Well-maintained cables work smoothly with an easy squeezing action. When they don't, your clutch or throttle can stick, and if your throttle sticks you can very possible get thrown off your bike. Maintaining your cables is paramount to safe riding.
Unfortunately, the majority of cable problems usually come from a lack of maintenance. Let dirt build up, and don't bother to lubricate your cables, and they'll get progressively tougher to use, and if you're very unlucky, they may just snap. Instead of waiting until problems arise, why not head trouble off at the pass by getting into a habit of routine maintenance.
Dirt bike cable maintenance cables can be broken down into three sections.
Cleaning - It's easiest to clean your cables if your remove them from your dirt bike first. As you wipe the cable down, look closely for any nicks in the cover that may indicate damage of the core underneath. Your cable covers are meant to be a barrier against dirt and water reaching the inside. If your cover is damaged, you can do a little first aid on it and it will be useable again. But if your dirt bike cable cores are damaged then you're going to need new cables. You can use a funnel to help you flush solvent through the cable core and remove any crud trapped inside until the core slides easily in the housing once again.
Repairs - If you do find any nicks in your dirt bike cable, you can repair it with a little electrical tape. While this method works in a pinch, it would actually be better to use some shrink tubing for a more permanent fix.
Lubrication -Once everything is clean and any repairs have been carried out, it's time to lubricate your dirt bike cables. The easiest way to do is to load WD40 into one end of your cable and let gravity do the rest. When the lubricant drips out of the other end, consider the cable lubed and wipe off any excess.
Follow your manufacturer's manual to properly route your dirt bike cables when you reinstall them and if you find you need new cables, Raceway can now get them for you as they carry a full line of ATV and motorcycle parts.
