Classic & Vintage - Best quality handlebar tape

What's the best quality handlebar tape for my '78 Paramount?

Is doing your own handlebars tape an art or just practice?

Newbaum's cotton, if you want to be as period-correct as possible (and avoid the headaches of installing Velox cotton, which does not stretch around corners).

-Kurt

Cotton cloth is "correct" for that bike, and, IMO, "best" in general. You'll find opinions vary to an extreme, though. Someone out there would probably wrap it with psychedelic padded vinyl.

And wrapping your own bars is only "art" if you're doing some fancy multi-color weave with a dozen rolls of tape. Otherwise it's just a matter of care and attention.

Newbaum's cotton, if you want to be as period-correct as possible (and avoid the headaches of installing Velox cotton, which does not stretch around corners).

-Kurt

I find that Newbaum's is a real bear to wrap tightly around corners, whereas Velox allows an ultra-tight wrap when you wet it out.
Newbaum's can look really great if you struggle with it, but you can't wet it, and I would never attempt wrapping with bars-on.

And I don't like either, actually finding cheap old Cateye to be the easiest to work with. Which just goes to illustrate my previous opinion about finding consensus re. handlebar tape. ;)

Yes, there are as many opinions about the relative merits and demerits of tapes as there are tapes. I like the Newbaum stuff too and get good results with it. I just whisper to it nicely while wrapping. Or curse. Sometimes both.

Taping your own bars is relatively easy. Takes a little practice.
I like the comfort of cork (or synthetic cork) tape. I am trying out some PRO Smart Silicone bar tape right now and so far, I am liking it.

For cloth I like Viva and Cateye, never tried Newbaum though.

Wrapping bars is definitely NOT art or an art. It's not even craft. Maybe a procedure, or a discipline at best.

Wrapping bars is definitely NOT art or an art. It's not even craft. Maybe a procedure, or a discipline at best.

I've seen some pretty fancy wrapping styles that would qualify as "art". But usually, I'll agree, it's a procedure you need to perform. Like cleaning a chain.

Wrapping bars is not art, or even skill, but attention to detail and patience.
Bar wrap is one of those things that can really nasty up a bike if done poorly.

Bar wrap decisions are often made with the type of bike in mind, and the type of build.
For that reason, some of the top "performing" types just aren't right for a lot of situations.

But, as if with saddle choices, you have to consider this: your hands are on the bars.
You have to decide what you want to feel, or see, or both.

Might be art: http://www.wastedlife.org/bike/harlequin/index.html

Probably not art: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelseastrate/3560798875/

Wrapping bars is not art, or even skill, but attention to detail and patience.
Bar wrap is one of those things that can really nasty up a bike if done poorly.

+1

Wrong tape color and/or application and an incorrect saddle position are the two main ways to ruin a bike's looks.

Don't forget to level out that saddle, Dane :)

DD

If you’re looking for cloth; I’ve tried these, and they both look good and are easy to wrap with their sticky-back; PLUS, they are all that envro-sensitive compliant.:thumb:
http://greengrips.wordpress.com/

Wrapping handlebars is a pretty simple task. Make sure you have everything the way you want it before wrapping... ie, your bars, stem and brake lever. Once you wrap those bars, you are set with what you have... unless you waste the new tape.

Cloth will probably look the best. I've used cloth a lot myself and I wear gloves with it. I used Fizik microtex recently and I LOVE it. IMO it might be the perfect balance comfort, durability and looks.

http://www.chariandconyc.com/images/products/detail/bar_tape_all.jpg

Wrapping bars is not art, or even skill, but attention to detail and patience.

+2 Wrapping bars is like gourmet cooking or being a good lay; all can be mastered with care and practice.
Start off with some unsuitably modern bartape to practice. The modern bartapes (like the Specialized Roubaix wrap) is easy to clean and it's like those fat crayons they gave us in preschool; very user-friendly.
After you've mastered the fat crayons, you can get the period-correct cloth tape.

I feel like if fizik microtex was available in 1978 nobody would have used cotton bar tape. It may not be the end all be all, cinelli cork is really good too.

Make no mistake about it, wrapping handlebars is a skill. It takes a bit of time to learn how to do it and then, with practice, you just get better and better at doing it.

