After a year and a half of development and more than 2000 km of testing, I’m happy to announce the new Fusion Zero saddle. This is the world’s first mass-produced, ultra low curvature saddle.
First I’d like to recognize Ken Looi for his early comments & enthusiasm for the project and Peter Barrell, maker of the original Flatfish saddle, for giving his blessing to this project from the very beginning. Thank you and Peter I hope you enjoy your new KH26 =).
This saddle is good for every riding style. Some key features:
Constructed from reinforced Nylon 12 + fiber composite. This material is not cheap but is exceptionally stiff, strong, and impact resistant
This is the first unicycle saddle with a Pivotal seatpost. This is the #1 aftermarket standard in BMX and is strong, simple, 24 degree angle adjustable, and eliminates exposed bolts. KHU will offer a very good one-piece forged, KH Pivotal seatpost in 25.4 and 27.2 mm diameter. But since this is a bike standard, you can obtain a compatible seatpost through just about any bikeshop if you can't find a KH post.
Saddle frame and foam are shaped to support the “ischial tuberosities” (sit bones), reducing soft tissue pressure.
Low front nose provides a comfortable handle position
Slim profile and clean underside make it easy to grab for trials and tricks
Fully 15 mm narrower through the mid-section, compared to the other KH saddle models, to reduce chafing
T-bar touring handle compatible with no requirement for the reinforcement plate.
Weight is similar to existing Fusion saddles at about 810 g. The priority was on increasing strength & stiffness rather than reducing weight.
Besides myself, KH team riders Max Schulze and Ryan Kremsater have been testing saddle prototypes. They can chime in here, but here are a few initial comments:
Saddle feels very different initially, but quickly you get used to it. Saddle angle is key to comfort. Most riders will want to have the saddle angled moderately down towards the back.
Flatland riders may find it messes up their tricks until they get used to the different shape, but will find it easy to grab and use once they get used to it.
I don't think the ultra-low curvature saddle renders curved saddles obsolete, but it will be the saddle of choice for many riders going longer distances for sure.
Pivotal interface is a huge success. Because the installation bolt is accessible through the top of the saddle, it's incredibly easy to install. The lack of exposed bolts on the underside is a major plus, and the post itself is very strong.
A small pre-shipment of Fusion Zero saddles will arrive in shops in about 1 week (slightly longer for some dealers), with more stock in about a month. You may need to move quickly to snag one from the initial shipment.
Saddles are the most personal unicycle component, and arguably the most expensive and difficult component to make well. So I hope you like it. I’m looking forward to your comments!
That’s great news. However, I just called UDC (USA), and it’s “news to them.” No orders can be placed until they have them, and they don’t know when that will be.
Any indication on where one can place an order for one from the early shipment?
“Ultra low curvature” is three words and six syllables, “shallow” is one bisyllable. It’s as if I were to call myself Alice Inversetangentfunction. Nonetheless, I look forward to trying it.
Saddle cover is not removable, due to the hole for the pivotal bolt and because it best-suited the cutaway design.
Saddle will initially be offered in one colour.
The saddle pattern takes advantage of the toughest material available from the saddle maker, and is carefully cut to avoid any seam chafing.
Foam density is moderate - I would say slightly firmer than the other Fusion saddles.
It feels more like a bike saddle with a lot of support, where the comfort comes from saddle shape and moving most of the sitting force rearward onto the sit bones.
Cost will be posted on the different retail websites around the world, once the saddle arrives.
That should be 1-2 weeks for the immediate importer depending on how quickly they can get it online, and slightly longer for other dealers.
Price is TBA, once it is online at retail websites.
It will be more than the current Fusion saddles because it is made from fiber-injected Nylon 12 material. Substantially less than a carbon saddle, though.
I think you have seen it, but just didn’t realize it. This is supposed to be compatible with the same BMX-type seat post standard that the Nimbus Shadow handle/seat post uses. (The Nimbus Pivotal seat post.) (They look the same, anyway.) So in theory, this new KH saddle should fit onto the Nimbus post. Time will tell…
I have never a used a saddle with a bmx-style bracket and seatpost. Apparently you attach/tighten and remove the new KH flat saddle by accessing the bolt via the slit/hole on the top of the saddle. It’s hard to see it in the pic since it blends in with the rest of the cover so well.
That is one sexy looking seat. I wasn’t in the market, but I think that just changed!
One question, though: Now that the underseat bolts are gone, how would one attach the stiffener plate for a T-bar? Aren’t the two bolts used for that gone now?
It’s cool. For me, going to the pivotal post setup with bolt access through the top is a bigger deal than being flat. Much easier to adjust seat angle.
For now though, I’m going to keep running my ghetto flat seats.
As long as the bolt doesn’t break on a big drop and come up through the saddle and skewer me!!! I know this most likely could not happen, but just the thought of it might deter me from doing drops! :o
The bolt on my shadow handle (pivotal post) is only a couple inches long. I have no idea how the bolt could break and skewer you. It’s also pretty dang thick. I think if it’s good enough for BMX, it should do pretty well for us.
Worst case scenario, that bolt ‘does’ break and the seat flops off one way or the other. Likely? No.
I know this most likely could not happen, but just the thought of it might deter me from doing drops! :o