Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Alternatives to Brooks Leather Bar Tape?

Hey,
I would really like some Brooks leather bar tape for my bike, but I would not like to pay close to $100 for it.
Does anyone know of any other alternative makers of leather bar tape?
Or is the Brooks stuff actually worth the money?
Thanks.

I'm sorry, but I do not think any bar tape is "worth" $100 (actually $80ish). Does the Brooks tape look nice? Yes. Is it comfortable? More than likely. However, my $7 Deda cork tape is comfortable, looks pretty nice, and costs a lot less.

Unless you have unlimited funds for your bike, I would suggest using the $80 towards a performance upgrade. Just my 2 cents.

the brooks tape is awesome. it breaks in really nicely.
velo-orange makes a knock off version that is probably nicer, and perforated.
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-84224226242177_2033_8287069
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-84224226242177_2032_20240237


they also have sew-on covers, which i think look better.
never used either though.
http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-84224226242177_2034_13129111

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=188_408_764

Scroll to the bottom, they have black and brown Toshi leather bar tape, $44.99, as well as velo-orange style leather wrap, $49.99.

A cheap alternative is to make your own, start out with an old leather coat from a thrift store and go from there. Czech out this blog: http://busymanbicycles.blogspot.com/

Dunno if its actually leather but TORELLI has some for $17:
http://www.torelli.com/parts/Tipounoparts.html
http://www.torelli.com/images/tipo-uno-bar-tape.jpg

Theres also non leather brown tape like:
Salsa Gel Cork in Brown
SOMA Cork in Brown

Also found these from a Canadian Company called OCTTO:
Gel Cork
http://www.octto.com/bar-tape-urban-legend-gel.htmlhttp://www.octto.com/uploads/2/7/0/3/270308/9154082.jpg

Microfiber tape:
http://www.octto.com/uploads/2/7/0/3/270308/1172900.jpg

And Check it FAUX WOOD foam!!!
http://www.octto.com/uploads/2/7/0/3/270308/1127648.jpg

http://www.octto.com

dude, you can get real wood grips from rivendell

Those octto grips look really nice.

you guys are my heroes, thanks for saving me cash.

I'm sorry, but I do not think any bar tape is "worth" $100 (actually $80ish). Does the Brooks tape look nice? Yes. Is it comfortable? More than likely. However, my $7 Deda cork tape is comfortable, looks pretty nice, and costs a lot less.

Unless you have unlimited funds for your bike, I would suggest using the $80 towards a performance upgrade. Just my 2 cents.

leather is far more durable and lasting than cork. I have toshi tape that I purchased a few years ago. other than the honey color turning a dark brown from years of dirt/sweat/grease/proofide, they are holding up well. I can see them lasting 20+ years.

I prefer to spend more at first and have an item that will last years, rather than spend cheap and dispose of the item a few months later.

Here is a pic of the elkhide covers from Velo Orange. I show it because I think they are a great company and have great products. I enjoy leather wrap over cork but it's all personal preference.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t67/fuggers_photos/Bike015-1.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t67/fuggers_photos/Bike039.jpg

I eBayed my green Brooks tape for only $65. A fair price imo.

Toshi leather wrap looks a thousand times better than Brooks if you ask me. Much less $$ than Brooks. Keep in mind I do NOT like Brooks wrap, love their saddles though.

Chris

http://www.benscycle.net/bmz_cache/7/7e7099d064cd96759d2dd5508fe01763.image.900x598.jpg

Another vote for toshi. I have it on 2 of my bikes.

is the toshi stitched together?
that is to say, not one continuous piece of leather?

it is stitched, there is only one seam though.

+1 on toshi wrap
that's what I use.

yep... also i always thought the sew on covers make handlebars look like weird sausages.

...or something that belongs on a harley-davidson or a leather dungeon master.

I do like the perforated VO tape - that would like nice in black.

Leather tape is whack for the rain.

what leather did you use?

the tape I have works just as fine as any other tape when wet. I use proofide, though, so maybe that helps repel the water.

can anyone post photos of the bike with the toshi in brown please?

Not leather but a possible cheap alternative. Matches the honey brown quite well I think.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/Sissy/Page_003.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg128/steppinthefunk/Sissy/Page_012.jpg

Cinelli natural cork bar tap looks pretty nice and only costs about $15. Personally I prefer the feel of cork tape over anything else I have tried.