This is How I Tape Handlebars (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/FREE_SITE_1/FREE_SITE_21_Handlebars.htm). Hope it is a help.

As for your bike's appropriate bar tape - cloth for sure and I have used different kinds. I was recently told to wet the cloth tape before beginning. This is supposed to make wrapping easier and produces a better result.

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/French_Bicycles/Motobecane_Bicycles/Motobecane_Gran_Jubilee_57/Motobecane_GJ_57_Built/MotoBe_GJ_57_Built_HandleBars_2.jpg

I agree with Randy here. Definitely a skill. But a skill one can learn pretty quickly. Getting good at it requires some practice though.
Most cloth tapes are suitable. VIVA is good stuff. I like Newbaum's because it is thicker and provides a bit more cushioning. I have to put in a vote against Greengrips, I'm afraid. It is a hair wider than most tapes, but seems thinner and sort of limsy. The adhesive is a narrow, quarter inch strip down the center. When you wring and pull, to get this stuff to go around corners and lay properly, the central glued section reacts as one would hope, but the two un-glued edges, which are wider than the glued middle, twist and distort because the fabric is so thin. At least, that's my experience. Newbaums is a little tougher to wrap well because of its extra thickness, but looks and feels great when done.

Well cloth would be correct. Yet I like leather wrap, and the best of that is handlebra!

It's pricey but so nice!

http://handlebra.com/product-information

Well cloth would be correct. Yet I like leather wrap, and the best of that is handlebra!

It's pricey but so nice!

http://handlebra.com/product-information

Agreed.

I want some for my John Hollands, after riding a friend's Kvale with this last fall.

Simply an outstanding product.

I just have to figure out a match for faded/weathered honey brown.

...but for the op's nice bicycle, Newbaums is a super choice.

Screw cloth, don't like how it looks or feels. Give me Deda or Fizik. They are also much easier to apply. Would like to try leather, but expensive.

Newbaum's cotton, if you want to be as period-correct as possible (and avoid the headaches of installing Velox cotton, which does not stretch around corners).

-Kurt

By the late '70s, wouldn't it have been Cinelli?

I prefer Fizik for all of the reasons above. I also like leather, which can be purchased for $25 if you watch for the Nashbar tape on sale.

By the late '70s, wouldn't it have been Cinelli?

Once he wraps it on the bike, nobody will know - nor care.

-Kurt

I prefer Fizik for all of the reasons above. I also like leather, which can be purchased for $25 if you watch for the Nashbar tape on sale.

I generally put Fizik on just about all of my bicycles as well.

They even make a great brown Fizik for the Euro market that has worked well on the Hollands.

Certain bicycles call for variations though, and I am hankering to try Handlebra.

I used Fizik microtex recently and I LOVE it. IMO it might be the perfect balance comfort, durability and looks.

I used to like this stuff - except that I can't run the tape under a brake lever without distorting it, the suede version pulls up at the sides, and the most recent white Microtex tape I bought has very thick edges which bite into my hand.

Sorry, no sale for me.

-Kurt

P.S.: Nobody mentioned Velo-Orange's Elkhide or Toshi stitch-on. The Toshi stuff in particular would look smashing - very Cinelli VIP-esque.

I generally put Fizik on just about all of my bicycles as well.

They even make a great brown Fizik for the Euro market that has worked well on the Hollands.

Certain bicycles call for variations though, and I am hankering to try Handlebra.

Don't do it.

Or you will be buying a lot of it. Like for every bike you ride!

Agreed.

I want some for my John Hollands, after riding a friend's Kvale with this last fall.

Simply an outstanding product.

I just have to figure out a match for faded/weathered honey brown.

I ordered the "Fine Cigar" from HandelBra for my Vent Noir. It was darker than I suspected and made me wonder if I had received the "Dark Brown" by mistake. Very good quality, easy to apply, I'm planning on ordering some of the wine colored wrap for my Opus III.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff142/Head_High_and_Glassy/1977%20Austro-Daimler%20Vent%20Noir%20II/file-32.jpg

Scott

^
You're all forgetting that Silvercreek has asked this question because he wants his '78 Paramount to be as period correct as possible.

-Kurt

Don't do it.

Or you will be buying a lot of it. Like for every bike you ride!

