Cutch, shift, clutch, shift, cl...SNAP!

[adrianinflorida]

Snapped the clutch cable at lunch. Carefully got it back to work, clutchless shifting, avoiding redlights, etc.

Luckily my wife tracked on down at a local shop (Dumbass me never bothered ordering a spare) so I'll do the swap in the parking lot after work.

Ordering spare throttle cables and one more clutch cable tonight for the breakdown kit. :)

[music man]

I had that happen to me several months back, its fun ain't it :cry:

[adrianinflorida]

I had that happen to me several months back, its fun ain't it :cry:
Luckily, I had enough cable sticking out to pull it enough to get into neutral and roll the bike into the parking spot. My biggest fear was being without the bike for like a week or so, none of the dealers seem to have the cables, a small cycle shop in town did, though.

[music man]

I had that happen to me several months back, its fun ain't it :cry:
Luckily, I had enough cable sticking out to pull it enough to get into neutral and roll the bike into the parking spot. My biggest fear was being without the bike for like a week or so, none of the dealers seem to have the cables, a small cycle shop in town did, though.


Lucky you, my bike was parked at a store about 30 miles from my house, i had to have the Suzuki shop overnight me one $$$$$ :cry: , luckily for me my wife knows the manager of the store and they have storage buildings along the side of it, and she let me "borrow" one for the night.

You don't even want to know how much it cost to overnight it, but on the bright side, the cable itself was cheap.

[adrianinflorida]

Hell the Suzuki dealers around here were saying it would be a week before they had it. I'm going to start getting together my list of conumables (Cables, filters, etc) and buying them little by little so that I don't have to wait for them when they go bad.

[dannylightning]

Hell the Suzuki dealers around here were saying it would be a week before they had it. I'm going to start getting together my list of conumables (Cables, filters, etc) and buying them little by little so that I don't have to wait for them when they go bad.

i hear you on that one. the lack of available parts kind of pisses me off. if they make it and still sell it in their show room, they should stock parts for it.

[Water Warrior 2]

Hell the Suzuki dealers around here were saying it would be a week before they had it. I'm going to start getting together my list of conumables (Cables, filters, etc) and buying them little by little so that I don't have to wait for them when they go bad.

i hear you on that one. the lack of available parts kind of pisses me off. if they make it and still sell it in their show room, they should stock parts for it.
Dealers can not afford to stock the parts unless you are willing to pay a lot more for their investment. Simple economics rule.

[alantf]

My biggest fear was being without the bike for like a week or so

You're lucky! Over here, everything not on the shelf takes a fortnight to come from mainland Spain.

[burkbuilds]

fortnight?

[dannylightning]

fortnight?

i was kind of wondering about that my self.. my guess is foruty nights..

[David Bo]

14 nights... That term was commonly used in old American literature...

[dannylightning]

14 nights... That term was commonly used in old American literature...

crap that's about how long the dealer said my break pads, tube and air filter i ordered would take to come in.

[alantf]

Sorry ................ A fortnight (two weeks) is so common in English usage that I just assumed it was used worldwide.

[spuriousgrowth]

What is the technique for shifting with no clutch? I can see how you might down-shift, although this would be a rough ride, but what about upshifting? Get the engine to high rpm and then let off the throttle while shifting?

I had an over eager left foot coming to a stop and went from second to first before I had the clutch in. I lost a little rubber and it was hard on the wrists. I can't imagine riding like this on purpose.

[Easy Rider]

What is the technique for shifting with no clutch?

The technique on a GZ is: Don't try it. :skull:

I have been able to do it in the higher gears of every bike I have ever owned without a significant jerk but not so with the GZ. Don't know why but it just doesn't work very good.

The "technique" is to put significant pressure on the shifter while accelerating. When you let off the gas, it "falls" into the next gear without the clutch. On the GZ, it has always caused a significant jerk/clunk for me. Regardless of the bike, this is NOT a good thing to do from 1st to 2nd, because of crossing neutral.

