When our SDG care package arrived in early April, the one saddle that attracted the most discussion was the Shibuya-themed Falcon. While it was the unrestrained use of color that caught everyone’s attention (don’t worry- there are seven other color combinations), the dense-but-comfortable padding, surprisingly light weight, and reasonable price tag is what held it. Has the Falcon lived up to its early promise? Hit the jump to find out…
Billed as an “elite power and performance saddle for All Terrain Use,” the Falcon measures 142mm across and comes with solid Ti, Ti alloy, or CrMo rails. 
The tingle-fighting “Peri-Canal” is said to enable fore and aft movement without exerting undue pressure in the perineum (or ‘taint) region. Our Ti alloy sample’s weight was bang on at the claimed 250g and sells for $90. Adding $40 for the solid Ti rails will shave 15g, while saving $30 on the CrMo version adds 45g.
Unsurprisingly for someone who favors 143mm-wide saddles from other manufacturers, the shape of the Falcon works great for me with a wide range of cycling shorts. The Peri-Canal works at promised, keeping the dreaded sleepy pee-pee away for hours on end. The padding is moderately dense: soft enough to stay comfortable on rough terrain but not so soft that it creates pressure where it shouldn’t.
When all is said and done, the Falcon is one of the most comfortable saddles that I’ve ridden in a long, long time. When the light weight and reasonable cost are considered, only catastrophic failure will keep it from becoming a new favorite. Gushing? Maybe- but when something really works well down there, it’s worth getting excited about. While everyone’s body and preferences are different, anyone who likes mid-width and moderately-flat saddles should seriously consider seeking the Falcon out.
marc
