soonerbills

Looking at the various seats out there and of course we all want the nicest we can afford so Brooks and the like are in the hunt but as a self professed tightwad I cringe at spending that kind of money on a new one. Anyways There are used ones out there to be had at reasonable prices and of course off brands at a much less cost.
Well do those off brands really offer less quality or is it just a name thing?
But my real question is this. I read all over how the big advantage of a Brooks level saddle is the ability of it to "mold itself to your arse" after a period of use. If this is the case why would I want a used saddle that is already "molded" to someone else's arse?

dbakl

Before they became popular again, I could pick up leather seats at swap meets and flea markets for 5 bucks or so. That has changed, though, you never know.

Brooks are always good, Ideale is common and pretty equal, Wrights was a lower cost alternative as well. There were Japanese ones too but I can't remember the name...

As long as the seat is still firm, not overly softened, distorted or torn you should be able to conform to it. My first Brooks was an old used Pro that came off another old bike I had. Ugly as heck but still sound and someone else did the work of breaking it in. Rode it many miles and many years...

mackerel

Oil helps the saddle to adjust to a new arse.
Also, the leather in an older Brooks is better quality imo.
I have been quite pleased with my second-hand Brooks and Ideale.

rhm

The Japanese brands are Belt and Fujita; I ride a Fujita Professional, very similar to a Brooks Professional, that I have had since 1983. It has definitely conformed to my shape, but I think it was more comfortable before this happened (I can't do a side-by-side comparison, obviously). I also have a Brooks Professional of the same vintage, that hasn't been ridden much; still hard as plywood and quite comfortable. Newer Brooks saddles I've bought more recently have "broken in" more rapidly, much to their detriment.

Persons is an off-brand, I haven't tried them.

yellowjeep

Belt i think is the Japanese leather saddle.

SoreFeet

Search the local craigslist. Sometimes people don't appreciate a firm supportive saddle and take a loss on selling it for less.

I'm not sure if I believe that the newer Brooks are inferior to the older Brooks. Its quite possible that the hide is all different. In the old days I am sure some people got softer Brooks than others. My current B17 narrow is tough as nails. My new B17 standard broke in more quickly.

I would search ebay for a used one but it is still likely going to cost upward of 30-50$. A new one might not be worth it when you consider somebody gave up on trying to break it in.

fuzz2050

Lepers, or is it Leppers, or something like that. They make the official saddles of the swiss army.

mackerel

From the Lepper website (https://www.lepper.nl/index.php?content=U2FkZGxlcw==): "Leather saddles are made of buttleather."

cycleheimer

Almost bought a used bike off Craig's List recently just for the Brooks B-17 saddle. Guy wouldn't budge on the price....kicked my self later for not bringing another saddle with me..."$5 and a new saddle for the old one?"

Charles Wahl

The Brooks B5N (out of production since the 70s, I think) is often available on eBay NOS for quite a bit less than the Pro or even the B17. Older ones have chrome frame, which is nice. I have a newish B17 standard, but I feel it's a bit wide for a road bike riding posture; the B5N is narrower and feels good to me, though the leather is thinner, I think than the B17 or the Pro. Having spent some time browsing on eBay, I have to believe that the Wrights W-3 is exactly the same saddle as the B5N.

I think that I can tell, pretty much, by decent photography if a leather saddle is in a shape that's "like new" or "gettin' to be an ass-hatchet." Look for one that's flattish along the mid-line from front to back, and doesn't have a ridge down the middle; or other "shape issues" such as flared-out sides.

Personal opinion, but I think that people probably ruin saddles by overtreating them (Sheldon Brown's advice notwithstanding). The minimal Proofide care is what I give my saddles, and they stay nice and new looking; supple enough (but I haven't yet met a Brooks that my bum didn't like right away) yet firm. I have a couple Selle Turbos, one that I rode for many years, and they're not as comfortable to me as a decent leather saddle. I also have purchased a few NOS or slightly used French saddles -- haven't ridden those yet, but man, they seem hard compared to either of the Brookses I own. They're not bottom-feeder types either.

