Length: 279mm
Width: 151mm
Height: 70mm
Weight: 530g
Frame: Chromium Plated Steel
The B17 Narrow Imperial features the central cut-out, first designed by BROOKS over 100 years ago. The “registered cutting”, as can be read in the 1890 catalogue, is “a sure preventive to all perineal pressure".
MADE IN ENGLAND
*Cost excludes shipping
I can't praise brooks enough. Some people talk about the break in period, some talk about the saddle making them want to ride more. I'm both of those people. The first time I used my b17, I was amazed, and wanting to break it in more gets me to ride more. I love this saddle. Thank you brooks.
I've been riding on a Brooks saddle since I appropriated my dad's (an expat-Englishman) bike as a teenager over thirty years ago. Our aluminium touring tandem has always been equipped with a Brooks B17 up front and my 26 year old Miyata touring single now sports a brand new Team Pro copper saddle. Both are great saddles and I've found both comfortable right from the start, even the much stiffer Team Pro on my now much older posterior. A firm saddle is the best present you can give to your sit bones.
I have a regular B17 on my single-speed city bike with around 1000 miles on it, and it's the best thing i've ever put my ass on. I wanted to try the imperial, and I selected the narrow for my road bike even though i'm 200 pounds. I was floored! From the first mile this thing was already breaking in, and by the end of my ride at 20 miles, it was already soft and developing creases around the cutout. As of now it's got about 150 miles. It took my regular B17 about 250 miles to break in, along with some very painful days. Worth it in the end of course, but i'll take a one ride break-in any day! I think my next saddle will be the regular imperial. I have 7 bikes, and they will all eventually have Brooks saddles, as you simply can't go wrong with any of them really. My only regret was not discovering them sooner in life, i've spent alot of money on saddles that didnt work for me. I love it when another rider creeps up the paceline and asks, "so, how do you like that saddle?" One of my favorite things is to wax poetic about how my rear end thanks me every day i'm on my bike. A big thank you to Brooks, keep up the phenomenal work, and i'll be a loyal customer for life.
I wrestled with the idea of trying a Brooks for a long time, I should have gotten one a long time ago. It has been the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden at every mile after mile #1. The most difficult part of breaking in a Brooks saddle is openning the tin of Proofide!
My Brooks Professional was a bit of a splurge for me in 1970 when I was a college student -- if memory serves, it was about $40 then, which was the same price I had paid for my first (used) 10-speed. Forty years later I'm still using it, currently on our tandem. Its finish has worn to a soft satin, but the leather is in excellent condition despite having been exposed to all types of weather for decades and receiving only intermittent care in the form of whatever leather treatment was available at the time, usually olive oil and boot polish. The rails are in like-new condition with no pitting, the rivets brighten right up with a little metal polish, and -- most important -- it continues to be the most comfortable saddle I own. When I built up my next bicycle, it absolutely will be equipped with another Brooks, which I fully expect will last for the rest of my life.
First day on my new Team Pro, and I have to say, this is THE BEST SADDLE I have ever ridden. I think a lot of the stories that put people off from purchasing a saddle like this come from folks 150 lbs and under, because my 200 lbs put this saddle in it's place immediately. 20 miles and I can already see visual clues of break in. For years, fashion has been dictating saddle design, and I was following it. While there is certainly not a saddle out there that can satisfy everyone, I would have to say that, odds are good there's something in the Brooks lineup for about 90% of riders out there. Sure, it's not the lightest saddle in town. Who cares?!? Are you going to sit around and look at your bike, or ride it? If you plan to ride it, then get a Brooks.
I am a member of the VETERAN CYCLING CLUB SCOTTISH SECTION and have an original flying scot racer which was fitted with a b17. unfortunately, due to its age(1958), the leather split across the front rendering it useless. I purchased a new saddle via the VCC and fitted it to the bike and bedded it in which took many miles, though i do swap the saddle to other bikes in my collection which i also use on VCC runs. After many miles the saddle is as comfortable as the one it replaced, the only thing i had to do was retension it with the spanner for this purpose, i also obtained a bottle of leather polish at an autojumble which was marketed for rolls royces and bentlys. Several applications of this has helped the leather as well. I reckon i have covered over 700 miles since purchase and wouldnt use any other make of saddle and would recommend a brooks to anyone contemplating doing a lot of cycling
My purchase of the B17 S Imperial was the best decision during the building up of my first touring bike the Surly Long Haul Trucker. My bike shop told me they had just the right saddle for me and went to their wall display and pulled down this one - the B17 S Imperial. What a fit, the first time I sat on it I loved it. I've always heard about Brooks, but never had the opportunity to fit one to my bike, well that's over now. This saddle will be on the Trucker until, well, who knows when. Go Brooks!
