old geezer.......long story short...i drove a big truck for 32 years. years ago i broke a cable on my peterbilt, and this old man in el paso, tx made me a replacement cable, and when he did he told me this: once a year take the cable out, and as you pull it out pull it through a clean rag. then put a blob of lubriplate # 105 outboard motor lube in the palm of your hand, and coat the cable with the lube as you push it back into the sheath. he told me that if i did this, i would never ever have a broken cable again.......i never have. the old man has long sinced passed away, but i will forever remember what i learned from him. it does work. good luck.
Goose, that old geezer must have gone to the same "old school" as my granddad...now also gone to his reward at 93. The same method, everything the same down to the type of lube. I couldn't believe it when I read that.

On my bike, it's easier to remove the cable from the bottom since I have a batwing on the front. Same approach, just work it from the bottom and only involves one screw.