Folding Bikes - Which Brooks for my Brompton?

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I’d like to try a Brooks saddle on my new Brompton. I don’t want the B17 as it is heavy and I don’t like the side flaps.
Having bought the lightest possible Brompton (S2L-X) I don’t want to be adding any extra weight so I’m looking at Titanium versions of :
B15 Swallow Classic Titanium
Swift Titanium
Team Professional Titanium
I like the shape of the Swallow but wish it had cooper rivets.
The Team Pro looks good and seems to be the lightest of the three @ 335 g.
Anyone have any comments on these saddles? Am I right in thinking that the Swallow is the one that is the most desirable?
Cheers,
Paul
A Ti Brooks is roughly the same weight as a steel-railed 'normal' saddle. Go for the comfort/looks or go for light weight, your choice.
A Ti Brooks is roughly the same weight as a steel-railed 'normal' saddle. Go for the comfort/looks or go for light weight, your choice.
The difference between the steel and Ti versions is around 130g and that makes a huge difference.
I don’t want to be adding extra weight. I guess I’m becoming a weight weenie :D
Looks and light weight are the most important aspect for me. I do like Little Pixels’ saddle.
nekohime
04-06-09, 07:32 AM
What color is your brommie? If you have a brg brommie, honey team pro, no question about it.
What color is your brommie? If you have a brg brommie, honey team pro, no question about it.
it is a raw lacquer http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr17/venomherps/Picture212.jpg
it is a raw lacquer
That bike just screams Team Pro in honey.
Speedo
ChiapasFixed
04-06-09, 08:50 PM
i'd say go for black myself. the bike is very modern looking and the brown or honey will clash with that look. a black swift or swallow would look very slick
The difference between the steel and Ti versions is around 130g and that makes a huge difference.
I don’t want to be adding extra weight. I guess I’m becoming a weight weenie :D
Looks and light weight are the most important aspect for me. I do like Little Pixels’ saddle.
You can halve the weight of even a Ti Brooks, for about the same cost or less. This doesn't matter for a weight weenie?
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings/components.php?type=saddles
Lewis Butler
04-07-09, 12:33 AM
Go the team pro classic (http://image.www.rakuten.co.jp/silbest2/img10395379503.jpeg), it's black, narrow & there's nothing unnecessary about it.
No bag loops or holes. It does have steel rails & rivets however, but they are pleasingly chrome plated...
ilovebicycling
04-07-09, 01:28 AM
I have an S2L coupled with a Brooks
Swallow. The Swallow is a good match for the S-type as the riding position is more aggressive, which the saddle was designed to accommodate.
Lewis Butler
04-07-09, 03:57 PM
ilovebicycling - if it was this (http://bicycleseatreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/swallow4.jpg) Swallow then I'd be in agreement, but there's something I don't like about the bag loops on the current (http://www.velorution.biz/images/Accessories%20-%20Brooks%20-%20SwallowChrome_l.jpg) models.
Seems silly to me to make such a stripped-down racing saddle and then allow the attachment of big saddle bags (unless that's what you want of course).
What I will say, being the owner of 3 Brooks saddles, is that you have to be very careful buying anything without seeing it first, especially as they seem to subtly vary their designs year on year.
PDR - if you are keen on Little Pixel's saddle, you could of course butcher (http://members.iinet.net.au/%7Ejdekter/misc/brooks.html) a larger Brooks, that would allow you to have copper rivets, Ti rails and the Swallow 'look'.
I'd say the Team Professional Titanium would be a good starting point given it's the lightest (and that's what you're into). Not that I've ever done this, mind, and it could be an expensive mistake waiting to happen.
Whatever Brooks saddle you decide on, we'd all be keen to see the pics with it on your raw lacquer bike (drool).
I'd only go Honey if you change the grips to match.
Otherwise black, blue, green, brown should work well.
ilovebicycling
04-08-09, 10:42 PM
Here's a quick photo of my Swallow. There are some scratches from being moved about in the trunk of my car.
i'd say go for black myself. the bike is very modern looking and the brown or honey will clash with that look. a black swift or swallow would look very slick
I went with a more modern looking saddle on my S-Type Raw Lacquer:
http://www.buybikesaddles.com/images/selle-italia-slc-gel-flow.jpg
ChiapasFixed
04-09-09, 11:17 PM
nice one, any pics?
must look ready for an interstellar commute! :)
You could get a ti B17 Special and trim the flaps (see my sig linky for a detailed how-to). I think the Swallow is waaaaaaaay over-priced.
I would recommend the honey. With Hydrophane you can darken the leather beautifully and I have found it does not clash with anything so far - I have it on my white-with-black-componentry Birdy and it looks awesome. That is the same saddle in the link, and with some mid brown shoe polish it looks stunning and compliments te bike well.
The raw laquer would suit that well also. It is a kind of organic look - same as a darkened honey saddle.
nice one, any pics?
must look ready for an interstellar commute! :)
Sorry for the low quality picture, just took it with my phone under less-than-perfect lighting conditions.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3430493468_55f0385168_o.jpg
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