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Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Classic Tape

8
£21.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Pricier than some and takes a bit of extra work to fit, but worth it for impressive looks and comfort
Weight: 
114g

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Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Classic bar tape is surprisingly comfortable – compared to how I thought it was going to feel after giving it a squeeze in the box. With its retro look and coming in a variety of colours, it'll definitely suit a whole range of bikes, especially those of a steel persuasion.

  • Pros: Great padding for such a thin tape
  • Cons: You need to pull it tight to get a good wrap finish on tightly bended bars

As you can guess from its name and the faux leather finish, the Classic option of Fizik's Tempo range of bar tapes is designed to work with bikes that have a more traditional look. Saying that, I still think it looks pretty good on the carbon bar in the pics.

> Find your nearest dealer here

According to Fizik, Bondcush is a layered mid-padding polymer foam that runs along the centre of the tape for the absorption of road buzz. It is surprisingly thin with the whole tape only measuring 3mm thick, but it does a very impressive job of providing comfort. (Dave reviewed the Terra Microtex Bondcush, designed 'for those who go off-road on drop bars', recently and thought it excellent, if expensive at £32.99.)

In the box the tape felt quite firm and unforgiving compared to some foam or cork brands, but once fitted I could ride without gloves for a long time without any discomfort.

Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Classic Tape

Grip is pretty impressive too for such a smooth tape, even in the wet, with just enough tackiness for gloves to purchase.

When it comes to fitting, the Classic isn't the most flexible so you really have to pull it tight as you wrap around the bends to stop large gaps forming, so it takes a little bit of re-wrapping to get things looking neat and tidy, but it is worth the faff for the finish.

Fizik_Tempo_Microtex_Bondcush_Classic_Tape_Fitted_2.jpg

I reckon the black here looks classy, but other colours are available: white, blue, green, red, pink, yellow, orange, honey, silver and celeste.

Cost-wise, at £21.99 it's not the cheapest out there for this style of tape. The PRO Microfibre tape we tested a while back cost just £14.99, but the review does suggest the Fizik delivers better comfort.

If it's a tape high on comfort you are after then you could go for the Selle Italia Smootape, which'll set you back £17.99.

On the whole, the Fizik tape might be a little bit more expensive than some, but it does perform very well indeed and looks/feels to be very hardwearing – so at least it'll last a while.

Verdict

Pricier than some and takes a bit of extra work to fit, but worth it for impressive looks and comfort

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Classic Tape

Size tested: 3mm thick

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Fizik says, "Tempo are bar tapes designed for an unparalled performance, durability and versatility of use.

"Bondcush is layered mid-padding polymer foam that aids the absorption of road buzz. Bonded to a microtex outer layer this material blend is our chunkiest option that combines comfort, versatility and durability, ideal to tackle all kind of roads.

"The classic touch is a durable perforated leather-like texture, with traditional aesthetic and smooth surface slide easily to different riding positions."

A solid bar tape delivering everything a good bar tape needs to.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Fizik:

- Bondcush construction 3mm thick

- Classic touch

- Colors: Black, White, Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Honey, Silver, Celeste

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

When it comes to grip and comfort it can't really be faulted.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Plenty of comfort for such a thin tape.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Not as easy to fit as some.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

You can get cheaper from various brands with similar styling, but the Fizik is good quality for the money. Fizik's own Terra Microtex Bondcush Tacky Tape is £32.99.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A comfortable, grippy bar tape that performs well on all types of bike for decent money.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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