Classic & Vintage - New Brooks Swallows... $400!!!

Brooks is reintroducing the Swallow in Jan 04... the price tag is $399...I heard the price of Brooks saddles were going up but this is ridiculous. I guess the titanium/compact frame/carbon everything crowd can feel free to buy them now that they are overpriced.

My understanding is that this is for the first 500 or so which will be totally hand made, registered with Brooks to verify authenticity.
After production gets ramped up price should come
down to a more reasonable price.

Marty

As the owner of two early 1970s Brooks saddles (a "Professional" and a "Competition"), I can attest to their comfort and durability. (Besides, nothing else would look right on my Capo!)

Swallow? Heck, that's more like a gulp!!

Of the first 500 produced only 100 are slated for the US.

Marty

Heck.....I've made my own Swallow look-alikes out of a new B-17 & a Professional. I cut the skirts out of my B-17, used it for several months and loved it. The saddle has not 'flared' outward even thou it is not braced in the middle. It became my most comfortable saddle that I decided to take my Makita grinder again, this time on my new Team Professional.......doesn't look too shabby either.... I'm not touching the Swift which is on my Steamroller.

Here's what my B-17 looks like after my chop job...
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/leakos40.htm

George

Fixer,

Very nice, looks much like the butchered/sewn saddles
that inspired the Swallow. I've thought about butchering
my own. . . may have to look for an old B17 to work on.
FWIW the Swift will be lighter (I think) than the Swallow.
at a considerable lesser cost.

Marty

The Fixer,

I usually don't comment on other people's rides (because there's not enough time in the day!), but your Pista is one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen. What is that color called? It looks like cheesecake! Totally awesome! And good job on your Brooks saddle mods!

Sorry, don't want to derail this thread...

I did a chop job on an old Colt and the result was great. On my very firstride after the job I got hit by a car and the seat was totalled. The shop that did the insurance rebuild put on a new Team Pro which is so shiny and nice that I justdon't dare go at it with a grinder but your pic insires me!

Heck.....I've made my own Swallow look-alikes out of a new B-17 & a Professional. I cut the skirts out of my B-17, used it for several months and loved it. The saddle has not 'flared' outward even thou it is not braced in the middle. It became my most comfortable saddle that I decided to take my Makita grinder again, this time on my new Team Professional.......doesn't look too shabby either.... I'm not touching the Swift which is on my Steamroller.

Here's what my B-17 looks like after my chop job...
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/leakos40.htm

George
I have a few Brooks saddles (regular B-17's and Champion Specials) and am interested in butchering at least one of them. How about a short lesson. I saw you use a grinder. Chuck Schmidt has some photos on the Wallbike and he uses, what looks like, chisels. Do you measure the skirt to detremine how much to take off etc. Do you know the technique for providing braces (if needed).

thanks

When I did my Colt I left a 1 1/2" flap of the skirt at the deepest part on both sides, in the bottom edge of each flap I punched three 1/8" holes on a row, then I laced these holes from one flap to the other under the saddle with a leather shoelace, puling the middle together... can you picture it? As I said in my first post, the bike crashed and the sadddle was destroyed on its maiden voyage so I don't know how durable my solution would have been. Perhaps chrome eyelets in the holes would be a good thing, available at any good hobby/craft store.

sorry to resurect this thread but my friend bought a near new B-17N for $65 and has been riding it for a week or 2 and says he is not interested in breaking it in. I think I will give him what he paid for it even though the guy failed to produce the tool or the proofide that came with it (probably on purpose)... and then I think I might use my dremmel tool to cut it to resemble a swift... anyone have any pointers before I go destroy a perfectly good saddle?

For $400 it oughta swallow.

And pay its own cab fare home afterward.

sorry to resurect this thread but my friend bought a near new B-17N for $65 and has been riding it for a week or 2 and says he is not interested in breaking it in. I think I will give him what he paid for it even though the guy failed to produce the tool or the proofide that came with it (probably on purpose)... and then I think I might use my dremmel tool to cut it to resemble a swift... anyone have any pointers before I go destroy a perfectly good saddle?

Only to measure twice, cut once. And be careful the Dremel doesn't slip, because it will make a serious scratch. Maybe cover the part of the leather that will remain to keep it from getting scratched up.

Only to measure twice, cut once. And be careful the Dremel doesn't slip, because it will make a serious scratch. Maybe cover the part of the leather that will remain to keep it from getting scratched up.
Go get a Professional and you won't have to do all that carving and cutting. Good to go out of the box. Simply the best saddle out there.

sorry to resurect this thread but my friend bought a near new B-17N for $65 and has been riding it for a week or 2 and says he is not interested in breaking it in. I think I will give him what he paid for it even though the guy failed to produce the tool or the proofide that came with it (probably on purpose)... and then I think I might use my dremmel tool to cut it to resemble a swift... anyone have any pointers before I go destroy a perfectly good saddle?
It's pretty straight forward... First make yourself a template out of thin cardboard, with the shape you want removed from the skirt. Hold your template against the saddle, and using a ball point pen, mark the cut line. Above the cut line, you can apply a few layers of masking tape, just in case you slip with the cutting wheel (don't slip)... Use a Dremel or similar rotary tool, with a fiber reinforced cut-off wheel, and carefully cut below your marked line... You'll want a painter's mask; lots of leather dust.. After the skirt is removed on both sides, use some 80 grit sand paper to add a chamfer to the saddle where you cut it off, followed by some finer paper, like 120 grit. Add some Proofhide to the chamfer to darken the leather (or color with shoe polish), and buff & mount.. Ride on!
I've done a couple of them, and if you're careful, they turn out great!

anyone have any pointers before I go destroy a perfectly good saddle?


Pointer 1 (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/articles/brooks.htm)

Pointer 2 (http://www.wallbike.com/content/butchering.html)

Thanks, the tips and links are very appreciated. I can't wait to see how my saddle turns out.

That sure looks nice. I just don't have the guts to try it myself.