$500 is probably for an (eventual) custom printed version (like what Magic5 does for goggles). It makes no sense to 3D print a mass production item (given the current tech).

Let's also remember that >$500 saddles already exist in the marketplace: https://www.dashcycles.com/saddles-2/tt9

The problem with Power saddles is that you have to get the carbon shelled ones to get any kind of longevity.
The resin bodied ones twist too easily.
I've found that not many people understand that saddles are consumables. As consumables there is usually an intersection of price and durability that sits somewhere in the middle of the market.
Or with anything from Gebiomized.

The problem with Power saddles is that you have to get the carbon shelled ones to get any kind of longevity.
The resin bodied ones twist too easily.
I've found that not many people understand that saddles are consumables. As consumables there is usually an intersection of price and durability that sits somewhere in the middle of the market.
Or with anything from Gebiomized.

Maybe because many people are not consuming their saddles. E.g., I rotate through my 4 bikes and the saddles seem to last year in and year out. Or maybe I'm just not riding enough to wear them out.

id pay $500 for a saddle that will help keep me comfortable before i spent money on any other component on a bike. if i cant ride comfortably im not going to want to ride at all.

Plenty of non-custom products are 3D printed, especially in the volumes they’ll make this saddle at.

While I would pay $500 for the right saddle, if I can get the same function for cheap I will. .

And that's nailed it for me. I can on reflection understand people paying this for a saddle if they need to in order to be comfortable. As let's face it, what's the point in a $5k (and then some) bike if you hate riding it as your saddle is painful. Or even distracting.

But I've been fortunate, that the 'normal' specialized road saddles and some decent shorts (normally LG) then I've had no issues. So given I can be comfortable for $220NZD then I cant' see the advantage to the $750 price tag.

Spin side is I did (do) struggle with foot discomfort and had one truly horrendous ride 5 months ago where I was literally crying in pain from my feet when riding and at that moment would have paid $750 for a lift back the 20km I was from town.

Interesting comments about saddle life. I've never swapped a saddle due to it being fatigued. I'm not saying I shouldn't have, just I've never ever thought of it. Almost the opposite, where I've deliberately kept saddles as frames have changed underneath. I don't notice any difference between the one now used on the trainer bike with 30,000 km on it and the brand new (but the same) one I put on the new road bike. In fact, this is the point, I haven't thought about the saddle on my road bike in a long long time. Which to me, is the perfect situation.

Laurent Fignon lost the 1989 TdF because he had a saddle sore and kept coming out of the saddle on the final ITT....lost the TdF on that day by 8 seconds. Spending money on saddles is good and the problem is that your body and fit change over time, so what worked 2-3 years ago, may no longer work perfectly today. :) Well said Paul

i also agree with the premise however i'd add another catch. i'm happy to spend big money to avoid a pain in the ass, but how can i know it will actually do me any good? with shoes at least you can get a reasonable idea trying them on in the shop. with saddles it is rare to be able to try them at all and you have no idea what its really like until you've spent a few hours solid on it. if manufacturers are trying to sell us on these expensive saddles being more comfortable then they need to provide demo programs or right of return