Classic & Vintage - Question on Vintage Saddles( Turbo)

These dont come in sizes right?

Whats the going rate for the standard turbo model

whats the deal with the perforated turbo model

whats the deal with the bernard hinault

Whats better bernard hinault, SLG??


oh yeah what about the suede ones

I have a Bernie Hinault in suede, although you'd never know it was suede now: it's smooth as a baby's bottom from riding. People I know usually loved 'em or hated 'em but there is a definite following. Personally, I prefer a Regal myself, but that's based on personal fit. I've used my Turbo for temporarily setting up a new build and getting it adjusted for saddle height until I figure out what I'm really going to use on the final build. I could take it or leave it otherwise.

I have a few of these. For me, not as comfortable as a Brooks for longer ride, but they are lighter. I simply like the classic looks, to my eye the most appealing of the Selle Italia/San Marco lot.
They are one size, except that you occasionally see "ladies" models. They made the same model branded Avocet for awhile, at least.
No difference in shape or feel that I can tell between the 80s models, other than the graphics: I'm speaking of the earlier model with white hash marks one side of the logo on the sides of the nose, the later one with colored marks there, and the Bernard Hinault logo. The "colored marks" ones have what appears to be cheaper, less attractive leather covering (I don't own one). I believe that they may have come with aluminum or even Ti rails at some point, but the chromed steel rail model was de rigeur. Whenever I see the perforated ones, they seem to have crap in the holes, or be torn -- what's the point of ventilating something that has polyurethane foam and plastic shell beneath? SLG I know nothing about. They made a Pro-something version later on that's pretty cool and I bought one for my son's singlespeed -- haven't ever seen another. I hate the Turbomatic and even the other "deluxe" ones with the plastic junk on the rear of the saddle, though.
I have a NOS buff-colored suede BH that's really spectacular looking. It'll go on a dark metallic blue Motobécane Team Champion frame that I have, but I don't know if I'll ever have the heart to ride it.

I think I know that basic turbo type of saddle, they look really nice and sometimes you see them for a high price, but I found the ones I had very uncomfortable, too stiff and arched in the middle. I prefer a flatter back and a bit of dip, cut-out, or at least softness in the middle, but sometimes it's hard to find one like that that still looks good. The fizik alliante is one I want to try. Before I thought of the old turbo as potentially valuable, I managed to carefully cut out some of the plastic base in the middle, kind of an oval shape between the rails and toward the back but not too much, and that made it much more comfortable for me. Still looks good unless you look underneath.

Like most other saddles, you either fit the turbo or not. I happen to be one that does fit it pretty well and have liked them very much on my bikes since the 80's.
The Turbo predated the S.S. Marco Regal as the most popular saddle when the Turbo pretty much dominated other saddles as being the ones used by most of the top pro riders in the early to mid 80's. Whole teams had them on their bikes and it was on every bike you saw in races and featured bikes in the magazines had it. The Concor was also popular, but more people found them as hard to fit to a55 hatchets than the Turbo, so it was just a second to the Turbo in terms of popularity.
As to the point of the perforations. I think there is a slight benefit with them providing a bit of breathing between you bottom and the saddle as they act as tiny breaks of contact between your riding shorts and the saddle that is not present with smooth leather saddles. As for the suede version of the saddles, the suede provides a bit of breathing and traction that some riders like to get get a bit of contact leverage from the saddle, but then the suede texture does not last longer than a half season's riding before the top of the saddle will be smoothed and poilshed from friction from your riding shorts.
The re-issued Turbos are a good bargain that is usually just about half the price of the re-issued Concors which usually goes for just under $100.00. Most likely because its covers are not made from real leather, but of either fabric stretch material or imitation leather called "Lorica". Thus the cheaper price than Concors. They are also made Asia (China or Vietnam, I think) while the Concors, I believe, are still made in Italy.

Chombi

I got a new leather turbo for my grail build.
and i do believe they are made in Italy

about 200kms on it now and I have no issues with it.

my build is tall and skinny and a "boney arse"
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f394/rivieraproject/bicycles/IMG_0868.jpg

There're at least 2 different Bernard Hinault models, those with steel rails and those with alloy rails. I dont know the difference between a regular Turbo and Hinault Turbo with steel rails. I have an alloy railed BH Turbo that's very light.

ok the SLG has chrome rails

regular has steel rails

I am 180 pounds, should I stick with the regular turbo?

ok the SLG has chrome rails regular has steel rail. I am 180 pounds, should I stick with the regular turbo?

SLG = Superleggera (super light)

I have had a Turbo SLG for many years. The rails are alloy, probably aluminium and painted or anodised black. I also have a "regular" Turbo with chromed steel rails. Both have smooth leather covers and the Bernard Hinault logo. The Turbo was introduced when Hinault was dominant And he was an endorser of the saddle.

I think you will be better off with the chromed steel rail version.

+1 SLG had alloy rails. I have one with a smooth white leather cover on my Vitus. The alloy rails weren't recommended for heavyweights. They tend to snap. The steel rails are a better choice.

I have a Bernie Hinault in suede, although you'd never know it was suede now: it's smooth as a baby's bottom from riding. People I know usually loved 'em or hated 'em but there is a definite following.