After riding a Sella Italia for a number of years and struggling with it, I decided to try a Brooks. When by accident I came across a Brooks dealer in Stockholm, I went for the Imperial and have not regretted it. I was a little nervous at first about the break-in period, and hoped it would go well. The major test for me was Vätternrundan, a 300 km one-day ride around Sweden's second largest lake. Also, I purchased my Brooks only two weeks before this ride, which added to my nervousness. Perfect. No discomfort, no pain in the butt, nothing. Just a slightly sore shoulder and that was all. Thanks Brooks for a great saddle. Regards, Wayne
After trying all sorts of BG type saddles and triangular wonder saddles disscomfort and poor blood flow were turning me against my bike after reading several reviews about how comfortabe Gel saddles with cutouts were i then at considerable cost dissproved one review after another. After reading a review in cycling plus on the standard B17 I was swayed to spending quite a lot of money on a B 17 imperial ,the saddle turned up and was fitted to my drop handled tourer and on my first ride, I was expecting al sorts of discomfort after reading about the bedding in period that is required, what a suprise no bloodflow problems at all the saddle is initially quite firm but after an hour or two of ridding the saddle became less noticeable and now after three months of ridding 15 to 20 miles once or twice aweek mainly in the saddle i dont notice the saddle at all . I have not made any adjustments to the tensioning nut or the lace all is as supplied and i applied two coats of proofer that sofened the leather and helped with the beding in. Up to this point i would recomend the saddle to anyone not just for improved blood flow and good cooling thanks to the cut out but because i can honestly say this is the best saddle i have ever owned. The only thing that would have been nice is for proofer and a rain cover to be supplied with the saddle.
After using this saddle (B17N) for commuting for the last two months, I can offer a new review. It's great. It really absorbs road vibrations and bumps very well, which is perfect for a commuting setting. As long as I keep my hands on the hoods or tops, I can ride for a good period of time without numbness or discomfort. Even though my bike is set up with only 2-3cm of saddle-bar drop, I still can't comfortably ride in an aggressive position or ride in the drops.
It seems that break-in and proper adjustment and fit all came together at about 700 miles. I also learned to ride with good riding posture (support my hands and arms using my core muscles). The net result is that this saddle has emerged as the most solidly comfortable saddle I have ever used. That's saying a lot because I am also a happy Selle Anatomica saddle owner. Up to this point it was my all time favorite saddle. The Brooks gradually sneaked up on it in comfort and finally squeaked past it to claim the throne as my favorite. The three things I learned from the testing experience: 1. Be sure to get the model that is wide enough for you. I started with the B17N imperial and it just did not work. The standard width is much better for me and its the model that claims the comfort crown for me. 2. Work with the saddle adjustments and position to get it fitted right. A 1/2 degree angle change or 1 cm adjustment in height or fore/aft position can make a huge difference. 3. Concentrate on proper riding posture, if your bike has the bars lower than the saddle. Use your core muscles to support your arms and hands. Pedal at a fast enough cadence to allow your legs to take some weight off the saddle.
I have used the Imperial narrow for just under 500 miles and just for commuting to work and back. My commute is about 12 miles each way. I am considering purchasing another Imperial for my road bike.
