How to start the motorcycle if the clutch cable is broken?
3 Answers
Clutch cable breakage will not affect starting the engine, you can still start the motorcycle with a broken clutch cable, but it will affect take-off. On a slope, you can directly put it in 2nd gear and slide down to start the engine. On flat ground, first start the engine, use your feet to push the bike forward, then gently throttle and shift into 1st gear to take off. After that, you'll need to operate the motorcycle by shifting gears without using the clutch.
I've been riding motorcycles for many years, and a broken clutch cable is really troublesome. Once, when the cable snapped in the middle of nowhere, I had a quick idea: first, I made sure the transmission was in neutral (N position), so I could start the engine directly by pressing the ignition button. If the bike doesn't display the gear, carefully push the bike to feel the gear position and find neutral. If it's in gear, try pushing the bike on a gentle downhill slope, and when the speed slows down, quickly turn the key to start—but this is very risky, as the bike might lurch forward uncontrollably or damage components. I almost fell that time and had to push it to a repair shop to replace the cable. A reminder to everyone: always develop the habit of shifting to neutral after riding, check cable wear regularly, and prevent breakage to avoid taking such risks.
As a seasoned motorcycle rider, dealing with a broken clutch cable requires skill. The clutch serves to disengage power transmission, and a broken cable directly locks the connection, preventing direct starting in gear. The only safe method is to confirm neutral gear ignition by checking if the N indicator light on the dashboard is illuminated. If there's no signal, gently push the bike to test for looseness to determine neutral. In emergencies, push-starting is feasible: find a flat surface, hold the bike steady while pushing and pressing the ignition button, but the speed must be slow and proper protective gear should be worn to avoid accidents or engine stalling. I also know experts use tools to temporarily secure the clutch lever, but this is not recommended for the average rider. It's advisable to visit a repair shop to fix the cable as soon as possible, and routinely check and lubricate the cables every six months to prevent aging and failures.
