elizwlsn

I'm in desperate need of a new saddle and have heard great things about the Brooks B17. When I went to look at them online Amazon had the Brooks B67 too with springs. It looks so comfy but anyone have one that can give me some feedback?

Retro Grouch 

Wallingford Bike. They probably sell more Brooks saddles than anybody and they'll take it back if you don't like it.

GerryinHouston

I believe that the B17 with springs is called the Brooks Champion Flyer

Brooks Champion Flyer | wallbike.com

The B-67 is a wider saddle for upright riding.

fietsbob

Brooks has been around a lot longer than the internet .. I have a Brooks I bought in 1974, its still good.

elizwlsn

So for touring and commuting on my hybrid Sirrus Comp with flat bars? Seems I could go either way. It has a road bike saddle on it now that it came with and it's so painful to ride. I've never had a saddle that hurts so much.

ColonelSanders

I have a much heftier Brooks saddle with springs(B190) than the B67 and it is a godsend for ending saddle pain. I use it on my Giant Toughroad hybrid, so I am regularly in the 60 to 45 degree angle, not the 90 to 65 degree upright angle that my saddle would also work very well in.

The only thing you will need to concentrate on with it, is trying to work out how much you will sag the springs, so that you don't have the nose of your saddle set too high or too low.

elizwlsn

Very helpful!

JohnDThompson 

I have a B-66 (close cousin to the B-67) on my Superbe. As noted, it's designed for an upright riding position, and for that it works very well. If you have dropped handlebars you probably want something different. I use Brooks Professional saddles for those bikes and have no complaints. As noted above, the Brooks Flyer looks to be a B-17 with springs, but I've never tried it and so can't comment beyond that.

GerryinHouston

I would say that the B17 is narrower, suited more for a road bike than a hybrid (I bought it for my Trek Verve 2 which is a very upright hybrid and then found out that for the tail pain in longer distances I prefer a less upright position (very much less, so I got a new stem for my Verve 2) and for the burning sensation (developed at longer distance riding -20+ mi-) a saddle with no padding). Then I found that I need a drop bar bike for the pins and needles in my fingers and ended up with the B17 on the Novara Randonee.

The Randonee's saddle lives on the Trek, happily, as it is my short distance, 'round town bike.

Get the B67 if you think you will keep the upright stance. Get the B17 if you recognize any of the other symptoms I described above.

Keep in mind, the tailbone pain comes from being upright for some distance and requires you to rotate your pelvis forward to a more aggressive stance.

dim

the most comfy leather saddle that I have used/owned is a Giles Berthoud Aravis (I have this on my Surly LHT) .... comfort from day 1 ... actually it's the most comfy saddle even compared to saddles that are not leather (I've had many) I have my bar height similar to my saddle height

I have a Brooks B15 narrow champion on my daily commuter .... it's fine but not for very long distances.(i.e I would not want to ride 150 miles in one sitting on it)

I'm seriously thinking of getting another Aravis for my daily bike .... not cheap though

Tim_Iowa

The wider Brooks saddles (B66, B67, B72, B73, B135, B18, B190) are intended for upright riding, and are Brooks' "City & Heavy Duty" line
The medium-width Brooks saddles (C17, B17, Flyer, Conquest) are intended for semi-upright riding and are in Brooks' "Touring & Trekking" line
The narrow Brooks saddles (B17 narrow, B15, Swift, Colt, Team Pro, C15, C13) are intended for aggressive and/or drop bar riding, and are in Brooks' "Road & MTB" line.

Personally, I use a B17 on two of my drop-bar bikes, a Team Pro on another drop-bar bike, and a Flyer on my drop-bar touring bike and on my Jones-bar fat bike. I don't feel like the B17 is too wide for use with drop bars, but I do have my bars relatively high (tops level with saddle) and I'm a large guy (6'1" #225 ).

Timequake

I have a Brooks B17 Imperial. Had it for a few years. Super comfortable and molded to the shape of my butt. The "Imperial" is the version that has a chunk cut out in the center to help your sensitive parts. Works wonders with my chronic PVPS (post vasectomy pain syndrome). Moral of the story: don't mess with nature, or you may have to spend $130 on a bike saddle.

