Bar tape color opinions
 

Light blue, dark blue or black? I usually go with black but thought I’d try something different and can’t decide.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...22634397c.jpeg

Of those three: dark blue.

Where's the white option?

I don’t like white, get dirty way to fast.

Dark blue or yellow

This is the touring board, stuff gets dirty and beat up, something that does not show dirt very well is ideal.

I however have found that a kitchen plastic scouring pad like Scotch Brite is not bad for cleaning cork tape.

Whatever color your saddle is.

Dirty white bar tape still looks better than black bar tape that should've been white in the first place.

The lighter blue which most closely matches the frame color would be so avant garde.

Black, the blue will clash with blue frame. The other colors will not tie in with the green stem cap.

Tape matches saddle.

Tape matches the saddle, and stem & spacers match the seat post.

What's on sale?

Another fashion vote for tape matches saddle.

This is the correct answer...I too pick what's on sale...or black...or on sale

This. I'm about to wrap my bars in purple tape because it was 1/3 the price of the other colors from the same brand. The bike has a hunter-green, tan, & black colorway with cream highlights, for reference. I also just added red brake cable housing because it was cheap and available. Oh, and there's wood-grain accent from the PDW luggage rack. I'll post before & after pictures when I'm done; I fully expect everyone on this forum will gush endlessly about how good my hunter-green, tan, black, cream, purple, and red bike looks. :thumb:

P for practical ..
 

Fix a rear flat tire you will have black smunge on your hands ..

will you have hand cleaner with you, or just grab the bars & leave black goo.. on the tape.

I have taped my one of my bikes a few days ago and this time I matched the tire sidewalls :-)

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...09a21ebce5.jpg
photo is from today's lunch break ride

Of those choices, the dark blue.

...Although Yellow would look good as well, to match the accent on the water bottles... But then again, I have yellow on my '86 Miyata 710 (metallic gray with yellow headtube and yellow brake housing) and it does get dirty quick - but it also cleans up well... Some tape brands are easier to clean than others.

Black and blue 'splash' tape. Or black. Or what's on sale.

Use both blues using a harlequin wrap.

Lots of ways to keep your bar tape clean. But if your bike is already so dirty that your hands get destroyed changing a flat, that's not the bar tape's fault, and it will probably be dirty in any case.
Take your gloves off first.
Use your bike shorts, or socks, to clean most crap off your hands.
Carry a rag.

Its a rare day I agree with Bob, but you do realize you are in the touring forum here, right? What touring bike in use doesnt have grease/road grime/brake dust on the chain, tires, and cassette? Carrying a rag is fine to do, but I cant imagine creating my decisions with aesthetics as the primary motivation.
The OP goes thru bikes like water, so his situation is almost certainly different from what considerations to make for touring. For him, sure- white bar tape works great. And even for touring, white bar tape can work great, but just accept that itll get grimy from rain, sweat, dust, and hands. Wiping off my hands with a towel before touching bar tape seems like the last thing I want to remember each time I get on my bike.

As always, to each their own though.

You are right, I do buy and sell a lot. But this one is a keeper with big plans in the future. You’d be surprised on how many keepers I actually own.

I would use both with Harlequin braid.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...711c595922.jpg

I was going to say blue and white

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b6f86c79_c.jpg