Brake cable quality

Dificult to comment without knowing which reputable dealers. I have bought brake cables from the usual suspects and all have been perfectly fine. If fact I trust them with my life if you fancy a touch of melodrama. Having said that, I do try for a smooth riding style with minimal brake applications - or as my wife puts it, 'why do you NEVER slow down for corners?'.

My bikes all still have cables from the !960's, I have no doubt that new Venhill cables will be smoother. Braking for corners? ,my technique to put Modern bikes in their place was to accelerate.Bit too exciting now and does not work if i forget when I'm driving a Transit.

Wayne:

Is the cable breaking or is the cable pulling through the barrel?

J J Cables Ltd. Address: Hillfields Farm Lighthorne Warwickshire CV35 0BQ. Contact: Mr Tom Johnson. Telephone: 01926 651470 produce a very high quality range at very reasonable prices. They also do 'one off' specials.

I have a Venhill front brake cable on my ES2 and it is much beefier than the original style cable. It's a very good cable.

Ian

I have had a front brake cable from a Norton parts supplier which I think is too thin, and the brake action is spongy. Whether it is possible to stretch the wire whilst braking I don't know. I doubt the cable will snap, but it does not inspire confidence. There is cheap stuff and there is good stuff, I suppose, which can apply to anything. If as has been asked, the nipple is pullingoff, that is different matter.

BTW, if you don't have to slow down for corners, then you are not going fast enough on the in between bits!

Ian, sounds like the outer is compressing under brake application. Not good for confidence, or braking. As for not fast enough on the straights, one does have to have a certain regard for speed limits. I did once get away with a dressing down and a comment of 'That old thing goes well, doesn't it' but you can't always count on it...

It does'nt matter how fast you go down the straight ,those crotch rockets will blast past only to jump on the brakes and ram you up the front!. .

I bought some cables from Venhill this year including a rear brake cable for my 850 Commando. Pressed hard on the brake cable and the cable pulled through the nipple at the rear end. I was glad it happened in the garage and not in use on the road. There was insufficient solder in the fitting. Phoned Venhill and was told that the chap who made them had only had such a failure once before; I said that his failure rate had now doubled. Sent it back for a refund, and they promised to phone and let me have their comments after inspection, they never did.

I think that the quality of their cables is generally high, but it needs to be higher because such a failure could have fatal consequences.

We should all check our brake cables regularly, especially when you have just fitted a new one. The simple MoT test of hauling it on as hard as you can to proof test it makes sense - as Richard mentioned, failure in the garage is preferable to failure on the road.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Ian, sounds like the outer is compressing under brake application. Not good for confidence, or braking. As for not fast enough on the straights, one does have to have a certain regard for speed limits. I did once get away with a dressing down and a comment of 'That old thing goes well, doesn't it' but you can't always count on it...

Yes, I think you are right about the outer compressing, Gordon. I was only jesting about the other, btw!

I have had a couple of cables from JJ Cables and they are spot on. You tell them what it is for, how ling you want the inner and how long you want the outer and they will make it and send it to you in the same week for a very reasonable price, not much more than an off the shelf Venhill.

I need to call them soon because my 99 restoration front brake arm hangs down lower than on my other bikes and I need an extra 3/4" inner with a handlebar adjuster fitted over the standard Venhill. This is a first and where a specialist cable maker comes handy.

As for British standards, something you could trust: Just look at petrol. We used to have BS 40/40 for 4* Leaded and BS 70/70 for unleaded but now we have EN228 that will strip your paint, melt your rubber hoses and fiberglass tanks and your old tank sealant + more as well as lower MPG.

Still, I'm sure you have all complained to your MP's?