I picked my brand new bike up Thursday, excited to ride it after I dumped at on of cash into it with mods over the winter.

I changed the handlebars and added Magnum chromite cables. Most specifically this kit from Drag Specialties: 0662-0097

I powered through riding the bike for 2 hours and my wrist was killing me, unbearable pain to continue riding. I brought the bike back to the dealer and they told me "that's normal, it's new it has to break in". I walked around with the guys at Harley pulling other clutches they were ALL at least 50% easier to pull.

Any truth to a break in on a clutch and it getting easier?

Anyone have this specific cable and can comment on its stiffness?

To put it all in perspective, I'm a normal 35 year old man without any "strength" issues. This thing is WAY too hard to pull in, I shouldn't need any clutch "assistance" that I find online in other threads.

Any and all help is appreciated.

EDIT - Added picture of cable routing in Post #28

EDIT - Cable lubed with silicone lube, much better by about 30-35% - Thank you all for the comments

 

I put 14" apes on my 16 Road King. A buddy of mine who worked at a HD dealer for 5 years came and helped me. I used Magnum cables and the clutch felt pretty normal compared to stock. Fwiw I used +8 on the clutch cable. Others with more experience may disagree, but it sounds abnormal to me.

 

Same cable, had the same issue. Lube it with a silicone based lube. I used PB Blaster silicone lube. Smooth as silk now.. It's very important you use silicone only!

 

I did the same with my 03 RK, in fact if I recall, they even mentioned that in the literature that came with the cables. I know a few are dead against it on here, but it worked for me, and others as you will hear from here. Call Magnum direct, got mine back then from Axiom.

 

Instructions said: Do not Lubricate - cable is factory pre-lubed. For maintenance - only use silicone lubricant to avoid braiding discoloration.

Lube it, it will make a night and day difference.

 

I put one on my king with 14 inch bars. Very smooth and easy to pull!!!
Did not lube!

 

Thank you all for the responses, looks like a mixed bag of experiences....

The good news is the cable itself got damaged (outside shouldn't affect performance) from rubbing through the clip. The dealer is going to replace the cable so i'm PRAYING the new one is much better.

If it's not I really don't have a choice but to lube it with silicon as suggested above.

Did lubing it with silicone affect the color at all? What are the exact steps to lube properly?

Any pics of the cable after lubing it? If so how long ago was it lubed....

Thank you all for the responses, great insight

 

Is this the right product:

 

Yeah that's the stuff. There's two ways to lube it. I'm OCD so I removed the whole dam cable and sprayed the crap out of it right into the top and the bottom. You also disconnect from the lever and spray it right down into it from there too. Spray it into the adjuster too. Work the lever a bunch of times.

No discoloring and it's been over a year and still smooth as silk.

 

Go to Walmart
Buy the red can of spray silicone in the auto section, for several bucks
Drive home
Pull clutch on bike and spray a few shots into the cable interior
Pull clutch several times
Spray another shot or 2
Will work fine now.

I have experience in this area. Had the exact same problem with mine and could barely use the clutch until I did the above. Now its smoother than the original cable.