My new SA NSX(no cut out) arrived this week and I got out for 30 miles this morning to test it out. Some initial impressions:

The set up:

Set up was really easy and I am huge fan of SA's rail design. They extend the parallel section of raises frothier toward the nose than does Brooks, giving many more millimeters of setback options. I had chosen SA over Brooks specifically because I feared Brooks would not give enough setback and I did not want added expense of a new seat post. With the Thomson layback post I have (16mm of setback) the saddle is positioned pretty much dead center of the rails. There is certainly enough setback left that I could use a zero setback post.

Set up instructions recommend positioning saddle slightly nose up to,start, which I did. It felt right on the stand but after an initial ride, I suspect I could lower nose to level and still be comfortable That said, as is I felt pretty well balanced.

The Leather:

Wow it's way softer than the leather on my brooks pro is even now after 600 miles, and way way softer than when Brooks was new. The saddle was comfortable from get go and by end of ride the "first impressions" from my sits bones are already visible. As compared to my Brooks, after 600 miles or so, while the saddle feels very comfortable, there are not yet any real visible impression. This means I had no beak in period with the SA like I did with the brooks but also means I suspect that I will have to tension saddle in fairly near future as the saddle goes through initial stretch. With Brooks, I doubt I'll have to touch tension for years to come. I bought SAs Truleather version, which is their stiffest leather. Apparently the watershed is even softer, which makes me glad I went with Truleather over watershed.

The saddle has no skirt to speak of, sort of like Brooks swallow and swift, whereas my Brooks Or has a skirt. I suspect that also contributes differences in stiffness.

As you can see in the photo, the saddle comes with two sits bones dents already formed in the leather. When I saw this in online photos, I thought they were there in the pictures for illustration purposes to show what happens after riding. but not, the saddle comes that way, which is weird.

Other stuff.

I have terrible posture. When I was setting up, to test saddle tilt, I sat straight up and felt tilted forward. Then I forced myself to sit rail straight and my entire pelvis suddenly rotated back and the sensation of tilting forward went away. My mother always told me I slouched, she is correct.

I ride right handed. Based on the initial indents in the leather, I put more weight on my right side than left. I wonder if I should adjust for that.

Based on impressions, my sits bones are about 105-110mm, which is about what I thought.

All things being equal, and while my experience with both Brooks and SA is very limited so many more miles of comparing yet to come, and ideal leather saddle would have Brooks leather on SA rails.

Don't know how heavy you are, but how do you think this would do for a clyde, 250lbs or so? Sounds like it might be to soft and a Brooks would be better?

(I ride right handed. Based on the initial indents in the leather, I put more weight on my right side than left. I wonder if I should adjust for that.)

Experiment by rotating the saddle a few degrees to the right.

Too early to tell. I am 210 so if I initial stertch dissipates, should be fine. Brooks are definitely stiffer but SA says the X series leather with slot is for riders put to 250 so the NSX without slot should go above that. SA service is very good and I am sure would be happy to chat on phone to answer questions. But there is no doubt in my mind that Brooks Pro or B17 is stiffer and will last longer. But SA are specifically designed to be as comfortable as possible.

Thanks, I'll try that.