Snapped a Clutch Cable

[SINKING78]

Every time someone does a long run they always list in their "should take with you list": A spare clutch cable! I NEVER really thought that was an issue until today. The cable, only 2 years old, met his maker today... Great ride already and on the home stretch, shifting into 3rd... "clink" There it goes... AHHH!! Fun time turns into where's the shade I can hang out while waiting an hour and a half for a trailer to arrive..(yes, I was lucky enough to be riding with someone to go grab my trailer) Dumb story short, I'm not going to carry and extra clutch cable with me but, I get why on a LONG run you might want to because waiting an hour and a half wasn't much fun. If I was stuck in the middle of nowhere with NO help I would feel like I just moved.

As my fellow rider pulled off to get the trailer I didn't have the typical pity party one might take on himself at this time.. I tried to fix it.. I pulled what was left of the cable from the handle bar thinking I could pull it like a jocky shift. Nope, that don't work. haha well, I tried. So I whipped out my trusty smart phone and ordered a new cable from Mikes before the trailer even arrived

Now I just hope that all the bad talk about Mikes isn't true.. I've had nothing but good luck with them folks

 

[5twins]

Their clutch cable is at the top of the "DO NOT BUY" list. They break in as little as 200 miles. If you must buy one from Mike's, get 2 and carry the other with you, you're gonna need it, lol.

 

[photojon]

Happened to me a little more than a week ago. As I was traveling to my mechanic, I was a scary stop, but I made it 26 miles on a highway to his shop. Thank good he operates right off a major highway, cause when I finally stopped i was only 1 block from his shop, just pushed it from there.

 

[SINKING78]

Thanks, now it IS a pity party. Where should I buy a replacement?

 

[5twins]

The Motion Pro aftermarket brand is a very good cable. Any shop can get you one. The original is also good (but expensive). 3M at 650Central has a special "Easy-Pull" cable that is also very good.

 

[aldo5468]

+++ for the 650 Central Easy-Pull - keep cable and worm well lubed

 

[scabber]

+++ for the 650 Central Easy-Pull - keep cable and worm well lubed

Fast shipping

 

[gggGary]

Motion pro from any vendor who has it in stock. I have been thinking about doing a custom order of maybe ten each of custom length clutch cables. I think everyone stocks just the long cable for the specials. I was thinking roadster length and drag bar/ super bike bar length. Anyone think this would be worth doing?

 

[grepper]

I too had one of MikesXS's clutch cables break on me. Luke for me it was in my driveway.
I highly recommend the 'EZ Pull' cable from 650Central.

 

[Gheorghe]

wow, this is pretty common, mine just broke on me in my garage, I was looking the bike over and I noticed the that cable was pulling apart a little at the handle, so I did the smart thing and pulled a couple more times and what do you know it fully broke. So I ordered a hydraulic replacements form Hugh. Should arrive any time now

 

[Grinder]

My cable broke 100 miles from home (of course). a guy in our group had a mini vise grip that we used for a make shift clutch lever. I only had to use the make shift lever a couple of times but it worked when needed. as luck would have it I wasn't too far from an expressway so I didn't have to shift much and shifted clutchless most of the time. Made it home and ordered a Motion Pro cable...good cable and much thicker than the stocker.

 

[jd750ace]

Motion Pro all the way. Some things, ya just can't be cheap on. Not like they cost a fortune to get the name-brand stuff either!

 

[5twins]

Yes, the Motion Pro is only about $20, the O.E.M. $30 to $35. I know the one from Mike's is tempting at only $13.50 but figure you'll need 2 or more of them and then they aren't that cheap after all. I've had no problems with any of their other cables, just the clutch.

 

[alfredo]

Here is the motion pro cable and where you can buy it. Cost me about $26 total shipped.

 

[SINKING78]

Here is the motion pro cable and where you can buy it. Cost me about $26 total shipped.

Do you know the length of that cable? Doesn't say in the description

 

[nateman15]

This is great to know considering I just got my new Mike's cable on.

Is there a particular place they tend to break?

 

[5twins]

Yes, right up at the top, where the wire goes into the lead ball or barrel. Here's a comparison shot of the Mike's cable (on the right) next to a Motion Pro. The Mike's cable is visibly skinnier. It's too skinny and just doesn't hold up.

 

[xjwmx]

Here's the consumate thread on broken clutch cable panic
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11952

But I carry a couple of the little set screw barrels I describe there instead of a whole new cable. They will last me long enough until I can get a new cable. Proven.

I got the barrels at a moped repair place near where I was. He offered to make a whole new cable. I opted for a barrel followed up by ordering a Motionpro. The moped guy instantly knew what I was trying to describe. I'm glad I had seen them...somewhere...

 

[jd750ace]

Gary, you can probably clean up on the hipsters with a few 10" over cable sets so they can run them taller bars.

 

[paulpops55]

Their clutch cable is at the top of the "DO NOT BUY" list. They break in as little as 200 miles. If you must buy one from Mike's, get 2 and carry the other with you, you're gonna need it, lol.

Where can I get a correct grey case cable for a 73 TX650 other than Mikes ???