Best classic-looking saddle for <$75?

[TheHoosierNovice]

Looking for thoughts and opinions on the best (whether that means highest-quality, longest-lasting, etc. to RRB'ers) classically-styled saddle (leather, riveted, etc.) to be had for under $75.00? The Brooks B17, B72, and C17 come to mind as examples of "classic" styling, but often exceed the $100.00 mark, whereas (**on the completely opposite side of the spectrum**) Origin8's "Classic Lite" (approx. $20.00) is significantly less expensive and arguably easier to maintain, though of a lesser quality.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[XC204]

I've been using Gyes seats leather well made lots of choices from http://crowcycleco.com/. They are closed for December I'll poste some pics in a bit. Oh the run about 1/2 the price of Brooks

 

[XC204]

My Shelby auction bike with a Gyes seat.
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/shelby-flyer-charity-auction-build-done.79541/

 

[Bicycle808]

+1 for the Gyes saddles.

These things are nice for the price, definitely. They're nowhere near as nice as a Brooks, imo, and even though they're designed to look like a Brooks, the style of leather and the properties of the saddles are different. My usual move is to buy Brooks on sale, but the Gyes are nice if you want the Brooks look at a fraction of the Brooks price.

Also, be aware that the Gyes guys made saddles for other companies under different labels. They make (made?) the Cardiff brand saddles, and the Velo-Orange saddles, as well. The Gyes brand saddles will be cheaper, and you'll find the full line at crowcycleco.com. Weird that they're closed for an entire month, though.

 

[horsefarmer]

+1 for the Gyes saddles.

These things are nice for the price, definitely. They're nowhere near as nice as a Brooks, imo, and even though they're designed to look like a Brooks, the style of leather and the properties of the saddles are different. My usual move is to buy Brooks on sale, but the Gyes are nice if you want the Brooks look at a fraction of the Brooks price.

Also, be aware that the Gyes guys made saddles for other companies under different labels. They make (made?) the Cardiff brand saddles, and the Velo-Orange saddles, as well. The Gyes brand saddles will be cheaper, and you'll find the full line at crowcycleco.com. Weird that they're closed for an entire month, though.

It's even wierder that they pulled their entire website down.

 

[Bicycle808]

It's even wierder that they pulled their entire website down.

Exactly. I'm thinking they must be planning to either revamp their entire line, or increase all of the prices. .. or both. B/c even if they were gonna bump the prices, they could just switch the current prices to "$TBD" and let us check out their product line, gearing up for January purchases.

In other news, Selle Anatomica is having its annual holiday sale. Pricing starts at $99 (above the OP's $75 limit), and most of the saddles are a bit on the "race" side of things, but they are great, made-in-America suspended leather saddles. I love my NSX...

 

[Big Ape]

We have a vendor here on the site (Ian) who sells a real good economy seat. Check out his ad at the top of the for sale listings.

 

[Bicycle808]

We have a vendor here on the site (Ian) who sells a real good economy seat. Check out his ad at the top of the for sale listings.

Yeah, i had one of those. Very nice for the price, if you like'm bouncy

 

[Big Ape]

I like mine.....after removing the front spring.

 

[us56456712]

I bought this Chinese saddle on eBay 3 maybe 4 years ago for around $20. Thick leather and has worked well for me. They are probably more now so they might not be the bargain they were. However if you are patient and keep looking the price might vary downward. Our bike club buys quite a few Cree headlights and the price varies from $7.00 to $16.00. You never know. It might have to do with exchange rates?

Here is one, looks the same as mine but the leather finish appears to have flaws that mine doesn't have.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WHY-PAY-MOR...28ba527&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&sd=272013854836

 

[Bendix]

Used Brooks- you can choose your level of patina. ;-)

 

[clamdigger]

Rant : I recently purchased a Victor hairspring saddle on eBay for $40.00 . Leather was as expected for the price, blemished. Put it on a bike and test rode in driveway. Liked it so much I bought another one on Amazon ( same bike store). First rail-to-trail ride the tension adjusting screw under the nose stripped.Customer support is giving me a run around. I took the second one apart while unused to find that the poor quality tension screw is a different size and thread pitch than the very thin "nut" that it screws into. Looks just like the pic above by us56456712

 

[TheHoosierNovice]

Thanks for all the pointers! Keep 'em coming if you've got 'em.

XC204 - that Shelby looks great!

Obviously a situation of caveat emptor whenever buying online (esp. ePay), but certainly going to look into Crow Cycle Co. and their Gyes saddles after the beginning of the year. Alternatively, when does Brooks normally host its sales?

 

[dezzie]

A used Brooks is great, all mine are used but still look fresh, the other alternative i also use was a Lepper saddle from Germany, very much like the Brooks with a good range but half the price!

 

[us56456712]

Rant : I recently purchased a Victor hairspring saddle on eBay for $40.00 . Leather was as expected for the price, blemished. Put it on a bike and test rode in driveway. Liked it so much I bought another one on Amazon ( same bike store). First rail-to-trail ride the tension adjusting screw under the nose stripped.Customer support is giving me a run around. I took the second one apart while unused to find that the poor quality tension screw is a different size and thread pitch than the very thin "nut" that it screws into. Looks just like the pic above by us56456712

I keep forgetting I only weigh 155 at the most. Most people are bigger and this saddle might not work as well for them. On the other hand on Sunday I broke the frame on a Gravity Fat Bike after only 12 rides. I also pulverized a new MB 9 speed free hub after one week this summer. A lot of marginal quality control and quality on Chinese stuff.

 

[Bicycle808]

However much you weigh, it's seriously ridiculous if the hardware on your new saddle has mismatched threads, but they've been forced together anyway. That's just bad business.

 

[BARTO]

In the last 6 weeks, I bought two used Brooks B72's, both were under $50.00 each. One in better shape than the other but both well worth the $$. Worth being patient and scouring RRC.Com and The Cabe. Lots of great deals. If the price is too steep you can always make an offer...worst they can say is no....or counter offer you. Good luck

Bart

 

[kgmcpheeters]

Not familiar with rrc.com and that link takes you to the reproductive resource center what is the actual address you were thinking of?

 

[BARTO]

Sorry, my tablet has this stupid auto correct feature that is always changing my typed words.....drives me crazy!!!!!! It was supposed to be RRB.COM, our site Ratrodbikes! Again, sorry.

Anyone know how to turn the "auto correct" off on a Samsung tablet?

 

[horsefarmer]

I hear you Barto - I shut it off on the Iphone - It never "gets" what I'm trying to say. LOL.