[burkbuilds]

Just broke my cable a couple of hours ago. Heading down the parkway from Wal-Mart and it just snapped as I shifted into 4th. Made it through town (small town) to the local Suzuki dealer but they had to order one, probably won't be here for two days or so. Had a little trouble getting started, (killed it three times in the parking lot)but once I was moving I was able to shift okay until I got home. I called the other local Suzuki dealer but same story, not a stock item.
Mine broke right at 12,000 miles on a 4 year old bike. Anybody know what's typical for these cables? Should I go ahead and order new cables for everything while I'm at it? Any advice appreciated, I have no idea what a normal replacement interval is for these cables.

[adrianinflorida]

Just broke my cable a couple of hours ago. Heading down the parkway from Wal-Mart and it just snapped as I shifted into 4th. Made it through town (small town) to the local Suzuki dealer but they had to order one, probably won't be here for two days or so. Had a little trouble getting started, (killed it three times in the parking lot)but once I was moving I was able to shift okay until I got home. I called the other local Suzuki dealer but same story, not a stock item.
Mine broke right at 12,000 miles on a 4 year old bike. Anybody know what's typical for these cables? Should I go ahead and order new cables for everything while I'm at it? Any advice appreciated, I have no idea what a normal replacement interval is for these cables.Not sure what the life is, probably depends on use, care (Lubing), service climate.... I just ordered a full set of cables (Clutch, both throttle cables, rear brake and start cable (Choke/enricher). Gonna replace the throttle cable and rear brake, and oil and bag up the old ones for an emergency backup. Mines an '03, so they have to be due.

[music man]

You have to remember that compared to the average bike, the clutch get used ALOT on a GZ, with all the gear hunting that goes on on it, on most bikes you could stay in one gear at way longer intervals than on the GZ, so it just makes sense that it wears kinda fast.

[Easy Rider]

Mines an '03, so they have to be due.

Clutch and brake cable, yes, sure, because they take a lot of stress.

Throttle and choke cables almost NEVER fail by breaking.....unless they are severly neglected and they rust in two. Changing them routinely is overkill.

[burkbuilds]

Sounds like good advice, thanks!

[adrianinflorida]

Mines an '03, so they have to be due.

Clutch and brake cable, yes, sure, because they take a lot of stress.

Throttle and choke cables almost NEVER fail by breaking.....unless they are severly neglected and they rust in two. Changing them routinely is overkill.
Thanks for the advice on the throttle and choke. I knew the choke was overkill (Especially since on 50 degree plus days, I haven't needed to use it much at all since the valve adjustment and carb clean...If it were to snap, would the 'default' for the enricher be off, i wonder?) and the throttles were more a case of swapping the new ones in as a preventative. I'll just put the new ones in the bottom of the tank bag on longer rides and keep lubing the old ones.

[Easy Rider]

If it were to snap, would the 'default' for the enricher be off, i wonder?)

Don't know. It doesn't "feel" like there is a spring on it anywhere and the resistance seems to be in the lever mechanism at the handle.

[Water Warrior 2]

If it were to snap, would the 'default' for the enricher be off, i wonder?)

Don't know. It doesn't "feel" like there is a spring on it anywhere and the resistance seems to be in the lever mechanism at the handle.

I suspect Easy is correct. Follow the cable down to the carb. You will probably find the enrichener mechanism and possibly a way to operate it there in a pinch. Just a push/pull thing operated by the cable no doubt.

[adrianinflorida]

[quote=adrianinflorida] If it were to snap, would the 'default' for the enricher be off, i wonder?)

Don't know. It doesn't "feel" like there is a spring on it anywhere and the resistance seems to be in the lever mechanism at the handle.

I suspect Easy is correct. Follow the cable down to the carb. You will probably find the enrichener mechanism and possibly a way to operate it there in a pinch. Just a push/pull thing operated by the cable no doubt.[/quote:13x6ni4q]
That's what I'm thinking too. Just wondering.

[burkbuilds]

Got the clutch cable in yesterday afternoon and replaced it last night. It sure was good to be riding again today! I ordered all the other cables just so I'll have them if one goes down since none of them were stock at either local Suzuki dealer.