Price: £79.99
From: Extra UK
Tested: One month
The Fizik Gobi XM seems to be one of the favoured saddles with many mountain bikers for long days in the saddle. The width and length provide lots of space to get comfortable and manoeuvre around the bike while the ‘Wing Flex’ element allows for less contact with the inner thigh for less restricted pedalling. The magnesium rails of the ‘Muzzle’ version help to keep the weight down to a very reasonable 255 grams.
The ‘Muzzle’ is a revision of the original Gobi XM saddle that comes with a soft rubber bumper which slips over the rear of the saddle and is clipped onto the rails underneath. The idea of the bumper is to protect the rear of the saddle from scuffs and rips, particularly if you have an unscheduled off out on the trail. Good saddles aren’t the cheapest of bike components and anything that helps keep them in one piece is a bonus.
However, the rubber that the bumper is made of is rather sticky and it seemed to hang onto the material of my riding gear, whether it be baggy shorts or lycra. On several occasions it felt quite restrictive while moving around on the saddle and, after some descents that involved getting off the back of the saddle, the bumper was completely dislodged and ended up hanging off. The bumper would seem a good method of protecting the saddle without having hard plastic edges on the saddle itself but the sticky material could do without being just as ‘sticky’.
Overall: Without the bumper the Gobi XM is the usual great saddle but the ‘Muzzle’ idea could do with a little fine tuning.
Tim Kershaw
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One of my most common causes of ‘heart in mouth’ moments is when I can’t get back on my saddle after hanging off the back.
I’m a fan of the normal Gobi, but I wont be buying this.
Rails ae Manganese not “magnesium” (as you can see in the top pic)
In my experience Gobi = numb plumz on long rides as the top is too flat, and I’ve also found the bases snap as do the “wing-flex” bits.
Not impressed.
Have xm on zesty and road bike, fits my ass really so no complaints
rubber bumper on the back… wtf… stupid design fault imo.
for an expensive (but reasonably comfortable saddle) they don’t last very long at all, mine wore out at the front in 6 months of not very hard usage, the lather has to go round a very tight radius at the nose making it prone to excess wear as it’s stressed. also wore it out at the sides all the way back to the fabricy bit. guess they don’t play well with baggy shorts and grit.
I use the Gobi on two bikes and find them fine. One has been used for over 18 mths with little sign of wear and the shape fits me well with no numbness experienced. Agree with the review that the shape allows for good movement around the bike but also not sure about the muzzle idea.
I get on really well with Gobi’s but totally agree with above comments re: wear, especially on the nose radius. The leather underneath mine keeps coming unglued too. Far from impressive on an £85 saddle. However, they are comfy on long rides (for me at least) and that’s what counts.
I’m just baffled by that muzzle “invention” though…