Berk saddles quality survey

[biwa]

Looking to get a Berk saddle (possibly a padded Lupina, 7x9), attractive weight and prices not to high. Had a look at existing posts, it seems like (earlier batches?) Berk suffers more rail/shell breakage than others. I wonder if the build quality has improved since 2020?

[spdntrxi]

The bonding between the rail and the saddle failed for me ..on 2 saddles, I sold the replacement before it happened again and I still have one broken one. Mine were from a number of years ago.

[fruitfly]

I had one bought in 2020, loved how it felt but the rail cracked. They did send a replacement without question, and the rails on a different seatpost also cracked just to the rear of the clamp.

[Kumppa]

I had one 7x7 rail crack (3-4k km) and one bond failed between the rail and the saddle (2k km). Rail crack saddle was 3 year old and out of warranty so they didn't replace it, the second one was replaced.

Really like the padded version but not sure if I would buy a new one. I don't like the idea of selling and replacing until the customer is out of warranty, just unnecessary waste when things can be made better. Still have a second replacement unused and am thinking of selling it before the next failure. I have sent the broken ones to be repaired by local carbon shop. 

[IcedHalo]

I bought a Berk List saddle with 7x7 rails back in 2019 from a local shop (although the saddle was probably a 2017/2018 build date).

I used this for 2.5 years and around 15,000km before one of the rails developed a crack near the clamping point. It was always torqued to 5Nm and I am a light rider, although the bike (and saddle) did a bit of rough gravel riding. The failure was not catastrophic and I could safely ride home without issues.

Berk replaced the saddle with no questions asked (although this involved a bit of a delay between emails- Jure is a busy man, and responds personally!). Replacement saddle has ovalised 7 x 9 rails. I have another Berk List on my other road bike (also ovalised 7 x 9) which has done several thousand Km's without any issues.

As you've said, my understanding is some of the earlier Berk saddles (especially 7 x 7) were prone to failure, but the after-sales support from Berk has been good. I would definitely buy another without hesitation.

[GT3RS]

I've had 4 lupina saddles, like most people the 7x7 rails failed on an early model, the oval rail versions have been fine so far. I think the one on my colnago has seen the most use - I've probably done 10k+ Kms on it, the leather is very shiny now but it still seems ok. I'm usually about 67-69kg for reference.

[MarkoP]

I have the oval rail saddle with more than 10 kms on it and no issues. The leather has worn a bit given how thin it is but just cosmetic. I'm ~72kg for reference.

[MrCurrieinahurry]

I managed to kick the shell upwards on mine which debonded it. Fully my fault. Took it to a local shoe shop which glued it back together for me. No problems since.

Basso Diamante super record EPS 12
BMC slr01 ultegra Di2

[DHG01]

Perhaps the OP will get more info if asked issues with oval rail saddles.

I ve got three: no issues whatsoever and, specially, comfiest saddle I have tried.

[ome rodriguez]

2 broken Lupina here.

[RNAV]

Two broken Lupina, both oval rails. In both instances, the bond between rail and shell broke. I spent 6 months and $100 in shipping attempting to get the first saddle back to Berk (using the address on Berk's site, which was the same address Berk provided) only to have the saddle returned to me twice with the Slovakian postal folks saying the package was undeliverable. I repaired the second one myself . . . that repair eventually broke. I've since moved on to Selle Italia C59 and have had it longer than the Berk saddles with no issues. The Lupina was exceptionally comfortable, but I will not buy another Berk nor will I recommend anyone buy Berk until they redesign their rail-to-shell interface.

[velov]

No issues with my padded Lupina (oval rails). For those that have moved on to different saddles, which ones would be a similar shape? I'd like to have the same saddle on all my bikes and I don't see myself buying 5 Lupinas eventhough it is quite comfortable.

[ryanw]

Ive sold around 50 Berk saddles (mostly padded Dila 140 & Lupina 132).

Of these, I've had 3 replaced due to a faulty batch of adhesive which meant the rails detatched from the shell.

I have personally used Berk saddles on my bikes for the past 4 years without issue, and I'm fat.

[Lucendi]

I am fat too, and I've never had a problem with my two Berk Lupinas 132mm unpadded and 7x9 rails.

That said, the way the rails and and shell are glued together doesn't look very thought through.

[STUB1]

Been through a couple of 132mm padded Luppina saddles. The shell cracked on the one of the first rides, promptly replaced, the second had rail issues and was also replaced.

They are very comfortable saddles, but I'm going to try a Fizik Antares 00, something a smidge wider. I rock a smidge on the bike and the bike fitter reckons it is pretty unusual for people over 70kg to ride 132mm wide saddles - see how that goes.