Australian Mountain Bike — December 01, 2017

(Jacob Rumans) #1

100 -AMB


WORDS AND IMAGES: AMB CREW

FI’ZI:K LUNA X5 SADDLE


HITS



  • Excellent stiffness through
    centre line

  • Good flex through wings


MISSES


  • Spine Concept sizing system
    seems rather unscientific: use
    your own discretion


RRP:$149
FROM:fizik.com

TESTED


Fi’zi:k’s new Luna X5 saddle hit the shelves in
October. Part of a new range of saddles from
the ergonomics specialists at Fi’zi:k, the Luna
X5 is designed specifically for women and for
off-road riding.

Recently, Fi’zi:k have introduced channels into
their saddle designs, with their Versus men’s
saddles featuring a long, depressed central
channel, and their Open men’s saddles sporting a
cut-out centre - like the Luna X5 we’ve tested here.

Fi’zi:k tell us that cut-out saddles often lose
structural integrity - in other words, when you
make a hole in the centre, a saddle will lose some
of the stiffness that supports your body weight for
efficient power transfer. To overcome this, Fi’zi:k
have designed cut-out saddles like the Luna X5
around a laterally strong, carbon, co-injected
nylon spine. The X5 is also designed to flex where
you need it, with IschialFlex wings that give with
various impacts from the trail.

The Luna X5 comes in two sizes: regular and
large, and sizing is dictated by Fi’zi:k’s new Spine
Concept. There’s an app and a website to help you
in get into the Spine Concept process (just Google
Fi’zi:k Spine Concept women), but basically Fi’zi:k
suggest that a saddle size can be recommended

according to your average ride speed and weight.
The system has its flaws, so for those who simply
wish to choose their saddle based on the width
of their sit bones or a former favourite (sensible),
the regular is 280mm long and 141mm wide, and
the large is 280mm by 153mm.

Taking the Luna to the trail

I stuck the Luna X5 on a carbon hardtail to make
sure I could analyse each and every bump offered
up by my local trails. The saddle proved stiff under
pedalling, but pleasantly flexy when I sat and rode
over roots and rocks. The saddle feels sturdy and
supportive, without being too heavy or bulky, and
it was long enough to allow fore and aft shifts
while climbing steep pinches or tackling seated
descents without compromising any comfort.

The Luna X5 is nicely finished, with reinforced
Microtex sides to prevent scuffing, and a
synthetic, Microtex finish. At 255g (260g for the
large), it’s not a cross-country race saddle for
gram counters, but is well suited to general trail
riding and should last reasonably well. The X5
also features Fi’zi:k’s corrosion-resistant S-Alloy
rails, and is compatible with Fi:zi’k’s integrated
clip system so you can mount their own saddle
bags or rear lights.

Saddles are always going to be a
personal choice, but if you like a cut-
out saddle and want the most up-to-
date thinking on saddle design, the
Luna X5 is well worth a look.
Free download pdf