Getting those wires looking good

Hi guys,

I've been lurking for a few years on this site, and only recently decided to make an account. This winter I took apart my bike for the second time, focusing on getting it to look as good as it runs. It took me a while to get here, I cut corners with floats, valves, etc. and otherwise wasted my time.

Anyways, all that is behind me and I'm starting reassembly in a few weeks. Can anyone suggest to me what to do with the wire covers to get them looking as clean and crisp as all this new paint?
Specifically I am asking about the handlebar control/ brake/ clutch wires and the wires for the sidestand and engine. All of the plastic sleeving is old and cracked, and doesn't look good.

I was considering heatshrinking the control wires, but is there a way to do it without cutting off wires to remove the connectors and splicing them back together? Also is heatshrink the best option?

Heatshrink won't work for the engine wiring since it isn't very temperature resistant, so is there anything else I can use?

Thanks for your help, and hopefully I will be posting a restoration thread soon once I get her assembled!

 

I cleaned mine up with mineral spirits and then used Mother's "Back-to-Black" on them.

 

You can buy replacement vinyl tubing on ebay

 

i have wires all over the front that look terrible. i tucked them behind the headlight/fork as best as i could and am planning on putting tubing around them as best as i can to hide them. not sure what else to do. lots of wiring im unsure of what to do with as the bike had a fairing so i think i have a lot of extra wires that were there for the radio/speakers/etc

 

Thanks for your suggestions guys. Fitz, I would do that but the coverings are cracked and bent and even if they were a nice finish they would still look bad.

If I buy replacement tubing is there any easy way to put it on? Can I remove the contacts from the connectors temporarily or would I have to splice the wires?

 

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/spiral-cable-wrap
or
http://www.parts-express.com/cat/expand ... eving/2193

 

Yes, you can remove connectors from their housing, they are retained by a small barb, insert a small pointed object, I use a tiny flat bladed screwdriver, from the mating end

Tubing on ebay

 

Handy chart for reference, Andy.