Like this

268557

Defintely a good looking classic seat. My butt hates them.

They were "re-issued" at some point and the new ones don't have the same cache as the old ones. Price are all over the place on these. I sold a fairly nice '91 model for $92 earlier this year. Typical prices for nice used examples run from $25 to $40.

One came stock on my '84 Cinelli. After about a year I changed it out for a B17 and never looked back. They do seem to bring a good price on ebay. That's all I know.

Hi...I just bought a new Concor saddle for my Kona Jake the Snake...I like the very high quality Italian workmanship and the colour..Its Blue. Also, it is a more updated version of the old standby and it seems to have a little more padding...Good Luck, your butt will thank you for it...Ride Safe

http://www.bicycleeverything.com/products/Selle-San-Marco-Concor-Supercorsa-Bicycle-Saddle.html

I got a new leather turbo for my grail build.
and i do believe they are made in Italy

about 200kms on it now and I have no issues with it.

my build is tall and skinny and a "boney arse"
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f394/rivieraproject/bicycles/IMG_0868.jpg
Maybe they issued a special top of the line Italian made model for sale in Europe if yours has a real leather cover, but the ones that have been coming into the US market were definitely either Lorica or Lycra covered (which was one of the complaints that people had when they were first re-issued) and they had been selling for real cheap (Something like 55 -60 bucks, and I've seen lower than that) because of the cheaper cover material and lower labor costs from where they were made and they were definitley made in Asia, per what I read on their packaging which I think, IIRC, also mentioned, "Designed in Italy" but not "Made in Italy"

Chombi

my seat is real leather-it came with a tiny mini pelt on a button to show it is real,
shame-i just the pelt away today

http://www.cheekytransport.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/20110415-061201.jpg

I have an old basic white Turbo and paid about $15 for it. Looks like crap now, but that just helps mitigate its theftworthiness. It's ridiculously comfortable, because the leather forms to yo' butt.

I had a Miguel Indurain Turbo. Cool looking, but it was the least comfortable saddle I think I ever had.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8WoyJzkBcUE/TZiy-5olJzI/AAAAAAAADRo/1LIwqKfc-vc/s800/P1010246.JPG

Oh man, just scored a NOS/NIB suede Hinault Turbo last week, but I've been too afraid to put it on my Badger bike.
As soon as I got it and saw it for the first time in person, I could tell it's not going to be as comfortable as my '09 Avatar.
But after I try it, it's not going to be NOS/NIB anymore. :(

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Selle-Italia-Turbo-Bernard-Hinault-New-NOS-NIB-saddle-seat-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqR,!j!E+E7nsK3uBQBh2rSh9g~~60_57.JPG

Just hoiw much are these old things worth? I have boxes of these stuff under the basement of my parent's house. Many use for a couple of seasons and I go and chase after the latest and the greatest. who the heck wants an old bike ssaddle? Cinelli, TTT handlebars, stems and such are still down there I think.

Just hoiw much are these old things worth? I have boxes of these stuff under the basement of my parent's house. Many use for a couple of seasons and I go and chase after the latest and the greatest. who the heck wants an old bike ssaddle? Cinelli, TTT handlebars, stems and such are still down there I think.


why aren't these things up in the for sale section?


BTW I'm looking for a yellow suede Turbo. Does such a thing exist? I could settle for black maybe

BTW I'm looking for a yellow suede Turbo. Does such a thing exist? I could settle for black maybe

I've seen a yellow Super Turbo (like this one (http://www.euroasiaimports.com/productcart/pc/Selle-Italia-Super-Turbo-Saddle-1297p7840.htm)) and a standard turbo (http://www.euroasiaimports.com/productcart/pc/catalog/lowside_1668_detail.jpg) but don't believe I have ever seen a yellow one in suede.

I never have either, but there is a lot of stuff out there. A regular yellow one may have to do.

I never have either, but there is a lot of stuff out there. A regular yellow one may have to do.

Might prove to be a bit tricky to find in yellow too. If you like the Concor saddle this one (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_338_810&products_id=9865) might work.

I have the green Bernard Hinaut (worn) suede, plus a white leather Turbo and a Super Turbo also white leather.
Not sure it would be my century saddle, but fine for up to 50 miles.
Still looking for that grail saddle that's just always barely there.... every day... on every bicycle...
i think my butt likes some variety

Just hoiw much are these old things worth? I have boxes of these stuff under the basement of my parent's house. Many use for a couple of seasons and I go and chase after the latest and the greatest. who the heck wants an old bike ssaddle? Cinelli, TTT handlebars, stems and such are still down there I think.

You're kidding, right?

I borrowed someone's bike for a week while on vacation with an old-style Turbo and found it very comfortable. So I went out and bought a new-style Turbo, which was very uncomfortable. Tried a Regal for a while, but it was way too firm for me, the rails were too short and my sit bones were right on the rivets -- in short, it was painful. I've always wanted to try a San Marco Rolls but don't want to plunk down the money for a saddle that in all likelihood won't fit. Once you find a saddle that fits (in my case, Fizik), there's not much motivation to shop around.