Mansram01

Does anyone here use either the white or black/white combo DSP Lizard Skin Bar Tape. The white looks pretty hot but wondering if it gets dirty quickly and if it's hard to clean. Since it's more durable then regular tape, it would seem easier to clean. Any feedback would be great. Still contemplating...

chaadster

I run white DSP 3.2, and it feels great. Awesome, in fact. I, too, expected that it would stay bright white longer than other tape, and sure it does compared to cotton, but really, after 1 season and about 2k miles, I'm thinking about re-wrapping to bring the bling back, but honestly, dropping $40/season on bar tape seems a little outrageous.

I was considering the dual color-- what is it, 2.5mm?-- in white/blue, and putting the white on the drops since I go there least, but when I look at my all white, it's pretty evenly discolored, so there's probably no point in that.

I did email Lizardskins about this issue this past summer. I was tipped to using isopropyl alcohol to clean, but I didn't notice any improvement, so I went back to a soapy scrub. Tape surface has held up fine, although interestingly, the orange tint I mentioned in the email did disappear, or at least change to dingy white. I'll see if I can grab a decent pic.

Anyway, here's the mail:

-----Original Message-----
From: chaadster
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 8:52 AM
To: Brad Barker
Subject: Lizardskins Contact: cleaning/colorfastness of 3.2 DSP white bar tape


From: chaadster
Subject: cleaning/colorfastness of 3.2 DSP white bar tape

Message Body:
Dear Lizardskins,

I initially set my bike up with some blue 3.2 DSP, and it was awesome! Easily the best bar tape I've ever used! Actually, I'd never even imagined that bar tape could be that great! This was a new build, and the guys at Adrenaline Bike in Orange, CA really recommended your stuff, and the tape did not disappoint.

I wanted to switch to white bar tape, so naturally I got 3.2 DSP in white from my LBS, Tree Fort in Ypsi, MI. This was in late April or May, but not more than a couple of months ago.

My question is about cleaning the tape, and the discoloration I'm experiencing; I've been using a plastic bristle brush and dish soap, but the tape has taken on what seems to be permanent orange hue.

Is this normal color performance for your tape? I always wear Pearl Izumi gloves with a black palm, but I don't see any indication the gloves, which are also old and have gone through many wash cycles, are causing the discoloration.

I'm also wondering if there is a particular cleaning regimen you recommend for new tape, and if there's anything I can do to whiten my existing tape? Is a bleach dilution okay to use, for example?

I'm not totally disappointed, but I did honestly think the tape would be easier to keep looking fresh, both based on my experience with the blue DSP, but also comments about the ease of cleaning from what I believe was a Lizardskins video on Youtube taken at a bike show.

Any tips and insights are appreciated, as I really like the product in every other way, and plan to continue using it.

chaadster

Not the best pic, here, but you can get the idea. What's most notable to me is the fantastic durability of the white Campagnolo hoods, which really look good and clean up even better. I haven't cleaned anything in this pic for awhile, but it seems like what was happening was that while some of the heavy, black, wear spots will wash up pretty nicely, it turns orange, then dingy white, and blackens back up again in short order.

Again, compared to cotton, it's amazing, but it has underperformed to my expectations in this one regard.

Mansram01

Wow, just based on these two responses, it doesn't seem worth it. Two of my bikes have black Lizard Skins and they look fabulous. I understand that white does get stained easier than any color but figured that the material would make it easier to clean off any marks (permanently). But stains changing colors and reverting back to a black stain(s) is a deal killer. And it is cost-prohibitive to be changing out DSP bar tape regularly. Think I'll just stick with black then... If I decide to brave it, I'll get the dual tone and put the black part on top.

shoota 

Than.

I use the white Lizardskin tape and it does get a little dirty but NOTHING like the cheaper cork tape. In fact I've had it for going on 6 months and I haven't even thought about cleaning it because it wouldn't be worth the effort, it's still pretty white.

chaadster

You know what? I just remembered I did pick up a new pair of gloves at the end of the season, when a botched flat repair found me at a bike shop mid-ride. Probably the black staining is from those, as I put 'em on right then, straight outta the packaging, and finished the ride. I probably rode with them a few more times before I washed them, too.

All the same, when I wrote Lizardskins months before, I was using well-used gloves and was kind of disappointed in the tape's stain resistance already.

bonz50

if ya like white bar tape get it, the lizard skins are comfy and have a nice tack to 'em. if it gets a little dingy so what, it just means you actually ride your bike and are not some poseur. personally i have no problem with white tape being a little dingy, doesn't bother me at all. that said, I currently have black on my blue/white bike, white would look outta place on it without changes to some other things to get it looking right

celticfrost

I've got a few sets of white/black and white/red lizard skins that I'll mount at some point, but, based on what I'm seeing, may just go all black (if the Lizard Skins are super comfy) or just just stick with Fizik if I want to go w/ white.

Fizik white cleans up pretty nice.

shoota 

That tape doesn't look too bad actually. What's hurting it is that everything else around it is stark white. Put that tape on a different color bike and it won't look bad at all. I mean it's white, it's gets a little dirty. That's why it's pro, they get new tape every race

Mansram01

I've had white bar tape before but didn't like the amount of time spent cleaning it for results. Just figured that this material would be more durable and easier to clean. Unfortunately for me, I like to have a clean looking bike. I don't worry about looking like a poseur. I have the miles to back that. My bike is black & white. The stem and handlebars are white. It works well with black handlebar tape but might look pretty cool all white. If it's just too much effort, I'll just stick with black bar tape.

chaadster

For me, it's not that it's hard to clean, but rather that Lizardskin's statements about how easy DSP is to clean led to have elevated expectations, which were not met. Fair or otherwise, it's not amazing in that regard, but it is awesome in every other, and if run this tape another season or buy new,it's going to be Lizardskins.

bonz50

ya, i get it. just sayin, for me it doesn't matter much, the thing that does matter is that the lizard skin tape is pretty damn nice, on my bike i'm considering doing the black tape this spring as well if I don't get a new bike and may do it on the new bike anyway. in all likelihood i'll do black as well, like you, I don't wanna waste time 'scrubbing' down my tape, that's time wasted that I could be out riding or what not.