Looking for some opinions: I have a Raleigh Sport minus fenders and chainguard with downturned Northroad bars. I'm thinking about changing out the B72 that's on it now. I like the 17's but have no experience with the Flyer ( a 17 with rear spring suspension). Any thoughts?

It feels the same, except bouncier. I like them for upright bikes. Keep in mind that the more expensive versions of the Sports came with a B66, basically a B72 with springs.

B66 and B72 are for upright bikes. B17 and flyer is for bikes with the handlebar at approx same level as- or a bit below the saddle. I find B17 and flyer is a bit to narrow for upright riding.

The flipped bars indicates the B17 or flyer. Personally I like the look of the springs on such bikes. If you go for the more "sporty" look or want a lighter setup then the B17. I ride them all and like the springs, but if you really need them for comfort (not just looks) depends on the roads you ride on, size (air volum) of your tires, your weight, if you are good at shifting your weight and use legs and arms as shock absorbers, and more.

I like the B-17, this bike is set with bars just below the saddle that's the motivation to change out the B-72. I've always used my arms and legs to take up the bumps and I'm not concerned about the weight of the bike, But perhaps my weight, I'm 6'-2" and 230lbs heading for 220 and I want to keep a classic look to the bike. I like the Flyer, but I thinking now that I may bottom out the springs?

I find the springs are really stiff. I can barely move them with my approx 140 lbs.

I just put a Flyer Special on my "fake retrovelo-ish Rockhopper project" and it has gotta be the most comfortable saddle I own. Granted, I have only ridden it a few test miles...but...it seems comfortable out of the box.

FWIW...My bars are slightly higher than the seat (Wald 867s) but I still find it more comfortable than the B67 I have on the Huffy Sportsman with Nitto Albatross bars.

-Mark in St. Louis

You won't bottom them out. I weigh somewhere around 170-180lbs and have a B67 (sprung B72) on my Superbe. I can feel the springs give _slightly_ when I put my entire weight on them. They don't give any fine suspension, but they do take the edge off the large bumps. Plus, I suspect they'd look cool on that sort of bike.

Thanks for all the good info....I'm go'in shopping for the Flyer

I should have qualified "upright" as about a 1" saddle to bar drop. With north road bars at the proper angle this is as upright as I would care to be, and the Flyer works well.

Andrew, I'm just a bit lighter than you are, and can't bottom out the springs even with 45lbs of tools in a messenger bag.

yeah I'm at 205# and have both the flyer special and the b-17 special. You won't bottom out the springs. i can barely get them them to move.

I would go for the special saddles though because of the wider rivets. The regular steel rivets have a tendency to out, or more appropriately, through the leather. The wider rivets on the specials don't do this. Plus the looks are killer.

Go the Flyer

I have a B66 (sprung) on my old BSA with inverted North Roads. I weigh 110kg / 240+ lbs. The springs are great and don't bottom out.

I want to stick a Flyer on my BSA and move the B66 over to a roadster I am going to do up

All the above comments about wider saddles being for upright riding positions are valid, but personally, my big behind copes fine with the B66 and low handlebars!

Another Heavy kid with a flyer here too. I can barely budge the springs with my 200 pounds....and honestly the Flyer seems stiffer than my B-17 but that might just be due to wear on the B17

I have a Flyer. It is my first and only Brooks. I chose it over the B17 because I broke my back at age 18 and figured I'd need the suspension when I got back on a bike after a 15 year hiatus. About the only time I notice the springs compressing is when I hit a pothole or some such. I find this rarely happens as I intuitively avoid them or stand up slightly.

If I had it to do over I'd probably try one of the VO saddles or spring for the B17 Special as they look so much nicer. If you ride less than 10-15 miles at a time, I don't think you'll miss the springs a bit.

The B17s look sleeker and don't have the springs to get in the way of certain types of saddle bags. I've used an Australian leather care product on my Flyer and both my wife's Brooks saddles with good results. It's the real deal made from horse fat, I think. Got it from the leather shop down the street. Not vegan approved!

The best suspension comes from your legs and big enough tires at lower pressures.

That just isn't true. There is no tendency for the heads of the rivets to pull through the leather. The leather pulls on the shank of the rivet and the hole in the leather gets elongated or it tears. The big hand-hammered copper rivet heads are just for looks and Brooks has said so. Take a look at all the vintage leather saddles with small rivet heads on eBay. The steel rivets on the newer brooks saddles are stainless steel, so they won't corrode.

Well, I bought the Flyer, I agree about the rivets, I have several vingtage saddles and the only one that tore at the riviet was one that was on that was adjusted too tight. I love the look of the Flyer Special but I've run out of $. Now if someone wants to donate a Flyer Special in black.....well I'd be happy to accept! Thanks for all the great advise. Safe rides everyone!

So let us have some pix!

About high and low handlebars: remember that the height of the handlebars is not the only thing that affects howupright you sit. Bars like Northroad and similar (flipped or not) brings your hands closer to your body than a flat bar or dropbars set at the same height would do since you would be more stretched out.

A sprung saddle is good for more than just your comfort, especially if you are heavy/ or has got plenty luggage. It helps (together with fat tires) to reduce the harsh beatings both your wheels and your frame recives from riding in bumps.

I forgot to mention that my Flyer is my most comfortable Brooks. It's on a bike with a very upright riding position and I can ride it all day without ever thinking about the saddle. I'm building another one now and I plan to give a B68 a try.

I'll post a some pix as soon as the saddle arrives and I install it, I promise.

Good choice on the Flyer.... same as I picked last summer when looking

Love the cream Shwables, they look soo classic.

Hey Badmother, I promised you some pics when I finished, here they are. I want to thank everyone for the excellent advice, the saddle is great!!!

I had a Brooks Conquest, which was essentially a sprung Brooks Pro (and now a slightly culty item), rode it for years on my daily rider. Finally got rid of it in a complex sale/trade last year.

I don't really miss it, having replaced it with a B-17 on my daily rider. The springs squeaked a lot - you can grease them up, but it comes back. Also, they will inevitably have more sag than a rigid saddle since the up/down stretches them out. Plus, they are pretty heavy.

That all being said, I rode it for about 8 years, so it wasn't like some great irriitant, but I probably wouldn't buy another. I'd just go for a B-17 some plusher tires at a lower pressure, which is indeed what I've done on my daily rider.