Throttle cable not sitting right after installing new bars.

[Guest]

Picked up some new bars for my 81 GS 400L. After getting everything switched onto the new bars, the bike now runs at about 5000rpm on starting.

i find this odd because the new bars are shorter, so I should have a bit of slack in the throttle cable, but the cable is getting bound up somewhere and won't hang slack with the throttle at idle.

I tried everything I could think of to hold the cable in the right place to keep the RPMs at the right spot, but the cable is binding somewhere just enough to open the throttle.

I'm thinking the original cable just doesn't have enough flex to it after being in the same position for 30 years. Does anyone know how to rejuvenate an old cable or should it just replace it with a fresh cable?

Any advice is appreciated!

[Crankthat]

The larger loop by the bars and going down below the tank may now be the problem, small problem.
I do not know if it is the same on the 400L, but I have a adjustment both at twist grip and the carbs.
You should be able to adjust at carbs with the adjuster at the bars about halfway and then fine tune at the bars.
But.....
Your old cable may have a few strands that unfurled and now are snagging on the cable housing after the move.
This happened to me before.
Probable best bet would be to buy a fresh cable with a length better suited for your bar configuration.
Starting a new thread posting that as a question may lead you to a answer as to what model cable s would best suit your need.
You may want to include a measurement between what length bars now as opposed to before.
And a throttle cable measurement.
A piece of string following the cable and then measure the string.
When inserting the new cables either run new next to old and then remove old or tape new to old and pull old out therefore pulling new into correct position and routing.


Do not forget that clutch cable as it will be more likely to snap on you now.

[Nessism]

New cables are a thing of beauty. So smooth. There are 450 model bikes that came with shorter cables from Suzuki, such as the 450 S. You might want to look up the part numbers of the shorter cables and order up a set. Throttle and clutch. You will be amazed at the difference.

[Grimly]

Yep. New cables are a sensible routine preventative maintenance item. If you have space under the seat or anywhere, carry the old ones in case you ever need them. Some used to tape the spares alongside the ones in use, but I never bothered doing that.
A useful tip - don't blast lube down the cable unless you know it's safe to do so. Teflon-lined cables generally don't need it anyway, and really the only ones that do are traditional steel on steel unlined ones. Some nylon-lined cables will swell up when gear oil hits them and cause irreversible binding. Many old bikes have shagged cables precisely because of this, not just wear and tear, it's someone in the past history of the bike thinking they were maintaining it.