How important is period correct cable?

[robot.hebobo]

The 1991 Paramount PDG restoration is coming along. I decided to replace the cables with new stuff with orange housing to match the orange spatter/highlights on the frame. Just basic Jagwire OEM quality stuff, my guess was that this would be comparable to cable from days of yore.

I do realize that modern cable is a good bit thinner than old cable. The brake cable is much slicker and thinner than the old XT "motorcycle" stuff, and even the shift cable (standard modern compressionless) is decidedly skinnier than the old.

On the fence about how much this matters... so I thought I would make a poll...

 

[Frankenorange]

If the bike was of some kind of serious importance historically then best efforts should be made to use period and manufacturer correct items , but otherwise nobody should care a jot.
If they do get their knickers in a twist about it then point at some things in life that are waaaaaaaay more important that could use their energy.

 

[markoc]

I'd forget worrying about the cables and start frantically trying to find genuine vintage air to fill the tubes...



If it's a concours build then I'd understand, but otherwise a cable's a cable - shirley?

 

[PhillB]

I think at the end of the day, the only thing that is important is whether it would bother you. Ultimately, how period correct you make your bike is your choice. Personally, I don't worry about cables, I don't worry about (too much) about grips or tyres either as I see them as 'consumables' to a degree and if the old ones are not salvageable then they are replaced. I agree with @Frankenorange, if it was a historically important bike, then that's something to consider, but otherwise, go for it!

 

[Woz]

For a moment I thought this was the Road section ..... until ......

 

[FluffyChicken]

For a moment I thought this was the Road section ..... until ......

View attachment 1000744

I'm with al!

 

[FluffyChicken]

If it matters it matters, that's all!

If it is just to ride, most will not be period but close enough since buying old cables from 1991 will be hard.

Anyway,
Thick cables where on the way out. That was late 80s stuff, by 1991 thinner were already being used and in 1992 pretty much dropped, in fact you'd be shunned if you tried using 2.0mm cables, they were so retro. You ask XTR with it 1.6mm cables.

--+
Only thing, if for looking "correct" rather than use, is not to not use the modern fancy end cap, seal things.

 

[Greenfingers1001]

I wouldn't worry about the cable issue, maybe not the black real thin sort