Second Hand Brooks Saddles

[Harril]

I've seen a couple on e-bay with out of shape leather. Are they still worth buying in that condition?

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Depends on what "out of shape" is, (worn in?) and to what extent. I mean, if it's visibly out of shape I wouldn't bother, it's very probably near the end of its life.
But you can easily find a Brooks on eBay that's a few years old and doesn't really have any sign of being used much, so they're worth a go.
Plenty of CC members will have bought a used Brooks, I know Cyclops for one has a well-used, pre owned one that he likes. But "out of shape" to me conjures up an image of "knackered". Once the leather has stretched it can be prone to tearing / breaking at the nose end.

 

[T4tomo]

depends how far gone.

So long as they aren't cracked it is possible to de-tension them, soak them in water for an hour or two before and reshaping whilst drying, before re-treating / proofing them and re tensioning. it needs to be cheap to start with though, as that process is not without risk.

 

[Harril]

A few examples from the adds:

 

[CanucksTraveller]

The first one looks great actually, that's "lived in" rather than being worn out. I'd be all over that like a tramp on dropped chips if it's a good price, give the leather a clean and a treatment and it it'll look fabulous, it's probably really comfortable too (assuming your sit bones suit that model).
The second one I wouldn't be too fussed over, you can find better.

 

[Teamfixed]

Another point to look at is how much it has already been tensioned. Ideally it will be broken in but the tensioning bolt will not have been used much or at all.

 

[T4tomo]

second one would make a good planter in whoever it was making a cycle themed bar in their back yard.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

In fact looking closely at the second one, there are already cracks in the leather at the nose (near to where the adjusting bolt is), that's where most Brooks fail when they eventually go and I'd say that one is on its way out.

 

[Cycleops]

They all tend to 'spread' the older they are but that shouldn't affect comfort.

 

[Specialeyes]

I've had a couple of bikes with saddles similar to the second and third examples above and worse. Personally, I value my knackers over absolute originality so have replaced them with examples more like the top one, which is ideal.

Brand new Brooks remind me of new school shoes - I always wanted to get them a bit 'lived in' as soon as possible. (Though admittedly, people don't rush up to a bike with a new Brooks, yelling "stamps" and stamping on it!)

 

[Specialeyes]

They all tend to 'spread' the older they are but that shouldn't affect comfort.

Don't we all?!