OldmanTN

Finally found a product that will hold any handlebar tape on without the sticky residue of electrical tape. I know that for most this is not a big deal. But if the tape sliding in hot weather is bugging you try the following. From Aircraft Spruce an aviation supply company and I am sure a number of other sources --is a tape they call Rescue tape. The tape adheres to itself permanently and must be cut off. But no adhesive, comes in red, black and clear and is around 10 bucks a roll. i thought I would spread the news as my LBS had not heard of it--I found it while ordering wing edge tape by 3M which is the bike protective tape that they charge a fortune for in the catalogs. Have read the forum for the last 6 months, just bought first bike since college so I am a former oldie now a new newbie, much has changed but tape residue still bugged me. FYI

operator

The only time this is ever an issue for shop mechanics is

1) When the finishing tape is wound too tight - the tape slips and exposes glue residue: solution don't wrap the last runs around the bar so tight
2) When attempting to re-wrap the bars for whatever reason, and even then the residue is confined to a small section at the end of the tape

People ride here in about 30-35 deg in the summer, how hot is it getting where regular electrical tape is failing in such a fashion?

DMF 

Hey, you're in Toronto, near where Eskimos live. Most of us are closer to the Sun.


Oldman, is there a 3M number? My AS catalog isn't all that recent.

How do you use the tape? Over the inner end of a tip to stem wrap? I've been reverse wrapping of late, and I use reversed tape under the inner end to start the wrap. Without adhesive I don't see how it would work?

operator

It adheres to itself.

OldmanTN

I knew someone would have experienced the same frustration

From my order Red--1" x12 ft 01-00989, Clear 01-00991, Black 01-00990
I believe also comes in 2 inch width, might make a friction protector for touring etc to protect paint on frame also. I know in colder climates tape may not be a problem but for those in the mid-south, Texas, etc heat makes plastic tape slimy no matter how carefully applied cause I tried multiple times in August. Just my two cents. Plus it looks sweet on my R3 which moaned when I applied it.

DMF 

You are my kinda sick puppy!

Panthers007

I still roll top-down. No slippage. No beveled edges. No nothing. I love to hear the trials & tribulations of those who roll bottom to top - the "modern-way!"

kaliayev

Thanks Oldman, it looks like pretty cool stuff just to have around. I roll top down too Panthers and have no problem with tape slippage.

Mr. Fly

If you use the good quality 3M tapes, such as the Super 33+ or Super 88, you will get good adhesion and no tape residue if you don't stretch-n-tape. I live in sunny CA now, but I spent quite a few formative years in tropical asia and those tape worked well there. If you're looking for self-bonding tape, 3M also makes the 2242. Also good stuff, but ATMO you don't need this.

Panthers007

Good to know there are at least a few of us left. A lovely glob of electrical-tape? Bleck!!

Soil_Sampler

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/cs/tape_rescue.html

Kimmo

I roll top-down myself, but found that even the most carefully-applied tape would get ratty before its time due to the upper edge being rolled over when I shifted my hands sometimes.

The solution was to apply double-sided tape (not the foam type, obviously) similar to the the thin strip in the centre, but along the edge that would be exposed. This is on the back of the bar tape of course, before removing the protective strip.

Result: tidy and durable tape : )

toytech

I roll top down as well, easy to do after a little practice and the results are so much better looking! Nothing like electrical tape to ruin the looks of a real expensive bike, kind of like duct tape on a Ferrari.

Shimagnolo

So how do you secure/finish the ends at the bottom?

Back when I was a kid I did my Varsity top-to-bottom, but the tape was thin enough to stuff into the end of the bars and secure it with the plug.
That doesn't work with cork tape.

joejack951

My favorite solution:



https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...5&category=842

Yan 

Twine looks better than electrical tape.

joejack951

Some older handlebars with thicker cross sections do present an issue when trying to insert the end cap with bar tape stuffed inside. I used a plastic mallet to force some in on one set of bars. On all of the modern bars I've wrapped, I've NEEDED extra bar tape at the ends to keep the end caps in place. Without a good 10mm of tape hanging off the ends, the end caps are likely to fall out.

Just in case my first post confused you though, I secure the tape at the top and bottom.

Shimagnolo

That is what I have been using for the last couple years.
I wrap bottom-to-top, then use a half-width piece of electrical tape to hold the wrap in place while I slip the ring over it.

Bianchigirll 

OH I have that in my tool box. I never thought of using it for my handlebars. in the Marines we used it for wrapping repaired electrical connections.

Panthers007

Fold & push into the openings on the bottom of the bars. Cutting it if too long. Then twist my choice of bar-plugs into the ends in the same direction as the tape was rolled down. I prefer Velox bar-plug with the expander-bolts.

DMF 

Hey, the Marines prolly use it that way too.

Grand Bois

You'll find instructions for sealing the end of the tape with heat on the Park website. I use an attachment for my soldering iron that works perfectly. I still don't like the look of the tape, so I wrap from the top and bottom with the ends hidden under the brake lever.