Anyone ever cover a bar in it? I'm looking at something like this https://www.sears.com/superior-58-065...3&blockType=G3

is it long enough?

Typical steering wheel, (typical more modern vehicle) is 48" in circumference.
Giving an inch of stretch the overall relaxed length is probably 47" total.
The grab circumference is probably 3.25"
My guess is that there will be excess material, assuming that, new holes will be required unless you pad things.

was planning on padding, maybe the leather over cork.

It will look like you're bars are giant sausages. Are you aware of this?

I hear the giant sausage look is coming into its own, tho'.

* apologies, RFC

Even if he is, I wasn't, so you've done your good deed for the day CJL. That is friggin' cool.

At least we don't wear wooden cowboy boots.

And when you want to replace the housing underneath the elk?

Well leather wrap designed to go around a strearing wheel should work just fine around bars which are about the same size. There is no good reaon for not sourcing generic parts like bar wrap outside of the typical bike outlets and LBS's to save money. No need to pay a 50%+ premium for bike related brand.

I just let the housings fly around in the wind, all loose and old school, what with my not owning a bike made in the 21st century. Maybe someday I'll get all modern, in which case I'll opt for "elk-free."

I've never touched these but I do sometimes do leather repairs and work on old Coach bags and leather moccasins. If these are good leather all you'd do is carefully snip the thread. If the leather has been cared for and not allowed to dry rot it will come off easily. You'd then do what you'd need to do. Then using fresh waxed heavy thread (found in a Jo-Anns or other craft store) you'd sew them back up in the same holes you used the first time.

You may also want to take the oppertunity of having the hide off the bars to saddle soap and neat's foot oil/mink oil it.

Mmmm...sausages. M A V, it could save you a little money compared to the VO wrap--maybe enough for a pack of real sausages!--but that's before the cork wrap. Probably in it for ~$35 either way.

Btw, Amazon sells the same wrap for less than Sears: https://www.amazon.com/Superior-58-06...pr_product_top. Worth checking out the comments on the Amazon reviews--for instance, make sure you get the small size (A) and wait a day before tightening the thread with an awl (anyone ever heard that before?).

Well if one wants realy cheap leather bar wrap go serious bike bum style buy a cheap ass leather Jacket at the thrift store and cut it into 1 inch strips.

^Don't give anybody any ideas, okay!

Actually, jackets and big purses from thrift stores make great replacement seat covers, so does leather couches thrown out to the trash. Thanks to the link for the $35 VO sew up, I was aware of their $75 wrap and thought the wheel cover was a good enough of a deal to at least try it. I will also say not all cuts of leather are created equal, there's many variances in thickness and softness. But, I would treat the leather well and with as many bikes as I have it would probably see just light riding.

So what's the problem?

Losing one water cage to hold the mustard bottle?

I don't have to do that often, so it isn't hard to justify replacing the wrap, even at that price. Handlebar wrap typically needs more frequent changing, but leather won't, I expect. It ends up being a decent value in the long run.

I have leather tape from Nashbar on one of my bikes. I like it a lot. It's not available any more, unfortunately. Maybe they lost money on it.

You just cut the thread and discard it. I've reused the same elk hide sew-on stuff without issue. You just have to be careful regarding brake lever placement.

Leather working shops like Tandy are good sources too. I remember pulling a few long leather strips out of their upholstery junk bin for a fiver. But I think you have to trim the thickness at the edges to make it work out right. They make a tool for that.

Totally inappropriate. Apologize now!

I would like to see picture of steering wheel or recycled leather jackets wrap. Does anyone have any?

I finished sewing a set yesterday.
I bought a kid (goat) hide, and measured, cut, then sewed it using these instructions.