Which colour Brooks B17 to go for - Brown or Honey?

[Oxford_Guy]

Okay, the time has come to make an important decision - what colour Brooks B17 Special saddle should I put on my new Racing Green Brompton M6R-X - Brown or Honey?

Out of the box I prefer the look of the Brown saddle, esepcially the contrast with the lighter copper rivets, but I understand that the Honey colour can deepen to a darker, richer shade over time?

Are there any other pros/cons regarding each colour?

My Hewitt Cheviot SE touring bike actually has a Gilles Berthoud Aravis saddle on it (Ti version of the Aspin), which is extremely comfortable (more so than the black Brooks B17 Imperial I had on it, before the saddle was stolen), but I think the Brompton looks "just right" with a B17 on it and the B17 would probably support the more upright riding position of the Brompton more than the Gilles Berthoud Aravis/Aspin.

My GB Aravis saddle was originally their "natural" (undyed) colour, though it's deepened to a medium reddish brown, though is lighter in some setions which have had more wear.

[Ham]

I have a honey (BROOKS, OK?), not especially old (7 years? 15k?), which I put on a white GITD (glow in the dark - if there ever was  a more fun, pointless bike finish I don't know it) Pompetamine, now cream (replaced frame) and I love the complexity of the shade.

Full disclosure: I only have black in other B17.

Anna picture, from when it was younger

[woollypigs]

Bother I don't have a photo ready.

I got the honey coloured one with copper rails. Absolutely stunning!

After many miles it is more dark brown than honey coloured.

But I like the fact that it changed as I rode/wore it in.

Edit to add.



Not the best but that is at half darkness and a crash.

[Oxford_Guy]

Anyone going to make a case for brown? Don't forget it's on a racing green bike...

[Jakob W]

AIUI honey and brown end up a similar shade in the fullness of time, but honey develops more patina. The Brompton-Brooks saddle is I believe a brown special with special branding, which also looks good (and if fitted when buying works out cheaper than buying one separately.)

[Canardly]

As above.

[jsabine]

I like the brown B17 that's on my red Brompton, but I probably preferred the (formerly) honey Swift that used to be on my pink Roberts.

[woollypigs]

Not had any problems with patina after years of sweat, rain etc.

[Wowbagger]

Brooks do - or did - market a green one. I had one once but after a fair bit of use it looked pretty black.

[robgul]

Brown for me (although I prefer black) - I have a regular B17 Honey that's been on 2 or 3 bikes for lots of miles and it's still a VERY bright "orange-ish" colour - I have demoted it from my winter bike to the Brompton.

Rob

[MarkT]

It's got to be honey on a BRG bike!

[Pickled Onion]

I have the green one on my BRG brompton, but as pointed out above, it looks black now (unless you put it next to an actual black one).

[Oxford_Guy]

I'm still quite drawn to the brown, I think it's the contrast with the copper rivets

[Ham]

And now, with a few more miles on(currently doing service on the turbo)

[morbihan]

No no no no no You've got it all wrong.
definitely pink.
or failing that, candy striped red and white.

[dim]

I'd get a  Brooks C17 Carved in black, with black bartape:



10 year guarantee from Brooks, plus you can use it in the rain

I find this saddle more comfortable (especially on long rides) that a Gilles Berthoud Aravis or a Brooks B17

[Oxford_Guy]

I'd get a  Brooks C17 Carved in black, with black bartape:



10 year guarantee from Brooks, plus you can use it in the rain

I find this saddle more comfortable (especially on long rides) that a Gilles Berthoud Aravis or a Brooks B17

I do actually quite like this saddle, I've tried the non-carved one, and found it quite comfy, though not as much as my worn-in Aravis.

I've read it's very hard on clothes, though, so they wear out quickly - this problem is bad enough for me already with my GB Aravis, the crotch area in my jeans (which is what I wear for work, so commute in them) always wears out quite quickly, so if this is worse in that respect my clothes bill will cost me a fortune!

With my Brompton I will mostly be wearing "civilian" clothes, and even when I do wear cycling shorts (which I usually do if riding > 10 miles), I always wear light regular shorts or trousers on top.

Or do you find the wear on clothes is not a problem with this saddle and no worse than others?

Also am not sure a cut-out is needed with the quite upright riding position of Brompton M bars, so if I was to consider this, the regular version would probably be better.

[Oxford_Guy]

The "rust" colour C17 doesn't look too bad on a green frame actually:

[Oxford_Guy]

I found this picture of a worn-in B17 on the web, I presume this was a Honey B17 originally? The patina on this one is gorgeous, but they don't all seem to end up like this, how is this achieved?

[woollypigs]

Blood, sweat and miles

[Oxford_Guy]

Blood, sweat and miles

 

BTW I will mostly be riding my Brompton wearing dark blue jeans. will the dye on these stain the Honey colour Brooks at all, or is this not an issue?

[Polar Bear]

Brown.     

I also have a green one but it has turned fairly dark over the past 12 years.   It's nowhere nearly as black as my black one though. 

[L CC]

I found this picture of a worn-in B17 on the web, I presume this was a Honey B17 originally? The patina on this one is gorgeous, but they don't all seem to end up like this, how is this achieved?

Mine went like this and I didn't like it. It looked like I peed on my saddle. Eeeeeew.

[dim]

Gilles Berthoud Aravis in the cork colour?



not really something that I would fancy though 

the nicest looking saddles that I have seen are from this site:

http://lehcyclinggoods.com/ready-made/