a little bit of tacky, a little bling...

that's partly what makes them unique... embrace it... enjoy it's perversity...

I have the same saddles (made me cringe a bit as well)... but... I'm going to get a cheapie alum stem gold anodized to match...

probably no practical way to remove the "gold plating" w/o ruining the saddle.

be creative, make it work for you.

Mike