Does anyone like those plastic/rubber things that look like leather? I want to wrap my bars - those covers seem to have little vibration dampening potential.

Leave them. Sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear. But they're just so cool.

I wonder if there's a way to get them off without hurting them. Soak the whole handlebar in a hot bath to soften it up as much as possible, work as much water under the plastic as you can, loosen up the brake lever all the way... maybe you can get the lever body (not the clamp) out? Then work the bar wrap off. If I were dead set on getting rid of the bar wrap, that's what I'd do. If you ruin it, well, then you can get our the razor knife.

Swap your bar and stem out for something else that suits your tastes, then trade or sell the Motobecane setup to someone who's been looking everywhere for a set and can put it to use.

-Kurt

Wow. That's brilliant! I feel like an idiot.

On to the next question - anyone ever try to fit a standard stem into a French headset? Difficult? Is it just a sandpaper job?

It can be done with sandpaper, but 22.0 stems do exist out there. eBay and the ISO thread are pretty good sources. What length do you need?

-Kurt

Here's the rub...the hood covers are integral to the bar cover...I'd hate to be the person with the job of installing those covers!

Yeah, I realize that. But if you take out the bolt that holds the lever body to the clamp, you should be able to get the lever body out of the hood. The clamp will stay in the bar wrap, of course. Then you shoot some more water in there, and start working it all south... but frankly Kurt's idea is much better.

Reducing a the diameter of a stem isn't that hard. But come to think of it I have a Motobecane with a trashed fork, and that stem must be French, right? Just sayin'....

Rudi, your method for removing the stuff sounds pretty good. But, just how would you go about re-installing them? That doesn't sound like fun.

OP, I would just get yourself another bar/stem/lever combo and set the original aside. I'll gladly send you some Weinmann or Dia Comple levers for the cost of shipping.

I have one of these. Bizarre idea. Why would anyone want this?

Reinstall them? If you want them, don't uninstall them! Sell them on ebay and let the buyer figure it out.

Considering the end results of trying to stuff a different lever into the hood, I can't see the benefits - it's easier to use black VO Elkhide if the look is desired.

-Kurt

That's my point. There's no reinstalling them; ain't gonna happen. So, if one wanted them gone why make it harder than just cutting them off?

I'm sure there's someone out there who has a Motobecane that he absolutely adores and wants to restore to mint condition and would be thrilled to pick up these bar wraps on ebay. I'm not that guy, but I'm crazy enough to know someone else is that crazy, if you see my point. If I were that crazy, I could get them back onto the bar. Go on, admit it, you know I could.

No argument there.

If someone wanted that wrap on their Moto, though, I'm sure they'd rather just have the entire cockpit. That's why I'd just consider the original bar/stem/lever combo a singular and permanent unit.

I've had my covers off & on multiple times. To get them off, I squirt WD40 or equivalent underneath and massage it down the bar as I go, squirting more as needed. I also use a fine stiff wire as needed to help wick the lubricant further down, being careful not to puncture the cover.
When I reinstall, I first clean all the former lubricant off, and I use a mild dish detergent solution or Windex as a lubricant. The idea of a water based lubricant is that it will eventually evaporate and allow the cover to firmly adhere to the bars with no slipping/squirming.

I'm actually not a big fan of these covers, but since they are original to my GJ and are very durable, I don't mind putting in a little effort to preserve originality.

I assume you work it off with the lever clamp embedded in the assembly - correct?

-Kurt

Well, on my set of bars, there is a pylon swaged into the bar that accepts the lever clamp screw. The pylon is at least 1/2" proud of the bar. The covers need to be worked over these pylons when removing or installing.
Actually, I crashed a couple of years ago and knocked off one of the pylons. I was able to snake a conventional lever clamp around the bar after enlarging the hole in the cover for the pylon, i.e. without removing the cover.

My setup is different from the OP's. The brake hoods are not integrated with the cover, rather, they are conventional.

First time I've seen them in burgundy. That's pretty spiffy, Auchen!

-Kurt

Rubbing alcohol works better and it evaporates after it's off.

Not mine - I just thought this poll needed a picture so everyone will know what covers we were referring to.

I like them. They're pretty tough and look clean. Motobecane Super Mirage showed up yesterday with a set of black.

I think they're ugly, but they are rare -- I wouldn't destroy a set to get rid of it. +1 on cuda888k's suggestion.

me too.