For a while I thought I liked the B67, because it is pretty wide, and sprung, and never felt like it needed to be broken in. It was just comfy from the get-go. But after a while I started to notice that on longer rides I would often get chafing on my inner thigh. I thought I was just too fat, but eventually I started to wonder if the saddle was actually too wide for me. So I tried the B17, and it definitely felt better when pedaling. However... it's frankly rock hard in comparison to the B67, and after more than about an hour in the saddle, I would come home with a "mashed" feeling in my prostate area. So I then tried the B17 Imperial, and that's where I am now - I haven't had the chance to do any touring on it yet, but so far on my day rides it has seemed just about right. It still needs a bit of breaking in, but I get the shape of the B17, and the middle isn't mashing my tender areas to a pulp any more. Incidentally I did try the Selle Anatomica previously, and that wasn't comfortable for me - so they do seem to have differences (even though they look the same). I really like the Imperial so far.

The only potential downside which I have heard of is that with the slot on top, the leather might end up stretching out sooner than the full B17 would... but that's just theoretical. My gut tells me that if you take care of it, use the Proofide and don't ride it when it's soaking wet, use fenders on the bike and a seat cover in the rain (I like the DryRide), then it'll probably last as long as any other Brooks.

http://www.wallbike.com/

Neil