I didn't even know about proofide. When the saddle was new, in 1984, I slathered neutral shoe polish on the inside and occasionally on the top. The saddle is now about 36 ears old and, save for some surface cracking, retains the shape it did 2000 miles after unboxing. You will own that saddle long after you lose the wrench to tighten the cradle, which have never needed to do. It's hard to say how many miles I have on my saddle 30,000 ? 50,000 ? More ?. At 65 I'm still passionate about cycling.

I live in Copenhagen/Denmark. We are a bicycle city, and people just buy bikes without any consideration on maintenance. But I have seen brooks saddles, been stored outside for years in rain, snow and sun, without greasing, and they still hold strong. It is an amazing saddle. Sometimes if you are lucky, you can find an old vintage bike with an original Brooks. I had a 1930's Brook saddle that still broke in to me, and it was in an amazing shape.

I am two days / 50 km into my B17 and I can tell it’s going to be staying on my E bike. I feel it’s more comfortable already than any of the gell saddles I have had in the past.. Thanks for sharing.

My Brooks Professional came with my bike….1976 ROMIX Grand Tour 100….too many miles to remember, and I still ride most days….other than a bad crash in ‘85, the saddle and bike still going strong….for me, no more century days, but still have the same number of great smiles….even when it is only a few miles….still touring and hope to see ya out on the trails….My main touring is mid Sept through Mid December weather permitting….not riding in temps below 40 degrees….keep up the vids….love the local stuff…getting older is very easy and lots of fun….BUT ….being OLD is neither, thus I just keep riding and getting older….

Subscribed and liked as this is a great honest review. I have over 20,000 km on my Brooks B 17 standard and would not go touring on anything else. I recently compared it with another seat and the Brooks is by far the most comfortable.

I’m riding on a Brooks C17 Cambium Carved Saddle and have been riding for over 65 years and I gotta tell you it’s by far the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever plopped my butt onto. Maybe when I was a bit younger and a more aggressive cyclist I might think differently but for now I wouldn’t trade for any other saddle out there!

Beautiful scenery! ❤

Bought myself the same today. Can't wait the winter ends to start touring on this saddle

I bought the cover and keep it on in rainy weather and I always cover it overnight with a plastic bag, because I don't want sit on a wet seat. The rail broke after about 6 years on my B17 Imperial and I found out that a Thomson seat post has a much wider clamp, that should be better. So I bought a new frame and will drill out the old rivets then hammer on some new wide copper rivets, that look cool.

I bought the Brooks Flyer a couple of years ago. It took longer than I expected to break in, but it did eventually become comfortable. I like mine and intend to keep it.

Brooks' saddle in combination with a single speed bicycle is basically old school cycling. *Rockin' retrostyle*

I was considering getting the Brooks for my tour next year. Lots of good reviews. My groin area tends to go numb, now Currently have a memoflex II that came with my vintage 81' Miyata 1000 doing ok for now. Great review! I'll check out the Brooks. 👍

Hi Brad . yesterday i have got my Brooks B17 . and i put it on my bike . But i have a problem with slipping. if i put the oli , is getting beter.? i coul,t rijd on it

My Brooks Flyer, is wearing in now after about 800 miles, and getting comfortable. Goodbye plastic, loving the leather.

Thank. Great review. I am about to change from the C17 to the Brooks Imperial .

Great review. I've been trying to decide whether to go for it. You may have decided for me. Thanks

Where was this videoed? Looks like Florida?

I am riding a Brooks B17 Imperial now for nearly 4.000 Km in combination with a Suntour SP12-NCX suspension seat post on my hard tail E bike and that is a very comfortable way to ride. Good video!

I have had two Imperials. It's the only saddle that is a no-brainer for me.

I've had Brooks saddles in the past, and they were comfortable, but the cheap saddle that came mid-priced Trek road bike was really comfortable from day one.

Just got the same exact model. Did you adjust the strings underneath? Not sure if I should lace up the entire saddle since it came partially strung. Thanks in advance.

Thank you for posting this review as I am thinking of getting this one. I looked up this model and notice that the holes are for lacing to keep its shape BUT you did not lace yours. Just wondering why?

I just got the C19 with the cutout yesterday only had time to ride 16miles but man I think I finally found the saddle for me, it honestly does not feel like im sitting on anything there are no pressure points at all it's like im just floating on my bike

Trying to decide between b67 and b17... want the b17 because it comes in red, but i want the b67 has suspension which would help with the shitty city sidewalks and streets. Anyone try dying a b67?

@Brad Beaird is this saddle comfortable to ride on without riding shorts or should I still get the riding shorts with cushion?

how would this saddle do on a 29" BMX? thinking about buying a new saddle and this is one of the finalist.

