Believe it or not, early motorcycles didn’t have clutch cables at all. Riders had to manually disengage the engine by physically pushing a lever on the crankcase. This is why old-timey bikers had forearms like Popeye and were always angry at traffic.
In 1928, a company called ABC Motors invented the bowden cable, which is basically what you’re tightening today. It’s the same technology used in dentist drills and puppet strings. Yes, your motorcycle is essentially a giant puppet, and you are the slightly sweaty puppeteer.
So go forth, tighten that slack, and ride with the confidence of someone who knows their clutch won't betray them at a four-way stop. And if you see Kevin the minivan guy, wave. He’s just jealous he can’t do this himself.
