Even though the prevalence of dropper posts has cut into the market for SDG’s I-beam saddle system, the company is still pushing forward with new designs. Thanks to the design’s toughness and range of adjustment, they are still hugely popular for downhill, dirt jump, XC and other mountain bikes that aren’t running dropper posts. But like we’ve seen with other saddle makers, the introduction of bigger wheels and tires along with longer suspension travel has led to some saddle-tire interaction. The solution is as simple as cutting out the back of the saddle, but the new I-Fly 2.0 has more to show underneath…
We first saw a “tire specific saddle” from WTB when they partnered with Pivot to create a saddle that would clear the bigger 27.5″ tires on their DH bike. The cutout at the rear provides just enough clearance when fully bottomed out. Not surprisingly, other brands like SDG are following suit, though the I-Fly 2.0 took advantage of the redesign to offer a few other improvements. Among them, a new carbon rail structure that offers more flex to the saddle thanks to the new position of the reinforcements underneath, as well as a lower profile compared to the original. Otherwise, it’s the same foam density and structure at the front of the saddle, and the new 2.0 will sell for $100.
New to the line is the Fly Mountain which offers a narrow, more padded saddle. According to SDG, this is closest to their old I-Fly C (which we were a fan), only it comes in a railed version with solid Ti rails at $100. Like other SDG products, the company really stresses the importance of choosing the best blend of materials from the bottom up to get the best performance, which is why they stress over details like solid vs hollow rails, saddle base, foam density, and cover material.
Of course SDG has some wild color options as well. By combining their Shibuya and Dazzle designs, the new Shibuya Dazzle screams SDG. Available in the Bell-Air 2.0, Circuit MTN, Duster P, Fly RL, and the I-Fly 2.0, Shibuya Dazzle saddles will sell from $99.99-129.99. SDG is also working with Dakine to offer a matching saddle for their new Allure women’s clothing line which will come with a standard price tag.
