My B-17 was good, but not great, from the beginning. I don't think you really get the measure of any saddle until you are doing pretty long rides though. A good "break-in accelerant" is baseball glove oil used in moderation... if and when you feel the need. The variable nature of organic leather probably makes some of the Brooks slower to relax than others. The Imperial narrow turned out to be the best Brooks for me though I also do just fine on some of the more modern Specialized saddles.