Comparison between B17 and B17 Imperial
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Comparison between B17 and B17 Imperial
I need a saddle for a touring bike, and have tried a new B17 for a few hours. I can’t tell what it would feel like after it’s broken in, so I am curious: does the cutout on the B17 imperial make an obvious difference during the earliest stages of break in, or is it also a “trust me, it gets better in 1000 km” situation?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Maine, USA
Posts: 1,612
Bikes: Corvid Sojourner, Surly Ice Cream Truck, Co-Motion Divide, Co-Motion Java Tandem, Salsa Warbird, Salsa Beargrease, Carver Tandem
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 533 Post(s)
Liked 435 Times
in
227 Posts
for me the Imperial felt great right out of the box. I have it on our tandem and it is my favorite saddle for comfort on long multi day rides
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 758 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 809 Times
in
471 Posts
Both felt good to me right out of the box, though the Imperial is better overall. All things being equal, if I were to order a B17 today, I'd buy an Imperial.
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I’m starting to think users of either Brooks model (standard or Imperial)can tell the saddle is likely to be “good” before investing time & effort breaking it in further? After a couple rides on B17 standard, I have doubts about the nose up design and was wondering if that pressure is less (and hopefully, much less) with an Imperial, more or less straight away.
#5
Miles to Go
I have tried both long-term. I like the Imperial better due to pressure issues. The regular B17 is stronger due to no slit in it, so I think the regular is better... unless you need the Imperial like I do, which would make the Imperial the better choice.
Break-in would be about the same for either one, and can be accelerated by using a liberal amount of Brooks Proofhide or a similar product.
I found that the B17 in either flavor was comfortable from the start. My opinion is that if it's not working pretty well for you from the git-go, it won't work long-term even with beak-in.
Break-in would be about the same for either one, and can be accelerated by using a liberal amount of Brooks Proofhide or a similar product.
I found that the B17 in either flavor was comfortable from the start. My opinion is that if it's not working pretty well for you from the git-go, it won't work long-term even with beak-in.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,090
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1034 Post(s)
Liked 1,289 Times
in
743 Posts
I’m starting to think users of either Brooks model (standard or Imperial)can tell the saddle is likely to be “good” before investing time & effort breaking it in further? After a couple rides on B17 standard, I have doubts about the nose up design and was wondering if that pressure is less (and hopefully, much less) with an Imperial, more or less straight away.
Mine also is not adjusted too high. I have no perineum pain, or discomfort, even on a 70 mile day. Usually people have issues with the B17, and any seat for that matter, because they have too great of reach, or more often, they install the seat too high. If your B17 is giving you pain in the perineum, lower the seat.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cape Vincent, NY
Posts: 1,390
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, 2002 TREK 520, Schwinn Mesa WINTER BIKE, Huffy Rock Creek 29er, 1970s-era Ross ten speed. All my bikes are highly modified(except the Tarmac) yet functional, and generally look beat to ****. .
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Liked 88 Times
in
51 Posts
If you're considering an Imperial, you might want to check out the Selle Anatomica.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,866
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 595 Post(s)
Liked 281 Times
in
192 Posts
I own both. In the beginning, the Imperial is more "flexible" because of the cut out but honestly, I can't tell that much difference between the two. Maybe, just maybe I give the edge in comfort to the Imperial but it's slight.
#9
Senior Member
I’m starting to think users of either Brooks model (standard or Imperial)can tell the saddle is likely to be “good” before investing time & effort breaking it in further? After a couple rides on B17 standard, I have doubts about the nose up design and was wondering if that pressure is less (and hopefully, much less) with an Imperial, more or less straight away.
re nose up placement. Ive tried flat and various nose up positions over the years, but pretty much decided that nearly flat is better for my bikes and their handlebar height.
Just listen to your body and make slight adjustments and be attentive to all the parameters, dont go by what others do.
thats my take on riding with a Brooks.
Likes For djb:
#10
QR-disc must die!!!
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia.
Posts: 703
Bikes: '99 Trek 520, '20 Kona Sutra (FOR SALE 48cm), '21 Simon-Bikes mini-velo and a chromoly-framed folding bicycle with drop-bars and V-brakes, that rolls even while folded.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 397 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 199 Times
in
147 Posts
I get perineum pain from the B17 even when the top of the drop-bars is level with the top of the seat. As an alternative, I got a C17 w/cutout, which was better but not perfect. After that, I wondered if I really needed such a wide saddle in the first place. I next tried a C15 w/cutout, which has been the best so far. I even ride with the seat higher than the top of the drop-bars now. I prefer the C15 w/cutout enough that I bought a second one for a new bicycle that I'm putting together.
Last edited by Nyah; 08-25-21 at 11:01 AM.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,090
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1034 Post(s)
Liked 1,289 Times
in
743 Posts
I get perineum pain from the B17 even when the top of the drop-bars is level with the top of the seat. As an alternative, I got a C17 w/cutout, which was better but not perfect. After that, I wondered if I really needed such a wide saddle in the first place. I next tried a C15 w/cutout, which has been the best so far. I even ride with the seat higher than the top of the drop-bars now. I prefer the C15 w/cutout enough that I bought a second one for a new bicycle that I'm putting together.
#12
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 248
Bikes: LHT disc, Cannondale CAAD8, Cannondale Super 6, Avanti Agressor MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
10 Posts
I have tried both. The imperial has seen many years of use and has now been allocated to my mtn bike. I bought a B17 and failed to become comfortable with it. I ended up cutting out a slot to make it an imperial model and it is now comfortable.for me.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 758 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 809 Times
in
471 Posts
if you do a C17..the cutout version rides much better (for me at least) than the solid one. Try as I might, the solid one isn't for me..after 20 miles I have to get off it. Did 65 miles a couple days ago on a cut out C17..felt good.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: Lemond '01 Maillot Jaune, Lemond '02 Victoire, Lemond '03 Poprad, Lemond '03 Wayzata DB conv(Poprad), '79 AcerMex Windsor Carrera Professional(pur new), '88 GT Tequesta(pur new), '01 Bianchi Grizzly, 1993 Trek 970 DB conv, Trek 8900 DB conv
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 758 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 809 Times
in
471 Posts
Likes For fishboat:
#17
Senior Member
My Imperial narrow has more flex but I really don’t notice much comfort difference than my regular narrow saddle. However I can’t ride my standard width B17 as long as either narrow version and it is well broken in.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK