Gobo

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.

bkowa092

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.

bw286

the brooks tape is awesome. it breaks in really nicely.
velo-orange makes a knock off version that is probably nicer, and perforated.




they also have sew-on covers, which i think look better.
never used either though.

Jabba Degrassi

https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...th=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.

Unapomer

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: https://busymanbicycles.blogspot.com/

MysticRats

Dunno if its actually leather but TORELLI has some for $17:
https://www.torelli.com/parts/Tipounoparts.html


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


Microfiber tape:


And Check it FAUX WOOD foam!!!


https://www.octto.com

bw286

dude, you can get real wood grips from rivendell

billyg

Those octto grips look really nice.

Gobo

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

Geordi Laforge

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.

fuggers

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.

devilshaircut

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

Mr_Christopher

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

onetwentyeight 

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

bw286

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

onetwentyeight 

it is stitched, there is only one seam though.

Geordi Laforge

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

onetwentyeight 

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

Geordi Laforge

...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.

MIN 

Leather tape is whack for the rain.

Geordi Laforge

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.

jholland

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

steppinthefunk 

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

tarwheel 

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.

parlorbikes

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