Guee Handlebar Tape Review

Here, we’ll talk about my impressions regarding Guee’s SL Geo handlebar tape—everything from unboxing and installation to appearance and performance—and whether or not it’s worth the premium price.

Updated April 14, 2020

About Guee Handlebar Tape

Based out of Taichung, Taiwan, the Guee (pronounced “gooey”) team of mechanical engineers, electronic engineers, and bicycle designers have manufactured premium handlebar tape and other cycling accessories since 2011.

Specifically, the designs and graphics found with theirSL and Sio bar tapes stand out among much of the relatively bland competition. And they don’t just look good—Guee emphasizes their handlebar tape is durable and high-functioning as well.

In fact, it’s this design approach that drew me toward Guee’s handlebar tape in the first. So much so, that I was willing to pay ridiculous shipping charges just to get my hands on some.

Was it worth it? Here, I’ll outline what I learned so you can make a more informed decision. First, though, let’s take a high-level look at Guee’s handlebar tape lineup.

Which Kinds of Bar Tape Does Guee Offer?

Overall, Guee manufactures four tape models between two different series.

Guee SL Series

Made from a blend of polyurethane and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), Guee’s SL (Super Light) handlebar tape represents their premiere, high-durability series, which features a patented triple layer design:

1. The Microtex surface is tactile and extremely grippy for superb steering control from start to finish, while delivering tear-resistant durability. Guee advertises it’s also highly resistant to sweat and climate changes, while remaining comfortable and breathable.
2. A tough middle layer with a tensioned structure that increases durability, makes wrapping easier, and helps the tape remain in place once it’s on.
3. A high-density base that cushions by absorbing and dispersing shock.

Together, Guee tells us that their SL handlebar tape is so effective and comfortable that you can go glove-free.

While they all feature this triple-layer construction, as well as the same 2,150 mm long x 30 mm wide x 3 mm measurements, the company offers three SL handlebar tape models: Dual, which has a two-color ‘dot’ design, Geo, with its geometrically patterned colors, and the single-color One.

The website indicates Dual and One weigh in at 56 grams per pair (excluding the high-quality lock-tight end plugs), while Geo is slightly heavier at 60 grams per pair.

Guee Sio Series

Guee’s Sio handlebar tape series is crafted from 100% eco-friendly silicone and engineered with a special German in-mold foaming process they advertise delivers a high level of dampening and shock absorption.

Silicone’s natural water-resistant properties also means that this line repels sweat and water, stands up against the elements, is UV and heat-resistant, non-toxic, and stays cleaner for longer.

Furthermore, silicone’s tacky nature makes the Sio series tape re-wrappable multiple times, without backing or leaving adhesive behind on your handlebars.

Sio measures 1,680mm long, 31 mm wide, and 2.6 mm thick and weighs 140 grams per pair, while Dura is longer at 1,850 mm and thicker at 3 mm, since it’s intended to accommodate wider handlebars.

As with their SL series, Guee’s Sio handlebar tape comes with deluxe end plugs and finishing tape.

Overall, Guee advertises their durable Sio series offers the perfect solution for triathlon, cyclocross, and long distance and endurance cycling.

Here’s a quick table outlining the high-level differences between each Guee handlebar tape model:

How Much Does Guee Handlebar Tape Cost?

If purchased directly from Guee, their handlebar tape is priced as follows:

• SL Geo (white/blue, white/red, white/gray, black/blue, black/red, and black/green): $36.95
• SL Duo (red, blue, white, orange, celeste green, green, yellow, grey, pink): $33.95
• SL One (black only): $29.95
• Sio Dura (black, white, red, blue, green, pink, yellow, orange): $39.99
• Sio Silicone (black, white, red, blue, orange, green, yellow, pink): $39.69

Important: This is in addition to a flat rate shipping charge of $23.36.

Guee offers a 7-day refund policy for faulty, incorrect, or unwanted items on all direct purchases, although they emphasize products “must be unused and in the condition you received them in. Additionally, they must be in their original, unmarked box and packaging.”

Guee also backs their handlebar tape with a 12-month warranty against manufacturer defects.

My Experience With Guee Handlebar Tape

Mind the Shipping Charges

I ordered Guee’s SL Geo handlebar tape in their black/blue color scheme, which arrived quickly inside a padded envelope. The attractive, well-designed box was also surrounded by bubble wrap for added protection.

Although, considering that I paid nearly $25 in shipping charges, I might expect a little extra something for the money. But, hey—good style often costs good money, right?

Parts & Installation

Overall, I found Guee’s SL Geo tape as easy to install as any other polyurethane handlebar tape with an adhesive backing. It stretches just enough to help you wrap tightly, but not as much as silicone tape.

I was initially concerned that it would be difficult to line up the geometric pattern so that it looked consistent. As long as I maintained the same distance with each revolution, though, I didn’t encounter any problems.

I’m appreciative that Guee includes spare tape strips to help cover the natural gap behind and underneath brake hoods, which isn’t something offered by every manufacturer. I also think the hex bar ends deliver a much cleaner look than ones you pop into place.

My Thoughts About Appearance

While design is certainly subjective, I think the SL Geo’s unique geometric design is unlike any other tape I’ve seen—in fact, it was the deciding factor behind my choice to pay exhorbitant shipping charges.

Once wrapped to the bars, it looks super sharp, though, and is very eye-catching. I imagine the black Microtex on top and in the middle of the drops will hide stains very well, while the blue and black geometric pattern adds pops of color.

My Impressions About Performance

In the end, I rode with my Guee SL Geo handlebar tape for more than a year across 5,000+ miles, before recently replacing it with Fizik’s Terra Microtex Bondcush Gel Tacky Bar Tape. And overall, I have to say that it performed exceptionally well.

The bar tape’s Microtex outer layer remained grippy and tactile throughout its lifespan, as well as totally comfortable to wear without gloves. Often, I found it more comfortable to ride glove-free with the SL Geo tape.

And while the SL’s Microtex is quite firm, it consistently provided just enough shock absorption to keep things comfortable and still maintain sufficient feedback from my handlebars.

I didn’t notice any immediate markings or signs of wear after putting some initial mileage on my SL Geo, which wasn’t something I always experienced with third-party tape. And despite all the mileage, dirt, debris, and wear and tear, I found the bar tape held up exceptionally well — so much so that I actually increased its overall star rating above.

Coming to a Conclusion About Guee Handlebar Tape

While we only tested their SL Geo version, based on what we learned from their website, Guee’s handlebar tape seems to provide many of the same essential features as other polyurethane and silicone offerings from third-party manufacturers, and at a competitive MSRP.

In fact, based on my limited time with their SL tape, I’m definitely interested in giving their silicone model a try for comparison.

However, once you factor in shipping costs, which are almost as much as the tape itself, Guee is significantly more expensive than competing models from popular premium brands like Cinelli, Lizard Skins, Fizik, Supacaz, and Arundel, to name just a few.

In fact, in some instances, you could purchase two sets of handlebar tape from competitors for the same price as one of Guee’s. Perhaps this will change if and when the company contracts with a US-based distributor to make their shipping costs competitive (note: We reached out to the company, who advised they’re actively searching).

In the meantime, the bottom line is that if you place a lot of emphasis on highly durable, uniquely designed handlebar tape that not many other cyclists have, I think Guee’s SL Geo fits the bill perfectly. However, there’s no getting around the fact that you’ll have to pay a premium to do so.

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