Motobecane Cables

 

Motobecane mopeds: This section is for French made 1960-70’s Motobecane mopeds (mobylettes), not for the Italian made Motobecane Sebring moped. Focus is on USA models.

Motobecane moped cables are all single-ended, with a screw-on pinch bolt at one end. So the inner wire can slide out and be replaced separately from the conduit. 

Myrons original Motobecane cables in 2019

Original cables from leftover inventory and from actual bikes were measured. The conduit and inner wire lengths are used to make substitute (replacement) cables. 

Cable ends are three types: front/rear brake, choke/throttle, and decomp (start).

Substitute items have an “s” on the end of the part number. Originals do not.

Substitute cables are recently made. Originals are made in France in the 1970’s. The substitute cables perform better than original ones. The nylon lining makes the wire slide easier. But substitute cables have a different appearance. This matters most when you replace one cable and you want it to look like the other cables.

Inner wires are sold with extra length for easier installation. The extra is cut off afterwards with a wire cutter (diagonal cutting pliers).

 

Cable parts colored aqua blue here are sold separately. They are not included with a new cable.

Price color is green or green for new, and dark green for used items.

 


Application Columns for Parts Lists   olive is US model
1  1966-67 Cady M1
2   67-4/68 Cady M1

3   67-4/68 Cady M1P low bars
4  67-4/68 Cady M1PR
5   5/68-74 Cady M1PR

6   5/68-74 Cady M1PRT, PRTS

7  1974-78 Cady M1, M1PR, M3PR
8  1974-78 Cady M1PRT, PRTS

9  1974-78 Cady M3PRTS PRTSG

1959-64 Ward Riverside (center carb)
2  
1959-64 AV85, AV88 (center carb)
3  1970-73 40 40V 50V (center carb)
3  1970-71 50    (center carb)
4  1974-80 40V  (center carb)

5  1974-80 50V  (center carb)
6  1978-80 50V  (center carb, black cables)
7  1978-79 7   xx(center carb, black cables)

1  
1972-73 50    (side carb)
2  1974-76 40  x (side carb)
3  1976-77 40  x (side carb)
4  1977-80 40, 50 (side carb)
5  1977-80 50V (side carb with bottom-pull-choke)
6  1978-80 50V (side carb, bottom-pull-choke, black cables)

 

 


# 123456789 1234567 123456
1
000011000 1110000 100000 15580s $10.0 rear brake cable  gray
56 x 64″
1 110100000 0000000 000000 19152s none  rear brake cable  gray 58?x 64″
1 001000111 0000000 000000 19737s none  rear brake cable  gray 59?x 66?”

1 000000000 0011000 011111 20533  $19.0 rear brake orig.  silver 56 x 64″
1 000000000 0011000 011111 20533s$10.0 rear brake cable  gray 56 x 64″
1 000000000 0000010 000010 23857s $10.0 rear brake cable black 56 x 64″
1 000000000 0000001 000000 23868snone  rear brake cable black 56?x 64″
a 001000111 0000000 000000 19738snone  rear brake inner wire 66?

a 110111000 1111111 111111 15600s$5.00 rear brake inner wire WR1 64″
b 111111111 1111111 111111 00716  $7.00 pinch bolt P6a Ø6 x 11
b 111111111 1111111 111111 00716s $2.00 pinch bolt P6c Ø5.5 x 10
c 111111111 1111111 111111 15581s $1.50 step ferrule F1 6-to-8mm
d 111111111 1110000 000000 15518  $6-$4 cable adjuster with round nut A3a

d 000000000 0001111 111111 21222  $4.50 cable adjuster with star nut A3c
f 000000000 0001111 111111 21157  $1.00 black star nut for adjuster


