Considering getting a Beval Artisan, I tried to search but didn’t find much. What do people think of them? How to they compare to the Butet? And how do the seats run - do they run big like the Butet seats?
Thanks so much!!
I would say the seat runs true (unlike the Butet, they are available in half sizes) and the flap I think is pretty comparable to a Butet. I think the twist is maybe a bit wider, but don’t hold me to that.
They are made in Argentina by Colbert Brothers for Beval. The same company is also making the Solaris for Beval, and supposedly makes the Dover Circuit Premier line.
I am currently riding in a Colbert Brothers saddle and do find the twist to be wider than that of the Butet I have also been riding in. It’s a very decent saddle, but after riding in it, and sitting in both the Dover Circuit Premier saddles and the Beval Artisan and Solaris, I would probably either look for a used Butet or go with the Dover Circuit, assuming one of their basic flap options works for you. The Artisan and Solaris are a little more “customizable,” which is part of what accounts for the higher price tag.
Thanks for the info, that’s really helpful! I am pretty tall, so might need to go for a long/forward flap, but the Circuits are a lot more affordable.
Beval and Butet are not the same company so there shouldn’t be any more correlation in the seat size or the way they ride than any other two brands.
That said, Beval is having a 30% off sale on ALL Beval saddles through Nov 30th so if you decide to go that route, do it now! 
[QUOTE=CourtneyANYC;7876719]
Beval and Butet are not the same company so there shouldn’t be any more correlation in the seat size or the way they ride than any other two brands.
That said, Beval is having a 30% off sale on ALL Beval saddles through Nov 30th so if you decide to go that route, do it now! :-)[/QUOTE]
But Beval is the Butet distributor in the US and the Butet is the most popular saddle Beval carries… so their saddles have been designed to be quite similar to Butet - not exactly the same, but it’s certainly more than just a passing resemblance (so way more similar than Toulouse saddles are to the various saddles they are modeled after).
[QUOTE=ens0613;7876028]
Thanks for the info, that’s really helpful! I am pretty tall, so might need to go for a long/forward flap, but the Circuits are a lot more affordable.[/QUOTE]
A few of the Circuits are available in a forward flap in addition to the standard flap, but Beval certainly offers more options - short (0), standard (1), long (2), long forward (2.25), standard forward (1.5), and extra long (3) - and these are very similar to Butet.
I do think the Dover Circuit Premier forward flap option is pretty similar to Beval’s forward flap option, but I don’t remember about the length. (A 2.5 or 3 Butet flap is a pretty good flap for me, for comparison).
Thank you both - I was always a little confused about the relationship between Beval and Butet! I do want to squeak in on the Beval Artisan before the sale ends if I go that route, but I think the forward flat Circuit Premier EQ looks pretty nice too… Wish I could try either before Nov 30th but that’s not in the cards!
The Artisan has a very oddly placed “thigh” block…it actually sits at the bottom of the flap and hits behind the the calf. Very distracting, and my student that ordered one is having to have it removed.
I thoroughly looked at one at Harrisburg where Beval had a mobile.
It was designed to be close to Butet without the huge price difference.
I thought it felt and looked nice. Be curious to test ride. I am a Butet lover especially since I had generous panels designed. But there has to be a market for saddles that dont cost that much - I think this saddle does that.
[QUOTE=ens0613;7876028]
Thanks for the info, that’s really helpful! I am pretty tall, so might need to go for a long/forward flap, but the Circuits are a lot more affordable.[/QUOTE]
Unless they have added an extra-forward flap option, the long forward flap is not very forward. Beval had an ad in COTH about 30% off their saddles this week, too. It is a nice saddle for the price, I was disappointed it did not work for me.
[QUOTE=ens0613;7878501]
Thank you both - I was always a little confused about the relationship between Beval and Butet! I do want to squeak in on the Beval Artisan before the sale ends if I go that route, but I think the forward flat Circuit Premier EQ looks pretty nice too… Wish I could try either before Nov 30th but that’s not in the cards![/QUOTE]
OP call Beval. I believe that I was trying saddles during the sale and since I’m in a part of the country where it would take a week for it to get to me and the time for a trial which would put me after the sale they were going to give me the sale price if one of them worked out. So give them a call!
I hope you got in on the sale, because I did! Love my new Artisan, just took my first ride on it today and looking forward to many more. A couple of panels use slightly stiffer leather–not as nice as the Butet. But otherwise very comfortable and oiling up nicely.
[QUOTE=ens0613;7875931]
Considering getting a Beval Artisan, I tried to search but didn’t find much. What do people think of them? How to they compare to the Butet? And how do the seats run - do they run big like the Butet seats?
Thanks so much!![/QUOTE]
When I was buying my saddle, I sat in both the Artisan and the prototype model of the Solaris. I have a very long hip/thigh ratio and ended up liking the Solaris better. The stirrup bar placement is excellent for me and is the best saddle I’ve ridden in for this problem outside of the Butet. I have a 17 L, and the flap rotation is already very forward and easily accommodates my leg. I would highly recommend going to one of the mobile units or retails stores if possible, because before I sat in the Solaris I thought that the Artisan would be for me. Both saddles seem to be of very nice quality, however, so I hope you took one out on trial!
Me in the tack in the Solaris:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=773632317969&set=pb.49802114.-2207520000.1420473298.&type=3&theater
Side shot of the saddle:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=753458386689&set=a.539345221189.2048325.49802114&type=3&theater
