PSA - Brooks B68s FS on eBay

[lconley]

A slightly used Honey B68s is for sale on eBay for less than $100 including shipping.

No relation to seller - just a person who keeps an eye out for B68 saddles.

Laing

[Doug H.]

Laing,

Do you ride on a B68?

Doug

[lconley]

Yes. I have at least 8 of them.

Laing

[Doug H.]

The one on eBay is listed an a "women's" saddle. I assume this is just a short version. I think I'll grab it!

Thanks,

Doug

[Doug H.]

Well dang. It sold already.

Doug

[lconley]

Yeah, that was a good price.

Laing

[Eric Marth]

Hi Laing -- Would you mind sharing with us what you love about the B68? I understand these are out of production, hence the scrambling. 

[lconley]

Mostly, the B68 fits me and mounts on a single rail seat post. I rode narrower Brooks when I was younger and thinner, but they are no longer comfortable for me. Think of it as a wider B17 (which was my 1st Brooks saddle on my 1970 Schwinn Super Sport.

The B68 is a lot lighter than the sprung B67 (which I have on my Hubbuhubbuh and other bikes) and the triple sprung double rail B73 (which I have on my Guv'nor and is also out of production). The B73 is probably the most comfortable of all my current saddles. All of these are basically same shape as the B68. There are also several other double rail Brooks saddles of the same shape. I also had at one time, a triple rail Brooks B33, which was also very comfortable and weighed more than a complete bicycle frame.

I bought a bare B68 frame and had it chromed and then had Firth & Wilson put a Honey B67 leather top and large copper rivets on it for my custom - my Brook B678 Frankensaddle.

The B68 is also slightly lighter and much softer when new (especially the aged version) than the Rivet Loveland (but the Loveland does come with the chrome frame). It is also more comfortable than the slightly sprung B72 (I have one, not currently on a bike). If the day comes when I cannot find a B68, I will get a Rivet Loveland.

I still have the Brooks Professional that came on my 73 Paramount - still original, but definitely showing its age. 

Laing

[Eric Marth]

Thank you, Laing!

[Chris Halasz]

I slightly prefer the B68 to the B17 for more upright rides as well. 

Not sure I've ever bought into the sit bones measurement as a reliable reference for saddle comfort. I look for the widest saddle toward the rear and the narrowest at the front, with minimal adductor interference. I think that's called a 'T' shaped saddle, instead of a 'pear' shape, referencing the transition between the front to back widths. Some might consider a WTB Pure saddle more of a pear shape. The discontinued Avocet O2 M and W saddles were T shaped, I guess. I liked the Avocets as well. 

With the extreme fore-to-aft change in width, I like how small adjustments in position quickly change how the saddle feels. 

And inquiring minds will want to know: my B68 measures 40g less than my B17 Special! 

It would be great if the folks at Rivendell could inspire Brooks to reissue the B68. Even if just one color. 

Wishing you good fortune in snagging one, 

Chris 

SB, CA

[brendonoid]

It would be great if the folks at Rivendell could inspire Brooks to reissue the B68. Even if just one color. 

According to Grant on reddit yesterday, they have! It's some time off but it's happening. Details to follow!

[Richard Rose]

Other than the rail design, is there any difference between a B68 / B67?

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 28, 2022, at 3:59 AM, brendonoid <bre...@areyoualert.com> wrote:



It would be great if the folks at Rivendell could inspire Brooks to reissue the B68. Even if just one color. 

According to Grant on reddit yesterday, they have! It's some time off but it's happening. Details to follow!

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[lconley]

The stamping on the side of the saddle where it says B68 or B67 is different - otherwise they are the same as far as I can tell. You can install a B67 leather on a B68 frame as I did. You can still find new B68 frames on eBay. Not the cheapest way to go, especially if you chrome the frame - I do have the shorter B67s in a factory chrome frame though (has springs). 

There are several varieties of tops available - my favorite is the B68/B67 softened/aged which has holes for laces - also available on the B67s. The B66 is also the same shape (B66 is a two rail B67). 

The NOS B68/B68s aged/softened saddles sometimes come with laces in multiple colors so you can color coordinate. My Frank Jones SR has blue laces to match the frame, the Bombadil has green laces to match the frame, and the Betty Foy has red laces to match the frame detailing. 

Laing

[Joe Mullins]

Black B68s on eBay for 124.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144533381845?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=66vxTDK6RUW&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

On Apr 28, 2022, at 6:42 AM, lconley <lco...@brph.com> wrote:

The stamping on the side of the saddle where it says B68 or B67 is different - otherwise they are the same as far as I can tell. You can install a B67 leather on a B68 frame as I did. You can still find new B68 frames on eBay. Not the cheapest way to go, especially if you chrome the frame - I do have the shorter B67s in a factory chrome frame though (has springs). 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/76253085-47f3-4dbb-8b1b-3a8e6ba06979n%40googlegroups.com.