I like them because I find them very comfortable, so it is not about preserving the original look. The original grips on the bike are decrepit, so I need to replace them anyway. Aesthetically I prefer shellacked cork, but comfort-wise, those Raleigh-style grips fit my hands better. Several local shops carry them, including Harris, Old Roads, and the Broadway Bicycle School. But the available colours are black, white, and sprakly red -- neither of which fits the look I am going for with this bike. I was hoping to paint them some sort of matte bronze or pewter colour.