Lubricate new cables?

[MtnManCO]

Hello,

I am in the process of replacing the tach cable, clutch cable and throttle cable on my 1982 GS1100GK.

Should brand new cables get lubricated? Use engine oil or a special cable lubricant?

Thank you!

[Steve]

Engine oil might be OK, but I prefer to use silicone. It tends to not attract dirt.

.

[bwringer]

Motion Pro's cables are junk, but their cable lube and cable lube tool are great. (Such a confusing company; some great stuff, some awful stuff.)

As far as the only cables you should actually be using, OEM Suzuki, they do seem to have some sort of oilish stuff in there from the factory and work great as-is.

[Grimly]

Usual precautions apply.
In the dawn of the New Era, many cables came lined with the Wonder Material of the day - nylon.
Nylon is great, but as a cable liner it had its flaws, and the biggest flaw of the time was its tendency to wear in the hostile environment of a motorcycle. This resulted in the New Wondrous nylon-lined cables being draggier than their older versions - ironic, huh?
It was soon discovered by knuckle-draggers everywhere that applying some oil to the cables restored silky smooth motion - for a while. Unfortunately, the nylon of the day (then and now with some types) swelled up in contact with motor oil and the lubricated cables became almost solid inside.
This was even more galling when a rider had bought new cables and routinely lubed them prior to installation, as he'd always done.
Money down the drain, in that case.

Even today, the problem applies - you can't be sure what your new cables are lined with.
Best of luck with that.

[Rob S.]

I always used to drip motor oil into new clutch cables (the only cables I've replaced) and never had a problem with any replacement, though I have noticed better results with OEM cables.

I'm sure you know to snake the new cable through before removing the old one, just so you follow the correct path.