So I just picked up a Fuji S10-S to use as a bit of a beater here at a conference that I help run for kids (here all week) and I literally got it just the other day and figured I'd have some fun with it in the limited off-time we get. Right now it has some old yellow foam-y type of handlebar tape and I will be looking to change this out to something a lot nicer.

Thing is, I'm not sure what color to go with. The paint is this iridescent jade that turns blue at the right angles and it is one of the more beautiful paint colors I've seen on a bike. Seat looks to be the original Belt leather model, which is of a dark walnut color. I'd really like to find a handlebar color that compliments it well. I'm throwing up a picture of the paint I'm talking about (not my bike but same color, same model).



I'm wondering - what are some of your favorite handlebar tape/paint combos? I'm looking for some fun ideas! Feel free to post up some pictures of examples you have.

I like white bar tape with most colors; unfortunately nothing shows off the dirt, grime, & sweat like white bar tape.

My Torelli is green, with white bar tape & red accents, subtly like an Italian flag.

If a gentleman's tie is supposed to somehow match his socks & handkerchief; then by the same standard, maybe bar tape should match the saddle & tires?

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In the stable, the favorite is blue and yellow:

1983 Colnago Superissimo, on Flickr

For fun, I like Red, White and Blue

2010 Langster Steel 61cm, on Flickr

Another is Chrome/Silver and blue

1972 Bottecchia Giro D'Italia (Professional conversion), on Flickr

And then there is no color at all

1983 Trek 610 60 cm (24&quot, on Flickr

All of your bikes look great, but that blue Bottechia is my favorite.

I have always been glad I paid extra to have the head tube painted white on the Modell Campagnolo -- if you have great lugs and don't have chrome, you should consider setting them off with color. (Base color here is an almost-candy metallic red with just enough blue in it to make it almost a maroon.) I went with white brake cables on this one, but chickened out with black brake hoods and bar tape, given the above-cited grime factor.


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Hmmmm........I do like to play around with the bar tape color to match the bike.

This is one of subtle favorites.




Matching the saddle and complimenting the paint<br/>

This is a more bold look but a good match.





Matching tires and paint details




Tying it all together with black




More bold to compliment the frame




White for the win







Compliments the lug lining too I did on a lark

This is an example of where there were many options White would have worked well. If the proper blue was found it would work too. But I went with the bolder red to compliment the frame and tied it together with the white saddle with red stripe. I really want to put red cable housing on this down the road too.





For the color you've shown I'd got white with a white saddle and cages, housings, etc.

Red and Yellow

Celeste frame with blue decals, cables and bar wrap

'90 Campione del Mondo Superlissma Rekord X5

The "dirt, grime, & sweat" is what makes it cooler over time; I'm a huge fan.

I also only use white bar tape. I've been doing that for 30+ years.

Celeste paint with white cloth tape.

This is a good point too. I like to use colored electrical tape to finish things with and either compliment the color combo or to "celebrate" it's country origins.






Italian colors



Contrasting Red



Blue and white to tie into all the frame's colors



Blue to match the frame

Then sometimes I'll also add a thin line of contrasting color to the bar ends too, just for fun.

Not my favorite , but my buddy psycho Billie loved it .

DSCF2011 by mark westi, on Flickr

Gave me hot tummy , plus the seat got changed to black .


DSCF2477 by mark westi, on Flickr

Hey guys! I haven't forgotten about this thread! I've just been working 18 hour days over here at the conference and don't have hardly any free time to check up on things. Somehow working with teenagers keeps you busy! I'm glad I started this thread to come back to after some long days. While I truly was looking for some good advice, I admittedly also was trying to find a good excuse to get y'all to post up some beautiful bikes to look at...looks like it worked!

Thank you for all your responses, and please keep them coming.

You are making me consider the white tape! I do think it would look really fresh. Once I get the bike back home, I'll get some actual pictures of it up. I nearly can't wait to actually clean it up - it is still completely grungy from when I picked it up several days ago, grimy and dirty, and is going to sparkle. I did the essentials to make it ridable: cleaned the chain, changed the tubes (both flat), and didn't have time to work out cables or housings - braking is a real adventure haha. It is going to clean up beautifully and I'm so excited about seeing this paint come alive and seeing the chrome shine again.

Also, wow. This bike rides fantastic. It is heavy from what I'm used to (DB 531, Ishiwata 22, Miyata TB), when I pick it up, but its weird...it rides a lot 'lighter' than it feels in your hands. I don't quite understand it, but I like it! Also, I don't know if the 32 size tires or the 27" are making the difference, but it rides like a cadillac. Like a big floating boat haha. Like it is so smooth you don't mind it even if you are going slow. A bit different from my other bikes and very different than some of the high caliber bikes posted on here, but variety is the spice of life! Whatever, the case, I'm very much enjoying it.

Originally the bike was, from my research so far, nearly all original, but the original rim was bent like a pretzel. I was a little concerned about if the front end had gotten run over and if something got tweaked, but my fears were alleviated after I threw another nearly matching (non-Ukai) wheel on the front and rode it without hands - it tracks perfectly. This bike is tough!

More to come when I get home. I'll have a nice break from work after our conference is over and will have plenty of time to retreat back into the garage and get greasy.

Cant go wrong with black!

[MENTION=203537]John_[/MENTION]E - Thanks for the comment! The Bott does have an esthetic that is appealing! Maybe that is why I bought it against one of my inner voices.

This one has me confused. I purchased it with the white saddle and tape. Someone commented that the white does not contrast enough. I'm sticking to it until I can figure out what other color works with the frame. A bit embarrassing to have a Campagnolo bottle on the frame that is dominated with DA! Well the headset is Campy.

1991 Pinarello Montello 60 cm, on Flickr