Motorcycle cable OEM number

What are OEM Numbers?

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) numbers are codes that are used to identify the correct component for a particular vehicle. 

Imagine how many motorcycles have been made. Last year alone 60 million new motorbikes were registered around the world! Now think about all the different components and parts that make up those bikes; even just the number of different control cables and hoses is in the tens of thousands. 

Thankfully, manufacturers devised the OEM number system to make sure installers fit the right part to the right bike. If you look closely at any cable, hose or other component on your motorcycle, it will have an OEM number somewhere on it.

Understanding OEM Number Structures

OEM numbers have a particular structure to them - a numbering language unique to each manufacturer. 

 

Each number is usually made up of two or three segments: one segment will explain what the item is, with the remaining parts referring to the particular model of motorcycle it fits. For example 22870-KRN-A40 is a clutch cable for a Honda CRF250R 2012. 

  • 22870- tells us it’s a clutch cable
  • KRN-A40 tells us it fits that specific model and year

This is also accompanied by a batch or manufactured date number, which in the case of OEM numbers is not relevant. Pictured below is what can be found on this example clutch cable:

If we now look at the throttle cable from the same bike, the same second and third segments of the part number, (referring to the particular model of motorcycle it fits), can be seen.

Knowing that we are looking at a throttle cable however, we can make sure we are considering the correct prefix, in this case, “17910-”. This combines with the remainder of the OEM number on the cable to give us 17910-KRN-A40, which identifies as the throttle cable pair for the Honda CRF250R.

Finding OEM Numbers on your Cables and Hoses

OEM part numbers are present on most cables, as well as some newer specifications of hose. Due to the amount of dirt and debris cables can pick up over time, the part number can often be obscured, so give it a good wipe down if you can’t see a number anywhere. 

Some OEM numbers are printed in places that would naturally be obscured during use, such as underneath the rubber dust cover at the handlebar end of a clutch cable. If there are other free-moving parts of the outer jacket on the cable, such as an additional outer conduit jacket or an outer spring, consider moving these to find the number.

Hydraulic hoses of older design, particularly rubber hoses, often do not have any OEM markings on them. This can be for a number of reasons but two notable ones are; rubber hoses often have an uneven surface that is difficult to print onto and brake fluid can often dissolve the ink used to emboss the number. That said, newer designs, particularly braided hoses used on bikes such a Triumph or Harley Davidson, often have numbering present on their hoses.

Getting the Perfect Fit with Venhill

By understanding a little bit about how OEM numbers work, and the unique characteristics of your bike manufacturer’s numbering conventions, you can save yourself a lot of time when looking for replacement parts. 

At Venhill, we have a wide range of cables and hoses for everything from motocross and trials to street racer and cruiser, and many of our thousands of products now reference the OEM number of the product from which they are based.

This detail can be found on the product page of each item but can also be used to find an item on the website: simply use our website search function and enter a complete number. If you are unsure about the relevant prefixes, just type in the numbers you can see on the cable or hose and the search function can often find it.

When looking to buy a new cable or hose, be sure to browse our online range here at Venhill. We’ve been making replacement cables for motorbikes since 1970, so are usually able to help.

And if you’d like advice about which cable is right for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our motorcycle cable experts, who are happy to advise.

See more: How to Replace & Install a Throttle Cable on a Motorcycle

See more: How to Install a Clutch Cable on a Motorcycle

See more: Are Braided Brake Lines Worth It? Everything You Need to Know

See more; How to Lubricate Your Motorcycle’s Cables

See more: Replacing a motorcycle brake hose