It's finally happening. My well-used Terry Butterfly saddle is showing its age. Lots of cracking
going on, and I believe it is starting to shred.

Thus, the time has come to consider a Brooks saddle. People rave about them, and everyone
swears that the "break in time" really is nothing to sweat. I'm considering the Brooks B-17 Imperial,
in antique brown. My LBS has them on sale at the moment. Any advice is welcome. Thank you,
and may the force be with you.

Break in for the Imperial is less than the standard Brooks:

Brooks B17 Imperial Saddle Review | Road Cologne

Put it on your bike and ride. Nothing any of us could say would mean anything. This is between the saddle and your butt.

I run an Imperial on my bike.

It felt better than any saddle I've ever had as soon as I installed it. Break in time from that point was about 150 miles. At the 150 mile point I had to slightly raise the height of the post because the saddle had noticeably conformed to my shape and subsequently allowed me to sit maybe 3/8" lower.

Cliff notes...

I thought it it was perfect as soon as I installed it

After about three rides it got even more perfect

I will run Brooks saddles on all future bikes without hesitation.

How does one choose between the different models?

I love my Brooks, for now my butt does not complain, at all!

All the info you could ever want is found right here on Bikeforums I will add that I just got a new B-66 and it is perfect right out of the box, no break in period at all.

I also am a Brooks fan. One tip: For max fit and comfort, you may need to tip the nose up just a tiny bit. It can make all the difference in the world. Use a level to adjust, tipping the nose so the bubble in the level is just a bit higher than that of the ground the bike is on.

For my money, the Brooks B17 Standard...



or B17 Special are top draw, when comfort it the issue. Personally, I would not go for the cut out offered with the B17 Imperial. My concern would be longevity and I can't help but wonder what a suspended leather saddle does when some of the suspended material is removed. Premature sag?

Can't say that I know for sure, but I do wonder. One thing I can say for sure, it that the B17 is the most comfortable of all the Brooks saddles that I have owned, and that is a few.

I have that same saddle and I love it. It broke in easily perhaps due to the cut out. I never get penile numbness like I have with other saddles. wo widths are available. Normal and narrow. I have the normal.

My sit-bones set a touch on the wideside and the B17 is a treat.
After about three short rides it was broke in I guess. Discomfort was never an issue.
When I was 250# @ 6', the Brooks Flyer really softened up a hardtail MTB.
Gotta Imperial on the shelf awaiting a new touring bike to be bought soon.

Use the Proofide very sparingly and an offset seatpost w/micro adjustment really helps with slight tilt changes to really dial the plot in.

Even in SoCal I fit fenders and carry plastic bags for my feet n seat during the rainy season.

From my personal experiences, you made a good choice for a saddle. My next saddle will be another Brooks Team Pro, when the Prologo Nago is over the hill. I know some get nasty when you bring up Brooks saddles, but I absolutely have enjoyed my previous ones.

Bill

They're in the minority because they are afraid of (1) being laughed at by the other roadie guys and (2) that they might be wrong. The exception is B.Carfree, and we leave him to his own devices .

* The titanium-framed Brooks saddles have taken a lot of this sneer out of the equation.

I prefer the B17N, it's 2 centimeters narrower than the B17. Fits my sit bones better and no rubbing my upper thighs. For short rides the 17 is fine, I did 75 miles yesterday on my old Wright's with no pain or soreness.

Why that's easy - you pay your money and you take your chances.

Wal Bike has a generous return policy on Brooks saddles but I understand they get very few returns. It looks to ma like Brooks saddles have 3 significant variables: Springs or not, width, and thickness of leather. My personal favorite is the Team Pro because it has a high end look with thicker leather and big copper rivets.

Let your butt make the choice. In general, saddles with springs, e.g. the B-66, are for upright riding positions, while those without springs, e.g. B-17, Professional, are for bike with dropped handlebars.

For my 1976 dollars it was a Brooks Professional , still have it , its still good.. but Pleather is Ok wet and wiped dry enough to sit on.

Fizik Vitesse . plain black . CP3 has more padding .. a division of the same company that bought Brooks.

I have B17 Select, C17, and C17 Carved on 3 bikes and just bought a B17 Imperial this week because Cycling Express has it on sales. I like both B17 and C17 Carved very much. B17 was on my last century ride and C17 Carved will be on my next century ride. Who knows? Maybe B17 Imperial will be the most suitable for me eventually.

You must know in a thread like this you are going to get Brooks fans, but, as BD said, only your body can decide.
I'll not get nasty about them, but I won't ride one, either. There isn't anything on a bike more personal than saddle comfort.

I know a couple people who ride them, but I also know people who have given them away after trying them.

That is waht makes us all love cycling, John, I wouldn't try to dissuade anyone from either using, or skipping, the Brooks saddles. Each of us should make decisions based on what suits us best, not what someone else thinks they should promote. Its nice that the 50+ can discuss the merits and bad points of saddles, and not go nuclear about it.

Bill

I've been fighting genital numbness while on my bike, after many years off it. My old Avocet Touring I and Serfas Rx were no help. An A Toupe was awful for me, despite high hopes (thanks to Specialized for their trial period). An Aliante XM was much better, no numbness up to 7 miles - but I want to go 10 times that, at least. I just started a Brooks Imperial. It was better than the Aliante from the get go; after about 3 hours on the bike, the dimples are starting to show up. (Of course, my 225 lbs. may have something to do with that.)

So I may be happy with the Brooks, which is period- and country-correct from my frame and prejudices. I'm happy, and I want to share it - but, alas, YMMV.

What have you got to lose by trying it, if you get it from a vendor who'll give you a refund if you don't like it?

After around 5,000 miles, I still love my Imperial, but only your butt can decide.

I don't know why, but even though antique brown should go with my bike, I love my black. While only your butt can decide what saddle to ride, only your eyes can decide what color to get.