After riding the Imperial B-17 narrow for a total of 600 miles I just couldn't bond with it. One ride it would be pretty good and the next it would kill me. I really wanted to love this saddle it looked so cool and really complimented my Bianchi. I think its just too narrow for me. I have 3 regular B-17's and the one I ride the most feels almost as good as my easy chair. I'm hoping to trade this saddle to someone on the forum that has a regular Imperial. The workmanship for a prototype saddle was impeccable in keeping with Brooks standards
I used the B17 Narrow Imperial on my Ridley Aedon road bike for about 500 miles. I definitely noticed improvement as it broke in, but the shape of the saddle was just not right for my position on this bike. Specifically, I could not comfortably reach the drops, making serious training difficult, and racing impossible. During longer, slower rides, I liked the saddle, so much so that I purchased another seatpost to make changing saddles easier. Now, for recovery rides, or rides over ~2 hours in length, I'll switch to the Brooks saddle for more comfort. The saddle fits me very well. The width is perfect, I'd compare it to a Selle Italia SLR or a San Marco Rever. After the edges of the cutout softened, I had less perineal pain than with any other saddle. I really enjoy the smooth feeling of the saddle; I believe that lessens chafing and increases my comfort. Unfortunately, the smoothness is one of the reasons why this saddle did not work in a more aggressive position. If I didn't already have one, I would certainly buy one. It's great for leisurely rides or for a more upright position.
A sign of a good saddle is that it does not interfere with pedaling and makes itself invisible. Mission accomplished. I am riding the narrow Brooks Imperial on a fixed gear and I ranged from 0-185 RPM today. No issues with discomfort or restriction of pedaling motion. The latter was my primary concern of the saddle due to it's visual heft. In reality the saddle is not any larger than my modern racing saddles on the contact areas.
I found that it was necessary to angle the tip of the saddle higher than the rear of the saddle in order to keep from sliding forward on the saddle.
The Brooks was particularly comfortable on long rides on hot days.
The cutout allowed for a comfortable amount of flex, at first. As the saddle becoming more and more worn in, the sagging became excessive (over 2cm when pressed on the sitbone area with a thumb.) This caused pinching of the perineal region.
The laces are a key part of the Imperial design. It is necessary to keep the saddle from sagging. However, the problem I have found is that in order to keep my particular saddle from sagging excessively, I had to tighten the laces to a point which distorted the shape of the side skirts of the saddle. Perhaps if the lacing was replaced with a Brook Swallow type of system where the flaps are folded under the sitting area, the saddle may be structurally more rigid and less inclined to sag.
The leather interface points with the steel rail frame of the saddle made noises which sounded like a creaky ship with every pedal revolution. This was highly a discouraging trait of the Prototype Imperial.
As the saddle broke in around the 250 mile mark, I found that my particular saddle started to squeak and sagged to an unacceptable degree.
The Imperial keeps me in the saddle, if you know what I mean. Once it breaks in completely I think it will be great.
The Brooks Imperial replaces a B15 that I have ridden on for over 36 years. I have been very pleased and the initial impression is that it broke in somewhat quicker than I recall the B15 doing. I have had no problems with the saddle and would rate it a 9+. It is as perfect as a saddle could be. Hopefully I will be riding it for another 20 years.
Break in has been a non-issue, and I haven't had the need to tamper with the lacing. The saddle is incredibly comfortable and has been since I first mounted it. I am truly impressed with this saddle. Right out of the box (well, after an application of Proofide), it has been the most comfortable saddle I have ridden. It initially went on my home built singlespeed steel framed bike, but it is now on my Cannondale R900, which I use for training and multi-day supported charity rides. I still need to make one more slight angle adjustment, which should get me dialed in perfectly. Since gasoline prices here in the Boston area have just about hit my pain threshold, I have started commuting by bike as my schedule permits (usually 2-3 days per week if the weather cooperates). So I should exceed my usual yearly mileage estimates. But back to the Imperial. The simplicity of the design and the level of finish and comfort are very impressive in and of themselves. The fact that you actually beat all the other players to the market by decades is also worth a mention. I was always hesitant to try a Brooks saddle due to the stories I had heard about break in time and how the first rides could be agonizing. After riding the small number of miles I have on this saddle, especially now that it is on a much stiffer frame than my SS bike, I can't believe that it took me this long to find the truth for myself. Given the other stories about the longevity of your saddles, I think that the Imperial and I are going to have a long run together. Cheers to you for reintroducing the world to a properly designed and executed product.