White pen suggestion: appreciated

It’s really interesting to see folks discovering Brooks. I am now 60, and I first rode a racer with a Brooks aged 12. So that was 1972. And even then it was an 1960’s bike. Interestingly, you could often tell the quality of an older bike depending on whether or not it was sporting a Brooks. Since that time I have had several older bikes sporting Brooks saddles. And many without. I can tell you that, even (and perhaps especially) being the owner of a 60 year-old backside, a Brooks leather saddle will give you a lifetime of service and, more importantly, comfort!

You say you don't know what's in Proofide, but the ingredients are listed on the bottom of the tin I have: Beeswax, Paraffin Wax, Rapeseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Refined Tallow, Citronella Oil.

The music matches the video perfectly! His bike looks like a bunch of bags with wheels! Lmao

Hey Bob! I'm thinking about buying this saddle for my bike, You still rate it ?

Are you still using this saddle? And if so, do you still enjoy it? Thanks!!

Hi Brad, I just received my B17 imperial today and it is so hard to the touch. Coming from a foam cushioned saddle to this, I wonder how on earth it could be comfortable lol. Do they really break in, or are they just over-glorified pieces of leather? After spending $120 dollars, I will be pretty disappointed if it isn't more comfortable than my $25 dollar seat, after break in. I ride 17 miles to work, both ways, so I guess I will always have a little pain.

well i have the exact same saddle and my sit bones are feeling quite bruised ...im waiting for my arse and the saddle to be broken in...early days.

Is imperial same as carved ?

I’m looking for a comfy saddle for long distance riding. Gunna cycle across America soon, 4500 miles. I’ve got a TREK DS2 and the gel saddle is shit

Anyone have any stories about your history with different saddles?

Very happy with my b17 don't have the cut-out.

thank you for this amazing video . I just want to buy a B17 imperial woman . i have no idea about that . but i want to take a risk because every body say that brooks saddle is the best . wat is the diffrent between man and woman model ?t hanks

People use shower caps to protect the leather from rain? Leather is so weather resistant they are now making animals out of the stuff.

Why the prelude to annoy us? Your video is great without the annoyance.

Snuggles forevermore

Mink oil the bottom, [profide] the top

The Proofide should go under the saddle to treat the raw leather, not on top. And once or twice a year is enough.

How much do you weigh?

You didn't say anything about the lacing.....

And here we thought he was only the prison librarian.

가죽안장의 최대단점은 여름에 가죽물이 나의 아끼는 바지에 얼룩을 만든다는것입니다. 특히나 베이지색 계통의 밝은바지를 입고타면 엉덩이에 가죽물이 이염되서 똥 싼것처럼 보입니다.

Probably Mink oil

Exactly. That individual break in is the reason why it makes no sense to buy a used leather saddle.

I've bought Brooks B17's new...They all had terrible sag after broken in. Brooks saddles are not for everybody. My brooks flyer saddle splayed out and sagged, I laced it. It had a noisy defective nose bolt. I sent it to Brooks for repair. My saddle spent three months in customs and was returned to me without ever getting to Brooks. They then said it sometimes happened and offered to have it repaired for free in the USA, but I had to pay shipping...If Brooks has a USA repair person they should have informed me that they could that to begin with! Leather is natural, you might get tough stuff, or you might get soft stuff. I have never been able to get more than a couple hundred miles on a Brooks before it gets too soft. The tension adjustment does nothing, once the saddle is sagged you get an ass hatchet. Brooks saddles have very limited adjustment at the rails, it's either ass up or slightly down. For those who claim 10k miles on a Brooks, I want to see some real forensic documentation of that. I think it's bullshit. If you honestly got 2k miles on that seat I'm impressed. Do you weigh less than 200 pounds? I can honestly say it's a crap shoot. You might get a saddle with a faulty nose bolt...if they don't sit right the nose will twist. These defects are common in Brooks. Leather supply...well I doubt they are meticulous. I believe it is just get the hide of a certain oz...and press it together. Modern saddles are surprisingly more comfortable...and put less pressure on the sacrum.

The Brooks B17 (imperial) is one of the most hyped saddles on the market. And one of the hardest. It takes forever to get used to this hard unpleasant saddle that has no comfort whatsoever. It could ruin your bike holiday, as it did for my son. I use it for daily short rides, but after 1500 km it is still stiff and hard. Maybe it was ok in 1900 but we’re now in 2019. There are much better saddles available these days.

Mine lasted less than a year and Brooks refused to honor the warranty. Be careful it’s not worth the money.

What's wrong with your eyes?