Seizedpost

Hello all,
I recently acquired a Fuji Belt leather saddle. There's some cracking, but nothing too bad.

Are these good saddles? How do they compare to Brooks?

I'm thinking of trying it out, any input is appreciated.

Edit: I know this has been beaten to death, but should I get some Brooks Proofide to put on it, or will the Johnson's paste wax I have in the garage to the job?

dweenk

I have four Fujita Belt saddles. I like all but one of them. The one I do not like is identical to another, but the leather will not yield to riding or conditioning. I suppose it has a different type of leather (hard).

I find them to be harder than Brooks saddles and may take a bit longer to break in, but I would buy another if I found it at a good price.

oddjob2

If you wouldn't put Johnson's paste wax on your leather shoes, it certainly doesn't belong on a bike saddle either.

coolkat

I had a black one and, as the above poster says, it was super hard and never really broke in for me. Looked good, high quality for sure, and it actually rode ok with some padded shorts.

eschlwc

i just use leather conditioner bought at auto supply (for leather interior) for old, dry saddles i don't plan to keep.

i also apply it very lightly to my own gyes saddle when the top gets dry.

my brookses don't need it.

Seizedpost

Eschlwc, I was concerned that my car leather treatment might make the saddle too soft and supple, and cause it to stretch too much.

Oddjob2, i thought Johnson's might work because I've seen it suggested in other threads. Just wondering if I could use what I have.

79pmooney

I don't know the Belt saddles. I had a Fuji America ~1977 saddle years ago; basically a Brooks copy. High quality saddle. I didn't like it because my riding style simply doesn't work on traditional leather saddles. I "ride the rivet" a lot. Doing it literally sucks. When that bike got stolen, I was sad until I realized I now had to buy a new saddle. No more rivet!

Ben

Lascauxcaveman 

I've got one. Probably 40 years old and not ridden much yet. It's very, very hard but I haven't given it enough miles to know if it's going to eventually get some flex, like a Brooks Pro, say. Needs another couple hundred miles of "buttwax," I think, before I can tell for sure.

I notice it always feels just a bit too narrow when I first set out, then after five miles or so it completely disappears; a good sign.

And because every thread on such a lovely subject should have pictures...

cdmurphy

I have two Belt saddles. They're definitely harder than a B17, about on par with a Brooks Pro. I don't find them to be as comfortable as a the Pro, but that's probably just my particular backside. The top seems flatter, with a sharper corner that takes a few miles to get used to. As for the wax, I wouldn't use the floor wax, but neutral Kiwi shoe wax is easy to find, and seems to have a lot of supporters. You don't really want to soften the leather, just to deform it under your sit bones. The best way to break them in is to drape a damp cloth over where you sit for half an hour or so before your ride. That will let it conform to your backside, without getting so soft that it sags too soon.

eschlwc

i've only had one belt saddle, and its top at the back was cracked. i used the conditioner i had on hand for car interior, and it worked great.



if you plan on keeping the saddle, look into lacing the skirts. this will keep it taut and looking nice.