A Message....

[LenB]

So here I was, moments ago - all dressed up, bike warmed up just outside the closing garage door. Looking forward to what could be, any day now, the last ride of the season. Pulled in the clutch lever and - SNAP! Clutch cable end snapped off at the lever. It's a sign. Instead of being all perturbed, I though "could have happened in traffic, faaar from home". So today, whatever higher power is controlling the universe smiled down on me and didn't leave me stranded somewhere far away attempting to ride home with no clutch. All in all, I'd say I got off lucky. Looking forward to next season....

[DiverRay]

You are correct! I've had to ride home with no clutch on a bike. I was able to do it safely, but not fun!

[Schming]

I've had that happen in the middle of nowhere on a dirt bike back in the day, not so bad to hack my way back to the truck on a RM125. So when I built my full dresser with Pacifico fairing, hard bags and trunk I thought about the scenario, riding at night 2 up thunder rumbling lightning in the distance and Oh Snap !!! Hasn't happened yet, but if I may be so lucky to be faced with a twilight roadside repair I have threaded both a new throttle and clutch cable mini zip tied along side the working ones fully lubed and rubber capped ready to go when Murphy shows up.

[speedlimit85]

Start in first gear and power shift home.

Lucky not to need to.

The aftermarket cables break more often at the lever. Go with the OEM.

[Radioguylogs]

Happened to me at the end of our 500' driveway.

I was also grateful it happened at home, although pushing it back uphill was a good workout.

[LenB]

Still not bad for the ORIGINAL ,44 year-old, 98,000+ km unit. Lesson learned to try and have a look at hidden areas like that a little more often & lube / adjust as necessary. Wonder how many tons of stress are bearing on that small connection at the lever? Stiffer clutch springs probably didn't help either. Where I was headed today was probably going to involve some stop & go traffic - more stop than go with no clutch. XS's aren't lightweights and are NO fun to push any distance. Still remember when my battery just died with no warning and I had to push it, c/w fairing & bags, down a street, throw my leg over it and whack it into 2nd. Not a bad suggestion to have spare cables hidden on the bike, especially on road trips! Past experience (yours or somebody else's) is always a good teacher when it comes to preventative maintenance techniques.