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BMW motorcycle control cables

Cables generally have two important dimensions, overall length and free length.

free length free length
Free length is the amount of exposed braid when it is pulled fully in one direction.
free length free length free length
Overall length is measured to the inside of each end fitting.

Throttle cables

You'll see that Airhead throttle cables fall into one of several free length categories. This is mostly for different combinations of carbs (40mm needs more) and throttles (twin cable needs more, some 40mm cams needs more). Some of this is described on my 40mm page.

Part number OA length Application Free length
13 21 2 072 355 1026 Plunger frame 106
13 21 2 072 370 1028 Earles fork 117
32 73 1 236 610   R50 R60 low bar  
32 73 1 236 611   R50 R60 high bar  
32 73 1 236 612 1007 /5 to /7 32mm low bar 62
32 73 1 236 613 1096 /5 to /7 32mm high bar 62mm
32 73 1 236 614 1135 Belgium only 62
32 73 1 236 615 1027 pre-81 40mm low bar 72mm
32 73 1 236 616 1108 pre-81 40mm high bar
32 73 1 237 691 1007 pre-81 R65 low bar 62
32 73 1 237 692 1096 pre-81 R65 high bar (same as 613?) 62mm
32 73 1 454 582 1027 86-on 32mm low bar right
32 73 1 454 583 987 86-on 32mm low bar left, RS both
32 73 1 454 584 1158 86-on 32mm high bar
32 73 1 454 585 1118
32 73 1 458 090 1130 '91-on 32mm GS/R
'86-on 40mm upgrade (not GS/R) probably will need this 		72mm
32 73 1 458 091 1165
32 73 2 311 827 1143 '91-on GS/R w/40mm carbs
extra length needed at both ends 		84mm
32 73 2 311 828 1178
32 73 1 242 125 770 top 81-84 32mm high bar 50mm
32 73 1 242 126 640 top 81-84 32mm low bar 50
32 73 1 242 127 765 top 81-84 40mm high bar  
32 73 1 242 128 678 top 81-84 40mm low bar  
32 73 1 242 132 487 bottom 81-85 32mm right (G/S and ST) or both (R80)  
32 73 1 242 135 517.5 bottom 81-84 40mm (all) 75mm
32 73 2 302 232 382 bottom 81-85 32mm left (G/S and ST) 68mm
32 73 1 457 378   K100/LT/RT K75 6/86- K throttle cables
32 73 1 457 377   K-S/RS 6/86-
32 73 2 311 065   K1100LT
32 73 2 310 498   K1100RS
32 73 7 659 216   K1200RS early
32 73 7 660 230   R1100RS Oilhead one-piece throttle cables
32 73 7 660 229   R1100GS, R, RT
32 73 7 659 691 805 R1100RS, RT Oilhead split throttle cables
32 73 7 659 692 1005 R1100GS, R
32 73 7 659 679
32 73 7 692 489		 570 R1100S
32 73 7 659 680
32 73 7 692 488 		600 R1100S high
32 73 7 659 686
32 73 7 692 490		 1115 R1150R
32 73 7 671 296
32 73 7 692 611		 1060 R1150Ro
13 54 7 663 621 1019 R1150RS
32 73 7 659 690
32 73 7 692 561
985 R1150GS update
32 73 7 660 231 1070 R1150RT
32 73 1 342 679   R1200C with Avant Garde handlebar
32 73 1 342 370   R1200C
32 73 7 659 677
32 73 7 692 563		 200 left Most 1100 & 1150 with bowden splitter box
32 73 7 659 678
32 73 7 692 562
140 right
32 73 7 659 684
32 73 7 692 566		 302 right R1100S
32 73 7 659 685
32 73 7 692 565		 353 left

* OA length is measured from the inside surfaces of the end fittings.
Freelength is the amount of exposed inner cable that can be seen at either end not counting protruding liner.

Clutch cables

32 73 1 230 041 1345 /5 low bar 240mm
32 73 1 230 042 1485 /5 tall bar
32 73 2 324 958 1410 Low bar (/6 to R100CS/RS/S/T through 84)
32 73 2 324 957
32 73 1 233 099 		1436 Tall bar (/6, R100R/Mys)
32 73 2 324 959 1386 Low bar (R100RS 87-on)
32 73 1 237 694 1495 R65, R65LS, R80ST
32 73 1 235 744
32 73 2 324 956		 1520 Tall bar (/7-on, RT, GS)
32 73 2 324 962   Oilhead RS 143mm
32 73 2 324 961 1359 Oilhead GS/R/RT
32 73 2 324 955 1510 K-C/R/S/RS/T* 127mm
32 73 2 324 960 1625 K-RT/LT/Std

* Reported to me as 1498 OA and 116 free length

Choke cables

13 23 1 252 826/7   /5 choke, solid cable to 01/71
12 23 1 255 976/7   /5 /6 CV and R65
13 23 1 260 365/6   /5 /6 slide
32 73 1 240 798 630 top early R100RS/S 72
32 73 1 240 799   early R100RT  
32 73 1 242 591 533 top R100RS 87- R65 81- 70
32 73 1 242 593 635 top R80 81- 72
32 73 1 242 594 750 top R80 (high), R65 R100 81- (nearly everything) 65
32 73 1 242 138 487 bottom 85-95 32mm R80 62
32 73 1 454 605 537 bottom 85-95 32mm R80 62
32 73 1 240 817 459 bottom 40mm pre-81, PL left 70mm
32 73 1 242 139 531 bottom 40mm 81-on, PL right
32 73 1 451 636   K75C medium handlebar
32 73 1 451 637   K75/100 S/RS low handlebar
32 73 1 451 638   K75/100 LT/RT/Std high handlebar
32 73 2 331 055   R1100 crossover type

Brake cables

32 73 1 234 515 1194 /5, /6 drum low handlebar to 9/75 178mm
32 73 1 234 856   /6 drum 9/75-on  
32 73 1 234 234*   /5, /6 drum high handlebar  
32 73 1 234 400 653mm /6, R90S up to 9/75 (6mm nipple)  
32 73 1 234 857 659mm /6, R90S from 9/75, /7 disk low handlebar (7mm nipple)  
32 73 1 234 809 679mm /6, /7 disk high handlebar (7mm nipple)