The Brooks saddle has been great from the first day. Once I got my saddle level there was very little numbness and iI believe this to be because of the "cutout". I feel the Brooks Imperial Narrow is a very durable saddle and would be an excellent saddle for most anyone. I would recommend a Brooks Imperial to anyone because it is the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden.
This is my first Brooks saddle. It was tested on a Giant OCR2 roadbike, my bars are level with the saddle. Initially it took a bit of adjusting of positioning to get comfortable on the Imperial. The saddle is very slick and it required a more nose up attitude than I have used on previous saddles to keep from sliding forward. Once the tilt was set though, my rear end found it's home in the saddle and there was no issue of sliding. After a couple of rides, mild dimples were created by my sit bones which helped with stability. I am very pleased so far about 383 miles of use. I find the saddle much more comfortable after 30 miles than either of my previous saddles, Terry Fly, Koobi Au Enduro. Out to 60 miles of test rides only mild sit bone pressure. I feel no pressure whatsoever in the perenium area. Honestly I don't know if this is a result of the cutout or not as when riding I can slide a finger in easily between the saddle and my shorts in that area. The saddle is supporting me on the sitbones as it should, so very light if any contact is occurring in the perenium. I have not yet had any issues of sag as reported by some other testers and after negotiating the lacing over my 2 bolt saddle clamp have not had any issue with the lacing. Overall I am very please with the Brooks and the Narrow was perfect for the roadbike. I am seriously considering a Standard for my MTB as I am a bit more upright on that bike.
Q > not a comment but a question: I own a b17 imperial, and am quite satisfied with it, using it on my "urban" bicycle. For my road bike, I'm thinking of getting a racing brooks saddle, in fact a B15 swallow, because modern saddles don't fit me on long ridings (I've tried 4 of them, fi:zik, san marco, smp, ...) so my question is: is it possible to get a b15, but with the "registered cutting" which I appreciate so much on my B17? what makes me think it might be possible is that there is a B17 narrow with it, and that the B15 is about as narrow as the B17 "narrow". So thank you by advance for telling me if my wish can be realised, and if so, what would be the price for such a saddle (in the chrome version)
A > Unfortunately the B15 Swallow cannot be made with the Imperial "registered cutting" because the structure of the saddle would not be strong enough. The Swallow in fact has no flaps which provide the necessary structure for a saddle to bear the central cut. The only other sports saddle which could be done with the Imperial "registered cutting" is the Team Pro, but we have not planned to make it yet. I suggest you to go for the B17 Narrow.
I received my new Brooks Professional saddle recently. Back in my youth (mid 60s), my first "good" bike came with a leather saddle. Comfortable, rode in cutoff jean shorts with no problems. About 12 years ago I returned to cycling. And, with most, was caught up with bicycle weight, so no leather saddle. Instead, I went through a succession of high tech, low weight, etc. saddles. Recently, my 4 yr old reputable Italian manufactured saddle was increasingly uncomfortable. I e-mailed the maker, and the reply said that, essentially, their saddles are good for about 10,000 km, and then the foam breaks down. So I ordered a Brooks. Comfortable right out of the box (first ride with it was 42 miles), and getting better each consecutive ride. And, it will probably last forever. Now, after my experience, one of my riding partners is gearing up to order himself a B17 (he's a bit larger and wider than me, 6'-2", 200 lbs vs my 5'-8", 150 lbs). And yes, while my Brooks weighs 500 grams vs 200 grams, with the additional comfort, I can ride longer and am sure I will drop more than that weight from myself in no time. I should probably be in the 135 - 140 lb range. So, keep up the good work, I'll keep promoting your saddles. You may want to talk with the boys in the pro peloton. With the drop in bicycle weights, where they actually are adding weight to their bicycles to meet the UCI minimums, some smart professionals may want a more comfortable, i.e. Brooks, saddle. After all, your products were good enough for Eddy Merckx, and he wasn't a bad cyclist!
