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review

PRO Falcon saddle

8
£99.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A firm and supportive saddle that's a good weight for the money
Weight: 
211g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Falcon saddle from PRO has a flat shape and firm but generous padding that's ideal for racing cyclists. It's available in three widths, with an optional cutout version, and is very nicely made with a carbon base that keeps the weight down.

  • Pros: Comfort, low weight, looks good
  • Cons: The flat shape won't suit non-racers

I generally get on with a wide variety of saddle shapes and found the Falcon's flat design acceptable on everything from short spins to longer jaunts. The Falcon is definitely from the performance-enhancing school of product design, but I still found it comfortable without any discomfort to speak of.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The nose dips down and the EVA padding is generously firm without being rock solid, with just enough give in the carbon base to ensure it doesn't feel like you're straddled aboard an anvil. It's a shape that best suits riders who spend most of the time hunched over the bars rather than sat bolt upright.

Pro Falcon - nose.jpg

A small central groove runs the entire length of the saddle and is designed to relieve pressure in this delicate area, a task it performs well. The wing-shaped rear section of the saddle saves weight while still providing a wide area to sit.

Pro Falcon - detail.jpg

The shape also suits those who sit in the same position most of the time. It's supportive and stable and keeps your sit-bones planted in the correct place. The long nose does provide the opportunity to slide forward if you're climbing or really riding on the limit, and the smooth PU upper material reduces friction and helps you slide back and forth when needed.

The carbon-reinforced polymer moulded base provides a stiff platform, but there's a bit of flex for helping to damp vibrations on rougher roads, but it's not the most forgiving.

Pro Falcon - underside.jpg

The stainless rails are generously marked to help set the saddle fore-aft position.

Coming in at 211g it's a light saddle – actually lighter than the claimed weight, which doesn't happen that often – but about what you expect for this price.

Costing a penny under £100 it's pretty good value for the weight, performance and comfort. It's lighter than the £180 Astute Star Lite VT, although if you really want lightweight you'll have to pay more, such as £250 for the Rapha Pro Team saddle or £210 for the Fizik Arione R1 Versus Evo.

> Buyer's Guide: 13 of the best high-performance saddles

Saddles are such a personal choice that it's hard to recommend one without knowing your exact requirements, but if you are racing and prefer a flat and firm saddle, the Falcon certainly has a lot going for it.

Pro Falcon - top.jpg

Its appearance generally suits a carbon race bike as well, sleek and minimalist as it is. It's understated and devoid of shouty logos, so should look good when mixed with other branded finishing kit.

Verdict

A firm and supportive saddle that's a good weight for the money

road.cc test report

Make and model: PRO Falcon saddle

Size tested: 142mm

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?

PRO says, "Hunting season is open and our Falcon saddle is built for it. The flat shaped design is ideal in the hunt for the first place. It gives you stability for those high-speed descents and allows you to move along your saddle when optimal maneuverability is required. So you decide: are you the prey or the hunter?

"Our Falcon saddle is developed with the most innovative technologies available in the market today. "

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

PRO lists these features:

Flat shape, best for very flexible body geometry

Lightweight EVA padding for optimal support and comfort

Smooth PU material to minimize friction with cycling shorts

Easily fits accessories like the PRO camera mount, fender etc.

Stiff and lightweight carbon reinforced polymer inmoulded construction

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

It's a very nicely made saddle.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

If you get on with a flat shaped saddle, you'll love the Falcon.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Nothing to report on this front.

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

It's a good weight for a saddle of this price.

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

Saddle comfort is subjective, but if you like this sort of saddle shape you'll like the Falcon.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

It's a good value for the quality and weight: it's lighter than the £180 Astute Star Lite VT.

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

It's firm and supportive for fast cycling.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It's well designed and well made.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Costing a penny under £100 it's pretty good value for performance, comfort and weight. It's £80 less than the Astute Star Lite VT, and it's lighter too. You can pay a lot more for lighter saddles, such as the £250 Rapha Pro Team or £210 Fizik Arione R1 Versus Evo saddles.

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 overall score

It's a low weight, high-performance saddle that's well made and supportive. If you like flat saddles, this is a very good choice.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180cm  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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