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Brooks Bar Tape Ends

Old 05-19-20, 10:06 PM
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hobkirk
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Brooks Bar Tape Ends

I have always had trouble inserting plugs into the bars after wrapping. But now I need to figure out why. I've watched numerous videos, and everyone just folds the bar tape in and sticks the plug in, sometimes using a mallet.

Yesterday I used some Brooks micro-fiber leather look tape. I really like the look and feel and the plugs (not so much the cotton cloth finishing tape - it looks like it will look dirty quickly).
  • It's fairly thick with a pronounced somewhat thick blue strip covering about 2/3 of the with of the tape and an adhesive strip down the middle of that.
  • I found it slow-going - I don't really understand why (bulk? stretch?), but I go it wrapped.
And then the bar end plugs. IMPOSSIBLE!
  • They fit into my handlebars firmly with no tape. They are snug enough in an empty bar to require a screwdriver to remove.
  • On one, I scraped away the blue for the tape extending beyond the end of the bar, but there is no way that tape is going to fit inside the bar and then have the plug inserted.
  • I've managed to get one plug in through brute force and a 20 ounce wood mallet, but some of the tape does not get pulled in evenly (there's a bulge)
But I need to re-wrap, and I may end up using plastic tape at the bar ends, folding some into the inside of the bars before inserting the plugs.

Also, I want soft bar end plugs because my handlebar ends hit my CF top frame tube at full lock.

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks for your patience.
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Old 05-20-20, 03:04 AM
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canklecat
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Skiving the ends of the leather wrap would help -- just where it tucks into the bar ends. That'll thin it enough on the inside where it won't show. But be sure to measure accurately. Although at worst skiving the inside of the leather wrap would only make the wraps lay flatter, not a bad thing.
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Old 05-20-20, 07:17 AM
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Life is good after going exclusively to the bar end plugs with hex heads screws to tighten into your bars, they always fit and not come out until you want them out, and they are reusable. Amazon has dozens of styles.
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Old 05-20-20, 08:53 AM
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phughes
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Since I have bar end shifters, I have never put the bar tape into the end, I simply install the bar end, then tape from the end going up. I have never had the end unravel. I am using Brooks leather bar tape.
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Old 05-20-20, 09:10 AM
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dsbrantjr
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What about carving properly-fitting plugs out of old wine bottle corks? They should blend well with the tape and make a good cushion against your frame.
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Old 05-20-20, 10:26 AM
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davidad
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When I put on new tape I cut the end to match the angle and use carpet tape to hold it while I wrap the bar. Plug the bars with these: https://www.benscycle.com/Nitto-Bar-...SABEgJI-_D_BwE
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Old 05-21-20, 06:37 AM
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shelbyfv
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IMO thicker tape works best w/o the end overlap and tuck. There really is no reason to tuck it, just makes a bulge.
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