Posts: 129
Threads: 9
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2025
Before I start probing and prodding or worse--cutting, I figured I'd come to the fountain of knowledge here and ask the stupid question.
Is there a way to release this cable tie to reuse it? It needs to be removed in order to take the tank off.
Old me would have just cut it and replaced it with a black zip tie. New me is trying hard to keep this bike as OEM as humanly possible. The previous owner routed a battery tender lead through a place that has one of these same ties--so it makes me think it's possible. BTW...he routed the lead so seamlessly and clean that I didn't even realize it had been installed until I went to install one myself. I wish I knew who this guy was because he has much to teach about keeping a bike clean.
Thanks for the help!
Posts: 16,119
Threads: 342
Likes Received: 666 in 365 posts
Likes Given: 775
Joined: Apr 2025
TXBikerGuy, Once in a moment of desperation, I opened a cable tie with a needle or something about that size. It's a simple ratchet mechanism and if you can lift the lever and hold it away from the things it catches on you can open and reuse it. You push the pin or needle or wire in from the same end as you insert the point of the cable tie.
They should be made to be reused, but that's a subject for another day.
If the previous owner of your bike was a forum member, he or she didn't register it, so I can't help with who it might have been.
Posts: 3,881
Threads: 115
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Apr 2013
A very tiny screw driver is what I some times use .
Posts: 1,670
Threads: 41
Likes Received: 137 in 65 posts
Likes Given: 34
Joined: Apr 2014
That cable tie (zip tie) is not OEM Honda. For the most part, Honda uses several kinds of re-usable plastic (or plastic-coated aluminum) bands or clips, like the one right next to the zip-tie.
Posts: 236
Threads: 27
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2019
I got these in local diy shop.
Posts: 129
Threads: 9
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2025
Thanks for all the quick replies. That is may not be an OEM fastener makes sense--the previous owner must have had this type of zip tie handy. It's the same type used in the battery tender lead install. That makes this easier. Snip, snip and move along. I have plenty of black zip ties to replace it with.
But first, a little achilles tendon surgery in the morning and a bit of a medically-induced hiatus from riding for awhile. How's that for timing after just buying this awesome bike?
Posts: 16,119
Threads: 342
Likes Received: 666 in 365 posts
Likes Given: 775
Joined: Apr 2025
Hope you recover quickly.
Posts: 403
Threads: 13
Likes Received: 1 in 1 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Oct 2017
(05-25-2020, 12:17 PM)zirconxi_imp Wrote: I got these in local diy shop.
beware: it's not the same to tidy-up computer cables on your desk that holding cables on a vibrating machine working under wide temperature ranges.
I'd use proper ty-raps (nylon, with metal ratchet)
Posts: 4,383
Threads: 240
Likes Received: 827 in 337 posts
Likes Given: 644
Joined: Apr 2025
You know that now, if you take that bike to a concours-level show, they'll ding you a point in judging for a non-standard cable retaining device...
Posts: 236
Threads: 27
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: May 2019
I thought all cable ties are nylon?? Anyway, I only use cable ties to tied wires inside the airbox and battery compartment. Don't think it will be hot enough to melt nylon.
(05-25-2020, 06:44 PM)jtopiso_imp Wrote: (05-25-2020, 12:17 PM)zirconxi_imp Wrote: I got these in local diy shop.
beware: it's not the same to tidy-up computer cables on your desk that holding cables on a vibrating machine working under wide temperature ranges.
I'd use proper ty-raps (nylon, with metal ratchet)