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Saddles
Morgaw Forsage Morgaw Forsage Morgaw Forsage Morgaw Forsage
Morgaw Forsage

Morgaw Forsage

8
by Neil Gander
UPDATED Sat, Apr 30, 2016 09:45

First Published Apr 30, 2016

0
£119.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Innovative shock absorbers take the place of padding to provide comfort at a low weight
Weight: 
196g
Contact: 
www.ison-distribution.com
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How to make a saddle both comfortable and light is a challenge for any manufacturer. With the Forsage, Morgaw has achieved this with the use of an innovative shock absorber system – as seen on the Trian, which George tested earlier this month. 

As with the Trian, the two elastomer shocks sit between the saddle and rails. Morgaw says they are there to absorb 'impact and stress' and state specifically that they are not a suspension substitute. What they do allow is for Morgaw to use less padding, and hence reduce the overall weight of the saddle. The carbon rails here also save nearly 20g over the aluminium-railed model – and add £30 to the price.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

The saddle is flat and looks pretty austere, in its all-black guise. I thought it would be like sitting on my own tombstone, but it turned out to be more comfortable than it looks. I didn't find the shock absorption as great a revelation as George did with the Trian, but the Forsage was as comfortable as my regular Fizik Arione, and saved 110g, which is a substantial wedge.

Morgaw Forsage Saddle.jpg

The saddle comes supplied with the medium density elastomer, which is good for riders between 65 and 80kg. I fall squarely into this category, so assume I was getting maximum benefit. If you fall outside this range, hard or soft elastomers are available aftermarket, but since they retail at a penny short of £28 be sure you need them before you splash out. Changing the elastomers is very simple. Morgaw has supplied me with a set of soft bumpers too, review to follow…

Morgaw Forsage Saddle - underside 2.jpg

The flat design meant I had to tip the nose down more than I normally would, to stop it pushing upward where I didn't want it pushing. I have a fussy backside, too, which has made friends with very few saddles over the years, so for me to find the Morgaw reasonably comfortable is actually quite high praise. I would be happy riding around on this.

> Check out our buyer's guide to saddles, here

Fitting was a fuss, due partly to the design of my seatpost, and partly to the tight space under the saddle. You will need a post that will accept an oval rail. Once on, though, it held secure and there were no creaks.

Morgaw Forsage Saddle - underside 1.jpg

As with the Trian, a customising kit is available, in seven colours in addition to the supplied black. This consists of shock mounting bolts, saddle mounting bolts and an alternative silicone tab which sticks out of the back but doesn't actually do anything. These sell for £14.99.

Verdict

Innovative shock absorbers take the place of padding to provide comfort at a low weight

road.cc test report

Make and model: Morgaw Forsage

Size tested: 280x132

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The distributor, Ison, says: "MORGAW saddles are attached to a unified, patented & self-supported platform based on shock absorbers. The shock absorbers are designed to absorb the impact and stress created between the rider and bicycle while riding; they are not intended to be a suspension substitute.

The rails are interchangeable, allowing them to be replaced or upgraded and are available in UD Carbon or Forged T6 aluminium versions.

They are also customisable with bolt kits available in 10 anodised colours.

The FORSAGE is a performance road saddle. Its length and wider nose section make it equally at home on a Tri or Time trial bike as well being well suited to long distance road riding

As standard each saddle comes with medium density shock absorbers and black hardware"

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Morgaw says:

Weight With carbon rails 205g, with T6 –AL 223g

Shell Nylon glass fiber reinforced

Cover Microfiber available in black, silver & white colours

Padding EVA

Fittings AL7075 – T6

Shock absorbers are available in three different densities based on rider weight.

SOFT: up to 65kg

MEDIUM: 65kg to 80kg

HARD: up to 95kg

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

The saddle is very simple (shock absorbers not withstanding) and tidily executed. No creaks.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

This saddle aims to combine low weight with comfort, which it does pretty well. The elastomers are in lieu of much padding and while the saddle looks austere it's not a bad place to spend a few hours.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Simple construction means not much to go wrong. Good materials throughout.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
9/10

196g compares with 220g for the similarly flat Fizik Arione VSX Braided, which retails at £149.99... and it's 9g lighter than Morgaw claims.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10

As comfortable as my regular Fizik Arione, and considerably lighter, but I had to drop the nose down to keep it out of the way.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Pretty good for a carbon-railed saddle of such light weight. If you want to change the elastomers for a different density, add another £27.99, which makes it less good value.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a comfortable, if not ground-breakingly so for me, saddle that shaves a worthwhile amount of weight from your bike and looks made to last.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Light weight, stealth looks.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The saddle nose was quite noticeable and I had to drop it out of the way.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Its light weight, competitive price and acceptable comfort mean this saddle does what it sets out to do. It hasn't changed my life, but I would happily fit this saddle to my bike.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 50  Height: 6'2  Weight: 73kg and rising

I usually ride: Cannondale CAAD10   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking

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