Doc Austin
05-13-2005, 01:42 PM
This is the first in a series of long range product road tests. The Flite Italia has long been a favorite amoung roadies for it's light weight and compact size. When I first saw one I thought it was a torture device, but after 30,000 miles I liked it so much that I have replaced it with another. After a few adjustment rides the seat proved to be very comfortable, and I never had any sort of problem with it except for normal wear and tear.
This Flite Italia seat came on my Serotta CSI. I bought the bike used and really don't have any idea how much time or how many miles it had on it before. Perviously I had ridden a San Marcos Rolls, so the little Italia looked awfully uncomfortable by comparison.
Well, we are 30,000 miles down the road and the seat has served me so well it has been a non issue. As you can see, it is well past the point of being asthetically appealing (as if something you sit on could have such), but it is still functional. The leather is well and truely whipped out at this point and peeling off the seat's plastic base. You can see on the left rear corner that the seat has indeed slid on the road, but I was more worried about my a** at that point that scratching my seat.
So there is no mistake, I am quite frankly surprised it doesn't look worse.
The titanium rails, however have held up extremely well, and in fact, I am cutting them out, giving them to my jeweler and having a new wedding ring made out of them. Hey, you don't just throw away something that you've had up your butt for 30,000 miles.
Final nail: I think I got my money out of this product and have not only bought another, but when I bought my Legend Titanium I specified this seat for that bike as well.
Disclaimer: The preceeding is the author's personal experience, or lack thereof. The views and experiences expressed here are not necessarilly the opinion or personal experiences of..........well, they aren't necessarilly the opinion or personal experience anyone else.
This Flite Italia seat came on my Serotta CSI. I bought the bike used and really don't have any idea how much time or how many miles it had on it before. Perviously I had ridden a San Marcos Rolls, so the little Italia looked awfully uncomfortable by comparison.
Well, we are 30,000 miles down the road and the seat has served me so well it has been a non issue. As you can see, it is well past the point of being asthetically appealing (as if something you sit on could have such), but it is still functional. The leather is well and truely whipped out at this point and peeling off the seat's plastic base. You can see on the left rear corner that the seat has indeed slid on the road, but I was more worried about my a** at that point that scratching my seat.
So there is no mistake, I am quite frankly surprised it doesn't look worse.
The titanium rails, however have held up extremely well, and in fact, I am cutting them out, giving them to my jeweler and having a new wedding ring made out of them. Hey, you don't just throw away something that you've had up your butt for 30,000 miles.
Final nail: I think I got my money out of this product and have not only bought another, but when I bought my Legend Titanium I specified this seat for that bike as well.
Disclaimer: The preceeding is the author's personal experience, or lack thereof. The views and experiences expressed here are not necessarilly the opinion or personal experiences of..........well, they aren't necessarilly the opinion or personal experience anyone else.