Brooks England B17, Supremely Comfortable Leather Bike Saddle

So this magic seat is hard but it's supposed to be incredibly comfortable? It takes hundreds of miles of break in but after that it's nirvana. It's old technology but it's far better than any of the latest and greatest technologies. Hard to believe, right? Here's the deal - the concept of this seat is very simple - it's a hammock seat - meaning instead of sitting on a bunch of padding you sit on a suspension of material. I think the break in factor is an illusion - almost every bike seat I've ever used was uncomfortable at first before getting used to it. So what if people are just getting used to it? I ride motorcycles too - and realized early on that a "plush" seat is horrible after a 2+ hour ride. Why - because what was soft is now creating pressure and bottoming out where it shouldn't. Instead, a harder seat is far superior. Same applies here. So what model to choose? Is this size the same as the narrower or really wide ones? Here's the part they don't tell you - it's all about seating angle. If you ride at a more aggressive angle - you need a narrower seat sized to your sit bones. If you sit upright - you need a wider seat sized to your tuchus. Here's something you can try with your CURRENT seat - without buying anything. Ride 100 yards at the most upright position you can. Stop. Now ride 100 yards at the about a 45 degree angle representing a touring or casual mountain bike. Now ride 100 yards at about a 60 degree angle which represents a more racing/professional/hard core rider position. Which feels best to you? Your seat will tell you which is best. That's the angle the seat was designed for. Now comes the B17. The B17 is the longest running model in the Brooks line - cool, right? It's significantly wider at about 170 mm compared to 140mm for a typical road or mountain bike seat. But the real question is what are your site bones? If you have sit bones that are wider, get the B17 or C19. If you have average build but want comfort, get a B17 or C17. For you narrower people, I have nothing but resentment and fomo so you're on your own. Do you get the B17 if you ride a beach cruiser? No - get a wider model. For some riders it will "work" but not because it's the right model but because it's a happy coincidence with body type. The B17 is for people that want a 45 degree to 60 degree riding angle and have the right sit bones to use it. It's not a "sit up on top" seat. From a pure aesthetic perspective the seat is absolutely gorgeous. The leather is top notch and if it breaks in further I will be ecstatic - but it's already quite comfortable for riding and a huge improvement over my 140mm stock seat. Looking forward to many miles. Are there other seats that would provide just as much comfort? Probably. Is this an awesome seat filled with history and eclectic British style? Oh yeah. I never knew these existed until recently. Knew I had to have one. You do, too. Just pick the right one based on site bones, riding style and riding angle.

I had a Brooks saddle many years ago in college, and had always wanted to get another one, but only if it was for the right bike. I recently did a build on a 1994 Specialized Epic, one of the first production carbon fiber bikes sold in the US, and it seemed like the time to pull the trigger. Not only does it look amazing on the bike with the leather-wrapped handlebars (also a Brooks product), but the comfort is also top-level. It took less than three rides (about 100 miles) for the saddle to break in and become super comfortable. I ride a lot, and do a lot of miles, and saddle comfort is a top priority to me. One of the keys to saddle comfort on long rides is the ability to adjust your position often and easily, and this saddle, with its fairly slick surface, allows you to make micro-adjustments while riding without having to sit up and reposition yourself. Once the leather gets some miles on it, the longitudinal suspension really starts to loosen up and the saddle is a dream to ride. I should note that I always ride with padded cycling bibs, so I can't speak to comfort if you're wearing regular shorts and undergarments with seams... you're definitely going to feel those rubbing if you ride any length of time. But for those who wear padded cycling gear, this saddle quickly becomes very comfortable. To me, the sign of a great saddle is one you never think about, because it creates no discomfort, and this classic and beautiful saddle delivers the goods. I had it on my Wish List for about six months, and one day the price dropped considerably, so I didn't hesitate. Even at normal price it's a deal, but I really scored by being patient. Even if you're not a fan of vintage bikes, this is still a great saddle that will add a lot of comfort and class to your ride.

I was a few days away from embarking on a 330 mile bike trip across Ohio when I realized my WTB Volt saddle wasn't going to cut it as it was making my groin numb after an hour of riding. I decided to try this brooks B17 as I have heard so much about them. I was a little skeptical at first due to a couple reviews saying it's as hard as a rock, but as soon as I installed it, I could tell it was the most comfortable seat I have ever sat on. It is not plush, but the leather is suspended, like a hammock, which provides a lot of cushion/support. It actually absorbs bumps in the road as well. After about 50 miles, and using the profide stuff, it was well broken into my butt and I had no soreness throughout my entire 6 day trip at all. Definitely spend the time to adjust the seat height and angle as it truly affects the comfort of this seat. I have read that this seat likes the front part to be angled up, but I found the most comfortable position to be about level with the ground. My handlebars are also about inline with me seat too, if that matters.

It came nicely packaged with a small pocket of proofide lotion, just enough to apply the first time. Also it included a key to adjust the tension. It felt good the first time, I rode on it - 4 hours - and it feels better with every ride. This is a quality seat and looks nice. After about 100 miles I could hear a creaking sound every now and then but after applying the most minimal amount of a chain lube where the steel parts interacted with rubber also on the tension bolt, the pesky noise disappeared. However, I am not too sure if there should not be a more appropriate substance...so, do not necessarily copy my method. I just did not care, just impatiently wanted the annoying sounds gone. They're gone now... I am 100% convinced the saddle was worth the money. Especially, for someone who enjoys long rides. I feel that the saddle itself won't limit the duration of my rides as first but it is rather going to be my tired legs.