#123456789 1234567 123456
1 000001010 1111000 110000
 15579s$10.0 front brake cable  gray 30 x 38″
1 110110100 0000000 000000 15792snone  front brake cable  gray 15?x 38″
1 001000000 0000000 000000 19735snone  front brake cable  gray 13?x 38″
1
000000001 0000100 001110 20532s $10.0 front brake cable  gray 31 x 38″
1 000000000 0000011 000001 23856  $16.0 front brake orig.  black 31 x 38″

1 000000000 0000011 000001 23856s $10.0 front brake cable black 31 x 38″
1
000000000 0000100 000010 54270snone  front brake cable  gray 33?x 38″ VLX

a 111111111 1111111 111111 15599  $5.00 front brake inner wire WF1 38″
b 111111111 1111111 111111 00716  $7.00 pinch bolt P6a Ø6 x 11
b 111111111 1111111 111111 00716s $2.00 pinch bolt P6c Ø5.5 x 10
c 000001011 0011111 111111 15581s $1.50 step ferrule F1 6-to-8
c 111110100 1100000 000000 16944  $2.00 step ferrule F2 4-to-7
d 111111111 1110000 000000 15518  $6-$4 cable adjuster with round nut A3a
d 000000000 0001111 111111 21222  $4.50 cable adjuster with black star nut A3c
e 000001011 0011111 111111 20059  $7.50 cable stop
f 000000000 0001111 111111 21157  $1.00 black star nut for adjuster


#123456789 1234567 123456
1000011111 1111000 000000 15576s $10.0 choke cable 35.0 x 42″ gray
1100000000 0000000 000000 19153s none  choke cable 35.0?x 42″
1000000000 0000010 000000 24198s $10.0 choke cable 34.8 x 44″ black
1000000000 0000001 000000 23866s none  choke cable 37.5?x 44″ black
2000000000 0000000 111000 21285s $10.0 choke cable 39.5 x 44″ gray
2000000000 0000000 111000 21285  $17.0 choke orig.  39.5 x 44″ silver
3000000000 0000100 000100 23338s $10.0 choke cable 34.8 x 44″ gray
4000000000 0000000 000010 00000s $10.0 choke cable 42.0 x 47″ gray
4000000000 0000000 000001 00000s $10.0 choke cable 42.0 x 47″ black
a100011111 1111000 000000 14927  none  choke/throttle wire original 42″
a000000000 0000111 111100 21286  $6.00 choke/throttle wire original 44″
a000000000 0000000 000011 22069  $8.00 choke/throttle wire original 48″

a  111111111 1111111 111111 22069s $4.00 throttle inner wire WTGc 47″
b000000001 1100000 000000 14903  none  adjuster M5-0.9 use 23089

b000000000 0011111 111111 23089  $5.00 adjuster A1c M5-0.9
c000000000 1111111 111111 14322  $7.00 choke pinch bolt 12mm long
d000000000 1111111 111111 20053  $3.50 choke step spacer 3mm long
e100011111 0011111 111111 14120  $7.00 choke spring
f 100011111 0011111 111111 14119  $9.00 choke slide
g000000000 0000000 000011 22936  $8.00 cable stop (guide)
g000000000 0000000 000011 000A2s $3.00 guide substitute = adjuster A2
h000000000 0000000 000011 22935  $2.00 choke cable ring
h000000000 0000000 000011 000F2s $2.00 ring substitute ferrule F2
i   000000000 0000000 000100 21940  $16-9 cable elbow (cable guide)


#123456789 1234567 123456
1 000011111 0010000 000000 14334s none  throttle cable 35.0?x 42″ gray

1 000000000 1100000 000000 15577s $10.0 throttle cable 35.0 x 42″ gray
1 000000000 0000000 000000 21287s none  throttle cable 37.5?x 47″ gray
1 000000000 0000001 000000 23866s none  throttle cable 37.5?x 47″ black 

1
000000000 0000010 000001 
24198s $10.0 throttle cable 34.8 x 47″ black 
1
000000000 0000000 000000 53474  $19.0 throttle orig.  36.0 x 41″ silver
1
000000000 0000000 000000 53474s $10.0 throttle cable 36.0 x 47″ gray for ?

