Another question throttle cable that I've been trying to answer all weekend!

[Guest]

The bars on my GS550 are not standard and a bit lower. I need to replace my throttle cables, but with the lower bars the OEM cables are too long.

So my question is, how do you go about finding shorter cables? Sorry if this seems a ridiculous question but whenever I search for them it just says it will fit a particular model, not giving actual lengths.

Not only that by my control housing has the plastic screw tightener type fitting at the end, so it needs to have the correct attachment. And I'd like the cables to have the micro adjusters.

Is there something I'm missing in trying to source these??

Thanks for your patience with a noob.

[Joe Garfield]

I don't have a specific answer, but when I'm in that kind of situation I look for a similar bike that came with lower bars, and try the cables from that. For example, I have a GS1100g and they made a GS1000s in the same time period. The bikes are similar but the S has lower bars, so the cables are a touch shorter. I hope this helps a little. Someone else probably has the answer if you're patient.

[Steve]

Well, it would help a LOT to know what model of 550 you have.

For example: if you have an "L" and have fitted more-sensible bars, get cables for an "E".

If you have an "E" already, there is not much you can do, as there were no stock bars lower than that. Just re-route the cables to minimize the radius of the turns.

.

[Wes51st]

Yes I have a 79, 550e. The bars might be the originals, but I don't think so. I've attached a photo to help clarify

IMG_4592.jpg

[azr]

Just reroute your cables. Works pretty easily for most handle bar changes.

[JTGS850GL]

Yes I have a 79, 550e. The bars might be the originals, but I don't think so. I've attached a photo to help clarify

[ATTACH=CONFIG]47784[/ATTACH]

Looks to me like some Daytona bars. Should be able to reroute the stock 550e cables.

[Wes51st]

Thanks for the help. The cables seem about 5 inches too long, so that might be hard to take up.

When you say rerouting, do you mean going around the left hand side of the headstock? Or is there another crafty place I could take up some slack. Any advice is apprecated.

[azr]

Go around the left side and then over the frame cross member and down through to the carbs. You might have to play with the routing a couple of times to get it right. You need to check that the throttle moves easily and snaps like it's supposed to. Make sure you move the handle bars all the way to the left and the right making sure it doesn't bind at all and increase the rpms.

[Ray916MN]

Motion Pro will make custom cables to your specifications for reasonable bucks. Their website has the details and they have no problems helping work out what you need on the phone.

[Wes51st]

Thanks guys, all your advice is much appreciated.