Reviews of Brooks B17 Imperial Saddle Black

Pros

Good quality and adjustable. Great value.

Cons

Can't think of any.

Pros

Sooo much more comfortable tight put of the box. Quality saddle.

Cons

300 mile break in to full fitment.

Pros

Comfort

Cons

I am a little concerned about how it will hold up if I get caught in a long ride in rain. Other than that no cons yet.

Other Thoughts

Only used a month and about 300 miles, but so far I am happy with the B17 Imperial. So far my rides haven't exceeded 60 miles. Break in period hasn't really been an issue for me. It's a bit less firm now than when new but I found it good out of the box.

For me the width and shape seems to work. Also it's firm yet has some give at pressure points. Since I haven't tried this same saddle without the cutout area so I can't say how much that feature helps, but I can't see a down side to the cutout either.

My experience has been you can't really tell how a saddle will work for you until you use it a while. Past saddles that I've tried but didn't work for me include Brooks Cambium C15, Trek, and SMP.

Hopefully I am this satisfied a year from now.

Pros

Most recommended saddle for touring. Over a century old design and old world construction. Forms to your butt. Hand built by actual craftsmen.

Cons

None that I can find.

Other Thoughts

I have been through about a half dozen saddles from WTB, Specialized, etc. but could never get comfortable on long rides and multiple days in the saddle. I finally took the veteran touring cyclists advice and bought the Brooks. My advice to anyone considering long days and many miles in the saddle is just buy the Brooks. They ain't cheap but my mom once told me that it's always best to spend the money to get the best. Buy once, cry once.

Awesome design and quality. I replaced a B17 Narrow saddle with this wider saddle. I found out my sit bones measurement was too wide for the narrow saddle? 31mm plus 2cm put my SBs at the edge of the B17 Narrow. Ya learn as you go. My bones appreciate this wider saddle, even now, during the break-in period. Years ago, I bought a used bike that came with an Ideal leather saddle. This was my first pleasurable experience with a hard leather saddle.

I am still breaking in the seat ! I have 90 plus miles on it. So far i am not in any major pain from riding on it! It is of good quality leather and i am enjoying the literature from brooks in England that THEY SENT ME.

Pros

This will last you forever if you take care of right! Buy a rain cover!.... for it.... is what I really meant to say.

Cons

It takes A LOT of miles to break it in so don't take it on bike tour right out of the box, unless you never want to feel your.... back side.. ever again. I'm not saying that's what I did or anything!

Other Thoughts

If you're in the market for a bicycle saddle then this is your saddle. But only if it's in stock. So you should buy it right now!! If you don't then you'll have to buy for full price some other place. So enter in you credit card now and you will never have to buy a saddle ever again. Just don't get it wet!!

Pros

Leather saddles, especially the Brooks, seem to be almost the standard for long distance touring. Between my son and I, we've put probably 30,000 miles on them over the last 4 years. With care, they hold up well and just keep getting more comfortable as the leather conforms to your own personal butt shape. They also flex, providing some shock absorption. It also seems that the slightly slippery surface allows natural movement on the saddle, cutting down chafing and pressure points.

Cons

I bought this saddle for my wife. The women's specific design is shorter than the men's models. Because the stretched area of the leather is shorter, there is less give to the saddle. We've swapped bikes and this saddle is noticeably firmer to both of us than my men's model, and my saddle doesn't have the cutout. I'm not sure why the women's model is shorter, but my wife doesn't think it benefits her comfort. Mixed reviews on the cutout. The edges of the cutout are kind of sharp and caused my wife some discomfort. I was able to remedy this by sanding them off smoother. I applied some polish and saddle treatment to the exposed raw leather.

Other Thoughts

My wife says the saddle is becoming more comfortable and does find the saddle fairly comfortable in comparison to other saddles she has ridden, but we're thinking of buying one of the men's models for her to try.

Pros

I use this saddle on a 2005 Trek Pilot. It broke-in within ~300 miles, but was reasonably comfortable out of the box. I followed the instructions to add Brooks Proofide Leather Dressing to the underside and have done nothing else for ~1000 miles.
I have had numbness issues with most saddles other than the WTB Pure and this B17 Imperial. I even had issues with the standard
B17, so the cut out in the Imperial definitely helped me.

Cons

some sharp edges on the metal frame.

Other Thoughts

If I get another Brooks saddle, I will try a slightly narrower model.
I do recommend the B17 Imperial.

Pros

Adjustable cushion

Cons

Somewhat long break in period but it didn't bother me much

Pros

Most comfortable saddle I've ever had. Very durable. Very stylish, when you have a Brooks saddle you are definitely one of the "cool kids"

Cons

There is a break-in period of a few hundred miles. When you are out in the rain and need to get off your bike you should carry a saddle cover.

Other Thoughts

Believe the hype this saddle is worth every penny! Order Proofide with the saddle.

Pros

Very comfortable once I got it broken in.

Cons

Fairly uncomfortable breaking in period.

Other Thoughts

I have had the saddle for 3 year's now and it's been a great friend to sit on, I wish I had more saddle time, that being said I've rode approximately 2500 miles on it and it's just now fitting my posterior :-), granted when I was younger I'd have put that amount on in a couple of months.
Overall I love this saddle no problem in the nerve area, I do use the brooks leather conditioner about once a year to keep the leather supple, and a rain cover for the saddle when needed.
The saddle came exceedingly fast when I ordered it.

Pros

I have two of these Brooks Imperial saddles. The first one was comfort at first ride. I was expecting to have to "break-it-in" on my road bike, but it felt good right out of the box - cradled me like a hammock. The saddle has gotten better with age and I now have over 15,000 miles on it. It still looks good and feels better than the Brooks Cambium I purchased to replace the other one that I put on my tandem.

Cons

There are times riding that I wish the Imperial saddle was narrower in the front area. It is not a huge issue, but I feel it over the course of a 3 to 7 hr ride. Having to carry and put on a cover for the saddle on wet days sometimes is a hassle. Can't forget to make sure you protect it with proofide, which comes in small containers. My bike developed a creaking noise that I couldn't figure out -took it to the shop and they couldn't figure it out either. Greased the seat tube, rails - still there. After a month of noise torture I figured it out - it was the Imperial saddle's frame rubbing against the u-shaped holder at the nose of the saddle by the adjustment nut. I put in a little chain lube (too small of an area to get grease into) and no more creaking.

Other Thoughts

I liked the first one so much I bought a second one for my tandem. I was replacing a Specialized saddle with the Imperial because I could not get comfortable. This Imperial saddle was not the answer to my problem. It never really broke in (not real sure of the miles ridden on it, but it had to be over ,1500 mi) and it was not love at first ride. I have since replaced it with the Cambium saddle. The Cambium has not really answered my prayers for comfort, but it is better in the long run. I have now put the second Imperial on my touring bike and will work more on breaking it in.