777funk

It looks and stretches (very little) like leather. Would Trek USA have been using leather bar tape on a 2005 Trek 520?

I'm on a quest to replicate the feel of the original bar tape.

bboy314

I doubt leather tape would have come as original stock equipment.

777funk

This seems to be leather. It's a 2005 bike. Everything seems stock to me (Bontrager components and looks un messed with... other than that I had to re electrical tape the ends after a cable repair).

biker128pedal

Does not look stock. Taped too close to the stem for a factory job. Also in 2005 not likely for a Trek. There were padded tapes then. There were bikes I saw in the early eighties that came with leather on the bars. A friend’s bike came that way. He had to replace one side from a wreck. The tape was folded router bar and stitches. The instructions were to soak the leather then install wet. It dried and shrunk tight. The treated the leather.

There is a company in Texas selling leather bar tape one can wrap. They also recover bike saddles and offer diy kits. I looked at the leather tape. If if get a rim brake Elmonda frame for some parts I have I’ll look for some leather tape.

bboy314

Wouldn’t be that strange if it came to you stock, except for bar tape.

I’d definitely replace the tires. The compound making up the gray part of the tread on those tends to dry up and peel off the tire when cornering. Also looks like the shift cables may be too short, but hard to tell from the photo.

777funk

I taped closer to the stem when I unwrapped for the cable work. So maybe that's why it's closer (not that it's stock). It's a great quality bike. I like this model and the era as far as component choices. So nice to ride.