2 000000000 0000100 000110 23338s $10.0 throttle cable 34.8 x 47″gray
2 000000000 0000100 000110 23338  $19.0 throttle orig.  34.85 x 44″silver
3 000000000 0000000 000000 53419s $10.0 throttle cable 37.5 x 47″ gray for ?
3 000000000 0000000 000000 53419  $19.0 throttle orig.  37.5 x 43″ silver
a 000000111 1100000 000000 14927  none  choke/throttle wire original 42″
a 000000000 0000001 111100 21286  $6.00 choke/throttle wire original 44″ =53420
a 000000000 0000010 000011 22069  none  choke/throttle wire original 48″

a 111111111 1111111 111111 22069s $6.00 throttle inner wire WT1 47″
b 000000000 0000000 000000 14903  none  adjuster M5-0.9 use 23089

b 000000000 0011111 111111 23089  $5.00 adjuster A1c M5-0.9 coarse
c 000000000 0011111 111111 23114  $8.00 throttle sliding block w/screw
d 000000000 1100001 000100 00189  $4.00 adjuster w/nut A10 M6-0.75
d 000000000 1100001 000100 04172  $2.50 adjuster nut A7d M6-0.75 9hex
e 000000001 0000000 111111 21940  $16-9 cable elbow (guide)


#123456789 1234567 123456   x = some
9 110111111 1111100 111110 15578s $14.0 decomp cable gray 29×33″ 32″min
9 000000000 0000010 000001 24098s $14.0 decomp cable black 29×33″
9 000000000 0000001 000000 23867s $14.0 decomp cable for 7 black 28×32″
9 110111111 1111100 111110 15578  $20.0 decomp orig. silver 29×35″

9 000000000 0000100 000010 54271 
$19.0 decomp orig. silver VLX 31×37″
a 111111111 1111111 111111 14974  $7.00 decomp wire 37.5″
b 111111111 1111111 111111 16944  $2.00 step ferrule F2 4-to-7
c 111111111 1111000 100000 14903  none  adjuster M5-0.9 use 23089

c 000000000 001xx11  1xx111 23089  $5.00 adjuster A1c M5-0.9 coarse
d 000000000 000xx00  0xx000 53819  $7.50 ’75-76 adjuster A12 M7-1.0
e 000000000 0000111 011111 23123  $6.50 decomp pinch bolt 17mm long
f 000000000 0000111 011111 23122  $3.00 decomp step spacer 8mm long

All 5 cables go inside 2 Sleeves/Sheathes
10 14762s $2.00 sleeve Ø13 x 17″ black each
10 14762    N /A   sleeve Ø13 x 17″ silver each

 

Notes:

1. Cable lengths are for original handlebars. Low or narrow bars need shorter cables. Tall or wider bars need longer cables.

2. Motobecane original cables are nylon lined. Most models are silver cables, that get sunburned brown where they are not covered by the grey sleeve. Even though they look bad, they still function.

3. The sleeve/sheath becomes brittle with age. When that happens, it breaks in certain places. Then the cables get flexed only in certain places. So new cables in old brittle sleeves/sheaths is not a good idea. It’s better to remove or replace the brittle sheaths with new flexible ones. When the sheath is flexible, the whole cable flexes gently. It performs better and lasts longer.

4. Always lube cables with a drip oil can, or buy a small bottle of cable lube. Often cables and throttles resist moving, and at first seem bad, but become freer after oil gets inside them.

