REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Highly cushioned
Pressure relief channel
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Bulky
Low performance
Serfas Dorado Review
A soft, flexible saddle with loads of cushioning made for cruising in comfort
Credit: Serfas
RELATED: Best Bike Saddles of 2024
Our Verdict
The Serfas Dorado is an affordable bike saddle that provides plenty of comfort with its thick padding, anatomic pressure relief channel, and flexible shell design. While it's certainly not lightweight or stiff compared to some of the high-performance racing saddles, it would make an ideal pick for riders looking to upgrade the seat on their commuter bike, touring bike, or beach cruiser. The soft microfiber cover, dual-density base material, and Chromoly rails are high-quality for a product in this price range, but the Dorado doesn't perform as highly as more expensive models with higher-end materials and more performance-oriented designs.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Serfas Dorado | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Bike Saddle |  Best Bang for the Buck | |||
| Price | $53 List $52.48 at Amazon | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $37 List $37.00 at REI | $31.52 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $68 List $39.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A highly-cushioned saddle with a soft and flexible shell that is ideal for cruising | A uniquely shaped saddle that blends comfort with lightweight performance | An economical option for riders not concerned about weight that provides all day comfort and support | A comfortable balance of stiffness and cushioning, at a price that can't be beat | Wide, thick, and ready to absorb jolts on your commutes, this saddle puts comfort above everything else |
| Rating Categories | Serfas Dorado | Prologo Dimension | Bontrager Sport Saddle | WTB Speed | Serfas E-Gel Cruiser |
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Performance (30%) | |||||
| Versatility (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Serfas Dorado | Prologo Dimension | Bontrager Sport Saddle | WTB Speed | Serfas E-Gel Cruiser |
| Dimensions | L 280 mm, W 165 mm | L 245 mm, W 143 mm | L 275 mm, W 163 mm | L 270 mm, W 145 mm | L 270 mm, W 200 mm |
| Weight (grams) | 382 g | 191 g | 350 g | 379 g | 774 g |
| Rail Material | Chromoly | Tirox | Steel | Steel | Steel |
| Shell Material | Dual Density Foam | Light foam | Foam | Plastic | Plastic |
| Seat Cover Material | Soft Feel Microfiber | Microfiber | Microfiber | Synthetic | Synthetic |
| Anatomical Cut Out or Channel | Yes, full cut out | Yes, full cut out | Yes groove and cut out | Yes, groove | Yes, groove |
| Target Use (mountain, road, etc.) | Road | Road, Mountain, Cyclocross | Road, Commuting, Touring | Mountain, Road, Cyclocross | Recreational, Commuting |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Serfas Dorado is a comfortable bike seat that is part of Serfas's performance saddle line, but unfortunately, its performance falls short of the top-ranked models in our lineup. Its soft, thick padding and flexible shell material provide a good deal of comfort but absorb a lot of energy and hinder the saddle's performance. It is also on the heavier end of our lineup with a measured weight of 382 grams. While it's not the highest performance offering in our lineup, its affordable price could make it a good option where comfort is the priority.
Performance Comparison
The Dorado could be a good option for cruising around town in comfort.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Comfort
The Dorado earns respectable scores in our comfort category, thanks to its luxurious dual-density padding, anatomic pressure relief channel, and flexible shell construction. It does a good job of providing plenty of comfort for the ordinary rider compared to the ultra-lightweight performance saddles, without adding an obscene amount of weight or bulk that would suppress any hope for performance. It is best suited for more casual riding situations since it is a little too soft to provide comfortable support for more aggressive riding positions.
The size and shape of the saddle provide a nice platform for most rider shapes and sizes, and the pressure relief cutout adds an extra element of comfort. The flexible shell material and construction adds an extra layer of forgiveness from bumps and road vibration.
Performance
Although Serfas markets this product in their performance line of saddles, it does not rank very well in this category compared to the higher-end brands and designs in our lineup. The thick, soft padding and flexible shell design that make the Dorado so comfortable also absorb a great deal of energy and hinder the performance. While this saddle is certainly lighter and stiffer than some of Serfas's heavier and bulkier gel-filled models, it still doesn't match the performance of the top-end models in our lineup with their streamlined shapes and stiffer materials and construction. At a measured 382 grams, it is also on the heavier end of the lineup.
The thick cushioning of the Dorado (rear) is much heavier and bulkier than on other high-performance saddles.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Versatility
While it's certainly comfortable and would make a good option for casual riding, the limited performance capabilities of the Dorado also limit its versatility. This saddle would be a good choice for city commuters or town and beach cruisers looking for comfort without completely sacrificing performance, but most road cyclists, mountain bikers, cyclocross racers, or bike tourers will likely prefer an option that's lighter and stiffer. The comfortable design has its place but has limited applications where it would be the ideal choice.
The Dorado is a good choice for cruising around town on this hybrid bike, but is a little too soft for aggressive riding or racing.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Durability
The Dorado seems to be built from high-quality materials but loses a few points in our durability ratings due to having several exposed staples in several places. The Microfiber cover material is stapled to the underside of the shell and leaves exposed staples and exposed material edges, leaving the possibility of frays or tears. And although it has rear scuff guards that are made of a thicker material, these too are stapled to the shell with exposed edges. If appropriately used for cruising or casual riding, these designs shouldn't become an issue, but if abused or left out in the elements, could compromise the long-term durability.
The expose staples and bare edges where the cover material is secured to the shell could become a durability issue.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Weight
The Dorado comes in at the heavier end of the lineup with a measured weight of 382 grams. Although this is certainly lighter than many other comfort-oriented saddles on the market, it still falls well short of the lightweight design and construction of the top-performing models in our lineup. If used for general town riding or beach cruising where lightweight performance is not the priority, it could still be a good option.
Value
With a low list price, the Dorado provides a great value to the right kind of rider. Although it doesn't provide high-end performance for road racers or other aggressive riders, it does provide a good deal of comfort at an attainable price. Riders looking to upgrade the seat on their town bike, beach cruiser, or commuter will find this a reasonable option.
The affordable price point makes this an appealing option for casual riders looking for a comfortable upgrade.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Conclusion
The Serfas Dorado is a comfortable bike seat that is lighter than some other purely comfort-oriented saddles, but falls short of the high-end models in our lineup when it comes to weight or performance. Riders looking for an affordable upgrade for their cruising bike will find this to be a suitable option, but racers or riders looking for top-tier lightweight performance would be better served with a different model.
—
Nick Bruckbauer
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