https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ0niW4tRVM&feature=youtu.be
No idea if the throttle tube is still good or not, it feels pretty loose and I can't really get it to tighten up with the microadjustments
I have an '04 500F and mine is exactly the same. I just assumed it was normal, but it is also my first bike, so I could be wrong. Also, I recently swapped in a new throttle tube and after it was installed, the throttle play was still the same.
I have bought 28 motorcycles since 1968, the freeplay you have is normal from the showroom, if you can't take out the excessive (IMHO) cable play at the adjustment by the grip, you will have to pull the tank and take it up at the rough adjustment down at the carb end....what yo have is totally normal, but one of the first things I adjust on a new bike. You always need a little freeplay...if you can turn the bars from lock to lock without the Rpm's increasing after the adjustment, you have enough freeplay...about 1/10th of what you have now is what I go for.
NO, you don't need a new throttle tube :thumb:
CCPRYMMV
(http://home.comcast.net/~stykers/throttleadj.jpg)