Throttle cable - no more adjustment available

[Dockem]

My throttle cable is at the limit for adjustment at the handlebars. Way too much free play on the grip.
I am assuming I need a new cable.

I called a local dealer and asked how much to for a new air filter and change the cable. He told me ~$180 for a new air filter, K&N, installed.
He hemmed and hawed about the cable, saying it's a tough job to do and could take 5-6 hours. At about a $80/hr service rate, ~ $500, that's a bunch! But I need something done about the cable.

I used to wrench a lot on my Valkyrie, but know little about the innards of a GW.

Any opinions on his estimates?

[Gold Rush]

The estimate is way too high. I suspect you really don't need a new cable just the primary adjustment has moved. On the left side of the front frame (where the triple tree goes through the neck) there is an adjustment point. If the lock nut did not get set or has come loose for some reason the adjustment may have gone away. Problem is I also suspect the front fairing would have to be removed to get to that adjustment. It's possible only the top shelter and inner fairing but it don't know for sure.

As for the K & N filter, that is a waste of money. I put a K & N in my '01 back in the day but would not do it again. First of all the OEM filter is very free flowing and you would see no performance change. The OEM filter is not expensive and only really needs changing every 30 to 35K unless you live in a dust bowl.

With a service manual, some basic mechanical ability and a but of patience you could do the cable adjustment and air filter change yourself.

UPDATE:::: I just happen to be installing new fog lights and looked up where that adjustment is. with the front inner lower cowl removed you can get to it. If might be a challenge to adjust but with some work maybe easier then removing the fairing. Just an option... ENJOY

[Dude]

I agree with GR, I think if you have wrenching skills and a manual you should be able to do both jobs. I have a clymer and it is very user friendly. I had read somewhere that not only does the K&N let more air through it also let more dust through, just something I have read, no research on my end. I had my throttle cable break on me once on the road, seems like it cost me @ $200 to get it fixed, could have been a little more but that was about 7 years ago. Good luck on which ever route you go.

[Dockem]

Looks like the diagram on page 112 of the Honda service manual shows it.

Time to dig in and see if I can adjust the cable there.

Thanks for the help! I'm kind of like a fish outta water when it comes to GW wrenching. Valks, I felt more at home. But, d@mn the GW has tons of more wires, sensors, and body parts to contend with.

[Dude]

Looks like the diagram on page 112 of the Honda service manual shows it.

Time to dig in and see if I can adjust the cable there.

Thanks for the help! I'm kind of like a fish outta water when it comes to GW wrenching. Valks, I felt more at home. But, d@mn the GW has tons of more wires, sensors, and body parts to contend with.

I thought so to when I first got one but after a while it isn't that bad. The worst part is trying to get the Tupperware off to get to things.

[Dockem]

Well, it took a coupla hours and much profanity, but I was able to get the throttle adjusted under the cowling.

WD-40 was needed to finally loosen up the adjusting nuts. It was like assembling a watch inside a matchbox until I finally found a mini vise grip and a metric wrench that was small enough to get into the tight space.
I loosened up nearly all of the adjustment at the handle bar adjuster so I could tighten it up under the cowling. Now I have plenty of handle bar adjustment to play with.
Hopefully I won't need to do this again for a LONG time!
More profanity getting the cowling back on. I'm done for the day! Gotta love learning curves......
I'll get the front fender on tomorrow (added an extension onto it.)

BTW, found the drool tube with no problem, drained about 2-3 oz. of liquid - oil and water - it definitely needed it.

I'm gonna save the air cleaner for cooler weather!