Dunno about WA but in Europe they don't use any tape at any time and I haven't had a blister since I've gone that way. The fatty bar is for old dudes with arthritic fingers, looks great, fantastic conversation piece and thats the smallest tube my bender can handle!
Anyway, it works for me and that counts for something, ever since I rode with Geoff Udy on the DR500 with an alloy chair.
Don't get any crazy fool ideas about makin' an RM500 outfit as they are way slow and handle like puss-hopeless out the gate and shit over jumps-that's why we only just beat it in the Qld Titles. Fat and slow is the only way to go.