I have an old Brooks B17 that I think would look much better if I could dye/color it black. Anyone ever do this so that the saddle looks decent and the color doesn't wear off on you?

No, but you could try shoe polish? Maybe?

I thought of that, but wouldn't shoe polish rub off on my shorts?

Yes, but you could wear black shorts... But don't sit on light colored car seats... Kind of like the "cat in the hat" thing... ;

I would think that it would be alright. I mean, if you brush it in enough and really let it dry (maybe even some Proofide or something over it to seal the color in), you should end up with a nice shiny "new" Brooks.

I'd reccomend searching the forums, I'm sure someone's mentioned this before...

Why not ask one of those fellows in a shoe repair shop what they use to dye leather?

The auto parts store stocks a selection of fabric paint, intended for use on seats, dashes, and other interior panels. I've used it on several types of vinyl-covered saddles with good results; it's quick-drying, durable and doesn't rub off on your pants. I can't see why it wouldn't work on leather, provided the surface was made free of any Prufride-type oils.

You can dye the leather. Go to a shoe repair place and by a bottle of the dye you chose.
To open up the pores in the Brooks to accept the dye better, go over it wit some fine steel wool.
Then apply the leather dye according to the directions on the bottle. After it drys,buff it with a rag.
Dye is pretty cheap, about 3 dollars for a bottle with an appplicator brush in the lid. Please don't spray it with any vinyl paint . And regular shoe polish will not work well at all.

contact Brooks on line
they have been very helpful, answering questions about my old Brooks saddle (B5N)
I was erroneously told to soak the old gal in neatsfoot oil -- contrary to what the Brooks blokes suggest. It survived AND it is now a rather nice dark -- almost BLACK color.

By the by... this saddle is now mounted on my '04 Felt F65 (replaced the stock Selle Italia Gel XO). What a difference. I fell off the Brooks bandwagon some years ago, but this saddle (from my dad's old bike and with 20 + years of breaking in) is wonderful. (luckily, we have nearly identical posterior builds)

https://brookssaddles.com/

visit the site and give them a e-mail... I'm sure they could advise

Hmmm, it's off to the shoe repair shop for me! If I can remember, I'll take before and after pictures. Thanks for the suggestions!!

Or go to the grocery store and buy leather dye maybe?
It's in the shoe polish section.
Yes, it will wear off.
Yes, it will get all over your clothes.
No, it does not wash out of your clothes.

Enjoy

Your shoes aren't subject to the corrosive effect of butt-crack sweat either.
If they are then you are way too nervous when you go into those meetings.

Enjoy

by the way... it's a proven fact that red saddles are faster than all others

I found this article on the web that talks about how to break in a brooks saddle. About halfway down the page, the author talks about how to change the colour. I have no idea if this works - follow at your own risk!

https://www.billbostoncycles.com/brooks_pro.htm

Here's something that is very, very close:

Boudreaux's Butt Paste

The stuff works, too.

John D.

Number one hits:
Hemorrhoidal mind set.
Are you thinking what I smell?

And the typical ballad:
Supository dreams keep me coming back to you

Enjoy

Very interesting! I'm going to try to get to the shoe place tomorrow!