Making your own cables?

[MattW]

Have you done it?
If so where did you buy your stuff?

I want to make a simple one into two split cable to replace the nightmare single piece cable on my 1100 without having to use the later BMW splitter cable (which I believe, doesn't fit anyway). I can cannibalise the necessary adjusters and twistgrip fitting off the old cable so I just need decent quality inner / teflon lined outer, ferules, solder nipples and a splitter. It will mean doing without the fast idle (at least on the right pot ) but this doesn't bother me as I hardly ever use it. If it all goes to ratsh*t, I've got a brand new OEM replacement single piece cable but after the pig awful time I had doing my last TB balance, I'd rather not use it.

The last cables I made were from bits bought from a long gone bike shop and I've been directed towards a Microlight bits and pieces supplier: http://www.skydrive.co.uk/products.asp?cat=57 - anyone know of any on-line bike cable materials suppliers?

ta

 

[Timolgra]

I make my own cables up for the Rallye bike but try to retain the old nipples since everytime I search for parts on line I only find old imperial sizes

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Venhills are the peeps you want

Over the years I have had them make up bespoke cables for me and, when I got braver and handy with a soldering iron, the componants I've needed to make up my own.

Andres

 

[MattW]

Venhills are the peeps you want

Over the years I have had them make up bespoke cables for me and, when I got braver and handy with a soldering iron, the componants I've needed to make up my own.

Andres

Excellent - thanks Andres

Can't believe I forgot about Venhills


Edit: They sell everything but splitters from the look of it - I might need the microlight shop for that

 

[Steptoe]

I want to make a simple one into two split cable to replace the nightmare single piece cable on my 1100 without having to use the later BMW splitter cable (which I believe, doesn't fit anyway).

Use an 1100S splitter. It mounts out of the way under the coil.

 

[MattW]

Use an 1100S splitter. It mounts out of the way under the coil.

Ah...
Thanks Neil - that should make things simpler

 

[MattW]

I like the idea of using the 'S' splitter as it allows use of the fast idle (assuming the GS and S fast idle levers have the same throw). It also tucks away neatly and doesn't need major surgery to fit it.

However, looking at the splitter (although it's hard to tell from microfiche pictures), it looks like the BMW splitter has lugs which locate with 'special' matching lugs on the cable ends? I guess this will mean finding some old cables and chopping them up to get the correct end fittings. I've never actually seen a BMW splitter (or 'distributor' as they call them) - is this the case with the cable ends?

I did think about using the S splitter with S lower cables but it wouldn't surprise me there were problems with this due to the existing 'single piece cable specific' quadrants / adjusters on the TB's (I think I've read about similar issues when people have tried to retrofit the later GS splitter arrangement?). And then even if the S lower cables fitted, I'll still have to make up the upper and choke cables as the 'S' ones will be the wrong length for a GS.

So, I think the cheapest and ultimately most likely to work option will be to use the S splitter and make up my own cables by cannibalising fittings off old cables. If it all goes to ratshit it'll only have cost me a few quid in cable making bits and a splitter and I could still fit the old single piece cable if need be.

Anyone got any old 'splitter type' cables they don't want?