I picked one up from Nashbar this weekend with a bunch of coupons and sale's they had going on. I'm excited to replace my cheapo Origin 8 saddle with something that will hopefully be a lot more comfortable.

Anyone riding with one of these currently?

Out of the box it will be harder than a rock. It has to be broken in with a lot of leather oil and a lot of butt time.

Yeah I'm using one and its sooooo comfy after the leather has taken your shape, without a doubt the best saddle I've ever owned

The Brooks proofide really helps too

Brooks is murder*

*In before sp00ki.








Ride an old b-15 and it is comfy as heck.

Had one on my bike for about 2 months. Gave me a lot of perineal pressure. My privates actually became numb after a few long rides. Very comfy on the sit bones, however. I think it could have been more comfy if I was in a less aggressive riding position.

Pretty much everyone on the internet has one. I hear they're very nice.

I ride with several saddles, including a Brooks B-17 and a Brooks Ti-Swift.

In my experience, people who like Brooks saddles ride with the saddle tilted slightly nose up, when viewed subjectively.

That said, if one lays a straight edge from the butt to the nose of what I consider a properly-adjusted Brooks saddle, the straight edge will reveal a level saddle.

The saddle looks a little nose-up because it functions like a hammock, so that both ends rock up a little and the middle "sags."

When I move either of my Brooks saddles to a bike, I can duplicate the proper height and fore-and-aft position with a tape measure.

However, getting the tilt just right usually takes two or three brief adustment rides of a minute or so.

Now, this "nose-up" tilt might not work for a rider with a steep seat tube and a low handlebar position, as the combination of steep seat tube, nose-up tilt and extreme forward-leaning torso might move the perineal (crotch) pressure point too far forward for the Brooks saddle to do its "hammock" thing.

In which case, the rider might try incrementally tilting the saddle butt-up and nose-down until it feels too nose-down, and then backing off a little on the nose-down.

This will also require playing with the saddle height and fore-and-aft position.

Getting all of this right could take two or three days of making minor adjustments after every ride, and paying attention to the change in feeling caused by the adjustments.

Additionally, because of a Brooks' hard surface and the absence of a channel, Brooks saddles will chafe the perineum of the rider for the first few days, and then the skin will toughen up and everything will feel OK.

A lanolin-enriched grease call BAG BALM rubbed into the rider's crotch will make the first two or three days a non-event.

Brooks makes a very comfortable saddle, and if it hurts to ride with a Brooks it means the saddle needs adjustment in height, for-and-aft, and tilt.

I consider finding that "sweet-spot" part of the fun of riding a bicycle.

Are you guys talking about the standard b-17?

I had zero butt pain with mine fresh out of the box. In comparison the fuji seat that came with my bike was far more uncomfortable.

Do you still have it?

nah I traded it to some guy on CL for a Terry Fly Ti. The Fly is a sweeeeet saddle. Really comfy on the sit bones AND no perineal pressure. ymmv

I have a black one and a honey one with the fancy/big copper rivets and rails. Maybe I haven't ridden it enough (like 50 miles) but I don't love it. It's not bad, no problems, but it's not amazing to me. Shoot, honey one has like 4 miles on it. Selling both on craigslist.

I have my b17 setup perfectly level. It was comfortable right out of the box, and has only gotten better with use.

If there are no "problems" with it with few miles.... then it'll only get better.

I ride a B-17, and won't switch. The downside was that mine took well over 1,000 miles to get comfortable. Now, it's like a Barcalounger......... I started on a Specialized Body geometry saddle, which is pretty comfy in it's own rite. But, the B-17 is much better, now!

Hard to beat the Nashbar guarantee, though - if you don't like it - for whatever reason, your money will be cheerfully refunded.

I've got a B-17 on my fixed gear (500 miles total), a B-17 home chopped Imperial on my grocery bike (4000 miles as a regular B-17, 1000 more as the chopped incarnation), and a production B-17 Imperial from the beta test on my brevet bike (almost 7000 miles).
Especially on the brevet bike, there's nothing else I'd perch myself on for 27 hours.

My b-17 broke in really fast. I had to lace it after a few months though. I found that it isn't the best for a bike with a big saddle to bar drop. I have it on my mtb now and love it. My team pro is much better on my bike with the bars 5 inches below the saddle.

B17 Imperial... one of the best saddles I have and it works well for more aggressive riding because of the cut out.

Just about every bike I have has a leather saddle...

I ride a team pro, it's more of a race saddle than the b-17, and is reeeeally comfy : )

For you dudes with the Imperials, aren't the edges of the cut-out creating more of a pressure point? I can't understand how they would be bueno.

My wife didn't care for her B-17S so I put it on my Raleigh Sprite. Slightly shorter nose, slightly wider, still hard as a rock. But I find it comfortable.


Saddles are personal things; everyone will have a preference and none are more important than your own. This doesn't help much in choosing a saddle but in the case of Brooks or other full leather saddles; the fact they've been around so long says they will work for a large number of riders.

I have two Brooks, a Selle Italia (leather over plastic) and a San Marcos Concor Light.

read Sheldon Brown's article one leather saddles

to make the break in faster an easier make a small try for the saddle and fill it with neatsfoot oil or tongue oil but be careful that the saddle doesn't loose its shape

I personally use mink oil because it weather proofs as well as conditions I generally slather the saddly with oil liberally then ride about 50 mile and continue to oil the saddle once a week for the first month or two

after that oil the saddle about every six months keep it dry and you will be fine

also if you experience excessive sag punch lace and tie the skirt of the saddle before using the tensioner the tensioner is a last resort and shortens the lifespan of your saddle


hope this helps

The B17 is my favorite saddle, after trying many. I've got two on road bikes, one on my fixie, and need another for my ss. I've got a B67 on my upright mixte. That saddle is fantastic also.

I almost just bought a B17 but passed because of the claims of it being uncomfortable in a more aggressive position. I got a San Marco Regal instead, a little racier.