I-Like-To-Bike

The pictured B66 saddle (for older seat posts) came on the new Raleigh Superbe I bought in 1976. I have used it continuously on my regular commuter bike/weekend traveling bike ever since. Highest recommendations if comfort is a high priority for you.

martianone

Have a Brooks B-68 on my Electra Townie beach bike. I believe a b68 is the same saddle as b67, except b68 is unsprung. The B68 is great for the townie ! Believe they have stopped making b68, wish I could find one NOS ?

Nermal

I've got a B-17 and love it. After around 450 miles, I didn't even notice the saddle. Not just every bag will work on it. I also have a Champion Flyer. Even the bags made by Brooks don't work on it. They collide with the springs and the springs make definite wear marks on the bag.

I should add that this in on the Giant Cypress hybrid with a fairly upright position.

HauntedMyst

I have the B67 on my Novara. It's very comfortable. It sits more upright than the Sirrus Comp. The closest bike I have to the Sirrus is a Cannondale flat bar and I have a Brooks Flyer on that one, also very comfortable but you straddle that one more (your Sirrus would be similar). So the question I have is, how do you like to ride, bent forward or sitting up? Forward try the Flyer first or upright try the B67. Keep in mind, both will require a break in but you should be able to tell if you like them within a week. I've had both the B190 and the B72 on my Townie and the B190 is the pure comfort winner but with the Sirrus, you would be leaning forward and not able to take advantage of its qualities.

Nermal

You have a Townie, Haunted? What do you think of it in terms of quality for price, and how heavy is it?

elizwlsn

Well I went ahead and order the B67 this morning from Wallbikes along with the tin of creme used to keep the leather subtle. If it is too wide I'll return for the B17 but since I'm on the flatbar and never used a narrow seat before the Sirrus Comp I think I may do better with the wider. It's really not my butt that gets so sore or my tail bone. It's closer to the crotch area only on the sides so I'm thinking it may be the narrowness. Hope that wasn't tmi. Anyway I'm delighted to have made the decision....any decision and acted on it! Also sprung this morning for a Jandd expedition rear rack that is rated for 75lbs and is 3" longer. Yesterday order new bike shoes that I tried on at at my LBS but they didn't have my size and needed one size larger. Next is new bar ends that are thick plastic with finger grooves and new pedals A530 shimano's to go with my new shoes and I'm set for a while. At least till my wallet recovers a bit! Thanks for all the help with the saddle everyone.

HauntedMyst

I do! I have the 700c version. I had one a few years ago and sold it but missed it so I picked up another one. I'm not really sure but I put it being around 30 lbs. It you can get one on craigslist for about $350, they are great for the price. It's not a high performance bike. It's just fun to ride when you want to ride around town or on a bike path with your head up.

HauntedMyst

Good luck with it! After you apply the Proofide, wear dark shorts for the first few rides. After you mount it, scrunch up a plastic shopping bag under the rails so you have it you are out and it starts raining.

Nermal

HauntedMyst, I've been researching step throughs, so performance isn't an issue. I had a stroke back in February and ever since, I've had a fear of not being able to clear the saddle when dismounting. Rational or not, the fear would probably cause a fall, and I'm getting a little old for that kind of stuff. I didn't know they made a 700 C version. My favored LBS might still carry the brand, and I'll see if they will take trade ins or consignment on the other two that are taking up space.

HauntedMyst

I'm sorry to hear that Nermal! I hope you make a full recovery. The other one I considered was the Day 6 Dream and that has even better step through clearance than the Townie. You can get them for about $450 on craiglist around here. Similar crank forward, flat foot type of ride. Check it out! The only reason I picked up the Townie again is I was able to get it at a better price.

Nermal

Thanks. I'll go take a look. Recovery is good enough for everyday use, but probably won't be perfect.

HauntedMyst

elizwlsn, How did the saddle work out?

SouthFLpix

I tried it and returned it. It was so wide that my legs would rub against the saddle on the downstroke and chaff. I ended up with the Flyer, which as mentioned above is the sprung version of the B17. My saddle is very slightly higher than my handlebar. For the B67 to work I think it would have to be a Dutch style bike that iis more upright with the handlebar noticeably higher than the saddle.