Author Topic: Dirt Bike Cables (Read 2740 times)

B6Matt · « **on:** July 06, 2005, 12:56:19 AM »

I've worked on bicycles for years, and a regular bike maintenance job is replacing shifter and brake cables. As most of you probably know, bicycle cables have the little barrel thingy on the lever/shifter end, and the other end is "unfinished." You can cut your housings without the cable inside, then thread the cable through, get your length right, and cut the cable to length, then the cable is clamped in the brake or shifter.

Why in the heck are m/c cables made to a fixed length with the barrel thingies cast on both ends? Makes them a bitch to maintain, and you have to buy a cable with the exact length housing and cable.

Seems to me you could have the end furthest from a brake or clutch lever unfinished, and have a removable barrel thingy on the distal end with a hole through the side (for the cable to pass through) and a hex screw in the end to clamp the cable in place. That way you could pull off the barrel thingy and maintain (clean and lube) your cables, custom cut your cables to length, etc.

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2005, 02:18:17 AM »

Some shops can make cables by crimping the fitting on one end.

Way back in the dark ages, I made my own throttle cable for my dirt bike with a kit I bought from a shop.

tacoman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2005, 05:31:34 PM »

Try terrycable.com as they have all kinds of cables for a good price.

B6Matt · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2005, 05:48:01 PM »

Sent them an e-mail and never heard back from 'em.