It frayed where it wasn't exposed, so I don't think anything was rubbing it. I had to disconnect the cable at the bottom and pull it out at the top to just barely expose the frayed part. I've got another stock one on order, I just hope it is here before I leave for the Texas GNCC on Thrusday. Both of us were using similar aftermarket clutch levers, but I had been using that same lever on my 400EX for over two years without ever fraying a cable, and he had just recently switched from the stock lever to the Works Connection lever which has a good reputation.