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Finishing tape for handle bar tape

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Old 09-02-18, 09:23 PM
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dvai
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Finishing tape for handle bar tape

I wonder if there is a better solution for securing the handle bar tape than electrical tape. Many manufactures (such as bontrager) include a "finishing tape" that lasts more than the more typical electrical tape (which peels off).

I wonder if they actually sell that tape by itself. Thoughts?
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Old 09-02-18, 09:52 PM
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Never had electoral tape peel off in all my years. I have however tried the finishing tape that almost all bar tape comes with and it sucked majorly. They make hockey tape that isn't clothe, most of the time it is clear but you can get it in all difference colors. that seemed to work really well for myself when I am out of electoral tape, its made from polyflex

https://www.inlinewarehouse.com/Renf...age-RCSGT.html
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Old 09-02-18, 09:56 PM
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Dean V
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I always finish with electrical tape and then put the supplied finishing tape over the top of that.
Sometimes I can't get it to sit right, usually due to it being too inflexible, in which case I leave it off.
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Old 09-02-18, 10:04 PM
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Silicone tape
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Old 09-02-18, 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by dvai
I wonder if there is a better solution for securing the handle bar tape than electrical tape. Many manufactures (such as bontrager) include a "finishing tape" that lasts more than the more typical electrical tape (which peels off).

I wonder if they actually sell that tape by itself. Thoughts?
The only issue I've had with electrical tape is if part of the electrical tape is off the edge of the bar tape, causing it to slowly work its way off the bar tape and toward the handlebar clamp.

As far as non-electrical-tape wraps go,



, then shellac.
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Old 09-02-18, 11:36 PM
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Silicone tape from your local hardware store.
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Old 09-03-18, 08:09 AM
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I always use electrical Tape, with no problems. I had the bright idea of using heat shrink tubing, but realized I'd have to disassemble the whole handlebar to get it on. Might work when building up a bike for the first time. I've never tried silicone tape.
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Old 09-03-18, 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by tagaproject6
Silicone tape from your local hardware store.
+1 for silicone tape.

Good BF advice when using electrical tape only:
Leave 3"+/- hanging after the first few wraps have been applied.
Let it sit overnight. (This allows the tight first few wraps to creep a bit and settle in).
Finish the last few wraps using the least tension possible to achive a good finish.(This prevents "electrical tape creep" which could leave you with an unpleasant adhesive mess on your new bar tape).
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Old 09-03-18, 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by MakiNn
Never had electoral tape peel off in all my years.
You must have gone to electoral college.
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Old 09-03-18, 09:06 AM
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I recently tried the "start from the top" method of bar wrapping. Much prefer. No tape required.
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Old 09-03-18, 09:12 AM
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The "self-fusing silicone tape" I was thinking of is substantially thinner than the tape shown in the still from curbtender's youtube link:







Originally Posted by curbtender
No adhesive, bonds to itself...no goop to smear or ruin your new bar tape.

Last edited by chainwhip; 09-04-18 at 05:03 PM.
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Old 09-03-18, 09:26 AM
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On my next beater bike i want to try locomotive air break tape. I'm convinced it'll last longer than the bar tape.
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Old 09-03-18, 09:43 AM
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Another vote for self-fusing silicone tape. I put a couple wraps of electrical tape first, then cover that with silicone tape. Silicone tape only sticks to itself.
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Old 09-03-18, 10:22 AM
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When using electrical tape, I get the first wrap tight and then the final wrap in a relaxed state. Haven't used the silicone tape yet myself, but looks like a good product. Comes in a mix of colors also.
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Old 09-03-18, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
You must have gone to electoral college.

Yeah I am a pretty big deal
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Old 09-03-18, 10:54 AM
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Self-fusing silicone tape—for this and hundreds of other critical applications.
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Old 09-03-18, 01:22 PM
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I use electrical tape too, the stuff that comes with bar tape always sucks, IME.
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Old 09-03-18, 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by DrIsotope
I recently tried the "start from the top" method of bar wrapping. Much prefer. No tape required.
Agree no tape required, but word on the street is that you will have early tape migration down the bar over time.
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Old 09-03-18, 01:46 PM
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3M electrical tape lasts pretty well. Better than the cheaper stuff.
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Old 09-03-18, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by MoAlpha
Self-fusing silicone tape—for this and hundreds of other critical applications.
Ok, let's hear some of those. Through a strange twist of fate I am blessed with about 700 rolls of the stuff. I commonly give it away to people I meet with the challenge to come up with good uses.
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Old 09-03-18, 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by CO_Steve
Ok, let's hear some of those. Through a strange twist of fate I am blessed with about 700 rolls of the stuff. I commonly give it away to people I meet with the challenge to come up with good uses.
You could make a nice pair of pants with all that tape.
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Old 09-03-18, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by tyrion
You could make a nice pair of pants with all that tape.
I'll add that to the list.
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Old 09-03-18, 03:42 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by CO_Steve
Ok, let's hear some of those. Through a strange twist of fate I am blessed with about 700 rolls of the stuff. I commonly give it away to people I meet with the challenge to come up with good uses.
Some I have used it for:

Wrapping the myriad points on the rig and lifelines of a big sailboat where lines and sails can snag

Emergency seal on pinhole leak in cooling water hose on engine of said boat

Binder on lines at the point of cutting to prevent fraying

Temporary waterproof layer over dressing on lacerated finger

Binding cracked handle on screwdriver

Fixing cracked power cables on appliances and electronics

Used instead of electrical tape as insulation between wires in repair of electrical devices

Protective band around NDS crank arm to protect finish where I lean the commuting bike on the rack at work or sign posts to protect the frame

Fashioning temporary handle on rat tail file

I know I’ve used it for other things.

I hate electrical tape for most applications. The only thing I use if for is to keep snap shackles on the boat from opening accidentally because it’s cheap, it goes on and comes off fast, and doesn’t fuse to itself accidentally.

Last edited by MoAlpha; 09-03-18 at 03:45 PM.
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Old 09-03-18, 05:02 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by datlas
Agree no tape required, but word on the street is that you will have early tape migration down the bar over time.
Time will tell, but I don't see why it's going to move-- the overlap is in the proper direction both in the drops and on the tops. Using the "normal" warp method, the edges were rolling on the tops because my hands were pushing against them.

I hope it doesn't shift, because I really prefer the feel of the bars this way.
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Old 09-03-18, 06:03 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by DrIsotope
I recently tried the "start from the top" method of bar wrapping. Much prefer. No tape required.
This. Much cleaner look, and easier to install. Been using for 3 months and don't have any issues
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