RobbieTunes

Sometimes, a good pair of shorts makes a heck of a difference, and it can be used on every bike.
I alway make sure I've ridden the saddle with my best shorts before I consider trading it away.

Prefontaine ran like the wind in leather-soled adidas unti his coach made him the waffle-trainer.
Eddie Merckx rode like the wind on saddles many folks wouldn't have today.

It sometimes is the shorts and what kind of backbone is coming up out of them.
No slight intended, just making the point that saddles weren't always great.

roccobike

I always, ALWAYS, buy used saddles. The prices of new saddles is way out of touch and the price of a slightly used saddle can sometimes be $.10 on the dollar, maybe less. As a further stroke of luck, I found a saddle I really like, a Sella SanMarco ERA and the variations of the ERA. They were not all that expensive to begin with and I can find them on ebay or yard sales for about $10.

javal

Since I do longer amateur "races" seats are crucial. I no longer think vintage and I dont want to spend time breaking seats. I dont think the bikes look awkward either with new/modern seats, on the contrary. Selle italia make good racing seats with various price tags. Other than that, the most common vintage (full leather) seats over here are Ideale.

soonerbills

Thanks for the insights. I do find leather more comfortable and have a ADGE(i think thats what it says)from a old pug I parted thats about wore out and want to find another saddle that is similar. I bid on one today but got beat at the last. I'll keep looking.

Grand Bois

I just put a black B17 Standard on one of my Peugeots because they're the most comfortable for me and I think it looks similar to the original French saddle. I got a lightly used one on eBay

SoreFeet

Harris Cyclery sold Leper but had too many problems. I bought one on e-bay and it was a complete junker. The springs were not supportive and there was plastic bushings for the springs. The leather was soft and way too supple. This was supposed to be a like new saddle.

I threatened the seller a negative feedback but he issued a partial credit. Don't waste your money on a saddle that is not a Brooks. There is no better quality.

jgedwa

I have put some time in on several used leather saddles (Brooks, Ideale, Belt, Fujita), and as long as the shape does not look stressed, I have never had a problem related to the saddle being formed to someone else's backside. In fact, in each case, they have been comfortable from day 1.

jim

JohnDThompson 

Persons saddles have been around for decades; the company was founded in 1892 and for many years was the North American importer for Brooks saddles from England. They fell on some hard times in the 50s and 60s, but seem to be making a bit of a resurgance now. I haven't tried any of their new production, but it looks decent:

Grand Bois

I had a couple of the Persons #77 saddles. I got rid of them both. They were comfortable, but not of Brooks quality.

Persons-Majestic was the U.S. distributor for both Brooks and Sturmey Archer. Their Persons saddles are made in India.

evwxxx

I rode the Wright #W3N for most of my life, as the 62 Falcon I got when I was 12 came with one, I am on my 3rd one now, and have really liked them over time, even tho I also have Brooks B17, B15, Pro's, and Ideal Mod 80's in my parts bins.

SteakKnifeSally

I got a deal on a NOS Wrights not long ago that I plan to put on a Centurian. It has a canvass like cloth under the center of the leather. Was this a hack to get around cheaper leather? How well does it work?

evwxxx

I have not seen any "canvas" material on any of my Wright's saddles anywhere.

roseskunk

My first Brooks I bought 35 years ago. It's still great saddle. I now have 14 others, most of them I bought new, including recently an 'aged' saddle. All of them are top notch, and imo, the price of a new one is reasonable for something that will outlast me. I think they are all very well-made.

Charles Wahl

I've seen some Wrights saddles on eBay recently with canvas on the underside. I was wondering about that myself. After 25 or 30 years, the canvas might be rotten!

steppinthefunk 

These Lepper saddles look sweet!!! Too bad reports say that the quality ain't up to par.