Bowden Cable

A Bowden cable is a flexible control cable made of a stranded steel inner wire running inside an outer housing. Pulling one end of the inner wire moves the other end, even around bends. It can only transmit pulling force, not pushing. On motorcycles it is used for the throttle, cable-operated clutches, drum brakes, choke and some speedometer and decompressor drives.

Friction and wear increase over time as dirt and water get in, which makes the clutch heavy or the throttle sticky. Lubricate cables with a cable lubricant and a cable luber tool, unless they have a modern PTFE lining that should be left dry.

Adjust free play with the barrel adjusters. The throttle must snap closed on its own at every steering position. Replace a cable with frayed strands immediately, as it can snap without warning.