HandleBra

[zray67]

I recently ordered leather handle bar tape from the Handlebra company. I ordered on a tuesday night about 6PM and a couple of hours later I got a call from Ray, the owner. He was out of the product I ordered but he would substitute a newer, more expensive, waterproof tape in place of the one which I had ordered. He said there might be a slight delay in delivery. I said no problem and I received the tape the following monday.
I can attest that the service from the HandleBra company is fantastic. But, because my schedule has become frantic and chaotic I have not been able to retape my handlebars, so no product review(so far I like what I see and feel). Hopefully, next weekend I can retape. For general and more specific information on bar tapes the HandleBra web site is highly recommended.

[rugbysecondrow]

I just orded my first Handlebra tape for my Concours and I am looking forward to it.

Cheers,

Paul

[zray67]

After you do your taping I would be interested in your opinion. Also, I'm going to do a double taping. Either hockey tape or cork tape first then the leather tape.

[Ahneida Ride]

Oz a working on a water proof version .... Hurricane HandleBra (HHB)

HHB should always be in stock or close to being in stock ...
no long waits. 11 colors too ! :p

Time to go ballistic and offer a full and rich color spectrum.

I've got some prototypes out there and everyone (so far) loves the stuff.

------------

Just remember, HB is just a one Bozo show, please ;) bear with me.
I do my best to ship within 48 hours on in stock items.

[bigmonter]

Oz a working on a water proof version .... Hurricane HandleBra (HHB)

HHB should always be in stock or close to being in stock ...
no long waits. 11 colors too ! :p

Time to go ballistic and offer a full and rich color spectrum.

I've got some prototypes out there and everyone (so far) loves the stuff.

------------

Just remember, HB is just a one Bozo show, please ;) bear with me.
I do my best to ship within 48 hours on in stock items.


On the site you list two kinds of wrap "el natural" and "en hanced." Is HBB the going to the the enhanced version? Also on the order page you mention HBB put I don't see a way to actually order it yet? Am I missing something?

[Ahneida Ride]

On the site you list two kinds of wrap "el natural" and "en hanced." Is HBB the going to the the enhanced version? Also on the order page you mention HBB put I don't see a way to actually order it yet? Am I missing something?

I suspect that only HHB will be stitched. HHB a bit thicker and very
easy to work with. HHB machines very nicely. The chamfered edges
bevel nicely and it lies flat. You can pull HHB real tight. Takes more
then 225 lbs to break it.

HHB is not available yet. But if you order "fine cigar", I will ship you
the HHB version of fine cigar at the HB price. :D

[Lifelover]

I suspect that only HHB will be stitched. HHB a bit thicker and very
easy to work with. HHB machines very nicely. The chamfered edges
bevel nicely and it lies flat. You can pull HHB real tight. Takes more
then 225 lbs to break it.

HHB is not available yet. But if you order "fine cigar", I will ship you
the HHB version of fine cigar at the HB price. :D


Do we need to mention this in the order or are you doing that for all Fine Cigar orders for the time being?

Also, does is all HHB stitched and will the Fine Cigar HHB that you ship be stitched?

[Ahneida Ride]

Do we need to mention this in the order or are you doing that for all Fine Cigar orders for the time being?

Nah ... just order the fine cigar.... The is a section for comments on the
order page. if you care to add a comment. that's even better ...

Also, does is all HHB stitched and will the Fine Cigar HHB that you ship be stitched?

Nope ... not stitched. Stitched is all custom. There is no way I could
guess what color stitches one would want. Send me a PM if you care to
have it stitched. I've done a limited #. I hope to have by the end of
the month a systematic method to add the stitching option on the
web site.

[Satellite]

After you do your taping I would be interested in your opinion. Also, I'm going to do a double taping. Either hockey tape or cork tape first then the leather tape.
ZRay67,

I would recommend you just apply the handlebra directly over your existing tape.

