Flyer, Touring Leather Bike Saddle with Suspension Springs

I bought this used on Amazon. It must have just been a return, because it was still sealed in original packaging! I was going for another B17, but because I’m building a touring bike my research always suggested a Flyer, which is basically a B17 with a spring mechanism attached. It was considerably cheaper, being “used” so I decided to order it. A yes it feels just like a B17. Obviously I’m now at the slightly painful stage of breaking it in and it is 305 grams heavier than its B17 relative, but this bike isn’t about weight anyways! And you will notice the springs! They are definitely very welcome on rough surfaces, but they do squeak a lot! Maybe this is the wearing in stage or maybe some lubricant might help! But it’s minor compared to the luxury of a wonderful iconic brooks saddle! I have B17 and a Swift on my other bikes. They are works of art!

Actually the springs on this saddle are not bouncy, but are very firm. I’m still in the break in period and the discomfort is different and minimal compared to the cushy gel saddle that originally came with my bike. Yes, after a ride my bottom is a little tender, but that only lasts a couple of minutes with no lasting discomfort. A long ride on the gel saddle could leave me sore for the day. Worth the investment in comfort for me, and it will only get better with time.I like it so much, I replaced my quick release seat clamp with a bolt-on so the Brooks will still be there when I’m out running my errands. It’s a beautiful piece of leather work.

This is the most comfortable Saddle. It took a couple hundred miles to wear in the saddle (for me it was about two weeks), but after that it is great. It is very durable, so if you take care of it, I think it will last a lifetime. I cover it (and have fenders) to keep it dry when it is raining. It is very slick, so you have to install it level (or it acts like a slide and you cannot stay on it). But that is great because any kind of pants slip nicely against the saddle so you have no friction against your legs (even jeans). I believe that I have used this Saddle for riding 50 to 60 thousand miles and it has been the best bike accessary that I ever bought.

This is the most comfortable saddle I've ever placed my bum on, by far. For me, the Flyer was relatively comfortable right out of the box and a vast improvement over the stock saddle. Before putting it on my bike I put it out in the sun for a bit to warm up, then gave it a good coat of Proofhide. When that soaked in nicely I covered the saddle with a dish towel and gave it a mild beating with a French rolling pin. Then I put it back in the sun to warm some more and added a second coat of Proofhide. Then I put it on my bike, adjusted it, and went for a 12 mile ride. Instantly I fell in love with it. My stock saddle was too wide for my hips and rubbed the inside of my legs too much. The Flyer is narrower (175 mm, I believe) and fits me so much better. I am 5'10" and weight approx. 160 lbs, and my sit bones are 110 mm apart. My bike is a city bike, with North Road style bars and a relatively upright sitting position (handlebars are just a tad higher than the seat). The Flyer is the perfect width for me with this riding style and geometry.The springs do add a great deal of weight to the seat and thus to the bike overall, and it is noticeable when lifting the back end of the bike. However, they do add a nice amount of shock absorption to the ride, especially since my frame is aluminum and not steel, and I like to keep my tires inflated to the max PSI. Some people have said that they don't feel the springs moving at all. That hasn't been my experience, and I'm a relatively light guy. If you put your fingers loosely around one of the coils while you ride, you can feel the slight movement and the shock absorption they are doing, especially when going over bigger bumps or cracks in the pavement. Plus, on my style bike, I think a sprung saddle looks better.Compared to other saddles I've ridden, I had to slide the Flyer way back on the rails and had to tilt the nose up slightly to get it into a good position. I've read that most people find a slight upward tilt more comfortable with Brooks saddles, and it has definitely been my experience.I don't have many miles on my Flyer yet, and it definitely isn't fully broken in yet. Still, it is already very comfortable and will only get better with time.