JackJohn

Hi all,
I recently got this Selle Italia “Turbo B. Hinault” saddle in black suede, definitely never used.

It is shorter than another Turbo model I had and weighs 335 grams.
Also, the rail clamp distance is a bit wider than standard by around 5-7mm, which makes difficult to clamp to a seatpost.

I found a first example of this saddle in a 1983 commercial catalogue and have seen it in a few pro riders pics from that era.

My questions: When was this model introduced exactly? Was it always shorter and why? Was it widely used by the pro pelotons? Where did it rank more or less among the other pro models in the 80s (Turbo, Concor, etc.)? Is the rail clamp distance a problem?

Thanks a lot!

Rick_D

Mine is from '83 and weighs 375g. Tan swede. Common and popular at the time, can't compare against the competition. Not especially comfortable by 2024 strandards.

ETA rails are 4cm apart, center to center.

HTH

Steel1

I have both the B Hinault and standard issue. In my case the two look the same, except for the special printing on the side. Also, my B Hinault rails measured 42mm c-to-c off the bike, which is close, maybe 2mm narrower than other saddles already mounted on bikes.
Here is pic with the back sides of both saddles being even.
I have seen them on early 80’s Univega.

Chombi1 

There were good number of Turbo saddles that carried the Hinault print on their noses after he started piling up his TdF wins. So those Turbos are not that hard to find out there. IIRC, there were the "Lady" versions of the saddle too" which were shorter at the nose and wider at the rear, but they usually had something added to the Turbo print at the nose. Something like "Turbo L", IIRC.

gearbasher

One of those "Hinault" saddles came stock on my brother's '83 Pinarello.

Robvolz 

I had the suede ones, exactly as you have pictured on my Merckx for a week. It was like having a badger between your legs.

After a week, I replaced with a non-suede Rolls.

Classtime 

The brown suede ones came on both my 84 Centurion Turbo and my 85 Ironman and each of them a little torn up but unremarkable on the long Eroica CA route so I suppose they are comfortable enough.

JackJohn

This is the comparison with another Turbo... definitely shorter!

Also, I tried to clamp the saddle on a Campy Record seatpost and damn it's hard, rails spacing is larger... is it normal?

Rick_D

You note in the OP it has not been used, but the underside photo seems to show markings and even perhaps rust stains that to my eye could indicate prior use. Have the rails perhaps been bent in the intervening decades? Even being stowed under a heavy stack of whatever might flatten it and spread the rails.

I'd think a women-specific variation as noted earlier can explain the smaller dimensions.

'02 nrs

some B. Hinault's had alloy rails.https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...7708e&Enum=106

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...les-turbo.html

Rick_D

Good find. Mine appears to be the V2, based on the specs and images.
Name: Selle Italia Turbo - Bernard Hinault (v2)
Brand: Selle Italia
Model: Turbo - Bernard Hinault
Years: 1980's - ?
Country: Italy
Weight: 372 grams (Actual)
Base Material Plastic
Covering Material Leather
Rail Material Alloy
Width 14 cm Length 27.3 cm
Rail Spacing 42mm ctr-to-ctr (standard spacing)
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...106&AbsPos=279

Markeologist

so mine also includes initials “SLG” like the one pictured above. Any thoughts on what they signify? I’ve seen reference to “super leggera” which would mark a light weight model but I can’t confirm.

gearbasher

Just to let you know, I got your "badger" pun.

Chombi1 

The Turbos with "SLG" printed on it are the ones eith aluminum rails for lighter weight. I had a couple of those, but I never rode them long enough to find out how the rails eould hold up. I gave them to my brother who now has them installed on his C&V bikes.

genejockey 

I got abike with a Concor Superleggera. Same deal - aluminum rails. They had a lot of corrosion, but then one of the rails broke.

JackJohn

Yes mainly markings of years and storage, however the black suede and the white labels are like new and possibly never saw anyone sitting on them... As per the rails spread that had to be a really heavy load, which IMHO would have let other marks elsewhere...

genejockey 

I got one with my '85 Ironman. The leather was coming undone, so I ordered a new Turbo to replace it. This was while I was rebuilding the bike. When that was finished, I took it for a ride, using the old Turbo. Turns out The Badger and I aren't built alike and his namesake saddle ain't for me. I'll keep the original in case I sell the bike to an originality bug, and eventually I'll probably get around to selling the new one.

Or maybe when I croak, my heirs will sell it and all the other uncomfortable saddles along with all the other stuff I've "collected"!

JackJohn

Rails spacing was 4,7mm and unable to fit a seat post. I narrowed the spacing with an adjustable wrench, bringing it to the desired distance, hopefully it will fit and hold in place...

Rick_D

Yeah, I was more pliable when using mine and kept fabric covers on it once I found the swede isn't so conducive to sliding forward and back. Don't think anybody makes the covers now.
Trying it out on my restored bike prompted hitting "buy" on a period-adjacent Brooks to swap in. (Which, no surprise, is heavier but not punishing.)

Except for sweat staining the Selle is in surprising shape.


There it is.

bikamper

I had one in the 80's when I started doing Ultra-distance rides. I called it a 100 mile saddle because after a century on it I was ready to throw it in a ditch. Went back to Brooks ASAP and never regretted it.