I've ridden Brooks saddles since the early 1970s and I love them. As a 15 stone (95Kg) powerlifter who cycles for fitness I need some width to support my large rear end and I've got three Brooks among a collection of about twelve saddles ... the pricey but worthy Honey coloured Swift, a B17 narrow and a B17 standard, which my wife has hijacked. The Swift Titanium is also really light in relative terms. The classic styling of Brooks saddles just looks so good and draws many comments. Although some of the others are comparatively heavy that extra few hundred grams is a sacrifice worth making for the sake of the great comfort and durability you get from a genuine Brooks hide saddle especially on the longer rides. I continuously recommend Brooks saddles. It's just such a shame that the titanium metalwork is so expensive otherwise I would replace my two other others for the titanium special models withe the big rivets..
COMMENT > Received my #39 Green Swallow BFF Ltd Edition. Love it. However after a long ride, the seat seems sunken in especially on the rear right side. That normal? I've only proofide it once. Otherwise it's the most comfortable seat ever. Thanks
REPLY > The Swallow is the most elastic of our saddles, so if you tend to be asymmetrical in your ride, the saddle will shape asymmetically.To a certain degree it is normal. If it shapes too much, you should probably go for a stiffer saddle, like the Team Pro or B17 Narrow. The Swift is somewhere inbetween.
I like this saddle but found the B17N version to be difficult to set up properly, however once dialed in it is well worth the time and effort. This is not my first Brooks saddle but it was one of the more difficult ones to dial in. I think the B17N has a flatter profile than either my B17 Standard, or Swallow which is my reference saddle. When the saddle is dialed in correctly it is absolutely forgettable, that is I don't notice it. When it wasn't dialed in properly I found myself constantly fidgeting, repositioning myself in a vain effort to find that sweet spot where the saddle disappears. All in all I would say I am favourably impressed with the saddle, I initially had some doubts about the longevity of the saddle with the cut out but these have been dismissed as the saddle hasn't lost it's shape or required numerous adjustments due to sagging leather.
The saddle looks great. It has been very cool finding out the different characteristics and even quirks of the saddle. The laces are an awesome throwback and add even more of a vintage flair to an already vintage item like a leather saddle. My intial impressions after riding about 180 miles on the saddle is that it is more comfortable, and more comfortable sooner than my Team Professional. That is, I didn't need to try to break in the center area (where the cutout leather would be) with my hand like with my Professional and it "broke-in" or reached a more comfortable place quicker.
I am now 36 years old and I have been on a bike saddle pretty consistently since I was four, but I never owned or tried a Brooks saddle till now. I had heard that they were very comfortable but heavy. When I was younger, I didn't even think of a Brooks because I had to have the lightest and highest performance component that I could buy on my bike. Now with a little age and wisdom, weight and performance are not so much of an issue. Getting there first and fastest is no longer an imperative. Quality, comfort and durability are now more important factors to my cycling lifestyle, with a emphasis on quality. My current bicycling activities are now centered on daily commuting, weekend rides and touring, activities where these parameters are the most important. I received my Brooks B17 Narrow Imperial upon return from spring vacation in April. I immediately replaced my OEM plastic saddle on my Cannondale F900 turned into a daily commuter. The brooks saddle was a bit heftier in the hand, but once on the bike, the extra weight was not noticeable compared to the old saddle. I positioned the saddle with a slight nose up position from suggestions on bike forums, and put a coat of Proofide on the saddle for the commute the next morning. The commute to work is about 13 km, one way, and I usually put on some cycling clothes (tights and jersey) that I change upon arrival. The first thing I noticed was a tendency to slip off the back of the saddle. With the narrow model, that tendency was exacerbated since there is no wide part to hold me firmly in the saddle. For the most part the first ride was not too uncomfortable except for the hardness of the new saddle. However, after that first ride, I had to make an adjustment for the ride home. Adjusting the saddle a notch forward to a completely horizontal orientation, the slippage problem was eliminated and some pressure was actually relieved. This configuration is probably best for my position on the bike where the handle bars are several centimeters lower than the saddle. The imperial shined in the fact that it was mostly unobtrusive and reasonably comfortable for a short ride. From there was the start of my regular rides to work for a while. As for the cut out for the saddle, the hole didn't seem to make a big impression. There was little pressure in the genital