This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Clutch Cable

Joined Jul 2013
17 Posts | 0+
Brooklyn
Hi guys, I took my hyper to do some off roading in New Jersey today and on the way home I noticed the clutch leaver quickly became loose. After three times of pulling it in after noticing something strange, the cable just snapped and I had to be towed home. How difficult is it to replace the clutch cable on my own and has this ever happened to anyone else? This is already the second time having the bike either towed to the dealership or back home. I would have just let my dealership fix it but they are booked up for a month or so.
 
I've never done it on this bike but in general it's very easy if you are even slightly mechanically inclined. Just make sure you pay attention to the cable routing.
 
Clutch cable replacement

I had the same issue.
clutch cable cut right next the top end.
Towed back home and then went to the dealer to ask for a replacement cable.
First, this is the entire cable assy which need to be replaced.
and the difficulty is in fact to dismount the necessary parts to insure access and proper routing of the cable.
As it was under warranty replacement, the dealer managed to get the bike back to the workshop and performed the replacement.
The only "issue" was to wait a couple of days to have the part delivered as it wasn't on stock.
 
Just curious- did either of you consider trying to drive it with broken cable? You hardly need a clutch on really broken in bikes and you could have probably found a gear to limp to a station. With your standard equipment hazard lights on!
 
Clutch cable replacement

Clutch cable failure occurs at 7200 km
I have now 12000 km
I did try to drive handling the cable in hand, no way..
It was at night and raining, on a late friday.
I finally suceed to carry on, pushing hard before kicking in 1st, and passing next gears without clutch.
But if the road is climbing and if your are stopped... just push. :)
 
Just broke my clutch cable today at 9400 miles. Very odd to have one break so early. Quite likely Ducati's vendor made a ***** batch. No worries. I've already pulled it off the bike (it's easy) and will order a new one tomorrow. Riding clutch-less is no problem at all and won't hurt it, but getting started at stop lights is a bit challenging. I will say that a lot of my riding has been on very serpentine roads that require a lot of shifting and clutch use, but this is still a lot quicker failure than one should expect from a clutch cable. Oh well, we'll see how long the next one lasts. Luckily my other two Ducs have the good old hydraulic dry clutches.
 
I told my dealer that the clutch lever pull feels "crunchy" sometimes. Like there's a binding or something at some point in the lever travel. I got it back from its first service and it felt a little better, but with hearing about these cables snapping, I am thinking I should order one and keep it handy just in case. Especially with all the stop and go traffic I ride in. Maybe I'll get the dealer in on it again.
 
I have a guess why the clutch cable break.
Did some search on the Internet.

The clutch cable ends up into a cable head that is attached to a hole in the lever.
When you use the lever the cable head shall turn in the hole, to keep a straight line to the cable.
If the cable head is to tight in the hole and do not move at all, there will be a bending of the cable just by the cable head. The cable is prone to fatigue and after some time it will break.

The advice is to lubricate the cable head and the lever hole.
 
Last edited:
I have a guess why the clutch cable break.
Did some search on the Internet.

The clutch cable ends up into a cable head that is attached to a hole in the lever.
When you use the lever the cable head shall turn in the hole, to keep a straight line to the cable.
If the cable head is to tight in the hole and do not move at all, there will be a bending of the cable just by the cable head. The cable is prone to fatigue and after some time it will break.

The advice is to lubricate the cable head and the lever hole.

Stefan,
After reading what you wrote I looked closely that the area where the cable is retained in the lever, and what you found made sense. I could watch the cable and squeeze and release the lever and see what the cable was doing. There were times it was binding right there and causing the "crunchy" feeling I was experiencing. I'm going to see if I can lube it, and perhaps find a way to add relief or a guide in that area so it always stays lined up.
 
This just happened to me a few minutes ago on my way home from the store. I limped it back running a few stop signs along the way. My bike has 6270 miles on it.
My nearest dealership is really far and has a month long backlog so I'm changing it myself.
What is a good place to order a replacement?
 
Just go to the Dealer.. they're cheap and not back ordered currently.

My '13 clutch cable is getting pretty crunchy at 17,000 km (10,500 mile), so I'm precautionary changing it with the latest greatest Ducati offering p/n 73210431E.

I'm also researching converting the bike to hydraulic clutch actuation using only Ducati parts as well.. but, that won't happen for a little bit.
 
Just go to the Dealer.. they're cheap and not back ordered currently.

My '13 clutch cable is getting pretty crunchy at 17,000 km (10,500 mile), so I'm precautionary changing it with the latest greatest Ducati offering p/n 73210431E.

I'm also researching converting the bike to hydraulic clutch actuation using only Ducati parts as well.. but, that won't happen for a little bit.
The hydraulic clutch sounds like an ambitious project - good luck!

I ordered the cable from DucatiOmaha. I found that searching this forum.
I ordered a spare too. I got the E version.
 
Lube the top piece (ferrule?) - knock on wood -20k mies and fine. I carry a spare, and I think the main trick to swapping ( besides fiddly routing - is a small clamp holding the cable housing - I think it's below the black plastic piece on the right side.
 
This just happened to me a few minutes ago on my way home from the store. I limped it back running a few stop signs along the way. My bike has 6270 miles on it.
My nearest dealership is really far and has a month long backlog so I'm changing it myself.
What is a good place to order a replacement?

Google the part number that zibbut posted and see which website you like best :)
 
Just go to the Dealer.. they're cheap and not back ordered currently.

My '13 clutch cable is getting pretty crunchy at 17,000 km (10,500 mile), so I'm precautionary changing it with the latest greatest Ducati offering p/n 73210431E.

I'm also researching converting the bike to hydraulic clutch actuation using only Ducati parts as well.. but, that won't happen for a little bit.

Have you seen this?
Looks helpful...
DUCABIKE Ducati Monster 821 Hydraulic Clutch Conversion Kit
 
I just replaced my cable yesterday at 6200 miles. Cable was starting to go. Did the air filter at the same time. Now that was a pain.
 

Yes I have seen that kit, however it's missing a WHOLE bunch of parts to make it work on a Hyper SP/HM/HS.. not just the slave cylinder as they've stated.

Theoretically a rough breakdown of what you'd need to convert the bike to hyd clutch is;

-Master Cylinder w/microswitch (preferably from either a Monster, Multistrada due to microswitch wiring)
-Clutch line (preferably from a Monster 1200 or possibly custom built unit)
-Clutch Slave Cylinder w/3 bolts (from either a Monster 1200, Multistrada 1200 or Panigale)
-Slave Cylinder Anti Rotation insert (from Monster 1200, Multistrada 1200)
-Clutch Actuation Push Rod (from Monster 1200)
-Clutch Actuation Control Pin (from Monster 1200)
-Generator Cover Complete (from Monster 821 or 1200)
-Clutch Cover Complete (from Monster 1200)
-Pinion Sprocket Cover (from Monster 1200)

What I don't know is if the Control Pin from the Monster/Multi will work with the Hyper's clutch pressure plate, or whether the length of the Push Rod will be enough to properly engage/disengage the Slipper clutch. If anyone wants to donate money, I'll make my bike a test dummy :p
 
Last edited: