Best Leather Touring Saddle
01-11-14, 10:32 PM
#1
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Best Leather Touring Saddle
Is the Brooks B-17 the best leather touring saddle? What else should I look at? Also, are there any decent non all leather vintage touring saddles worth considering? I have never actually used a Brooks or other all leather saddle, but I understand they are great once broken in.
Thanks - Chris
Thanks - Chris
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01-12-14, 12:00 AM
#3
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I dig the San Marco Touring saddle and the nearly ubiquitous Avocet Touring II.
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01-12-14, 02:59 AM
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for the price ($90 new on ebay), i prefer the b17.
after about a month or two, they feel perfect. but after two years or so, they're too soft. so i sell them on cl for $70, and head back to ebay.
yeah, i like them on the hard side (with padded shorts).
after about a month or two, they feel perfect. but after two years or so, they're too soft. so i sell them on cl for $70, and head back to ebay.
yeah, i like them on the hard side (with padded shorts).
01-12-14, 05:52 AM
#5
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The break in seems to depend on the individual. Brooks saddles have always been comfortable for me right out of the box, they get more comfortable with use.
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01-12-14, 08:22 AM
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It's a highly personal matter, with no single one size fits all answer, but I am a rabid fan of the Brooks Pro (40 years old, on Capo #1 ) and the Brooks Team Pro (20? years old, on the Schwinn mountain bike).
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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01-12-14, 05:43 PM
#10
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Thanks guys! I was leaning towards the standard B-17 or possibly the Flyer version. Have to admit I am also interested in trying the Cambium version though that does not have the C&V look I want.
Also considering the Velo Orange leather saddle or Selle Atomica.
Thanks - Chris
Also considering the Velo Orange leather saddle or Selle Atomica.
Thanks - Chris
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01-12-14, 05:46 PM
#11
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01-12-14, 07:00 PM
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Yes. But there seems to be more to it than that .....for me, anyway. The B17 may be better for a slightly more upright position, but it is all a very personal choice, as said. My butt seems to fit the Pro series best. But that might be because that is what I always rode back then. I spent all my time and miles on a Pro in the 70s and early 80s. It just felt right. Your results may.....etc.
01-12-14, 07:15 PM
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The Pro has more of a rounded top that didn't agree with my anatomy. Shame, because it's about the perfect width. Regular B17s are a little too wide toward the rear (for me.) I compromised with the B17N and love it. Definitely try before buying if you can. 
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01-12-14, 08:06 PM
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Brooks Team Pro ti or my old favorite, the Swift.
Seven centuries last year and no issues to complain about.
They never let me down.
Seven centuries last year and no issues to complain about.
They never let me down.
01-12-14, 08:37 PM
#16
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My Wrights W3N, supposed to be nearly the same as the B17N, is supremely comfortable...for MY butt. Your butt may vary.
01-12-14, 10:04 PM
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I have 2 Selle An-Atomica Titanico X saddles in watershed leather and I'm quite happy. I don't think I'll ever go back to a B17.
01-13-14, 05:03 AM
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The B-17 is hard to beat for comfort out of the box (and after break-in as well).
That it comes in several flavors and colors is an added bonus.
The Professional isn't bad, either, for those that ride a lot and can deal with the thicker leather.
Padded saddles = meh
That it comes in several flavors and colors is an added bonus.
The Professional isn't bad, either, for those that ride a lot and can deal with the thicker leather.
Padded saddles = meh
01-13-14, 06:27 AM
#20
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I'll be a bit contrarian here. The modern B-17 is made from flimsy leather that does stretch pretty rapidly. Drilling/punching and lacing the skirts together helps them to retain some firmness. The broad saddle area is terrific for a fairly upright position (bars equal to saddle height), but it may be too wide for you, depending on your preferred drop. It's best to find a shop that stocks these saddles, so at least you can put one on your bike in a trainer at the store to see if it interferes. The "N" version is preferred by some, but I haven't tried one. The Pro has a thicker top.
I'm a big fan of the Fujita Belt BN-17 from the 1970s, and they can still be found on e-Bay in very good/unworn to nearly mint condition for around the price of the B-17 new on the high end to ~$50-60 on the low end. They're a slightly narrower saddle, with very thck leather that takes a bit longer to break in. Comfortable, though, and the slightly narrower shape works for more saddle to bar drop, at least for me.