That would run into a sizable chunk of change then. :)

I ordered the "Fine Cigar" from HandelBra for my Vent Noir. It was darker than I suspected and made me wonder if I had received the "Dark Brown" by mistake. Very good quality, easy to apply, I'm planning on ordering some of the wine colored wrap for my Opus III.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff142/Head_High_and_Glassy/1977%20Austro-Daimler%20Vent%20Noir%20II/file-32.jpg

Scott


Sure looks great to me!

Scott, may I ask, are any special skills required to apply?

I assume the regular amounts of patience and attention to detail?

Sure looks great to me!

Scott, may I ask, are any special skills required to apply?

I assume the regular amounts of patience and attention to detail?

Much easier than cloth, no matter what brand. It stretches in multi directions so it wraps very easily.

It was slipperier than I thought it would be, even with leather gloves. Maybe all leather tape is like that, I'm not sure. Next time I'm going to wrap it from the top down so the leather edges will provide less slide.

Scott

Well cloth would be correct. Yet I like leather wrap, and the best of that is handlebra!

It's pricey but so nice!

http://handlebra.com/product-information

Handlebra looks nice. It is this sentence in their copy that sort of concerns me: "some strips may be mated once." Now, I know natural leather is hard to find in one continuous piece 80+ inches long. Has anyone ever received one of their strips that is not spliced somewhere in the strip?

Handlebra looks nice. It is this sentence in their copy that sort of concerns me: "some strips may be mated once." Now, I know natural leather is hard to find in one continuous piece 80+ inches long. Has anyone ever received one of their strips that is not spliced somewhere in the strip?

I have it on 5 bikes!

Seeing as I can only look at three right now, I'm trying to remember.

But I can't see/remember any that was spliced. Not that I can see on the 3 here at my office, or remember.
Maybe it was, but it never created me any problem what so ever.

Also; to the OP about it being slick. I don't find it so. But to each their own.

To the Fizik lovers: Does the white stay white? I made the rookie mistake of picking white pseudo cork for my first wrap job. The tape was dirty before I was done wrapping. Shellac hides many crimes, but I still dream of a set of white handlebars...

To the Fizik lovers: Does the white stay white? I made the rookie mistake of picking white pseudo cork for my first wrap job. The tape was dirty before I was done wrapping. Shellac hides many crimes, but I still dream of a set of white handlebars...

I find that this stays white for quite a while (select the white version of it): http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1105885_-1_1596509_1595009_400214

I agree. I am using Handbra on my classic bikes now. Great stuff.

Well.. Am I the only fan of Benotto Cello Tape? This is my all time favorite. If it gets dirty, you can wipe it clean. And, two layers of course.

One thing that we did and I still do is to start the wrap from the top. We did this to get more grip from the Benotto tape because the edge of the tape (against the grain effect) provides more friction but if you wear gloves, it is about the same friction level. At the end of the handlebars, I wrap it tight and push the tape inside the handlebar and plug it with the Velox expansion handlebar plugs. The plugs holds the tape tight and in place. By wrapping from the top, you minimize the chances of the tape unraveling.

I have done this wrapping technique with some sort of 'modern', cushy tape on my (should I dare say it...) new plastic bike and it is working great.

http://www.velociao.com/2011/benotto-cello-tape/

I used Cellotape when I was racing. I had to use gloves because it provides no cushioning at all, not even to the level of cloth tape. And it would unravel if you crashed it. I'd sometimes tear off a bit of electrical tape from the end near the stem and then wrap it around the torn section to keep it together until the end of the race. And I didn't like wrapping it from the stem down because the edges would start to curl after a few months of use.

If I was building up an "accurate" race bike from the 80s I'd consider using it. Otherwise I prefer cloth.

Yes. Zero cushioning but I don't mind it. I still have the same tape that I put on my bike back in 1983 (and I have been riding this bike regularly) and no curling yet and it is staying in place. I stretched it pretty tight when I was installing it. Don't know if this is the reason why I haven't have any problems.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/789975-Should-have-posted-this-yesterday...-Rode-my-bike-every-day-this-year

To the Fizik lovers: Does the white stay white? I made the rookie mistake of picking white pseudo cork for my first wrap job. The tape was dirty before I was done wrapping. Shellac hides many crimes, but I still dream of a set of white handlebars...

It's fine.

No better, no worse than any other white tape in my experience.