 

CABLE SETS for sale with Part Numbers, Lengths and Applications
US models in olive, c is choke cable pipe, t is throttle cable pipe (guide) 


c  t  Cady (Center Carb) 
1 19152 58 15792 15 19153 35.0 19154 36.0 15578 29 0 0 1966-67 M1, AR1-10
2 19152 58 15792 15 auto   O000 19154 36.0 15578 29 0 1 ’67-4/68 M1, S10 carb

3 19737 59 19735 13 auto   O000 19732 35.0 19733 27 0 1 ’67-4/68 M1P, S10, low bars
4 19152 58 15792 15 15576 35.0 19154 36.0 15578 29 0 0 ’67-4/68 M1PR, AR1-10
5 15580 56 15792 15 15576 35.0 14334 35.0 15578 29 0 0 5/68-’74 M1PR, AR1-10

6 15580 56 15579 30 15576 35.0 14334 35.0 15578 29 0 0 5/68-’74 M1PRT, PRTS
7 19737 59 15792 15 15576 35.0 14334 35.0 15578 29 0 1 ’74-78 M1, M1PR, M3PR
8 19737 59 15579 30 15576 35.0 14334 35.0 15578 29 0 1 ’74-78 M1PRT, PRTS
9 19737 59 20532 31 15576 35.0 14334 35.0 15578 29 0 1 ’74-78 M3PRTS PRTSG

0 01010 01 01010 01 01010 01.0 10101 01.0 10101 10 c  t  Mobylette (Center Carb)
1 1558056 1557930 1557635.0 1557735.0 1557829 0 0
’59-64 Ward Riverside
2 1558056 1557930 1557635.0 14334 35.0 1557829 0 0 ’59-64 AV85, AV88
3 1558056 1557930 1557635.0 1433435.0 1557829 0 0 ’70-73 40 40V 50V ’70-71 50
4 2053356 1557930 1557635.0 21287 37.5 1557829 0 0 ’74-80 H40V
5 2053356 2053231 2333834.8 2333834.8 1557829 0 0 ’74-80 50V
6 2385756 2385631 2419834.8 2419834.8 2409829 0 0 ’78-80 Le Moped
7 2386856 2385631 2386637.5 2386637.5 2386728 1 1 ’78-79 Model 7
7 20533 56 20532 31 21285 39.5 21287 37.5 22533 28 1 1 ’78-80 7, Ranger 
00
0 01010 01 01010 01 01010 01.0 10101 01.0 10101 10 c  t  Mobylette (Side Carb)
1 1558056 1557930 2128539.5 21287 37.5 15578 29 0 0
’72-73 H50
2 2053356 1557930 2128539.5 21287 37.5 15578 29 0 1 ’74-76 H40 
3 2053356 2053231 2128539.5 2128737.5 1557829 0 1 ’76-77 40 
4 2053356 2053231 2333834.8 5347436.0 1557829 1 1 ’77-80 40, 50 top-pull, 2 elbows
5 2053356 2053231 2333842.0 2333834.8 1557829 0 1 ’77-80 50V bottom-pull-choke
5 20533 56 54270 33 23338 42.0 5341937.5 5427131 0 1 ’78-80 50VLX same but wide bars
6 2385756 2385631 2419842.0 2419834.8 2409829 0 1 ’77-80 50V bottom-pull-choke 

5-cable set price $48 for any application listed above. Cable conduits are modern lined, light grey or black, with original length. Lengths colored light grey are uncertain and not promised to be precisely correct.

Corrections:
1.
Around late 1977, on USA variator models with side carbs, the choke cables 23338 and 24198 changed from top-pull to bottom-pull. That change required more length, 34.8 to 42.0 inch (conduit length). The length changed but the part number apparently did not. The evidence for this is the bundle of 23338’s with original price tag with part #. and no apparent parts bulletins, out of nine 1978-80 Motobecane Dealer Manuals. Their conduit is 42 inches, not 34.8. To distinguish the ’78-on longer cables from the pre-’78, the ’78-on part numbers are shown here crossed out 23338 and 24198.

2. The 53419 throttle cable is not in the 1978-80 Motobecane Dealer Manuals, yet actual cables were in 1980’s leftover inventory