The Taiwanese ones (VeloOrange, Gyes, Cardiff, etc.) have a thinner leather, but with a synthetic layer glued beneath. The B-17 clone doesn't stretch as fast as the Brooks, and is comfortable. Mine had a seat rail weld fail, though, and apparentlyi this has happened to others. There were a few BF threads on the topic. You could try one, and might like it fine. Mine was the Cardiff Cornwall, laced.
So, I'd still go with a B-17 or B-17N if I were to start again with a new tourer. But with the understanding that the saddle will not last like they used to. PG
I'm a big fan of the Fujita Belt BN-17 from the 1970s, and they can still be found on e-Bay in very good/unworn to nearly mint condition for around the price of the B-17 new on the high end to ~$50-60 on the low end. They're a slightly narrower saddle, with very thck leather that takes a bit longer to break in. Comfortable, though, and the slightly narrower shape works for more saddle to bar drop, at least for me.
The Taiwanese ones (VeloOrange, Gyes, Cardiff, etc.) have a thinner leather, but with a synthetic layer glued beneath. The B-17 clone doesn't stretch as fast as the Brooks, and is comfortable. Mine had a seat rail weld fail, though, and apparentlyi this has happened to others. There were a few BF threads on the topic. You could try one, and might like it fine. Mine was the Cardiff Cornwall, laced.
So, I'd still go with a B-17 or B-17N if I were to start again with a new tourer. But with the understanding that the saddle will not last like they used to. PG
01-13-14, 07:33 AM
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Very happy with my VO Model 3 - broke in somewhat slowly, and has not sagged at all. Also have newer Brooks B17 (broke in fast - but is now almost too soft), '70's B17 (great), and 70's Pro (great but I wouldn't tour on it). As others have said, everyone's butt is different.
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01-13-14, 07:42 AM
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01-13-14, 08:09 AM
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If I ever buy another B-17 (I have only one now) it would have to be one of these. Which, to my mind, is pretty much what B-17's used to be, I'd guess.
https://www.bikesonline.com/brooks-b1...FcVQ7AodEVIALw
https://www.bikesonline.com/brooks-b1...FcVQ7AodEVIALw
01-13-14, 10:58 AM
#24
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I've toured on both Brooks Professional and Berthoud Aspin saddles... the Berthoud wins. if you can afford it, this is the saddle to get!
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01-13-14, 11:41 AM
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I realize my last post was fairly nebulous. But it is so hard to specify just what constitutes a "better" saddle, given the personal preferences on fit and feel, and what feels right to one may not agree with another.
That said, why do you recommend that Berthoud Aspin over the Brooks pro, Catnap?
One thing I will add is that I suspect the problem many have voiced over the B-17 softening up too quickly may be due to the leather used in today's saddles offered by Brooks. One can read these critiques on the net in many places. I'm not sure if the leather available today is different than what was available back then, but I doubt it. Very high quality vegetable tanned leather is still available. I'm working with some today, as a matter of fact. My suspicion is that it has mostly to do with thickness. I just think Brooks saddles were made with thicker leather back when. I measured a Pro from the early 70's. It is 10-12 ounce leather. 3/16 inch thick. I don't have a modern Pro but my semi-modern B-17 is just shy of 8 ounce. Less than 1/8 inch thick. The older saddles were harder and required more break in period. But if properly cared for they lasted a long time. I also suspect the move to thinner leather was mostly based on customers wanting a saddle that would break in easily and be "comfortable" right out of the box. But as with everything, there's a compromise.
That said, why do you recommend that Berthoud Aspin over the Brooks pro, Catnap?
One thing I will add is that I suspect the problem many have voiced over the B-17 softening up too quickly may be due to the leather used in today's saddles offered by Brooks. One can read these critiques on the net in many places. I'm not sure if the leather available today is different than what was available back then, but I doubt it. Very high quality vegetable tanned leather is still available. I'm working with some today, as a matter of fact. My suspicion is that it has mostly to do with thickness. I just think Brooks saddles were made with thicker leather back when. I measured a Pro from the early 70's. It is 10-12 ounce leather. 3/16 inch thick. I don't have a modern Pro but my semi-modern B-17 is just shy of 8 ounce. Less than 1/8 inch thick. The older saddles were harder and required more break in period. But if properly cared for they lasted a long time. I also suspect the move to thinner leather was mostly based on customers wanting a saddle that would break in easily and be "comfortable" right out of the box. But as with everything, there's a compromise.
