For some strange reason, the sample of Pro Micro-Fibre white handlebar tape sent in for test some 18 months ago lacked perforations. The black version has ’em, as does the silver. Maybe the white stuff is supposed to; in any case, our sample had none.
Grip-wise, there doesn’t seem to be much difference. The black test sample had holes and feels no grippier or comfortable. Quite the oppposite, if anything; maybe the lack of perforations prevents the tape stretching and pulling thin.
More importantly, the tape is now a good year and a half through its life and, despite living a hard life of touring, commuting and general roughing it in bad weather, shows little sign of wear. In fact, the appearance of a “bald patch”, in fact more of a narrow strip, where the shiny outer surface has worn away along an edge to reveal the slightly off-white spongy stuff underneath, is what prompted this review.
Of microfibres there is no visible sign; they must be hidden away inside the tape somewhere. Or, by virtue of being “micro”, be invisible to the naked eye. The general effect, even after lengthy service, is presentable and the tape easily washed clean. The surface is glossy but is not notably slippery even when wet and there’s enough compressibility in the tape to afford much the same degree of shock dispersal as with the thinner varieties of regular foam tape. Add the use of a silicon gripper in place of adhesive strip on the tape underside to aid removal and permit re-use and you have an impressive length of tape.
Recommended? Definitely, with or without perforations.
Pro Microfibre Bar Tape £16.99 per pack, colours white, black, silver; bar plugs included
