B17 or B17 Champion Flyer
 

I am going to buy a Brooks Saddle because of all of the good reviews I have read about. I was wondering if I should go with the B17 or the B17 Champion Flyer (with springs)? Are there any other Brooks saddels I should consider? I am touring from coast to coast. Thanks

I have both and have toured with both. If you care at all about weight, go with the B17, since the flyer is pretty heavy. If comfort is the main thing, the sprung one is nice. Either way, you'll be happy, I'm sure.

I'm also weighing the trade offs between these two saddles. Besides the weight v. comfort tradeoff, one concern I've heard is that the springs can be quite creaky and loud. Anyone care to comment on spring noise? Thanks.

I have ridden with both saddles: If I was going coast to coast, I would go with the sprung saddle. The springs take the little bumbs out of the road that will add up after several consecutive days in the saddle.
As far as the sprung saddle making noises; I have never had any problems: I am 260lbs; so if the saddle is going to squeek, I am guessing I would have heard it by now.
If you decide to go with the B-17, try to outfit your bike with larger tires(if possible). I ride panaracer pasela 700x37 tires and they really make for a smoother ride with the unsprung saddle.

I've never noticed any real spring noise on my Ch. Flyer or my Conquest. Maybe just a little creaking, nothing that has bothered me.

I got both the B-17 and the Flyer. I've never noticed any noise coming from either of them. The only noises I've ever encountered came from my junky seatpost's clamp.

Either saddle should be good for you. I leave for a coast-to-coast trip myself in May and I'm having a similar debate: do I use my B-17 or my Flyer? My points of debate are on "broken-in-ness" and weight. Either way, I don't think I can go wrong.

Thanks everyone. I decided to go with the Champion Flyer. I placed my order on line and the store offers a six month return policy. I hope I like it and don't have to return it. How long will it take to break in?

It probably will depend on your anatomy. ie how wide/narrow, or "boney" your sitbones are, and if your soft tissue surrounding them is allready "tough" or not (used to a saddle).

My B17 didn't take very long at all, and I'm hoping for the same with my new Flyer.

Does anyone have any thoughts on a B17 Champion Flyer vs. a standard B17 with a suspension seatpost?

I just bought a flyer for my long tour for the springs, upgraded from a regular b17. I hope it might even out SOME of the rough bits, as well as take some tension off of my rear wheel. Currently I lift off the saddle ever so slightly when riding over rough bits, which can get old depending upon the road/trail.

Adding: My B17 was perfectly fine comfort wise on my tour from Budapest to Istanbul, and those were some pretty rough roads. Some were graded hard pack in Turkey, while some could barely be called paved in Bulgaria/Romania due to the potholes. Mind that quite a good bit was also very well paved, but changed rapidly throughout a days ride.