Flites don't feel similar to me at all. The older/not current SLR feels more like the old Flite. (Haven't tried the new SLR)

[benitosan1972]

different saddles, different shapes, different feels

old was narrow/long/slightly padded in front, narrow wings... good for slim butts
new is a bit shorter, padded all over, flexy, and wider wings... good for wider butts

i'm in the middle, so both are pretty comfortable to me
i like the look of the classic one though, the modern one not so much

[slidey]

Had to reviving this old thread...since I've recently embarked on a journey to find posterior bliss, not just 'meh' but bliss. I go 'meh' with the Arione presently, but I feel I can go one-up.

I recently purchased a Genuine Gel Flow Ti Flite:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/imgs/products/440x380_constWH/SASIFLGG-TI-BLK_P1.jpg,
and tried it out and it seems good thus far. But I observe there's this -
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31O0DpZJZEL.jpg,
and a Trans Am -
http://velobase.com/CompImages/Saddles/201E1A85-04F3-43CD-A1E1-361BBBFD0299.jpeg,
and of course the classic Flite -
http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/legacy/bikeradar/categories/cycling/component/seating/saddle/images/selleitaliaflite-399-75.jpg

Now then, this leaves me thoroughly confused and since I don't have resources to try 'em all I was hoping some of you could provide me with a few more of your views on any of the above variants.

[benb]

Holy thread Resurrection (and weird that I am here to see it).

In retrospect I think the new flight with the goofy nose has a wider/less comfortable nose.

I never bought the flite classic again, I've been relatively OK on a specialized saddle that is roughly the same shape for the past year.

[dogdriver]

Yeah, the old Flite, generally found used and beat up at a bike swap or garage sale, is my favorite saddle ever... Whatever meshes well with your tenders, I guess...

[mike p]

From an old time Flite user (old style). I have to say, the Prologo scratch was an easy transition. That said old flites are still plentiful.

Mike

[akelman]

Pic 1: wider nose and not especially forgiving seat area.

Pic 2: wide rails (doesn't play nicely with all posts), relatively wide nose, somewhat more forgiving in seat area than Pic 1 but not nearly as forgiving as the old Flites were.

Pic 3: wider throughout than the original Flite. Not as forgiving in the seat area as the original Flite. Still, once upon a time, this was one of my favorite mtb saddles.

Pic 4: the best of the lot. Narrow where it should be narrow. Not wide anywhere, I don't think. More forgiving in the seat area (sags in the shell, as someone said above). The best saddle ever.

All of the above, as related by my a$$. Yours may have a different story to tell.

[dvs cycles]

There is a NEW 2013 version hitting the shelves also.
Did not like the 2nd version butt will have to try the 3rd gen. out since I'm running out of the stash of original genuine gels I hoarded.

[kramnnim]

Doesn't seem like anyone likes the 2nd gen Flite... Didn't know about the 3rd gen, looks like a wide SLR.

[eBAUMANN]

oh man, gotta try this thing out...looks kinda wide though, no? (http://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/prodotti/road/pagina_flite/)

http://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/prodotti/selle_grandi/flite.png

[parris]

My first thought looking at the top view was that it looked a lot like a turbo. It would be interesting to see an overlay of a turbo and this saddle.

[Columbus SLX]

I only ride the classics as shown in pic #4. I honestly can't tell much difference between the old ones and the reissues.

Did not like the 2nd version butt will have to try the 3rd gen. out since I'm running out of the stash of original genuine gels I hoarded.

What you did there, I see it. ;)

[DRietz]

That saddle, my bike. ASAP!

[BryanE]

Replaced my Flite with a Fizik Gobi.
Don't miss it.

[ElvisMerckx]

The original Flites had super long rails compared to the latest generations. I never used to have to think about seatpost set back, but now it's a factor (often an expensive factor). And the newer oval rails are just stupid, and yet another factor in considering a seatpost.

[bluesea]

^ They also had *thick* leather.

[Anarchist]

Really??

The absolute proof that ebay is dead ......


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Selle-Italia-Flite-Gel-Flow-Packaging-Only-NO-SADDLE-/251265827244?pt=US_Saddles_Seats&hash=item3a809c41ac

[Climb01742]

oh man, gotta try this thing out...looks kinda wide though, no? (http://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/prodotti/road/pagina_flite/)

http://www.selleitalia.com/se_it3/prodotti/selle_grandi/flite.png

doesn't that simply look like a wider SLR? why use the flite name when it appears it shares no design elements with the original? odd, no?

[corky]

Selle Italia really have lost the plot lately....