Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

S Works Classic Tape vs Fizik - any compared the two?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

S Works Classic Tape vs Fizik - any compared the two?

Old 12-20-09, 11:24 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,331

Bikes: 19 Look 765 Gravel RS, 18 Cervelo C5, 13 Niner Jet9 RDO, 08 Surly Crosscheck, 05 Serotta Fierte

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
S Works Classic Tape vs Fizik - any compared the two?

Looking for some comfortable, nice, easy to clean bar tape. Heard some great things about the Fizik, but feels really thin. Saw some S-works classic bar tape over the weekend - feels thicker, and the top appears to be the same easy to clean vinyl. Anywone experienced the two?
Unagidon is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 06:35 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Stoughton, WI
Posts: 249

Bikes: Specialized Rock Hopper, Felt F-70, lemond Buenos Aires, Trek T900 Tandem, Bianchi Volpe

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Unagidon
Looking for some comfortable, nice, easy to clean bar tape. Heard some great things about the Fizik, but feels really thin. Saw some S-works classic bar tape over the weekend - feels thicker, and the top appears to be the same easy to clean vinyl. Anywone experienced the two?
It's bar tape. Just buy some and try it.

Ya can't really make a mistake on this...
stevetone is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 08:59 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Spiduhman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: CenCal - SLO
Posts: 710

Bikes: S2, Wilier GTR (Arr), Giant VT, Myata 3-10

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 3 Posts
I prefer the cloth type.

Bar Phat comes with gel strips; me like very much.

https://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech....lized_bar_phat
Spiduhman is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 09:04 AM
  #4  
Lost
 
AngryScientist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: nutley, nj
Posts: 4,600
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 113 Times in 45 Posts
i prefer the fizik. i like less "cushy" tape, as it's easier on the hands over the long haul.
AngryScientist is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 10:00 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 218

Bikes: Scott Road, Jamis, Tricross,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've used both, the Fizik is easier to keep clean. Buy the Fizik Bar gel also if you want it to be cushier. It's not as thick as the Bar Phat gel and works well.
rcummings1 is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 10:47 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
I've used the S-Works tape ( not Bar Phat which comes with a gel pad) and the Fizik tape in black and silver.

The S-Works tape is very thick and soft. I hated it. I can't imagine what the bar phat would be like.

The black Fizik tape I used had a faux-suede feel that was pretty sweet. I liked it a lot. It was much thinner and much more comfortable.

The silver Fizik tape, which is on my bike now, has a smooth finish. It gets a bit slick when it is wet. I'm not as big of a fan of the silver as I am the suede-like black. I'll be replacing the silver with black soon.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 10:50 AM
  #7  
No matches
 
Flatballer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 11,647

Bikes: two wheeled ones

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times in 250 Posts
I've compared. There's no comparison.

Fizik hands down. The S-works is alright, but impossible to keep clean. The Fizik lasts forever. It'll get dinged and torn before it gets dirty enough to replace.
Flatballer is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 11:06 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
johnybutts's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,317

Bikes: Type of horse.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I've used Fizik - the kind that is a bit slippery (they have multiple types) and I enjoyed it, the only complaint was that after 5 months of riding during the summer, it started smelling really bad, but wouldn't get dirty enough to actually change.

Also... whatever Specialized tape is going on the new Tarmac Pros feels AMAZING - but its not Sworks tape
johnybutts is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 05:44 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,331

Bikes: 19 Look 765 Gravel RS, 18 Cervelo C5, 13 Niner Jet9 RDO, 08 Surly Crosscheck, 05 Serotta Fierte

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Wow - overwhelming response for Fizik. I actually have Fizik on my bike right now, but the wrong type (i.e. not the easy to clean type). It feels good, but it was pretty hard to wrap IMO, and I prefer it just a tad thicker to better cover the brake/derailleur cables. I was secretly hoping that people would have tried and liked the S Works Classic tape (i.e. the kind that looks and feels like vinyl, not the cork one).
Unagidon is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 06:56 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Quick note....The S-Works Classic tape is all new for 2010. New look, new feel.....new everything. I have it on my Roubaix and I can say honestly that it is hands down nicer feeling than any Fizik tape I have ever tried.



__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
garysol1 is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 07:09 PM
  #11  
Vain, But Lacking Talent
 
WalksOn2Wheels's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Denton, TX
Posts: 5,510

Bikes: Trek Domane 5.9 DA 9000, Trek Crockett Pink Frosting w/105 5700

Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1525 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times in 42 Posts
What Gary said. I think most of you voting for the Fizik over the Specialized are thinking of the very thick, foam/cork like S-Works tape. I currently have that on my Roubaix. It's very cushy, but I imagine keeping it clean (if it was white or blue or something) would be next to impossible.

I bought some of the S-Classic tape (Black with white insets as shown above) for a classic/commuter bike I was putting together and I really like it. I'm putting it on my Roubaix as soon as my new seat shows up (going from black to white). It's a synthetic leather style with a foam core for plushness, but it should be pretty easy to keep clean. It's not porous like the S-Works tape you're all thinking of.
WalksOn2Wheels is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 07:13 PM
  #12  
umd
Banned
 
umd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Flatballer
Fizik hands down. The S-works is alright, but impossible to keep clean. The Fizik lasts forever. It'll get dinged and torn before it gets dirty enough to replace.
It doesn't so much get dirty as the outer "color layer" wears off. Underneath the color (including white) is somewhat of a neutral tan. When this starts to show through I replace it. It should last most people at least a season, for me I go through 2 or 3 in a season...
umd is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 07:15 PM
  #13  
umd
Banned
 
umd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by johnybutts
the only complaint was that after 5 months of riding during the summer, it started smelling really bad, but wouldn't get dirty enough to actually change.
What were you doing, peeing on it or something?
umd is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 07:45 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,331

Bikes: 19 Look 765 Gravel RS, 18 Cervelo C5, 13 Niner Jet9 RDO, 08 Surly Crosscheck, 05 Serotta Fierte

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by garysol1
Quick note....The S-Works Classic tape is all new for 2010. New look, new feel.....new everything. I have it on my Roubaix and I can say honestly that it is hands down nicer feeling than any Fizik tape I have ever tried.



Yes, those are the ones I saw, but in white! So they're good right?

My only problem - I can get Fizik from my favorite LBS for around $12-13 taxes in, while the S Works Classic will be closer to $22.50 + tax...sigh. I have no issue dropping $2-3k for a frame, or $110 for a King headset, or $80 for Thomson stem, but when it comes to stuff like water bottles & bar tape...I'm really cheap about it. Am I weird, or are others like me?
Unagidon is offline  
Old 12-21-09, 07:49 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Unagidon

My only problem - I can get Fizik from my favorite LBS for around $12-13 taxes in, while the S Works Classic will be closer to $22.50 + tax...sigh. I have no issue dropping $2-3k for a frame, or $110 for a King headset, or $80 for Thomson stem, but when it comes to stuff like water bottles & bar tape...I'm really cheap about it. Am I weird, or are others like me?
If I were not a Specialized dealer I probably would not have spent the extra money for the SW tape over the Fizik. Now after using it though, yes...I would pay full retail to use the Specialized tape. It IS that nice. In fact I just got another roll today to replace the Fizik tape on my Serotta come spring.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
garysol1 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ck333
Classic & Vintage
40
07-03-19 10:23 AM
u235
Bicycle Mechanics
8
12-12-17 12:04 AM
SquidPuppet
Classic & Vintage
68
02-25-15 04:02 PM
KLW2
Classic & Vintage
104
02-26-12 06:02 PM
calbob76
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
60
02-02-11 09:45 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.