What's the skinny on cheap riveted saddles?
 

I see them for sale all over the place. Anybody tried them? Are the all the same save for colors?

example - https://www.amazon.com/Ventura-25104...8P9N6KR3PEMT6F

Plastic saddle with non-functional decorative rivets.

A real leather saddle needs rivets at the nose, and a way to adjust the tension.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f5ecfce545.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...670566152a.jpg

1987, not cheap

OP specified cheap ones.

And you specified rivets at the nose and a way to adjust the tension to even get considered as real.

Better?

I’m sorry I was sloppy with my word choice, I was under the assumption that the OP wanted to know if these were comparable to a tensioned leather touring saddle, based on the specific asking about the rivets.

My concentration on vintage is in the touring aspect and I jumped to a conclusion based on my experiences.

no disrespect was intended at the many high quality, real leather saddles, some of which incorporated rivets as a decorative details.

The way I see it, some things have dramatically improved and trickled down over the years. My single pivot Dura Ace brakes don't offer the stopping power of new Claris dual pivots.

Near as I can tell, that Amazon junk saddle has the same construction as my San Marco. I wouldn't be surprised if it weighs less and the shell is more compliant than mine.

Is it tensioned? Nope.

Is it C&V? Nope

Is it even real leather? I doubt it.

If it completed a certain look I was after, at that price, I'd give it a try.

I bought one on eBay for a flip bike. I think it was just under $10, shipped. Not my cup
of tea, as the padding was pretty soft and the texture very grippy. It looked good on the bike, though.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4306/3...40fffb4d_b.jpg
I have another, similar one that came on my Merckx. It has the same design, but different materials and is a lot firmer and not too bad.

So, like on most saddles, you can’t really tell until you have it on hand and ride it awhile.

I'm looking for the look of a Regal. I have an old one and am doing a new build, so am interested in other's experiences and recommendations on the much cheaper lookalikes.

I tried one and didn't like it, but that doesn't tell you much other than something about the shape of my crotch, which you don't need to know.