area, but not less than my old saddle which was plastic with NO cut out. However the saddle probably reduced some pressure. I have found that the cut out is sensitive to the clothing that is worn on the ride. On quick rides to lunch, I would keep my jeans on. In that circumstance, I could feel the edges of the cutout in the saddle and the seams of my jeans would catch in the slot. This is one part that has a potential to be irritating on longer rides, but usually I am not in jeans for those rides. The saddle is definitely at it's best with a padded cycling short... however one without too much padding is optimal as the thicker padded shorts would bunch up a bit in the cut out. Since receiving the saddle in April, I have logged approximately 400 kilometers and it is just starting to form dimples from breaking in. It has been getting progressively more comfortable (in bike shorts) and it is holding up quite well. However I am not that heavy (69 kg). I took the bike on a two day weekend tour with my wife from Rennes to the southern coast of Brittany. We accumulated about 80 km of cycling per day. The brooks saddle was imperceptible and no discomfort was discernable at the end of the day. My wife, on the other hand, with a gel saddle, had a sore rear. But this may be due to the fact that she cycles less on average than me. To sum up for now, the Imperial B17 Narrow is a good saddle for its application in an aggressively positioned bike with low handle bars. The cut out does relieve some pressure and works well in conjunction with a padded cycling short. However it seems il fitted to ride with everyday shorts or trousers, the edges of the flaps could be felt and could actually pinch at times. For this, if the flaps could be pre-moulded in a downwards curve it could take the bite out of some of the hard edges.
Q > I'm curious, why do only the aged saddles come with pre-punched holes for laces? Is it because the softer leather leads to earlier flattening of the saddle requiring the laces to be tightened? Also, if my B66 should ever get to that point, would Brooks be able punch the holes? I could do it myself but the result would undoubtedly be less impressive.
A > Yes, we do it on the Aged and Imperial because they have a weaker structure. Our other saddles occasionally would flatten, but that thakes quite some time and lack of care.
i have riden on a lot of saddles in the last 25 years from many manufacturers who all promise comfort and durability, there is only one who can truly live up to that promise, and thats Brooks ,
So far I have used the Imperial for on road use only with rides up to 75 miles. This is one of the two best saddles I've used. My only problem so far is the rails do not extend far enough to the rear limiting the forward adjustment available to me. This should not be a major problem for most people but I am relatively short (5'5") and use this on a folding bicycle with 20" tires. The construction is a bit uneven with the cutout hole slightly off center. My ratings on a 1-10 scale have topped off at 8. I am not experiencing the heavenly bliss that so many brooks users seem to experience. That said, this is the only saddle that could have allowed me to ride 75 miles on a folding bicycle (folders usually have a more harsh ride). Also, additional instructions on the lacing may be needed for beginners. I will likely be using this saddle on a 4 day trek in the Florida everglades next winter.
love the feel have got many 50 plus rides and saddle still feels great.It is beginning to show stretch marks at back of cut out.I have not re tensioned as I want to see how bad it is or if this is normal. feels good with some stretching at rear of cutout. hope the stretching does not effect durability. hoping that by all the testing you will develop a super product hopefully ti rails and get the weight down.
Found the seat well made, easy to mount and fit. It is very hard and my sit bones are very sore. Over bumps I found that the edge of the cutout pinched some of the soft tissue. I lowered the front 1/8" which seemed to help, we'll see. I have found that I don't experience as much chafing as I have from other seats. It's still not broken in. I think if the edge of the cutout could be rounded in some way it would be more careful for me. It's still not broken in. I think if the edge of the cutout could be rounded in some way it would be more careful for me.
Hi I recently purchased a B17 special (the brompton version, brown top, copper rivets, standard black frame) I have only put 70 kms and it's by far the most confortable saddle I have riden, by far much much more than my previos gel saddles (one with ventilation) they were fine for a few kms then it's was a pain in the butt, literality. Q: My concern is only one, I sweat a lot from the buttocks and I can't always wear padded short, which helps a lot with this matter, so when i use jeans sweat stays there in touch with the saddle, and leaving a very embarassing trace in my jeans. Would this sweat damage severly the saddle eventualy? Because I noticed in some parts of the saddle it has become darker just like a few spots, and in the back part has a little brighter spot as if the color has fell off.
answer - Sweat will not damage your saddle!