I have a couple of Brooks seats - one is so comfortable that it is literally a sensual experience riding. The other Brooks, about 2 yrs newer, same model, is ok, but clearly has not conformed like the first one. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has worked with leather, but I hadn't. I recently gave a Brooks to my sister who wondered why I was so gung ho about them (bc hers was NOT comfortable out of the box) and asked me about the best way to break them in. Bc of the differences between the 2 I had, I spent some time looking into it and found the usual misinformation on bike blogs about the best way to break them in, most of them saying that it just takes a long, long, long time and then they become comfortable and then they're the best saddles you've ever ridden and they last forever. That should have opened my eyes, but it didn't until I watched how the Brooks saddles are actually made (search youtube for it). What they do to form them is to .. soak them in water, then compress them, and then bake them. That's interesting, I thought. And then I remembered that I had let the 1st saddle get rained on once or twice and then ridden on it... light bulb.. So I dampened the underside of my newer seat with water, staying away from the front and rear rivets , then started out on what I was intending to be a 2 hour bike ride to try to beat the leather into submission with my sitz bones. I went thru some mud about 5m into the ride and while I was cleaning it off, I glanced at the seat and it had already started to deform/conform. I rode another 30m and the new seat has essentially the same shape as the old seat, & it's notably more comfortable Do note that Brooks puts on a semi-waterproof coating on top and if you allow it to get too wet from beneath, it will tend to lift off, so dampen it very gently from beneath. It doesn't take much. Why Brooks doesn't mention this or why bike blogs haven't discovered this I have no idea, but it works astonishingly well and as many say, after they conform to your sitz bones they're by far the most comfy bike seats I've ever ridden and after 30, 40, 50 miles, other parts of me are sore, but my butt is happy. After it dries out, oil the top to keep it from getting wet again, but that wetting and riding combo essentially gives you a custom seat in 15m. And both have lasted really well - the older one is 2 yo and it looks pretty much like new. They're not super light, but for touring/commuting or even racing (if your current saddle is a PITA), can't rec them enough, esp with this super-easy break-in.

I wish more instructions were provided instead of having to parse forums for information (minus one star). Having dealt with a fair share of leather goods from being a life long motorcyclist, I ended up paving my own way to make this seat more comfortable. First, I took that overpriced Proofide sample and threw straight into the garbage. Instead, I used my goto for all leather products - a quality Mink oil. I then slathered the bottom of the seat with a thick layer and used a heat gun (careful not to burn the leather) to expediate the absorption process. After 5 cycles of this treatment the leather was already 3x more pliable and now super resistant to the elements (I let the top of the seat ansorb the oil naturally). Next I reduced the seat tension a bit then fitted the seat to my bike. The end result was indeed a super comfortable saddle and great addition to my Rockhopper restomod. There's absolutely no need to submerge the seat in water or any of the other crazy techniques I read on line. Mink oil has been used for ages to protect and soften leather across a wide variety of applications (baseball gloves, leather footwear, riding gear etc). I only saw the Mink oil/ heat technique mentioned once on forums covering the Brooks saddle. Overall, this seat can be made to be really comfortable right out of the box - Brooks does its customers a disservice by not providing customers with some basic instructions which may frustrate some users who aren't familiar with leather goods. Final note - do not forget to register your product for the 10 year warranty. I believe you have a limited time frame to register so that should be the first thing you do should decide to keep the seat.

Purchased recently after trying for 20 years to resist the urge due to the price. I finally gave up after reading the numerous glowing reports that it is the most comfortable saddle ever. I applied the Brooks Proofide under the saddle and a thin application on the top smooth surface as instructed. I then biked for 12 miles. I have read report that you don’t need the 500 miles to “break it” so it will soften and be more comfortable following the contour of the anatomy of your buttocks that’s always in contact to the saddle. I had a little discomfort from my left portion of the buttock ( ischial tuberosity)due to pressure on the saddle. I was debating on taking it off this morning and using my old saddle. However I figured to give it another try. I felt the uncomfortable pressure again as described above as soon as I mounted the bike. .To my surprise however at the 3 mile mark of my regular 10-12 mile ride, it disappeared almost completely and continued to my satisfaction till the end of the ride. ! I placed 3 stars for I am still in the process of evaluating this world famous and supposedly the “holy grail” of bike saddle as described by one cyclist. At this point in time I am beginning to like it and will continue riding on it. I am however disappointed by several reports that Brooks did not honored the 2 year warranty when the metal portion under the saddle broke! Amazon apparently didn’t want to get involve as well. So I would like to hear from Brooks if this indeed is true!

I love my bike, and this gives a chef's kiss note on top of it. This seat is great and as (almost) everyone says, it needs some mileage until it shapes to your bottom. Idk if I'm there yet although I didn't have any issues after a few days. It still a bit stiff and still smells leather - I love the scent! - but it gives me comfort and some weird sense of luxury. It is relatively heavy, so if you're concerned about bike weight, this is not the saddle for you. I have it on my gravel bike (one with a carbon fiber frame and road'ish tires). I could also use it on a hybrid or electric all day without issues.