Motorcycle cables are attached to the throttle and the clutch. They need periodic maintenance just like every other machine, and if they are ignored or forgotten, they will eventually wear down, lowering the efficiency of the car until they eventually fail, maybe at the most inopportune time. This will leave you with a long walk, a stressful push home, and potentially expensive repairs.

It is vital to know what kind of cables you have before you continue with the rest of these steps and your maintenance. It is equally important to do some research into the type of lubricants you prefer. Some prefer to use motor oil, though it gets messy and can pick up roadside dirt. A mixture of powdered graphite and WD-40 equally works well for a lot of motorcycles or simply ask for a recommendation at your local motorcycle shop for getting the best lubricant for your particular motorcycle’s cables. You should never use chain lubricant on a cable.

Step 1 – Inspect the Type

Go through your owner’s or the shop’s manual for what type of cable you have. This will inform you if they require lubricant or not. There are actually two kinds. The first and oldest are made up of multiple wires and a steel style cable. This is the kind that should always be lubricated. The other is a more recent and more technologically advanced type. These kind are lined with Teflon, and it could actually damage the cable if you get to lubricate it.

Step 2 – Remove Cable

Unhook the cable from the lever or throttle drum at the handlebar end. Make sure you pay attention to how you unhook them so that you know exactly how to hook them up again once you have finished.

Step 3 – Set Up

Make a cut of a 45-degree angle in the corner of the plastic sandwich bag. Then, stick the end of the cable into the hole and fill the bag with your kind of lubricant. Tape it to the outside of the cable housing with the cable hanging out of it. This can equally be done without the baggie if your lubricant has a needle nose that you can put into the cable..

Step 4 – Waiting to Complete

Wait for the lubricant to run drain the inner cable. You will know it is complete when it is leaking lube on the other end. After you have stayed a few minutes, remove the bag, wipe everything down, and then hook the cables back into their original places.

It is vital to perform basic maintenance project on your cables at least twice a year. This way, you will not have to bother about them breaking or detaching from your throttle or clutch on their own.