Q > Hi! Could we now in this Ipod age have White saddles in a range of models (and not just for the very exclusive few!), please.
A > White BROOKS Saddles are much more difficult to make. It takes us more than triple the time than any other colour and lots of leather is wasted in the process. These are the reasons why we can't offer them in the standard range.
Initially it took quite a while to find the correct positioning for the saddle. During this period of time the saddle was quite uncomfortable, though I did not experience any numbing. After numerous adjustments in height and fore/ aft positioning I found the sweet spot. This did not alleviate all discomfort, but I became aware that this was the position in which would break in best. After logging in several hundred miles on this saddle I still do not feel that it has broken in. I understand that it can take quite a while, and I will continue to use this as my primary saddle until I feel that it has gotten as good as it's going to get. My secondary saddle is a Selle Italia flite. In comparison both saddles feel good over the long haul, the difference being that the Selle Italia requires no period of time to adjust to it. The cut-out is a little stiff. It is taking quite a while to soften and in the mean time pinches and places pressure on the underside of the genital area. There initially was proposed the idea of chamfering the cut-out. I believe that this might expedite the breaking in process.
Q > I want to buy a Brooks saddle for my Brompton M2L. I know the B 17 could be the best choice but i'd like to have something a little bit more sportive; can you suggest me wich is the best solution among Swallow, Team Pro and the Swift?
A > Brooks range of racing saddles includes a variety of models for gents and ladies: -the B15 Swallow: our most elastic saddle -the Swift: a slightly stiffer saddle, featuring partially cut-away flaps -the Team Professional and the B17 Narrow, our stiffest saddles -the Team Pro S and its titanium version, the Finesse, for ladies
Factory-tied knot beneath the saddle came untied sometime in early July, resulting to excessive creaking and flexing of the saddle. I also experienced the mild pinching feeling in the cutout area that others have described. Zero problems in this regard until then. Tensioning and retying the string is not possible when saddle is in place. Removing the saddle is not straightforward either in my case. I've had one Brooks stolen (with seat post), after that I filled both saddle post and saddle adjust bolt heads with superglue. For now I've taken the string ends through a small plastic cord lock, then tightened by hand the best I can. This leaves the string a bit too loose and does not eliminate all creaking and flexing. I'll have to remove the saddle and tighten the string properly. Other than that, no complaints really. But this design feature does make the cut-out B17 Imperial inferior to my normal B17N in summer use. In winter things may be different, as I've experienced perinneal pressure issues on my winter bike. There the hassle with strings may well be worth it.
The B17 Narrow Imperial broke in quite promptly -- within 100 miles, the leather was softening up nicely under my sitbones. I also found the Narrow model to be just right, as it is about as wide as the saddle I have been using (Avocet 02 40r). My only complaint is with the cutout -- the edges provided a not-very-pleasant sensation through my biking shorts. Not a pinching, not a chafing, no permanent damage nor saddle sores, but I could FEEL the edges and it was not pleasant over a longer ride. This issue, and only this issue, prompted me to remove the saddle from my bike. I think that the edges of the cutout may benefit from chamfering or some other treatment. The saddle seems exceptionally well-made and should prove very durable. I would, and probably will, buy a different Brooks -- a model without the cutout. I found the Imperial Narrow perfectly comfortable except for the issue, explained above, with the cutout edges.
The B17 Imperial Narrow takes some getting used to, even as compared to the Team Professional. I will say that I was very happy with my Professional so the bar was set high, but the Imperial is becoming more comfortable with each ride. The cutting and skiving of the cutout itself might need some design or production revision, as the long edges want to lift even with the laces tight. This has caused mild chafing/pinching for me in any of the positions I've tried (angle up/down, various saddle height and fore/aft tweaks), so at least for me it's a negative aspect specific to the Imperial saddle. The factory lacing is a great feature. Perhaps Brooks could offer a pre-aged Imperial as well as the standard? I appreciate the opportunity to test the Imperial and hope that you all at Brooks have felt the test program is fruitful. I will probably change the test saddle to my commuter/townie bike as it's rainy season here and the bicycle it's currently on has no fenders.
