Brooks Saddle - new user - keep it or return it?
 

Hello

Just got my first Brooks saddle, a Swallow Titanium.

Looks very nice, and I applied the Proofide to it this evening.

Then I noticed how the frame is out of alignment with the top.

https://s22.postimg.org/i6m5rmhtp/P1020129.jpg

https://s22.postimg.org/m1pju70zh/P1020128.jpg

In the first image, looking down, the frame is too far left.

I have tried adjusting the tension nut, but to no avail.

Is this "normal" for new Brooks saddles?
Should I ride it and hope it corrects itself with my weight, or return it?

Have you tried riding it? You might not notice anything amiss but if you do it might be worth trying to return depending on the vendor's policy. Don't be surprised if there's a hefty restocking fee.

From who did you buy it?

Ride It.

Most of us lack a Perfect rear.

This saddle may just match yours.

Wiggle, in the UK.
Very good for returns.

You could always shim that side. My Brooks wasn't like that, though. Definitely try to return or exchange.

Mr brooks b17 was off just a little bit. Now that it is fully broken in, I don't notice anything. I didn't notice it being off while I was breaking it in either, but maybe that's cuz my butt was in so much pain! I would notify the seller and see if they are willing to let you return it later if it becomes a problem (get that in writing) otherwise return now.

Maybe it was just sitting on its side for months and the leather sagged that way.

Typical of Brooks. When mounting it take a pry bar and tweak the rails....

Contact Brooks and see what they say

Your first mistake was playing with the tension screw. You NEVER play with that unless it's a very old, sagged saddle and you know what you're doing (this is right up there with all the stupid advice about 'breaking a Brooks in', you don't, you just ride it). There's a chance you've already voided your warranty depending on the damage you've done.

I don't see anything scary in the photos, but photos are notoriously misleading.

If you're concerned, contact the supplier and see what they say. However, I'd suggest that if you mount it and ride it, it'll sort itself out (and don't go bending things, just put it on the bike).

I would ride it. I love mine. I feel like the form to your riding style.

would be interesting to see if the replacement was perfect or also warped a little

I got a reply from Brooks.

Got a "copy & paste" reply that the saddle will get more comfortable as you ride it. Nothing about the rails being out of alignment.

Just got hold a steel railed version. Alignment is not perfect, but much better, so I'm putting that on the bike.

It was already way out of alignment before I did this.
And the retail told me to try it anyway.

They're tensioned correctly at the factory. If it was crook out of the box, it should have been returned then.

In any case, put it on the bike and ride it. Unless the metal chassis (as opposed to the leather) is twisted, it'll sort itself out.

For the record, I've had three B17s and a B72 so I'm not exactly a novice with Brooks saddles.

^^ that's lot of saddles

To me, it looks like the seat itself is asymmetrical (top picture). The rails look fine.

The B72 didn't suit what I needed so after using it for two years, I sold it.
One of the B17s is on my son's bike... because the little &^%^ stole it one day and never gave it back :mad:
The other two are on number 1 bike and number 2 bike.

You paid premium dollars for that "premium" saddle, and it should be perfect! Send it back and get a real "premium" saddle until you are satisfied. DON'T ACCEPT LESS THAN YOU PAY FOR ! MHO

LOL, he'll be returning a lot of saddles before he finds a perfect saddle made of leather. :lol:

All of my Brooks saddles are uniquely and slightly imperfect because, as you correctly point out, leather is leather. It's the nature of the beast. Plus the assembly process is all done by eyeballing and feel. Lot's of room for inconsistency.

That said, I believe the OP's saddle was assembled poorly. Poorly enough that I would not accept it. It's flat out crooked. Look at the top photo. Look at where the leather was riveted to the cantle plate. Compare the gaps between the leather and the cantle plate at the furthest right and left, they are not uniform. The leather was riveted to the cantle plate significantly off center to the right.

I've just done a quick hour ride on my new Brooks Swallow (steel model).

Go to be the firmest saddle I've ridden since my BMX days as a kid, but I feel I could comfortably ride this for 3 hours no problem, even before breaking it in.

Did a 9 hour ride last Sunday on my existing Selle Italia saddle. Great saddle for 4 hours, definitely not great for 9 hours. Hence the purchase of my first Brooks saddle.

Happy with the alignment on the steel version. Definitely keeping it. Going to return the titanium model.

proper break in for Brooks leather saddles...give to your kid or a neighborhood kid to ride for 1 year then take it back.