Saddle comfort - Turbo vs Unicanitor

[Jc24]

Hi,
I'm thinking about replacing a beat-up saddle for a late 80s mtb I should receive soon.
I'm struggling between an Italia Turbo or a Cinelli Unicanitor. Both seem a great option,but the Cinelli is appealing to me as it's a less common one.
I've already ride a road bike with a Turbo and do not recall any comfort issue. But I have no experience with the Unicanitor. The plastic ones are the lightest.
Any feedback?
Best
JC

 

[Prodigal Son]

New release Unicanitors feel different than old, classic unicanitors.

 

[Jc24]

New release Unicanitors feel different than old, classic unicanitors.

Thanks. I have found an old one in France, all plastic.
They seemed to be quite common on Charlie Cunningham and Steve Potts' mtbs.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Thanks. I have found an old one in France, all plastic.
They seemed to be quite common on Charlie Cunningham and Steve Potts' mtbs.

Go for it!

 

[Jc24]

Some pics

 

[focomat 1c]

The original Unicanitor moulded plastic saddle was available with different levels of comfort determined
by the amount of padding fitted to the shell before the leather outer was fitted . A Unicanitor no.1 had
no padding at all , with progressively more padding until you reached no.4 ( I think ) They are identified
by a small round number label stuck under the shell . However after all this time there won't be a lot of
life left in the padding !

 

[Jc24]

The original Unicanitor moulded plastic saddle was available with different levels of comfort determined
by the amount of padding fitted to the shell before the leather outer was fitted . A Unicanitor no.1 had
no padding at all , with progressively more padding until you reached no.4 ( I think ) They are identified
by a small round number label stuck under the shell . However after all this time there won't be a lot of
life left in the padding !

Good point. Thank you for sharing information.
That's why I might go for a plastic one.

Any comment on the saddle on the pictures?

 

[focomat 1c]

Looks fine , go for it !

Saying that , I have never heard of a Cinelli Unicanitor Saddle being fitted to a MTB
mainly because the revolutionary plastic saddle design existed way before there was
such a thing as a MTB and as such its primary market was the road bike in various
competitive forms

 

[Jc24]

Thank you and good point again.

The trend was clearly not pointing toward this saddle. Turbo, then Flite might be the classic go to (btw, my favorite for a 90s MTB is the Avocet O2 Air 40R: very light and comfy).

But some high end bikes were using the Unicanitor. I think it's the same in bmx.

Here are some examples:

1987 Charlie Cunningham Racer #3C

This Charlie Cunningham Racer was the team bike of Eric Stirling, who lived in Fairfax, CA and competed successfully in race events during the late 1980s. Campaigning in the veteran class, Eric won...

www.vintagemtbworkshop.com

1987 Steve Potts Signature

Wilderness Trail Bikes co-founder and legendary frame builder Steve Potts painstakingly built his signature frames with flowing, fillet-brazed joints. This Signature features the best of Steve's...

www.vintagemtbworkshop.com

Have a great day

 

[Jc24]

@Prodigal Son and @focomat 1c
Here is the bike I was thinking to, when looking for info about the saddle https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/highlander-bike-fillet-brazed-frame.468094/#post-3452880