Clutch cable, rant, points to ponder

[gspd]

I've been replacing my clutch cable at more or less regular 100,000km intervals.
I always keep the pivot at the hand lever and transmission lever well lubed.
I always use BMW OE cables and I always route my cable to get the smoothest arc physically possible given the design parameters of the bike.

My clutch cable gets replaced whenever it starts feeling less smooth than when it was brand new. I pull the clutch in very slowly and release it very slowly. I don't want a 'notchy' or 'grabby' feeling. This does not really affect performance, but it just doesn't have that silky smoothness of a new one. It can operate like this for decades and thousands of miles, and most do. Sure, I could squirt a dozen varieties of 'juice' in it with a cable oiler, that'll help for a while, but the only cure that lasts for a long time is to replace it. Many people only replace their cables when they are frayed, some only replace them when they break. For me life's too short to ride a bike that doesn't feel 'new'. Has to be smooth as silk.

I was looking closely at a bunch of my old cables I had hanging around, none frayed, all 'usable' and I noticed that the nylon cable inner sleeve sticks out more as the cable wears and ages. The inner sleeve is stuck there, it can't be pushed back in or pulled out further. The funny thing is that if I roll the cable up into a 6 inch coil, the nylon sheath retracts to its as new position, only to come out again when uncoiled. The total length of the inner and outer used cables varies quite a bit.

[Zombie Master]

I'm in the same program, as soon as I can feel any roughness on the clutch I change out the cable. I'm always glad I did! Stuff wears out.