First Ride: BikeYoke Sagma Lite, a Suspension-Less Sagma 2

About 18 months ago now, BikeYoke launched their first foray into the world of MTB saddles with the Sagma. The Sagma features a somewhat novel shape and contains a specific type of memory foam that BikeYoke dubbed “idbeads”, but what makes the Sagma really stand out in a crowd is its “suspension rail” system. Because the rails are attached to a pair of elastomers instead of directly to the shell of the saddle, the Sagma offers increased vibration damping and is also able to follow the side-to-side rocking of your pelvis as you pedal. We got along really well with the original Sagma, so when BikeYoke announced the arrival of not one or two but three new variants, we were curious to see how they would stack up. Read on to find out more!

New BikeYoke Sagma Saddle Range Overview

Initial Impressions

The first thing you notice when you pull the Sagma out of its packaging (which looks a bit like it might contain your favorite blend of coffee beans and not a saddle) is the compact shape. BikeYoke wanted to create a saddle that would be small enough to work well for aggressive riding but still offer enough comfort for longer rides, and this is what they came up. Some of the models are available in two different widths, but not all of them (refer to the table above for a full rundown of the features of each model).

So what’s new? In response to customer demand, BikeYoke has now introduced the Sagma Lite, a version of the same saddle without the elastomer suspension system. In short, this one is for you if you are intrigued by the shape and the idbeads foam, but not so hot on the elastomer idea. The Sagma Lite exists with either alloy or carbon rails, the latter version clocking in at a very svelte 169 grams. The suspended Sagma also sees the addition of a carbon-railed version, aptly named the Sagma Carbon. It drops 15 grams of weight compared to the original Sagma (which remains in the line-up too), and will set you back $169 USD ($30 USD more than the original). To round off this range extension in style, BikeYoke has now also added a new color option for the Sagma and Sagma Carbon – a grape juice hue called Ruby (also available on their Grippy grips).

On The Trail

As we pointed out when we tested the original version, the Sagma is firm to the touch, and we initially thought it might prove to be too firm to be comfortable. That wasn’t the case once we got it on the trail however, as within just a few minutes, we found ourselves in a comfortable position. If you are used to riding really big and soft saddles, the Sagma will feel a bit austere, but it’s actually very comfortable and has kept us feeling good even on longer rides. The shock absorbers on the suspended version provide a certain range of side-to-side flex that we found very comfortable in action. With the softest elastomer installed, it is very easy to rock the saddle side-to-side with just your hands, while the hardest one leaves it much stiffer. For reference, the hardest one still provides more side-to-side flex than a standard saddle would, but as stated it is much stiffer than the softest one. You can read our review of the original Sagma for our full impressions and to see a video of the rocking motion in action.

So how does the new, suspension-less version compare? The shape and the idbeads foam still work well together to provide a comfortable saddle with a very compact footprint, but the absence of the shock absorbers leaves it feeling a fair bit stiffer. We still get along fine with it for longer rides, but we’ve grown used to that little extra comfort offered by the suspended version and will likely be going back to that one on our personal bikes. However, if you’re allergic to the thought of your saddle flexing a bit, the Sagma Lite provides all the advantages of the compact form factor and the comfortable idbeads foam in a lighter and stiffer package that will also potentially help you save a bit of weight on your build.

What’s The Bottom Line?

We really like the original Sagma, not least for its compact shape and quality construction. With the introduction of a new top-end carbon railed version as well the new, suspension-less Sagma Lite range, BikeYoke now has saddles available that suit more preferences and budgets. Vital recommends!

More information at: www.bikeyoke.de.

About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord - Age: 49 // Years Riding MTB: 17 // Weight: 190-pounds (87-kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Photos by Johan Hjord / Action Shots by Darina Privalko