I picked up a Root Beer Vaya and my black B17 doesn't match, so it will likely move over to my MTB. The plan is to buy an Antique Brown Brooks and I am debating between the B17 and the Imperial. Anybody have both? Does the Imperial provide a noticeable difference to justify the premium over the B17?

Love my Imperial. No other seat would work for me. You notice the slot for a few hundred miles, then it disappears and there's 0 pressure in that area. It's pretty amazing.

I found the Imperial to be more annoying to brake in even thought the brake in is faster. I felt a pinch down there for a few hundred miles. Now that I have both saddles broken in I don't notice the deference between the two. So I don't think it is worth the extra $$.

I've got both and I prefer the Imperial. For the riding position I have (bars just below saddle height) and the amount of seated climbing I do, I find that the cutout allows more forward lean when using the bars for leverage/pulling, without putting the additional pressure on the soft tissue down there. (Note: I also have my saddle in a fairly high "nose up" position when compared to level)

I have both and much prefer the imperial. I don't have a lot of miles on the regular b-17, but i've ridden a lot on a flyer, which is the same seat. I find the cutout very comfortable and worth the nuisance of the laces.

nothing like 100 Year technology... I dont understand why my granfathers bike seat is more comfortable then 21st Century saddles? What other tech are we still using that is similar (exactly) to the B-17? bamboo fishing rods... Model A ford, carburators?

Keyboard tech. Mechanical switches were popular with the IBM Model M, and are far superior to membrane keyboards found in 99% of computers.

I have both, both are very comfortable in their application. In the past I've written that an Imperial is the most comfortable seat I've ridden - especially on trek 520 with handlegar slightly below seat, also for me the top tube is perhaps a touch long. On a more upright bike the imperial is quite nice - the b-17, nicer. In short the imperial worked better in a slightly more aggressive riding position.

What about friction shifting? And for that matter... what about the bicycle? Invented in the late 19th century, perfected about 1895 and nowadays pretty much the same design.

I have a B-17 on my touring bike and the imperial on my Specialized Roubaix. For the roubaix I prefer the imperial since the position is a little bit more aggressive than the touring bike. Had no problems with comfort with either saddle, they were comfortable for me from day one.

This is how my seat and bars are setup now:



It is fairly upright.