frayed cables

Hi all, I've got a 1997 1100 GS with 80,000 miles on it. I noticed today the lower throttle cables attached to the throttle bodies are frayed, one is hanging on for grim death.Also is this an easy job to do because I'm not that smart with a spanner? Do I have to sync things up after fitting the cables? cheers allalso how much will it cost me for a full set of cables top ones also and a clutch cable might as well do whole lot with bike having 80,000 on it where is the best place to buy.

Changing the throttle cables is relatively simple, if a bit fiddly... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCOLcP7quqg

You can buy the cables from the usual suppliers,

https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=5&NU=15&M=30&Ct=PA&SbCt=BA_15_30_PA_30

You will then need to 'balance' the throttle cables with a vacuum gauge... https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=6&Q=vacuum+gauge&search=SEARCH

Youtube again is your friend... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40sJjXU62xU&t=6s

All may seem a little daunting if you have little experience in doing this, though once you get your head around what is involved, is pretty simple to carry out. Maybe for the 1st time get an independent mechanic carry out the work and watch how he does things.

Good luck.

I have to say give yourself a big slap on the back for even noticing. I’d get help if you arnt confident to do it yourself. JJH

Ive just ordered the parts from motorworks and I'm going to get someone confident to do it because I'll make a balls of it. Glad I noticed it I've got a big trip coming up
Thanks all

Try and do it yourself first. At some point its going to happen somewhere there's no ready help and knowing how to change a cable could make a big difference.

I have had a throttle cable and a clutch cable snap on me while away from home. Changing them with frozen fingers in the pissing rain would have been much worse if I hadn't done it before in the comfort of a warm garage.

According to the holy R1100 BMW factory manual, throttle cables should be replaced every 50-60 000-ish miles anyway. So 80K is up there I reckon.

It's not just kinking or physical braking of the cables but they get "memory stretched" from throttle body splitter box to TB curve by time (in time the cables get "curve" memory and when you move them by giving throttle, they try to keep the original idle shape while one TB cable is shorter than another = bad for sync) and hence not keeping as good TB sync over the revs as fresh new cables tend to do. (The difference is small but noticeable if you're a perfectionist in TB sync and smooth engine like me)

My originals lasted around 100K+ miles and were still good when I replaced them, but I kept them well lubed from all sides. The TB sync is a bit better with the new ones over the revs.


PS: keep a well lubed spare clutch cable routed and strapped on the original one (and for a long term storage tape down the rear end to keep the crap out from the new one) When the original brakes, just connect the two ends of the new spare one and continue to ride on