In the Brooks tradition, this bar tape is made of natural leather to make it the perfect complement to your Brooks saddle. The bar tape comes in a kit including:
- 2 strips of light, perforated leather bar tape, - 2 natural cork and wood bar-end plugs, - 2 adhesive cloth strips.
Made in China
*Cost excludes shipping
Just installed the black bar tape over a layer of inner tube for some extra cush and thickness since I have big hands. I've got to say this is the most comfortable bar set up I have ever felt. I don't like to wear gloves, but they were neccessary before to compensate for crappy bar tape. The leather is so supple and stays nice and cool, my hands never sweat. Hats off to brooks for making another wonderful product. I'm hooked for life.
Been riding B17's since 1979 and love your products. I now need a more cushioned tape than the sewn-on leather wrap I've been using for years. Is your leather tape long enough to wrap over some cheap gel-tape or maybe the Fizik bar gel?
answer - normally we would prefer that questions be posted in the "GETTING IN TOUCH" section of this website, but since this question is so often posted here, we will make an exception and respond. Various sizes and thicknesses of handlebar diameter, tape diameter, and handlebar width all are factors that make it impossible to answer this question, you will have to experiment yourself. Leather tape may be re-wrapped multiple times, so experimentation is possible, and furthermore the tape is long is comparison to other tapes.
COMMENT > I would Love to see your saddles and bar tape produced in White Leather!!!
REPLY >Have a look at the EDITIONS page!
very nice tape. last long time!
COMMENT > The tape is high quality and has a great feel. The bar plugs are not my favorite though. Aesthetically they are beautiful, but their over durability is weak and I could see the wood ends snapping off the cork plug. My suggestion for Brooks, send an extra set of plugs with the tape and/or sell them online separately. My suggestion for you customers, buy two bottles of good corked beer, drink said beer, insert cork from bottle into bar end.
REPLY > We understand your concerns and are currently thinking to launch metal bar end plugs in the future. The wood and cork plugs are already available as spare parts. Soon they will be also available online.
I'm using the honey leather bar tape on my race bike and I love it. It feels great and the more I ride, the better it looks. That can't be said for other kinds of bar tape that look worse the older they get. Sure it's a bit more expensive than other bar tapes, but it should last a lot longer. And when it does come time for new bar tape, I'll be buying more. My only complaints are that the tape isn't quite long enough to fully cover over-sized carbon handlbars (but it probably wasn't designed to do so) and the colours don't really match my white frame with gray and yellow detailing.
Just received and fitted my black leather tape. Looks fantastic with my Black Shallow Ti and feels very comfortable. Another great Brooks product.
Q > I currently have a B17 Aged and was wondering if the "Brown" bar tape will match my saddle. If not, will you be carrying a leather bar tape to match the Aged saddles and bags?
A > The brown bar tape matches both our brown saddles and the Aged. The Aged in fact tend to become darker with use.
Q > I have Brooks honey leather bar tape on my restored 1964 Schwinn Sierra. It's not only comfortable, but extremely durable. If it ever wears out, I'll purchase it again. The black finishing strips eventually fray and loosen, however. Is it possible to buy a few pairs of the finishing strips separately? Thanks!!
A > We haven't really though about that, as it's the first time somebody asks. We would suggest you to use an ordinary black adhesive tape.
Q > Does the bar tape need proofide?
A > No, no, no!!!
I got your your leather bar tape black and honey it is on my surly bike long hual trucker that I build it looks like a tiger black is on the bottom of the handlebar than honey goes the top it is great thanks for making the best leather bar tape from peter wilson waterloo ont canada
Q > I just received my first brooks saddle (beautiful nice to touch antique brown) and I'm about to buy the matching handlebar tape online at amazon or benscycle but I'm a bit confused ¿Do you make both perforated and not perforated tape? I can't find the not perforated one in your website...but it is for sale at benscycle...
A > The non perforated was released at the very beginning when we first introduced the product. Later we switched to the perforated tape, which is the only one we offer now.
Q > Just purchased some handlebar tape, which is the best way to fit the tape, do you start from the bottom or top of the bars? Do you need to cut a piece to go behind the brake levers and does the cloth tape go at the top of the bars?
A > Start from the bottom, using the adhesive strips once you finish at the top... It's not easy to do it properly if it's the first time you do it, so you should ask a friend or someone at your local bike shop to help you.
Q > I've just bought a B17 Special Green Saddle and I have a doubt: is the green leather tape exactly the same green as the saddle? Thanks, Fabio.
A > Yes, almost perfectly matching.
Q > Hi! I'm buiding my "ultimate" bike. A red, steel DeBernardi. I just "have" to put on a Brooks saddle (I ride a B-17 now, over 10 years old and loving it!). I have two questions for you fine folks. Are you going to make the Team Pro in brown? And the most important question: Will leather bar tape get slick or slimy in the rain? Thank you so much for continuing the tradition of well thought out products, with outstanding craftsmanship!
A > No, the tape should not get slimy in the rain.
Q > I need white leather bar tape! Please! I'll even get on a waiting list if you start one.
A > We don't plan to make white tape for the moment!
Q > What happens if you do proofide your bar tape (as I did after wrapping it) ??!!
A > It won't harm, but it probably gets sticky.
QUESTION > Some (online) retailers list a green coloured version of your bar tape. Was this a limited edition and should I hurry if I want to order some? I think it would rather striking combined with the green Swift saddle and perhaps even green toe straps. Is the green colour a one-off, or do you plan to offer more products in more colours in the future? (I rather like the blue and red limited edition saddles, too!)
REPLY > Green Leather Bar Tape has been added to the range. You can order it online now.
Please do consider making metal bar end plugs an option. That said: Q> What diameter bar do the plugs fit?
A> The standard outer diameter of 22mm. Q> What maintenance if any is required for tape, if not proofide? Would Armor All leather wipes be okay?
A> No maintenance is needed.
I'm just worried about premature dryness/fading of the tape since I live in the desert.
Q > I have a Brompton P6R-X . The handlebars are large - is the tape long enough?
A > It's long enough for drop bars, so I suppose it should be long enough for the Brompton "P" bar.
Q > I cant tell which is darker in colour the Brown or the Honey?
R > The brown is as dark as brown saddles.
Q > As a proud englishman living in Australia, great to see quality products still "Made In England" Have a question for you, are you going to make the bar tape in Green to match the green leather on the limted edition saddles?
A > Green is available, we will soon put it online!
Why don't you offer _white_ bar tape? Carlton/Raleigh bikes all came with white tape, NOBODY offers white leather bar tape (and most of the cinelli VIP bars are on bikes now), and I think part of your market is the millions of Raleigh 10 speeds needing parts, what better way to finish off such a bike?
I fitted a Honey B17 Saddle and matching bar tape to my 1980's Penine Steel-Framed racer and hey presto - it transformed into a true Genteman's steed, fit for any journey in town or country. Superb!
I'm something of an Oaf. I crash, a lot. I used to sheer off my bar tape on a nearly monthly basis. Last year I put some Honey brown Brooks tape on my bars, and I haven't worried about it since. The tape heals its wounds!Ash Ponders
I love the grip tape, BUT, the bar end caps are poorly glued. I lost one of the beautiful wooden caps, and only a small amount of glue is evident on the remaining cork plug securing it. No I didn't crash or treat it roughly. And to get replacements to Australia is far too expensive.
answer - the bar end caps have been redesigned and this problem should not occur anymore.
Please Please Please can I have some white leather bar tape?? I read the comment about checking editions but couldn't find it so presumably you only did it for a limited time? Thanks in advance. Drew
A> White tape will be available very soon, please check back!