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review

Morgaw Trian

9
£89.99

VERDICT:

9
10
A supremely comfortable saddle with innovative shock absorption built in
Weight: 
204g

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 Morgaw Trian is designed for comfort, and it is perhaps the most comfortable saddle I have ever used. There is a fair amount of EVA foam used in it, though not as much as I have seen in other regular road saddles, and this naturally helps, but it seems that the shock absorbers are what have really made it comfortable.

Morgaw is a new saddle company from Slovakia that began as a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo. The idea behind it came from Martin Moravcik and Slawek Gawlik, two ex-pro mountain bikers who wanted to make a new kind of saddle.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

Rather than simply having the rails mounted onto the base of the saddle, they mount through shock absorbers in order to lessen the impact of bumps in the road. It is meant to protect your spine as this is naturally where the shocks radiate.

Morgaw Trian Saddle - underside.jpg

The shock absorbers mean that rather than getting rid of the bite of a bump, they just take the edge off it. I was riding a steel frame for the majority of the review and for fairness hit the same lumps and bumps that I have become used to after two years of the same commuting route. Rather than the jarring impact that normally makes me stand up when I know they're coming, the shock absorbers took most of the impact and it wasn't really painful at all.

Fitting the saddle is pretty much like any other, although the oval shaped rails aren't compatible with all seat clamps, so it is worth researching if it will work for you. You can also switch out the shock absorbers, plus the saddle can also be customised, with 10 different colours of bolts and either aluminium rails (as on this test model) or carbon rails.

Morgaw Trian Saddle - rail.jpg

The Trian is a flatter shape than I would normally choose, but the nylon glass fibre-reinforced shell combined with the EVA foam meant I didn't feel uncomfortable at all. The all-in weight of 204g (202g claimed) is very respectable given that the Prologo X Zero II Saddle and Selle Italia SLR Tri Gel Saddle are both more expensive and weigh more.

The top of the saddle is PU leather with non-slip grip, meaning that you don't slide at all. Pretty much anywhere you sit on the saddle you feel fairly secure. It also seems hard wearing and there are no creases or folds that could potentially wear out. There is also a groove down the middle to help relieve pressure on your perineum.

Morgaw Trian Saddle - nose.jpg

This is a saddle created with comfort in mind rather than out-and-out performance. The slight movement in the shock absorbers, although not noticeable unless you are closely tracking power outputs, would hinder you slightly if you were time trialling or racing on the track. It's described as being well suited to cyclo-cross, and in terms of a sportive, commuter or just general training saddle, it works fine. The movement works both ways, so rather than just absorbing bumps it moves slightly side to side along with your pedal strokes; it's barely noticeable, but seems to help with comfort as it moves with you rather than fighting against you.

> Check out our buyer's guide to saddles here

The RRP of £89.99 isn't bank-breaking compared with others on the market, although actually giving a definitive answer on whether it is good value is hard, simply because it is more or less one of a kind. But given that the Prologo Space and Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow are £10 more, heavier, and both designed for comfort, the Trian seems about right.

Overall, it performed really well. It's the most comfortable saddle I have used and the shock absorber element really works.

Verdict

A supremely comfortable saddle with innovative shock absorption built in

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Morgaw Trian

Size tested: 270x133

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?

Morgaw says: "MORGAW saddles are attached to a unified, patented & self-supported platform based on shock absorbers. The shock absorbers are designed to absorb the impact and stress created between the rider and bicycle while riding; they are not intended to be a suspension substitute.

The rails are interchangeable, allowing them to be replaced or upgraded and are available in UD Carbon or Forged T6 aluminium versions.

They are also customisable with bolt kits available in 10 anodised colours.

The TRIAN is a lightweight off road saddle. It is well suited to XC or CX racing, but is also a great choice for all day riding both on and off road.

As standard each saddle comes with medium density shock absorbers and black hardware"

I would say it works very well, being one of the most comfortable I have used.

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

Shell: Nylon glass fiber reinforced

Rails: AL2014-T6

Cover: PU Leather with nonslip grip / BLACK

Foam: EVA

Use: XC / CX

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

No creases in the leather and despite the ability to change many pieces of the saddle yourself, it feels secure.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Performed very well for comfort although certainly wouldn't be the one to choose for time trials or track cycling.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

It has a well-made upper and with the ability to change the rails and other elements, if anything else breaks it is relatively inexpensive to fix

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

Weighs less than other comfort saddles in this price range and is even competitive against regular saddles.

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

The most comfortable saddle I have used.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Hard to set a precise value on this as it is fairly unusual at the moment, but given that other comfort based saddles cost more, it seems like a good deal.

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

Very well, it was very comfortable even for long rides and on a variety of surfaces.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The shock absorbers are a real game changer, not impacting on pedalling too much but making the ride smooth, even on very rigid frames.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The oval rails aren't compatible with some seatposts, which probably isn't ideal.

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 score

It does exactly what you want it to, it is very comfortable, looks the part and doesn't break the bank. I used it on long rides without any issues at all.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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7 comments

Avatar
swmlon | 7 years ago
0 likes

This looks at interesting concept. Does anyone know where we can buy this in the UK?

Avatar
chihuahua replied to swmlon | 7 years ago
2 likes
swmlon wrote:

This looks at interesting concept. Does anyone know where we can buy this in the UK?

I do.     When I'm looking for something cycling related and I don't know where I can buy this, I use Google (although other search engines are available of course).  

You should try it - it's mazing what you can find out. 

Avatar
ellisblackman replied to chihuahua | 7 years ago
0 likes
chihuahua wrote:
swmlon wrote:

This looks an interesting concept. Does anyone know where we can buy this in the UK?

I do.     When I'm looking for something cycling related and I don't know where I can buy this, I use Google (although other search engines are available of course).  

You should try it - it's amazing what you can find out. 

 

ISON Distribution is the supplier in the UK.
I currently have one on my desk and I can certainly say, it's nice!

Avatar
Pinstruck replied to chihuahua | 7 years ago
3 likes
chihuahua wrote:

When I'm looking for something cycling related and I don't know where I can buy this, I use Google

 

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=morgaw+trian+saddle

Avatar
macrophotofly | 7 years ago
1 like

This looks a fabulous idea for a saddle

+'s Think the side to side flex might actually be helpful, when you consider Fizik actually engineer that flex into their base. Agree this would be good for Cyclo-cross. Price seems very competitive for a 200g seat. Love the customisable bolt kit.

-'s (IMO) would have liked to see the rails go further to the back of the seat to provide a longer length and reduce the need for that plastic ribbing.

...actually now considering if I can achieve the same with my Selle SMP Composite  - fits me perfectly but any, and I mean any, bump is felt. The rail mount points are solid plastic blocks so could be machined out to fit a rubber grommet to provide the suspension.....just need the right rubber!

Avatar
TypeVertigo replied to macrophotofly | 7 years ago
0 likes
macrophotofly wrote:

...actually now considering if I can achieve the same with my Selle SMP Composite  - fits me perfectly but any, and I mean any, bump is felt. The rail mount points are solid plastic blocks so could be machined out to fit a rubber grommet to provide the suspension.....just need the right rubber!

Interesting. Do let me know what you come up with. I run a Selle SMP Hell, myself.

Avatar
TypeVertigo | 7 years ago
1 like

Looks like a great idea, and well-executed to boot.

Sadly I won't be able to use it on my bikes due to the oval rails. Had Morgaw released a round 7mm-diameter rail version, I'd be in.

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