Leather saddle benefits of titanium rails.

[bikepacker]

I was asked the question today and I could not think of any. Apart from the weight difference what are the other benefits of having a titanium frame and rails over steel ones on leather saddles such as Brooks.

[Mick F]

I think the Ti rails are springier.
Ti bike frames are springier than steel ones I understand.

[geomannie]

Having had Brookes saddles with titanium and steel rails, it just a weight/bling thing.

[scottg]

If you want bag loops on a Team Pro, you need the ti saddle.

On Ti Brooks, the rails, cantle plate and some of the nose gubbins are Ti,
so they really are springier than the steel, and the rails are more prone to breaking.
On a Fizik saddle for example, only the rail material changes, so the price delta is less
on a plastic framed saddle.

Lightweight Ti Brooks, Pre softened Brooks, just English humor.

[toontra]

On Ti Brooks, the rails, cantle plate and some of the nose gubbins are Ti,
so they really are springier than the steel, and the rails are more prone to breaking.

Yep - my Swallow ti is very springy indeed (and extremely comfortable). Had it re-covered by Brooks when the original leather stretched beyond use. No broken rails yet

[Brucey]

the specific modulus of Ti is the same as steel. Which means that if the rails are the same size, (and solid) and Ti is 2/3rds the weight, it is also 2/3rds as stiff. Brooks saddles are made with solid steel rails or solid Ti rails. The TI cantle plate and nosepiece are lighter but don't contribute much to the stiffness of the saddle.

So saddles with equivalent Ti rails are significantly flexier than ones without.

However in some saddle types there is neither a good weight saving nor a major difference in the stiffness, because when they use steel, the rail is a hollow tube and when they use TI, it is solid. If they do this there isn't such a big difference in stiffness. Not sure if many saddles are made with Ti tubes for the rails, but they could be lighter and flexier than steel tubes.

cheers

[brumster]

I've always been curious to Brooks use of copper rails. Certainly look nice, but not sure if there is any advantage or benefit to having them?

[Brucey]

I've always been curious to Brooks use of copper rails. Certainly look nice, but not sure if there is any advantage or benefit to having them?

it is just copper plating, to look pretty. There is (thinner) copper plate beneath the usual chrome plate anyway.

The large size rivets that look copper coloured are indeed solid copper. Anything else on a saddle that looks copper coloured is just plated.

cheers

[MikeDee]

Aren't Ti rails more likely to break than steel?

[reohn2]

They'd better give a featherbed ride for the price!
At Wiggle a standard B17 is £62.71,whereas a Ti B17 is £175!

[bikepacker]

I wonder why the large price difference? Just looked at Spa website and their standard Nidd is £39 and the titanium version is £64.

[pjclinch]

I wonder why the large price difference? Just looked at Spa website and their standard Nidd is £39 and the titanium version is £64.

Why the price difference?
Because they can.

Why the titanium?
Because titanium.

[reohn2]

I wonder why the large price difference? Just looked at Spa website and their standard Nidd is £39 and the titanium version is £64.

Why the price difference?
Because they can.

Why the titanium?
Because titanium.

+1

[NetworkMan]

I've just splashed out on a titanium Spa Aire. I'm hoping that my flyweight might get some benefit from the greater elasticity in the rails. My Brooks B17 narrow suits me fine although it is a little wider than I need and I can't detect any springing effect from the rails with my 61 kg. Spa's 20% of price of £68 at present doesn't seem too bad for what may turn to be a failed experiment. Brooks titanium saddles are crazy money. Of course the 200g odd weight saving will be undetectable.

[pwa]

Titanium rails add flex, so you get more suspension travel. The most flexy saddle I had was a Titanium Swift, and it just ate the bumps in the road. The longer the rail, the more flex.

I've had a few rails break and they have been steel. I don't think titanium is worse in that regard.