So where can I buy them Tommaselli clip ons?
The fellas at
http://www.motomeccaspares.com/ refuse to get back to me. Are there any other vendors for these bars that will take my money AND provide the bars?
That's a damn shame, Motomeccaspares are UK based but still have to secure them from the Tommaselli source in Italy. They are a primary source for these clip-ons. So long as you understand the Italians and their lack of haste in getting items to you with northern European promptness (lol), loquacious way of saying "be prepared to sit a wait until they arrive".
Other source you might try if they are still about is 'Cosmopolitan Motors' (vintagecosmo) cosmotor.com, (here is their online store:
http://vintagecosmo.com/store/). Here's the trick- and no promises and if it works dont pester and submit yourself to utter patience....or else just spend the coin for the Gilles.
They are small and specialize in vintage European motors, old Benellis, Parillas, etc, so a 52mm set of Tommaselli's simply is not a thing they stock or do in general. Sweet talk the fella and tell him that on your search for these you came across him, express suprise and delight that there is someone out there that does what he does and ask if he were agreeable if he could secure a set of 52mm from his Tommaselli source for you. the number is: 215-368-7500. (sourced from the website)
I suspect, and admittedly was so delighted when I first saw the Tommaselli's because back in '05 we were hard pressed to find a set of clip-ons with a rise that would make the bike tolerable were slim to none. if you wanted to go with the LSL's you had to also do the LSL forkmount (or the GSGMoto version) instrument panel/headlight mount kit because nobody had a set of clip-ons with a rise that would work without hitting the instrument panel for the '05+ S3. Long story short....this is why I ponied up and paid the $300+ large and waited for almost 3 months until they showed up, but 'show up' they did (I used motomeccaspares like you tried).
These are the only two sources I have found that deals with the Tommaselli clip-ons, if there are others I dont know of them but this guy at Cosmopolitan motors was willing to help me out, I just flipped the coin and went with motomeccaspares simply because the option was available on a drop down list on their website, thats all. I still had to wait forever to get 'em, and heavens dont wait til July/August because southern Europe shuts down and you will have an ungodly wait to get your order filled then..
These guys as i understand actually go over to Italy a few times a year to pick stuff up, most things they order and also have to wait until it gets shipped to them so I warn you again, DO NOT BE IN A HURRY TO GET THEM, just submit to humbly waiting, this isnt a "customer is always right, and let my ball out this guy cos he's taking too long" kind of scene, he'll actually be doing you a 'propper' and will likely charge you a princely sum (but less than the Gilles) because you will notice that the Tommaselli's in 37mm probably cost $140 and whats a few extra ounces of aluminum? It seems the sizes for the modern USD fork motors are some special kind of order...
sorry for the wordiness but thought i'd be thorough..and again, no promises, I tried this back in spring '06.
The Gilles were not an available option back when i did this but hurrah they are now so if its too difficult or if you decide you cannot tolerate the potential wait time for the Tommaselli's i would go ahead and get the Gilles.
good luck
