Is the “Cable Tie” a biker’s best friend?

[Ian T-J]

“my example of “good design” has been the humble cable tie. Designed in 1958 by Thomas & Betts, or to be more precise, the later one-piece, nylon design of 1968.”

Read the full interview at :- http://www.trf.org.uk/make-do-and-mend/


http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t532/IanTJ/Cable%20Tie_zpshubbzgap.jpg

[george formby]

I love cat stranglers. Most of my old shit is held together with them.

[Big Dog]

Never ceases to amaze how many temporary solutions involving cable ties suddenly become permanent.

Sent via tapatalk.

[george formby]

Yep. But only if you splurge on the UV rated ties. Those cheap multicoloured multipacks are a waste of plastic.

[Night Falcon]

Yep. But only if you splurge on the UV rated ties. Those cheap multicoloured multipacks are a waste of plastic.

but they are cheap though.....and multi coloured :laugh:

[Tazz]

Green ones are the strongest ;)

[Moi]

but they are cheap though.....and multi coloured :laugh:

... rainbow coloured cable ties on a Honda... :laugh:

[MarkH]

I've added cable ties to my saddle bag along with other useful tools, I've also ordered some releasable cable ties so I can reuse them over & over.
They are pretty useful little things!

[AllanB]

Ducati like them. I've noticed a fair number around the wiring on my bike.


Cop shows like them too - better than hand cuffs.

[Kage]

It's amazing how once you start using cable ties they end up everywhere, I can never work out where they all come from [emoji39]

[Big Dog]

Ducati like them. I've noticed a fair number around the wiring on my bike.


Cop shows like them too - better than hand cuffs.
Only in that you can cary 2-300 for the same weight as 2 pair real cuffs... plasticuffs I believe are slightly different in design but the mechanics are the same, just harder to twist out of.
Sober me says you can't twist out of 10 mm nylon zip ties. Drunk me disagrees.


If "Cops" is to believed you can cary 5 sets of plasticuffs in the same holder as one set of steel cuffs.

Sent via tapatalk.

[Gremlin]

Only in that you can cary 2-300 for the same weight as 2 pair real cuffs... plasticuffs I believe are slightly different in design but the mechanics are the same, just harder to twist out of.
Sober me says you can't twist out of 10 mm nylon zip ties. Drunk me disagrees.
Usually those are double looped. There are actually a heap of different options for zip ties.

Some I colour match to the wiring, some I colour match like red to power cables, and others I deliberately contrast so it's easy to pick them (like for suspension wiring). A while back I bought a bag of a thousand... figured I'd go through them eventually :laugh:

[Trade_nancy]

... rainbow coloured cable ties on a Honda... :laugh:

Is that a Honda in your avitar?

[Moi]

Is that a Honda in your avitar?

Yeah... the 2017 Goldwing... :eek::laugh:

[Ian T-J]

Cable ties are great ! BUT did anyone read the full interview ? ? ? ? ?

http://www.trf.org.uk/make-do-and-mend/

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t532/IanTJ/TRF-Artical-PHOTO-Small_zpsiwdimdo8.jpg

[vegeman]

Yep. But only if you splurge on the UV rated ties. Those cheap multicoloured multipacks are a waste of plastic.

these steel ones are clearly really good on the UV rating and strength, found them in Mitre 10 electrical section (I think)

[Night Falcon]

cable ties will never replace duct tape as the best tool in the kit...NEVER :calm:

But whatever gadgets they come up with in the future, BMW owners will still need to carry a winch incase they tip thim ova on the trail....nuff said :corn:

[Muzz67]

these steel ones are clearly really good on the UV rating and strength, found them in Mitre 10 electrical section (I think)
Clearly the plastic one's wont rust tho,

[Bass]

BMW owners will still need to carry a winch incase they tip thim ova on the trail....nuff said :corn:

Ummm....bit off topic.
I could never pick up the DR with a full luggage load, especially on soft ground, but the beemer is no problem. Something to do with weight lower down and sticky out cylinders acting as a fulcrum - even in sand, fully loaded, on my own - up she comes.

Maybe it's to do with BMW cable ties being much better quality than DR ones.

[5150]

The red ones make great powerbands..... :shifty:

[MarkH]

Woot!
My releasable cable ties have arrived!

These are them: http://www.banggood.com/100pcs-Releasable-Nylon-Cable-Core-Wire-Zip-Ties-Strap-Strips-150200300mm-Length-p-1010727.html
Available in 200mm, 250mm or 300mm in either black or white.
I got the 300mm black ones.

They seem decent enough, hopefully they prove to reasonably durable during normal usage.

[R650R]

Or you could have the best of both worlds, old fashioned wire and lockwire pliers.
All my cable ties are 'releasable' with a blade in the ttolkit

If we're talking roadside repairs though I think its duct tape for best versatility. You can rip it into small strips to do whatever a cable tie would do but cable ties wont always do what duct tape can do.

[george formby]

You can rip it into small strips to do whatever a cable tie would do but cable ties wont always do what duct tape can do.

Yeah. Ever tried gagging someone with a cable tie?

[MarkW]

Yeah. Ever tried gagging someone with a cable tie?

Not hard, wrap once around the neck and pull really tight! The noise will be very brief.

[george formby]

Not hard, wrap once around the neck and pull really tight! The noise will be very brief.

Aaah. A black belt with the old cat stranglers. How is Gareth? :msn-wink:

[Big Dog]

Yeah. Ever tried gagging someone with a cable tie?
Double them up they go round.
Might not be a suitable muffler for a kidnapping but great for a prank. Just make sure it goes in the mouth before you pull tight or your prank might just become a sentence.

Sent via tapatalk.

[young1]

Double them up they go round.
Might not be a suitable muffler for a kidnapping but great for a prank. Just make sure it goes in the mouth before you pull tight or your prank might just become a sentence.

Sent via tapatalk.

And you know how.........?

[Muzz67]

And you know how.........?


the manslaughter conviction kinda gives it away.

[Big Dog]

And you know how.........?
Let's just say I have seen the outcomes of both a successful prank... quite funny if you get it right and the person doesn't freak out too bad.

Also helped cut someone loose who couldn't breathe because the prankster missed...

Sent via tapatalk.

[Big Dog]

PS if you must try this the wider ones are easier to aim but harder to cut.

Sent via tapatalk.

[husaberg]

Woot!
My releasable cable ties have arrived!

These are them: http://www.banggood.com/100pcs-Releasable-Nylon-Cable-Core-Wire-Zip-Ties-Strap-Strips-150200300mm-Length-p-1010727.html
Available in 200mm, 250mm or 300mm in either black or white.
I got the 300mm black ones.

They seem decent enough, hopefully they prove to reasonably durable during normal usage.
I used to use them 20 years ago
You can actually buy them in NZ you know.
they used to be available in all sorts of colors
http://www.plasticcableties.co.nz/releasable-cable-ties.html
http://www.bunnings.co.nz/cable-tie-150mm-releasable-black-25-pk-cc6723-zone-hardware_p0020829
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Wire,-Cable-%26-Accessories/Cable-Accessories/Cable-Glands,-Grommets-%26-Ties/Releasable-Cable-Tie-Pack/p/HP1217

[caseye]

The reusable ones are available here in NZ and they're available in Green. They work as well as a normal tie in most circumstances.
Look hard at any dirt track race car you'll find hundreds of em in and around them holding this or that.