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?

stevetone

It's bar tape. Just buy some and try it.

Ya can't really make a mistake on this...

Spiduhman

I prefer the cloth type.

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

https://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech....lized_bar_phat

AngryScientist 

i prefer the fizik. i like less "cushy" tape, as it's easier on the hands over the long haul.

rcummings1

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.

topflightpro

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.

Flatballer

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.

johnybutts

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

Unagidon

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).

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.

WalksOn2Wheels

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.

umd

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

What were you doing, peeing on it or something?

Unagidon

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?

garysol1 

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.