tsappenfield

Over the holidays, I plan on purchasing some Benotto handlebar tape to finish off my vintage Italian bike restoration. I've installed other types of handlebar tape a few times, but I'm wondering if Benotto tape requires any special "tricks" to install it correctly.

TSAPP

Michael Angelo 

Looks better when taped top to bottom.

AZORCH

It's been a long time since I used that stuff. Seems to me that one trick we used to do is to finish it off at the bottom with heat - maybe a match, IIRC. Someone please step in and add to my failing memory, please.

rootboy 

yeah, that was the technique. A hot match applied to the tape, then stuck down to itself. I never really liked the stuff.

SJX426 

Thats why I bought an additional handlebar, levers and stem. That way I can swap it out for serious rides!
When I purchased my Colnago, it appeared to have the original tape on the bars. It was wrapped from bottom to top. I purchased 2 NOS packages of the tape as back up. the Benotto plugs actually fit over the bar and not in the bar. The tape holds them in place as you wrap from the bottom to the top. My bike had blue tape to match the blue paint. Whats a thread without pics?
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23skidoo

^^^

Now, just pump up those tires and she's ready to roll

SJX426 

Roll, yes, ride, no. It needed a rear freewheel in this pic. This was just after I cleaned it up after purchase in 2009. Since then the bars were replaced along with the wheels with Campy LF's, Campy SR seat post and SL pedals. Usually ride with a Brooks Pro too, butt lasts longer!

16Victor

Ditch the benitto plugs; they're dumb. Use Velox.

Wrap bottom to top on v. clean bars. Stretch the tape slightly as you go. At the top, you can seal the tape by heating/melting/welding with a lighter but frankly it never lasts long for me. I typically finish at the stem with colored or clear plastic tape.

G/L, it's not bad at all.

smontanaro 

Does Benotto tape have glue on it? When taping a bar with Hunt Wilde, I give the bar a quick shot of 3M Super 77. And then, yes, finish off with matching color electrical tape.

rootboy 

No glue on benotto. Super glue is a good idea. If it'll stick.

devinfan

If you're not planning on re-using it, run a glue stick over the bars before applying and that will prevent the tape from slipping. I use Benotto tape a lot, and use this technique when using the tricolor tape because any slippage really shows. Also, if you want the colours to really pop it helps to have a layer of white Benotto tape underneath your chosen colour as in the case below. Pics here for pics sake:

JML

Top to bottom, over vintage Scott rubber tape (white), internal chrome plugs.

yuyax

Concur with others. Just start from the top and at the bottom stuff into the handlebar and jam in a Velox plug. If you are really serious about Benotto tape, it should be wrapped twice... two layers

Oh and make sure you stretch the tape really good

16Victor

Clean bars and tight bottom to top wrapping and it's never slipped. You do have to deal with tape at the top though.

noglider 

A match burns hotter than a lighter. Use a match.

I love Benotto tape!

Otis

Install Benotto caps over the ends of the bars. Wrap OVER caps from inside out and finish at the bar clamp with Super Glue. In my experience old Benotto does not react well to heat as it did in the day, but Super Glue works great to hold it.

Shimagnolo

That looks like the tape used on my old Schwinn Varsity when I was a kid.
Is it the same or similar?

Soylent 

I wrap bottom to top and use two layers of the tape to give a richer look. Got that tip from gridplan

due ruote 

Yes, OVER the caps! I hate seeing the caps stuffed on over the tape; it really destroys the look.

Hot glue is another failsafe method of sticking the finish end down.

rootboy 

Don't think so. Schwinn used Hunt-Wilde, if I'm not mistaken.

callig

I do mine from bottom to top pulling it very tightly even stretching it a bit and finish off with electrical tape I like black

tsappenfield

So I just finished the taping job and it looks pretty good if I say so myself. I wrapped from bottom to top, no match, no glue, but I did put some double faced tape over the brake clamp to attach the 3 inch pieces of tape. I finished it off with white electrical tape. I love the look. I used white tape and the finished product has a pearl look to it. Lots of other good tips here. Thanks much.
TSAPP

mapeiboy

You got one beautiful bike .

SJX426 

Mapeiboy - Thanks! I appreciat your comment. This was taken while cleaning it up after purchasing it in 2009. My arm was still broken at this point, but I was very excited to have found this for less than $500 on CL. You will notice that there are bits and pieces missing due to the cean up effort. The saddle, post, pedals, chain and freewheel are the only items not original to the bike, that I was able to determine. It may have been built from a frame, but I don't knokw. The white specs on the photo are paint chips, and there are a lot, but I have decided to keep it as is.

I believe the tape is original as well due to the scuff marks on it. I purchased NOS replacement tape from YJ but have not used it yet. In the mean time the seat post has been replaced with a Super Record, as have the pedals. The chain was replaced with SRAM 850 and the rear freewheel replaced with IRD 7 speed on this wheel set. I have purchased an additonal set of wheels with LF Records and GP4's using a Regina CX/CXs 7 speed which shifts very nicely. An additional handlebars were added that weren't as low along with a longer Cinelli stem, both predating '83. The original stem, handlebars and a another set of SR levers is available that will get the Benotto tape. I will be able to swap them out easily to return to this appearance with the proper set of parts.

I really love the ride of this bike. It is like it will coast up hill! One of the surprises was to find the Mavic 501 hubs with GL330's match the weight of the LF Records with the GP4's. Since purchasing it I have put over 1500 miles on it and enjoyed nearly every one except the flats!