After 600+ miles it's starting to break in but it is still hard on the sit bones. On the otherhand I don't get any chafing that I do from all of my other saddles. The cutout didn't seem to work for me, the hard edge of the cutout would pinch soft tissue especially on rough roads.
Hi, I was always very content with my Brooks which I bought from a friend about ten Years ago until this morning on my way to work through a snowstorm the Metal under the leather cover broke. Can you repair it?
answer - All Brooks saddles may be repaired, please visit the Getting in Touch section of this website!
I can't say the saddle really worked for me. Initially, it was uncomfortable - hard as a rock and unforgiving. But everyone has this first impression. In addition to being uncomfortable, I found I couldn't achieve my desired position because I couldn't get my seat to go back far enough - even after relacing the saddle. After riding everyday for many weeks, I have found the saddle has "broken in" but the shape simply doesn't work. The cut-out bites me now and then, and I find it difficult to acheive my desired position - a problem compounded by the fact that as I broke in the saddle it sagged a little creating a "tractor seat" effect, which forced my sit bones to remain in one place on the saddle. I did find that tightening the laces alleviated this "sag/tractor seat" problem somewhat, and I might tighten them again to see if it continues to improve things. I ride only about 10 km a day, but to be honest, I wouldn't fee comfortable riding further than this. A small extra point. This saddle weighs a ton! I know Brooks is not made for weight weenies, but it weighs almost three times the weight of the saddle I took off. When I'm out of the saddle on the move, I can feel the extra weight. I'd like to see the rails lengthened so riders who need to mount their saddle far back on the post can do so (tall riders and riders with steep angled frames commonly need to mount their saddles a long way back). I'd like to see 100g taken of the overall weight. The shape and cut-outs didn't work for me - but other people loved this saddle. My saddle has survived some heavy Tokyo rain, and being left outside in rain for many hours. It has sagged, but tightening the laces helped pull it into shape, and I'm yet to tighten the saddle at the nose. Too uncomfortable, too heavy, doesn't suit my needs (too heavy for racing, the front of the saddle is really unforgiving; too bulky and uncomfortable for city commuting - a padded saddle is kinder on my rear).
Before I got my test B17 Narrow Imperial saddle I had never actually seen a Brooks saddle close up, let alone ridden one. When I got it I was very impressed with the build quality and the appearance. It just looked so 'right'. There was a sense of pride of ownership before I had done anything with it! I read the instructions and proofided the saddle thoroughly before setting it up on my winter bike. The setting up took quite a lot of time and dialling in whilst riding. On the first ride I was stopping every mile or so to get the position right. It took several rides and about 50 miles before I felt I had got the tension right with the laces and the screw at the front. My first ride, which was a short 20 miler, gave me a promising impression of the product. Once I had got it set up I found it quite comfortable but I always had, at the back of my mind, the fact that numerous people had said on the forum that a Brooks saddle needs plenty of miles to break in. As the miles progressed however, I found I was having problems. I found that the cutout pinched at my perineal area so adjusted the tension. This meant that there was increased pressure elsewhere and I could not find a comfortable setup. On longer rides I was resigned to having to stand up ever 30 seconds or so to relieve the pain. After about 60 miles of riding in my winter Gore bibtights I found that the edge of the cutout had in fact rubbed right through the shorts rendering them pretty useless, I was quite upset at this as they were £109!. In the interest of testing and trying to get the saddle broken in I persevered but have had to stop using the saddle completely as 2 pairs of my bibshorts are starting to wear through in exactly the same place as the Gore Bibtights did. If I'd've carried on these would have been ruined too... I wanted to love this saddle as it was quite simply a really nice object. However I found that I could not get comfortable on it, in fact I found it quite painful on any ride over about 20 miles, furthermore the cutout has ruined my best winter bibtights and has almost ruined two pairs of bibshorts. This free test has actually turned out to be quite expensive!
In the 1890 catalogue, the oldest we preserve in our archives, Brooks presents most of the saddles with "registered cutting, a sure preventive to all perineal pressure". Over 100 years ahead of today's saddle manufacturers, John Boultbee Brooks had already found the solution to a nowadays well known problem. Eventually this line of saddles went out of production in the 1950’s. We reintroduced it on our most successful models with an improved and dedicated solution for men and for women.