Broken clutch cable on a group ride!

[wilsonsandy07]

1982 GS1100e, 14k

Hey yall,

So like the title says, my dang clutch cable snapped at the lever side while i was on a group ride with a couple buddies.

supposed to be about 2 hours out, pretty sweet Upstate NY back roads with some nice twists and turns, good mix of straights as well. super light traffic once we got out of the populated towns we started near. had two more experienced riders and two not. kept up through the twisties with the kawi 400rr and the Mt-07 pretty well too and absolutely dusted them on the straights lol.

anyways about 1,5 hours in we were pulling over to check something out and when i pulled in my clutch i felt it, i got it into neutral and pulled it again and she was gone. luckily we were right by a little hill road that dropped into the back road so i got some speed in neutral and popped her into gear, got about another 30 minutes quick shifting, but then we hit another little town and a bunch of lights and stop signs and after some......sketchy....decisions eventually had to stop her in a parking lot.

after not being able to find a cable anywhere at a few different shops nearby, tried to rig her up with some fishing gear that actually fit into the lever perfectly, but i didnt hace enough exposed cable even with the thing maxed out length. ended up having to trailer her home

all in all, still a fun ride, and the new cable comes in today and i got a back up just in case im gunna keep under the seat lol.

[rphillips]

A real PITA, welcome to the real world... Being optimistic, a lot worse things can happen, glad things got sorted.

[LAB3]

My clutch cable snapped one time at the lever and I was able to use a pair of vice grips and a few zip ties to hold it onto the lever, it worked for several hundred miles until the new cable arrived!

[1978GS750E]

There's always a way! This was from Brown County a few years ago!

[Burque73]

What a bummer end to a day riding with buddies. There have been some clever improvisation, like Lab3 mentioned, involving vice grips and such. Sometimes clamped onto the clutch arm. I've had two cables snap on me, both times near home though. On multi state rides, I carry spare cables now. Replacing aging cables before they break let's me keep used ones on hand for those just in case moments. Maybe a buddy will need one if I don't, who knows.

[Burque73]

There's always a way! This was from Brown County a few years ago!

That's funny. Hey, buddy. Was just thinking about that situation. Lol

[1978GS750E]

What a bummer end to a day riding with buddies. There have been some clever improvisation, like Lab3 mentioned, involving vice grips and such. Sometimes clamped onto the clutch arm. I've had two cables snap on me, both times near home though. On multi state rides, I carry spare cables now. Replacing aging cables before they break let's me keep used ones on hand for those just in case moments. Maybe a buddy will need one if I don't, who knows.

Yeah, you saved this poor soul that day! Now I carry spare throttle and clutch cables for all my bikes in my tail bag.

[salty_monk]

When you fit the new cable fit two and cable tie the spare to the one “in use” and just tuck the ends back on the other.
when one goes the other is ready for action….

another trick is to coil it and put 3 or 4 cable ties on it. If you get the coil diameter right it’s a perfect fit inside the back of the headlamp bucket…. Bit more work to fit than the other option on the road though.

[wilsonsandy07]

There's always a way! This was from Brown County a few years ago!

the ol redneck jockey shifter

[wilsonsandy07]

When you fit the new cable fit two and cable tie the spare to the one “in use” and just tuck the ends back on the other.
when one goes the other is ready for action….

another trick is to coil it and put 3 or 4 cable ties on it. If you get the coil diameter right it’s a perfect fit onside the back of the headlamp bucket…. Bit more work to fit that the other option on the road though.

this is a dope idea, im actually going to do that so i dont have to worry about it.

[rphillips]

Ron, I'd bet kind'f hard getting yus'ta a right hand clutch.

[salty_monk]

For years I carried one around inside the headlamp bucket.... never needed it though.

[bwringer]

You can free up some cable length by yoinking the ferrule off, slicing and peeling some of the vinyl covering off, then unwinding some of the metal spiral of the cable housing. Break off the excess and you can easily free up an inch or two of cable. On most bikes you can weasel out a bit of slack, or you might need to re-route the cable a bit to make it work.

One reason this happens is because the hole in the lever wears into an egg shape that grips the round cable end and forces it to flex. Unless you replace the lever as well as the cable, you'll often be right back where you started pretty soon.

Also, most aftermarket levers are soft, cheesy junk that wears out quickly. If you can get them, new OEM levers are worth it every time.

[rphillips]

I'm thinking the hole in the lever "should" be kept lubed... I know of nobody that does that.

[salty_monk]

I apply grease both ends when I remember....