Do They Still Make These? Where To Purchase?
 

I bought my first Motobecane yesterday, a one owner that's been sitting around for ages. It's in superb condition and has something I've never seen. It has these awesome leather (?) bar wraps that are super comfortable. The bike is so nice I may not flip it. Anyhow, do they still make bar wraps like this? And where do I find them!?

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vqzZHQl3xrI/Sk...s512/drive.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vqzZHQl3xrI/Sk...eatherleft.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vqzZHQl3xrI/Sk...12/handbar.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vqzZHQl3xrI/Sk...aetherlogo.JPG

More photos of the bike for those interested here: http://picasaweb.google.com/Sdlong92/Motobecane#

What do you all think? It's the nicest french bike I've owned by far.

I had wraps like that on my old Moto. But they weren't leather - it was imitation. Plastic. I have real leather wrap on my Puch custom. Made by Brooks. I got rid of the Celeste housing - it was a joke. Costs around $60:

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/p...g/IMG_0341.jpg

On motorcycles they are called handlebar covers
for example: http://www.chilhowee.net/handlebar-covers.html

Looks like they're sewn on. Velo Orange and Toshi sell products are are similar. I really like the VO stuff and it's not too expensive. I believe Robatsu used the Toshi stuff and he liked it alot. Both look great

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...wn/leather.jpg

Wow, both those options look terrific! That Brooks wrap looks like its definitely worth the price. Do you find that it's comfortable?

That VO looks awesome as well with that saddle. Atleast now I know I can get replacements if something happens. I'm really loving the bike. Used it this morning instead of my normal commuter to the gym and it feels wonderful (except climbing the hill back home, triple chainring has spoiled me!).

Isn't that one Elk-Hide or such? I've seen it somewhere. Nice!

The Brooks is comfortable to me. But I also wear gloves (1/2-finger) with padding for the medial and ulnar nerves. Note I wrap from the top-down. No electrical-tape was harmed in this job.

I hate to disappoint you, but that handsome, comfortable handlebar wrap on that Moto is plastic. Nothing wrong with it, though, because it looks and feels good.

That's a Super Mirage, right? I bought one of those for my girlfriend in 1980. I think yours is the same year. It was a lot of bike for the money. She had a Schwinn Varsity at the time and couldn't imagine what a better bike was like, and I wanted to show her. She was less than five feet tall (152 cm), so she couldn't try my bike. She barely fit on the 19" frame I got her, but it worked. She loved it.

Panthers007, beautiful Puch!

I switched from top-down to bottom-up long ago, because downward pressure frays the upward-facing edges of the tape. Do you find it not to be a problem with your tape?

Sorry for the lateness of the reply. Been enjoying riding it around! Ummm, it is NOT a Super Mirage, it is a Nomade Sprint. I don't know how high or low end it was in the line up but I love it to death. Even the chain-rings are cute. Black rings against a silver guard. Looks nice!

I'm pretty sure that model was the bottom of the line of Motobecanes in the US market, but it's not bad at all, as you can tell! And Motobecane made really pretty bikes. I had a couple myself. I miss that company. The name is now merely licensed by importers. There is no Motobecane manufacturer.

Yeah the paint on this one is great, I LOVE pearlescent paint personally. When the sun hits it I feel on top of the world. Stuck an extra set of SPDs on it and it looks so different. Gonna look for some clamp on DT shifters if I end up keeping this one.

Thanks! Never had a problem with fraying. I generally use cloth or leather. Can't speak for other materials - other than plastic. Which isn't know to fray.