Front Drum Brake Cable | Honda CT90 / Trail 90

Front Drum Brake Cable | Honda CT90 / Trail 90 (K1-K6 & 1976-1979)

Replacement Front Drum Brake Cables for Honda CT90 "Trail 90" Motorcycles

Why You Need This

Having trouble squeezing the front brake on your vintage Trail 90? Over time, drum brake cables can get built up with grime and dirt, making them sluggish or even stuck. A fresh cable can bring back that smooth, responsive braking feel your Honda CT90 had when it was new.

Our replacement front brake cable is the perfect fix to a broken or seized original. Pair it with a new pair of brake shoes for even better performance. Remember, the easier it is to pull the brake lever, the more stopping power you get at the front wheel. Make sure to select the cable that fits your specific CT90 model when adding it to your cart.

Specifications

Model-Specific Notes

• CT90 K1*-K5: Cable #2141 fits CT90 models K1-K5. CT90 K1 models were equipped with a version of this front brake cable that used an integrated front brake light switch. This style of brake cable is considered obsolete. Our current replacements are a brake cable only. The CT90 K1 can be left as a rear brake light switch only motorcycle or switched to the K2 - K5 right handlebar switch. This version of the switch has a separate provision for the separate front drum brake light switch used on all later CT90 models.
• CT90 K5-K6 & 1976: Cable #2145 fits late CT90 K5 models with Frame SN 1520002 and up, K6 and 1976 models thru frame SN 17092
• CT90 1976-1979: Cable #2142 fits 1976 CT90 models after Frame SN 1709298 as well as 1978-1979 models

Installation

Difficulty: Beginner

Tools needed: 10mm and 14mm wrench

1. If you have a CT90 K5 or later, loosen the 14mm locknut with a wrench and turn the adjustment nut to create slack in the original cable for removing it. On CT90 K4 and earlier models, unscrew and remove the special 14mm tensioning nut and spring.
2. With the cable now having slack, remove the cable from the lower drum brake mechanism.
3. The front brake cable can now be removed from the front drum brake perch and pulled off the motorcycle.
4. Properly route the new front brake cable and attach the cable starting at the front brake perch.
5. With the brake cable connected at the brake lever, slide the brake cable into the brake drum housing for your specific CT90. Every CT90 uses a front drum brake spring that needs to be reinstalled on the lower portion of the cable. Be sure to reinstall it with the new cable.
6. Turn the front brake cable adjuster to set the brake cable free play on the bottom of the brake cable until the front lever has approximately 0.4-0.6" (10-15mm) of freeplay.

All new cables need to be lubricated before installation. A quality motorcycle cable lube or marvel mystery oil works great for the task. Repeating this simple maintenance once a year will help keep your cable operating smoothly and lasting longer.

Watch our Cables 101 video for more information on cable installation and care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What front brake cable do I need for my CT90?

The reason for so many different versions of the CT90 front brake cable is because Honda made 3 versions of the front brake plate throughout the CT90 production. The easiest way to know which front brake cable you need is by checking the front drum brake plate on your front wheel. You will find a photo showing the K1 - Early K5, Late K5 - Early '76, and Late '76 - '79 versions of the brake plate design in our listing photo.

Do you have replacement springs?

We currently carry a front brake adjuster and spring kit for CT90 / Trail 90 K0 - K5 right here. We do not carry front brake springs for the Late K5 - CT90 1979 models.

You Might Also Need

• Front Brake Adjuster Kit | Honda CT90 / Trail 90 K0-K5 — Replace if yours is missing, stripped, or corroded
• Front Drum Brake Light Switch — Replace if not functioning
• Drum Brake Shoes (Front & Rear) — Replace if brake shoes are worn or show any signs of corrosion

Last updated: July 2026