Here is the method I used under "Wrapping Bars":
http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2009/01/shellac-and-bar-tape-guide.html

I have only done the top of the bars so far but I love it. I used silver duct tape to terminate the wrap at the brifters. Very comfy and hands down (pun intended) the best handle bar tape ever.

Satellite

[bigmonter]

Nah ... just order the fine cigar.... The is a section for comments on the
order page. if you care to add a comment. that's even better ...



Nope ... not stitched. Stitched is all custom. There is no way I could
guess what color stitches one would want. Send me a PM if you care to
have it stitched. I've done a limited #. I hope to have by the end of
the month a systematic method to add the stitching option on the
web site.

is there a functional point to stitching or is it just for looks?

[Ahneida Ride]

is there a functional point to stitching or is it just for looks?


Mainly for asthetics, the wrap is strong as it is.

[Smiley]

So much love for the handlebar :) great product backed by a great guy.

[Lifelover]

One last question.

Is the "Fine Cigar" the color closet to a Brooks Honey B-17?

If not, what is?

Thanks

[Ahneida Ride]

One last question.

Is the "Fine Cigar" the color closet to a Brooks Honey B-17?

If not, what is?

Thanks

Yup the HB fine cigar is a decent match outa the box ...

The HHB will be a better match as the saddle ages.

I've found that Brooks "Honey" turns a light Brown as it ages.

Any wrap that matches the Honey outa the box, might not match the
saddle 2 months down the road.

On My Honey Brooks Ti .. Both the HB and the HHB work.

Top = Original HandleBra (HB)
Middle = my Brooks Honey Saddle
Bottom = Prototype Hurricane (water proof) HandleBra (HHB)

Note the Hudz Hoods !!!! :banana:

[TimS]

Put the dark blue handlebra on my Serotta dark blue Legend Ti. Looks amazing! Easy to put on, can handle a "tight" wrap. Cant wait for the Hurricane!

[dekindy]

AR, your picture of the HHB provokes a question from an inexperienced bar wrapper. If there is enough tape should you go ahead and wrap the bar all the way to the stem or should the tape be cut off and part of the bar left exposed as is normally done? I had never thought about this but I have seen the comments that the tape length is more generous than other bar tape brands/types and there appears to be enough to wrap your whole bar.

[Ahneida Ride]

Nah wrap as normal .... leave as little or as much bar exposed as you see fit.

I leave a bit less space. William leaves a bit more. It is all personal preference.

I wrapped this way (over the cork and existing HB) just to take pictures
and gain some perspective on how the wrap might look.

One big question is .... How long do I make the wraps ....?????

No wrap is longer then about 7 ft or 84 inches ....???? Am I correct?
84 inches will wrap a 46 inch bar ...

I prefer not to have seams. I'd rather just cut across the hide and the
lengths are what they may be ( as long as they exceed 7 ft.)
What is left, will have to joined/mated with no more then one seam
per wrap. Any opinions ?

Going seamless decreases yield and profits .... but the idea is to
build the best wrap ever created, bar none ! :banana:

[zray67]

If we are voting on seam or seamless. I prefer seamless.

[dave thompson]

I'm voting for waterproof white! :p

[Ahneida Ride]

I'm voting for waterproof white! :p

Is that WHITE enough ? Black is next to it ...

It's whiter then white paper..

[dave thompson]

Is that WHITE enough ? Black is next to it ...

It's whiter then white paper..
As long as it's this white!

[Louis]

As long as it's this white!

Somebody's not going to make it home on that ride...

[dekindy]

As long as it's this white!

You had better get some side load water bottle cages to accomodate those "tall" bottles. :D

That had better be the best tequilla if you are going to put it on the perfect bike.

[rwsaunders]

Dave only drinks the tequila because he needs the corks for his handlebar plugs.

[Volant]

Dave only drinks the tequila because he needs the corks for his handlebar plugs.

Is there another reason for drinking tequila??