A lovely bend, sun on your back, a full tank. And then an ugly noise. A stone hits, a bracket breaks, or the bike simply falls over at a photo stop. When you break down on a motorcycle tour, there are two kinds of riders: some call roadside assistance and wait three hours. The others open the tank bag and pull out something that costs almost nothing and looks insignificant: the cable tie.
Here's our cable tie collection. Not a technical manual, but a list of emergency fixes that get you going again at the roadside.
Why cable ties are worth so much in a breakdown
Everyone knows the feeling when technology fails and the next workshop is far away. That's exactly when the cable tie becomes a spare part for almost everything. It's the MacGyver tool in your pocket: it dampens vibration, patches cracks and holds together what has actually already come apart.
15 tricks: how a cable tie saves your motorcycle tour
1. Repair a broken gear lever
The nightmare: you want to shift up and your foot hits thin air because the end has snapped off. Before you despair, wrap 15 cable ties really tightly around the stub. Shifting feels strange, almost rubbery, but it gets you over the pass. And when first gear clicks in again, the relief is huge.
2. Patch cracks in the fairing
A crack in an expensive fairing hurts. Drill small holes to the left and right of the crack and use the cable ties like surgical staples. The result looks like Frankenstein but has a certain charm. Above all, it keeps the fairing in shape and stops it breaking further on the road.
3. Strap a spongy brake lever overnight
Your brake lever feels spongy and the uncertainty rides along. Strap the lever firmly to the grip overnight with a cable tie. Small air bubbles can rise, and in the morning the pressure point is sometimes firmer again. That's not a repair. A spongy pressure point can also point to vapour bubbles caused by water in the brake fluid, which in extreme cases can make the brake fail completely. With a very soft pressure point, the German automobile club ADAC advises stopping your ride. So at most ride carefully to the nearest workshop and have the brake bled or the brake fluid changed (due every two years at the latest). More in Checking motorcycle brakes.
4. The improvised snow chain
Freezing rain in the Alps and the tyres can't find grip any more? Then your bike gets snow chains made of cable ties. Pull ten thick ties around the tyre (through the rim on spoked wheels). The locking heads dig into the slush. It's an emergency fix to get out of a dangerous situation at walking pace, nothing more. On black ice, stopping or pushing is usually the better choice, and on cast wheels without gaps the trick doesn't work at all.
5. Fix a drooping indicator
A drooping indicator looks sad and quickly becomes a problem. Strap it up: two ties around the bracket or the yoke, indicator back up. Never around the fork tube in the sliding area, that damages the fork seals. You ride on instead of fiddling for ages.
6. Save your number plate at the last second
Vibration takes its toll on metal. If your number plate is only half attached to its bracket, "stitch" it on with cable ties. A lost number plate abroad can get really expensive.
7. Dry gloves on the handlebars
Soaking wet hands are the worst. Use cable ties as S-hooks on the bars. While you drink your espresso, the gloves hang in the wind and can't blow away.
8. Tame the drinking tube
When the tube of your hydration system flaps around in the wind, it's annoying. A loosely pulled cable tie on the shoulder strap keeps it where it belongs. So you drink enough and stay focused on the road.
9. Emergency loops for luggage
A hook on your case has broken? Don't panic. Link two ties into a figure of eight. One loop goes on the bike, the other takes the strap. That way your luggage stays on even when the road gets rough.
10. Secure loose wiring
Chafing leads to short circuits. A cable tie with a little play holds the wiring loom on the frame. A small job with a big effect: it prevents a short circuit in the middle of nowhere.
11. Tie on a loose boot sole
If the sole of your boot comes loose, you trip at every stop. Pull two strong ties all the way around the boot. It looks adventurous, but it works.
12. Check your fork travel
A small cable tie around the fork tube, not pulled too tight and placed right at the seal, tells you a lot about your suspension. After the ride its position shows how far the fork compressed and whether it bottomed out. You won't get a cheaper data logger.
13. Secure your ignition key
Lose your key in long grass and the tour is over. Secure it to your jacket with a cable tie loop. Peace of mind for 1 cent.
14. Zip puller
Can't grab the tiny zip slider with gloves on? Thread a cable tie through the eyelet. Then you can adjust the vents easily even at 100 km/h.
15. Snapped throttle cable: the last resort
Really only in an emergency: with a snapped throttle cable, on some older carburettor bikes the throttle valve can be fixed with a cable tie at a slightly raised idle. On modern bikes with ride-by-wire this doesn't work. Your bike then no longer closes the throttle, you only control it with clutch and brake. This is for experienced mechanics and is only meant to get you slowly out of the danger zone. If in doubt, roadside assistance is the safer solution. On longer tours a universal spare cable in your luggage is worth it.
Summary
moto-guide.com isn't about glossy catalogues, it's about the real road. This collection shows: not every problem on a motorcycle tour needs a credit card, often a bit of brainpower is enough. Pack a handful of black, UV-resistant cable ties today. When you're stranded in the middle of nowhere one day, you'll be glad of them. A cable tie won't help with a puncture, though. For that, a tyre repair kit with plugs or string belongs in the tank bag; for tubeless tyres the ADAC considers it a better emergency solution than tyre sealant spray. After the repair, ride at no more than 50 km/h to the nearest workshop. Our packing list helps you not to forget anything.
Frequently asked questions
Which cable ties should I take on a motorcycle tour?
A handful of black, UV-resistant cable ties. For jobs like the snow chain or the boot sole, a few thick, strong ties make sense.
Can I replace a broken gear lever with cable ties?
As an emergency fix, yes. Wrap about 15 cable ties very tightly around the stub. Shifting feels soft, but usually gets you to the nearest workshop.
Does a cable tie help with a spongy brake lever?
Strap the lever to the grip overnight. Air bubbles can rise and the pressure point often gets firmer. The brake still needs to go to a workshop straight away. With a very soft pressure point, the ADAC advises stopping your ride.
How do I check my suspension with a cable tie?
Put a small cable tie around the fork tube. After the ride its position shows how far the fork compressed and whether it bottomed out.
Sources
- Changing or topping up brake fluid (ADAC, German)
- Breakdowns on the road: first aid (Motorrad Online, German)
- Motorcycle puncture: what you can do (ADAC, German)
Last checked: September 2026. Emergency fixes don't replace a proper repair.
