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B17 Standard vs. B17 Select for touring

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B17 Standard vs. B17 Select for touring

Old 08-30-16, 04:05 PM
  #1  
exodous
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B17 Standard vs. B17 Select for touring

I'm about to buy a new saddle and was wondering if the Select is worth the extra $45 over the Standard in the B17 range.

The Select says this:

'This version of the B17 is made with our extra tough, organic leather for high mileage cyclists.'

I don't know if the Standard does or not and it just wasn't mentioned on the page or if the leather really is different. It also has the hand hammered copper rivets, which I could live without really, not worth $45 extra.

I'm going as far south as Montevideo, Uruguay and Santiago, Chile so if the thicker leather will help at all I'll pay the extra $45. If it is just the rivets then I can hold off on the $45 extra.
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Old 08-30-16, 06:11 PM
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I was not familiar with the Select, so I had to search for it.
B17 Select

And regular
B17 Standard

I have never bought from Wallingford, but they have a good reputation so I went there to see what they say. They did say the select is thicker leather. Their select model is undyed.
Brooks B.17 Select | wallbike.com
Brooks B17 bicycle saddle | wallbike.com | wallbike.com

I have not had any problems wearing out the leather in a Brooks, but it sounds like you might be out using the saddle for a longer continuous time than my longest tour which was 37 days.

Every leather saddle I have bought new is in great shape. I retired one Brooks in the 1980s, but it was already quite old and had been badly abused when I bought the rusty bike that the saddle was installed on, that saddle was dated 1962.

If it was me, I would want to look at them in the store. So, I am not making any recommendation on which to get.
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Old 08-30-16, 08:29 PM
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I am not familiar with the Select, but looking online it seems to have a rain cover and proofhide included. Also, this saddle is un-dyed, which in my mind is a plus. With all this in mind, and the fact that the leather is thicker, I think it may be worth the extra cost. There are reports of quite long break-in times though.
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Old 08-30-16, 09:50 PM
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I thought a lot about a B17 but finally opted for a cambium C17 so I wouldn't have to worry about getting it wet and stretching etc... Now I just worry about it getting stolen So far it feels good but I will be able to give a better review in a month.

I always get a kick out of a company that builds a "quality" product and then offers the deluxe version. Why not put good leather on the standard B17 in the first place
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Old 08-31-16, 06:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Happy Feet
I thought a lot about a B17 but finally opted for a cambium C17 so I wouldn't have to worry about getting it wet and stretching etc... Now I just worry about it getting stolen So far it feels good but I will be able to give a better review in a month.

I always get a kick out of a company that builds a "quality" product and then offers the deluxe version. Why not put good leather on the standard B17 in the first place
1- Love my C17. Love my B17 too, but the C17 has been fantastic on my road bike as it has the look of a road bike saddle and is in every way as comfortable as my B17.


2- My latests chuckle is when I see 5hour Energy shot displays. The regular 5hour Energy shots are next to the Extra Strength 5hour Energy shots. I just think its funny that a product's name is how long the product works, and there is also an Extra Strength version. Is that then 7hour Energy?
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Old 08-31-16, 07:11 AM
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I'm speaking only from my own experience but I have a B-17 standard and 2 B-17 Narrow saddles that were all purchased new. The standard B-17 started to sag after 1,000 miles or so and I have since had to tighten it slightly and lace the sides to maintain optimal comfort. In comparison the Narrow versions seem to have a little thicker leather and have some flex but no sag. I'm 165 lbs so not a real heavy weight on the saddle.

IMHO I think with the use you intend for the saddle and based on the extras you get with it I would opt for the Select.
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Old 08-31-16, 07:13 AM
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Yeah I'm going to try out the Cambiums......but you should also look at the Swift. It's narrower than the B17and good if you like a racier feel and style
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Old 08-31-16, 08:35 AM
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I was told by Brooks the select is Not Dyed, The Leather came from Grass 'Finished' Cows in Sweden.

skivved skirt and hand hammered Copper Rivets ..
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Old 08-31-16, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by badger_biker
I'm speaking only from my own experience but I have a B-17 standard and 2 B-17 Narrow saddles that were all purchased new. The standard B-17 started to sag after 1,000 miles or so and I have since had to tighten it slightly and lace the sides to maintain optimal comfort. In comparison the Narrow versions seem to have a little thicker leather and have some flex but no sag. I'm 165 lbs so not a real heavy weight on the saddle.

IMHO I think with the use you intend for the saddle and based on the extras you get with it I would opt for the Select.

Time to leave the Brooks behind and try Gilles Berthoud's saddles if you want thick and treated leather combined with superlative workmanship.


Berthoud saddles Products | wallbike.com
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Last edited by onbike 1939; 09-02-16 at 01:56 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 09-01-16, 07:06 PM
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Exodus, how much do you weigh?
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Old 09-01-16, 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by nun
Yeah I'm going to try out the Cambiums......but you should also look at the Swift. It's narrower than the B17and good if you like a racier feel and style
Hello there nun. I recently bought a used c17 and it's not as comfortable as my b17s, but will need more time on it to really know it better. I also have it my bike with 50mm cushy tires, and it works fine, partly because of the tires cush.
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Old 09-02-16, 03:34 AM
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If you want thicker leather cheap, get the Team Professional Classic. It's the Team Pro without the copper rivets and chamfering. The break in period is fine, as long as you don't do it on a tour.
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Old 09-02-16, 03:40 AM
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Originally Posted by onbike 1939
Time to leave the Brooks behind and try Gilles Berthoud's saddles if you want thick and treated leather combined with superlative workmanship.


Berthoud saddles Products | wallbike.com
+1 here for Berthoud saddle. Five years and thousands of km on an Aravis, good and bad weather - it is comfortable and wearing well. Also have a Brooks with those large head rivets, like them better than standard rivet.
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Old 09-02-16, 06:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Yan
If you want thicker leather cheap, get the Team Professional Classic. It's the Team Pro without the copper rivets and chamfering. The break in period is fine, as long as you don't do it on a tour.

Cheaper yet is the Spa Cycles range of leather saddles and these are good quality too. For example this one:


SPA CYCLES Wharfe Leather Saddle :: £40.00 :: Parts & Accessories :: Saddles - Leather :: Spa Cycles, Harrogate - The touring cyclists specialist.
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Old 09-02-16, 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Yan
If you want thicker leather cheap, get the Team Professional Classic. It's the Team Pro without the copper rivets and chamfering. The break in period is fine, as long as you don't do it on a tour.
I prefer the Brooks Pro and Conquest (essentially a sprung Pro) over the B17 or Flyer. They have very different dimensions and shape.

My point is that if your bum is the right size and shape for a B17, if you switch to a Pro you might be unpleasantly surprised when you learn that the shape and dimensions are different.
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Old 09-02-16, 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by martianone
+1 here for Berthoud saddle. Five years and thousands of km on an Aravis, good and bad weather - it is comfortable and wearing well. Also have a Brooks with those large head rivets, like them better than standard rivet.
Another plus for the GB is that you can easily replace the leather when it wears out.
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