I have the Torelli Leatherette and it looks great after about a year on a daily commute, and lots of urban rides.

I had Brooks bar tape for a while but I kept getting blisters whenever I rode without my gloves. Also there is no padding to speak of and the cheapo cork bar ends break in half the first time you drop your bike on the ground.

i have black brooks tape on my beater bike and it's wonderful, looks great and is comfortable.

http://djcatnap.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/alien_new_bars.jpg

i also used the Selle leather bar tape on this build:

http://djcatnap.com/blogimg/volpe_angle.jpg

...but it didn't break in well and wasn't very comfy. i don't recommend it.

i have black brooks tape on my beater bike and it's wonderful, looks great and is comfortable.

http://djcatnap.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/alien_new_bars.jpg

what's that stem?

FYI, REI has black Brooks leather tape on sale/markdown to $45. Worth it at that price to me.

the Toshi leather bar tape is nice (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5574735911&toolid=10001&campid=5336500245&customid=&icep_item=390079344834&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg)---comes in black and tan too.

OK, dumb question. Why can't you just purchase leather from a fabric store and cut it into strips and wrap your bars with it?

I bought a pair of leather pants at a thrift storefor $15. I used one leg to do the handlebars on my bike. I wrapped it over padded synthetic wrap that was worn.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Prelude/DSCI0339.jpg

I bought a pair of leather pants at a thrift storefor $15. I used one leg to do the handlebars on my bike. I wrapped it over padded synthetic wrap that was worn.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Prelude/DSCI0339.jpg

i applaud your effort, however the wrap job does not look even at all. Did you have problems wrapping it, or was it hard to cut the strips straight? is it comfy?

the Toshi leather bar tape is nice (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5574735911&toolid=10001&campid=5336500245&customid=&icep_item=390079344834&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg)---comes in black and tan too.
Anyone know how well this matches with Brooks honey saddles?

Wallingford says Soma thick n zesty is pretty good:
http://www.wallbike.com/brooks/thickzesty.html

I've been riding on Selle An-atomica leather bartape. Its super comfy and treated to be water proof. Also you can order Fizik Mictotex in antique brown direct from the Fizik website for $30 shipped (seems like no one in the USA stocks it). I got some and its pretty much the same color as Brooks brown leather.

i applaud your effort, however the wrap job does not look even at all. Did you have problems wrapping it, or was it hard to cut the strips straight? is it comfy?

Yeah, I hear ya. The issue is that because of the cut of the pants, I couldn't get strips long enough to go the whole way, so each handlebar side has 3 pieces. It was cut straight enough, but it ran out before I got to the brake lever, and the second piece ran out before I finished in the middle, so there are a couple spots where the tape ended and started again which makes it look thicker in places. So far it seems comfy, but I'm considering re-doing the bars with leather from the other leg. If I sliced each strip wider I could maybe get all the way to the brake lever, or I may try to do sew-ups. I just gotta decide what I want to try next.... if anything. I would also add that the camera is a harsh critic; it looks better in real life in my opinion.

I have the black brooks tape, and i really like it and it has lasted for almost 3 years -- through crashes and drops and such. But i got it as a gift, I don't think its really worth the price that they ask for it. the toshi stuff looks pretty good though, and if its comparable/better than the brooks it looks like something to go for.

Alot og good alternatives here, these are the VO elk hides that you have to sew, i've had these for a long time and they've worn just fine..and they've been wet alot. When I got these they were alittle over 20 bucks, not sure now...

IMG]http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac295/johncegw/IMG_0009.jpg[/IMG]

Opps..sorry here's the pic.....


http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac295/johncegw/IMG_0009.jpg

Ive got Toshi tape on two of my bikes, the tape, not the lace up wrap. I love it, and it lasts a long time and looks better the older and more worn it gets. I would like to try the lace up wrap but don't want to spend the money on it only to screw it up and the money be wasted.

139490
Just find one, You could get enough to wrap your bars in one leg, comeon

Also found these from a Canadian Company called OCTTO:
Gel Cork
http://www.octto.com/bar-tape-urban-legend-gel.htmlhttp://www.octto.com/uploads/2/7/0/3/270308/9154082.jpg

Microfiber tape:
http://www.octto.com/uploads/2/7/0/3/270308/1172900.jpg


I know I am digging up an old thread, but has anyone had any experience with the Octto faux leather tape?