IOMIC Bar Tape iB-1 2mm Black

“¥5,000 for Bar Tape? Absolutely Not.”

If that was your first reaction, we are fairly confident that by the end of this page, it will have changed to:

“Wait… this is actually a really good deal.”

For Riders Who Hate Squishy, Puffy, Sticky Bar Tape

Most bar tapes are made from polyurethane foam or synthetic leather.

To make these materials strong enough, they need a certain amount of thickness. As a result, the handlebar can become unnecessarily bulky, the tape can look awkwardly oversized, and after enough use, the surface may start to deteriorate and become sticky.

With IOMIC, none of that is a concern.

The key is IOMIC’s proprietary elastomer material, developed through its expertise as a specialist manufacturer of golf grips.

Even when your hands get sweaty in summer, the surface stays dry and comfortable while maintaining a secure, pleasant grip.

No puffiness. No unpleasant stickiness. No handlebar that suddenly looks like it has been wearing winter gloves.

Rewrap It Hundreds of Times—Probably

Hundreds of times may be a slight exaggeration.

But as long as the tape does not tear, it feels durable enough to make you wonder whether it might last forever.

Anyone who has replaced ordinary bar tape knows the misery of cleaning adhesive residue from a handlebar. It refuses to peel off properly, sticks to everything except the rubbish bin, and somehow leaves you sweating before the new tape has even been opened.

IOMIC does not use adhesive backing.

Instead, the material grips against itself as it is wrapped. If the position is slightly off, simply unwrap it and try again. And again. And again. It will not judge you.

The 0.8 mm version in the same series is extremely thin. The standard 2 mm version, however, offers more substance and should provide excellent durability over long-term use.

Tough Enough for Real-World Use

Affordable polyurethane and synthetic-leather bar tapes can be damaged instantly if the handlebar hits the ground during a fall.

A small scrape quickly grows, the surface starts peeling, and before long the tape splits open as though it has decided to retire early.

IOMIC bar tape—especially the standard 2 mm version—is far more resistant.

A small fall or scrape is unlikely to tear it immediately. Of course, we are not recommending that you test this deliberately.

2 mm or 0.8 mm?

2 mm: Substantial and Durable

The 2 mm version weighs approximately 200 g for the complete left-and-right set, so it is heavier than ordinary bar tape.

However, it provides a substantial feel, visible thickness, and a reassuringly solid finish once wrapped.

Choose the 2 mm version if you want:

• A noticeable amount of thickness

• A solid, substantial feel

• Greater resistance to wear and damage

• Bar tape that actually looks and feels like bar tape

0.8 mm: Extremely Thin and Lightweight

The 0.8 mm version is thin enough to make you briefly wonder:

“Is this really going to be okay?”

It is designed for riders who prioritize minimum thickness and low weight.

Choose the 0.8 mm version if your attitude toward bar tape is:

“I would rather not use bar tape at all, but apparently my hands need grip.”

Tips for a Clean Wrap

After explaining all of this in the shop, most customers end up choosing IOMIC.

Chū is particularly skilled at wrapping it, so we asked him for his advice.

Ordinary bar tape needs to be pulled fairly firmly while wrapping to prevent it from loosening.

IOMIC, however, is highly elastic. If you pull it with the same force, it stretches out with a dramatic “boiiing.”

The trick is to apply only light tension. Pull it gently, but not so much that the pattern on the tape begins to distort.

— Chū

So, what do you think? You are at least a little tempted to try it now, aren’t you?

I do not play golf, but this is bar tape made seriously by an Osaka-based company that specializes in golf club grips. And the fact that professional keirin riders use it too? That is less of a recommendation and more of a medal of honor.

Specifications

Size: 2030 mm × 30 mm × 2 mm
Included: Bar-end plugs and finishing tape
Material: Elastomer
Weight: Approximately 200 g