This tape is two years old, and I ride this bicycle a couple of times a week during the summer.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6608776179_9a897feb82_z.jpg

Well.. Am I the only fan of Benotto Cello Tape? This is my all time favorite. If it gets dirty, you can wipe it clean. And, two layers of course.

One thing that we did and I still do is to start the wrap from the top. We did this to get more grip from the Benotto tape because the edge of the tape (against the grain effect) provides more friction but if you wear gloves, it is about the same friction level. At the end of the handlebars, I wrap it tight and push the tape inside the handlebar and plug it with the Velox expansion handlebar plugs. The plugs holds the tape tight and in place. By wrapping from the top, you minimize the chances of the tape unraveling.

I have done this wrapping technique with some sort of 'modern', cushy tape on my (should I dare say it...) new plastic bike and it is working great.

http://www.velociao.com/2011/benotto-cello-tape/

I'm a fan, too, though I haven't used it in years. I still have a few sets from many years ago, still in the wrappers. Do they still make it, or is that company selling old stock? Nice to know we can still get it. I should use it rather than hoarding it.

Well.. Am I the only fan of Benotto Cello Tape? This is my all time favorite. If it gets dirty, you can wipe it clean. And, two layers of course.

One thing that we did and I still do is to start the wrap from the top. We did this to get more grip from the Benotto tape because the edge of the tape (against the grain effect) provides more friction but if you wear gloves, it is about the same friction level. At the end of the handlebars, I wrap it tight and push the tape inside the handlebar and plug it with the Velox expansion handlebar plugs. The plugs holds the tape tight and in place. By wrapping from the top, you minimize the chances of the tape unraveling.

I have done this wrapping technique with some sort of 'modern', cushy tape on my (should I dare say it...) new plastic bike and it is working great.

http://www.velociao.com/2011/benotto-cello-tape/

I used it back in the day as well.

Still suits me on certain builds.

Here's some on my Zullo Sprint.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5151/5912163297_e089bab9b9_o.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6045/5912725454_cf7ef2170a_o.jpg

I buy my Benotto Cello Tape on Ebay. You have to pay attention and see who has the better price and factor in the shipping also. Supposedly it is still being made in Mexico. Don't know for sure.

According to Wikipedia, this tape was popular in the late 70's also. So it is period correct but I don't know if it is Paramount correct.

Most of you know that the Benotto handlebar plug is pretty much worthless, right?

Velox plugs are the way to go, of course, IMHO

I buy my Benotto Cello Tape on Ebay. You have to pay attention and see who has the better price and factor in the shipping also. Supposedly it is still being made in Mexico. Don't know for sure.

According to Wikipedia, this tape was popular in the late 70's also. So it is period correct but I don't know if it is Paramount correct.

Most of you know that the Benotto handlebar plug is pretty much worthless, right?

Velox plugs are the way to go, of course, IMHO

Nope, super glue.

Actually I have Zullo and Colnago bar ends.

I also have wood and cork bar ends I bought in a shop in Tuscany two summer ago.

I'm not a Velox kind of guy.

Gomango, I was wondering how you keep them caps in place and very nice bike BTW

cateye vintage

I generally use cloth over cork (double-taped). It has the classic look, only a bit thicker and with some cushioning. Sellac seals it pretty well so it does not become water-logged on rainiy/sweaty days.

I have been meeing around with celo to get a bit of cushioning. It does not work over cork, but I think it will work over cloth if the cloth is not over-laped. Also the cloth color is a consideration. The first two attempts did not work so well as the celo does not get enough grip on the coth and slides about a bit. A subtle applciation of glue may help this. If I ever get back to it, i will report the results.

Gomango, I was wondering how you keep them caps in place and very nice bike BTW

Thanks!

Super glue does work well, but don't get carried away as it seems to melt the cello tape.

You need a jack hammer to get them off, so a good mood is required before you'd want to try that at home.:)

No worse than a fused in Velox plug though.

Good golly, I used to get crabby digging those out of bars after they'd been in there for a few years.

Seems like the screw/bolt was always fused as well.

I actually like using cork or wood plugs the best.

+1

Wrong tape color and/or application and an incorrect saddle position are the two main ways to ruin a bike's looks.

Don't forget to level out that saddle, Dane :)

DD

Thanks! I just got through leveling the saddle.