Which Brooks Saddle
 

I'm looking into getting a Brooks saddle and I think it will between a B17 and a B17 Imperial, but not sure which one to go with? I do get numbness when doing longer rides and have been using a Selle Royal (Respiro) and like it but it's just not period correct and looks out of place on my 81 Shogun.

All comments welcome, and if anyone has one they want to sell please let me know.

Thanks,
Mike

I am a newbie, but I do know that it would help if you told us what bike it goes on!! I have 3 Raleigh Competitions (all vintage), two of them got Brooks on them, and I had one to go on my 3rd, but I opted for an Fizik saddle on that bike.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/...46873c75_b.jpg
brooks 003 by Lucas James 78, on Flickr

I have a copper clad brooks pro and I am loving it. Except today, it is pouring rain so I am posting on the interwebs... Hopefully you wont scuff yours like my girlfriend did to mine.

Quote from (cehowardGS) "I am a newbie, but I do know that it would help if you told us what bike it goes on"!!

What on earth do you mean by your comment?

First, I guess you didn't mean what you posted!

Second, I was COMMENTING on what bike is it going on?

That was plain and simple, at least to me. In addition, I EXPLAIN in my first line, that I am a newbie!!

At least I post what I mean..;)

I have owned lots of Brooks saddles, both new and used. The most comfortable on, right out of the box, was my Brooks B17 Special. What a beautiful and comfortable saddle.

It's obvious that your an angry person.... No need to be nasty.

Angry? Nasty?

I made an HONEST comment, to a post that said "all comments welcome".. Where am I being nasty?

Would one put a Brooks on this bike??

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4...0305001455.jpg


That was all I was trying to say..

Example, over in the motorcycle forum, I say I am going to put a piece of equipment, seat, pipe, bars, etc and don't know which one would be the best, comfortable, etc? The first thing they would ask, is "for what bike?", that is all I asked/said..
:beer:

Well, Had you read my original post you would have known I did say what bike it was going to be used on!

can we please keep this thread on line and not get off track here?

Thanks,
Mike

So..anyway.. Does anyone have any input on the benefit of the cutouts on the B-17 imperial. I've got both the standard B-17 and a Team Pro, and I much prefer the B-17 for everyday riding (although the Team Pro is better for aggressive riding) and I think I could see where the cutouts would be beneficial.

to OP.... the question about what bike, or in general what style of riding you will do is pretty pertinent to deciding about what brooks is suitable

wall bike has a lot infor http://www.wallbike.com/Brookssaddles.html

as for my personal experience, I have the B17 on my commuter utlity/bike that i ride in fairly upright postion and have loved the saddle since the first ride.

I also have a B17-n Imperial that I have tried on my road bike, which I ride in a more aggressive forward postion and it ha been ok, but not wonderful like the b-17 (I at the point of offering to swap it for a Regal in similar (under 100 mile shape)

so B17 is the base, but go from there.

My bad, didn't see it.

Sorry, didn't mean any harm.

I am gone...

Coleman

Maybe I was not clear enough, but I reread my OP and I do state (My 81 Shogun) I appologize for starting this thread cause it has just turned into something it should not have.

No harm done.......

I've never owned a regular B17 but I have put around 300 miles on a B17 Imperial and I love it. It is very comfortable!

Maybe I missed it - what bike are you putting it on? If the saddle to bar drop is over 2" or so, go with a narrower saddle, like a Brooks Professional or a Swallow, or some such. If the drop is less than 2" to no drop, go with a B17. IME, any bike with the saddle more than 1-2" over the bars, and you're probably going to want one of the wider saddles (B67, 68, 72, etc).

As far as the cutout - it's personal. If you've tried other "holey" saddles, and aren't finding relief from the numbness, you might just want to try a standard Brooks - I had numbness within 30 miles on a "regular" saddle. With a standard B17? I start hitting numbness around the 70 mile mark. Wish I had the cash for a Selle or Imperial, but that's not going to happen... BTW, this is without a chamois.

The bike it will go on is a 1981 Shogun 12 speed and the seat is just about 1-2" above the bars...... Here is a picture of the bike with the Selle Royal Saddle.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/IMG_2153.jpg

I like the B-17 on my Sport-touring frame and the Swift on my race geometry frame. Set up seems to be more important than model selection in getting a comfortable saddle.

I'd go with the classic B17 then...and if worst comes to worst, buy it from wallbike, so you can return it within 90 days, if you don't like it.

So, why would you go with the Classic B17 over the B17 Imperial? I'm just thinking of the Imperial due to the center channel to relieve pressure..... Maybe your correct in buying it from wallbike so I could return it if it did not work out.

GADZOOKS!, this is the thread from hell.

The KISS principle applies here. I vote for the regular B-17. If you can swing it ($$$), go for the Pro, instead.

Both saddles would potentially work on that bike. I think the answer is that, unfortunately, you will not know which is best until you try it. Others' experiences will not necessarily correspond with yours. I have the B17 (the female, "S" version) on 2 of my roadbikes and they are divine. I have spoken to several people who own the Imperial, and some of them say that the cutouts make things better while others say that they make things worse (the edges cut into the soft tissue!). The bottom line is that you never know how a given saddle on a given bike will work with your distinct anatomy. Prepare for trial and error.

I have used an Imperial and a B-17 for a couple thousand miles each. I am 6'1", 185lbs and have used the saddles on various bikes. My handlebars are usually a bit below to level w/ the saddle. I prefer the Imperial. I find it more comfortable. YMMV.

I'd go with that one because it's cheaper, you can get it from wallbike, and, from what I hear, they hold up better due to the increased strength of the leather. Since you're so on-the-fence about it, go with the standard B17, order it from wallbike, and call it good. If, after 89 days you don't like it, return it on the 90th day, and get the imperial.

Sounds like a good idea...... I am on the fence and just want to choose the right one, but who really knows what the right one is? I think I will take your advise and order it from wallbike and give it a wirl.

Thanks..................