Topic: Kick Start Thread

[754]

... Kicking a bike is nostalgic to me and I love it.

+1

The real reason Honda discontinued them..... The Girls stopped using them...

 I dont know if I ever will get a bike without kickstart..till my knee...gives out..

[evanphi]

That's awesome man. Some people don't know to slowly set it to TDC before kicking. Glad you didn't get your arm ripped off. Having 4 cylinders makes it easier.


Man when I watch this video it makes me wish I  had a daughter. I can actually feel the fathers pride in this.  :')

http://youtu.be/Dh0OLiNeJyI

My daughter is only 3.5 months old, but I can't wait till she kick starts my bike for the first time.

[fdbrat]

Funny how things come and go in and out of trend. I'm sure the button was cool when it first came out but that's all you see now.

I think the kick is a treat. I'm young but my arthritis is getting bad in my hands. I think a Hondamatic is in my future.  They have a kick... But not as cool.

[750K]

I always laugh when I see someone kick a bike over that has an electric start, but whatever. To each their own, do what makes you happy. I prefer the electric start but have used the kicker on occasion, I do get a "kick" out of watching my friends kick their choppers over for ever trying to get them started, huffing and puffing only to watch me press the button and smile.

[flybox1]

+1 ... or kicking it over with minimal effort 
About a month ago I rode to a local shop to inquire about a valve cut.
Harley and hot rod shop, but they do all sorts of bike work. 
My K kicks over sooo easy when its at riding temps.  Both guys were pretty amazed.

[kghost]

This is the cool way to start your bike......

http://youtu.be/xIed0D0DxpI

[flybox1]

This is the cool way to start your bike......

http://youtu.be/xIed0D0DxpI

Just what your neighbors ordered 

[KrautKoffin]

This is the cool way to start your bike......

http://youtu.be/xIed0D0DxpI

Yes please!

[fdbrat]

But how did they start the Briggs haha.

I mounted an old Wisconsin motor on a Schwinn. I had to wrap a rope around the bell on the fly wheel to start it.

There is a vespa club here called P.S.M.S.C. ( Push Start Motor Scooter Club ).

Also I like the idea of not draining my battery. If I can't kick my bike with in 3 kicks something's wrong.
Also if a battery is to low to turn the engine a kick might save yah.

[dave500]

yeah stop being trolls and show a proper video on starting your bike like this!
kick start fail

[Bru-tom]

wahahahahaha, look at that fool, Dave! Sweet bike there Mr, I kinda get a "kick" out of starting my ancient bike with the electric start, some people look in amazement when they see me do it, they must be thinking "NICE MOD"!!!! hahaha

[kghost]

bwahahahahahaha Good one Dave-o!

[flybox1]

  sandals too....lmao.

[seanbarney41]

#$%*     too #$%*ing funny

[750K]

Bahahaha, awesome

[SOHC Digger]

My bike is kick-only. Elimination of wiring and the starter was my reasoning. It fires on the first or second kick each time.

Yes, there is a certain coolness to kicking your bike, especially when it fires right up, just as there is a certain un-coolness when you see someone holding the electric start forever waiting for their bike to come to life.

Part of the appeal, for those of us who love kicking, is the mechanical connection to the machine. It's the same reason I have only ever owned manual transmission cars and trucks. It just makes you that much more integral to the whole process.

If you think kicking is hipster, that's fine. Labeling doesn't offend me. I just don't care. If you love your button, push it. If you love your kicker, kick it.

[SOHC Digger]

And while we're talking about things that are less easy, I just picked up this kickstart lever that is 2" shorter than stock. Why? Simply because it's different.

[754]

No because it works, and wont hit your 700$ carbs... Easiest bike in the world to start almost.
And starting it by hand is no big deal , I know guys would start their shovels that way..

[kghost]

My bike is kick-only. Elimination of wiring and the starter was my reasoning. It fires on the first or second kick each time.

Yes, there is a certain coolness to kicking your bike, especially when it fires right up, just as there is a certain un-coolness when you see someone holding the electric start forever waiting for their bike to come to life.

Part of the appeal, for those of us who love kicking, is the mechanical connection to the machine. It's the same reason I have only ever owned manual transmission cars and trucks. It just makes you that much more integral to the whole process.

If you think kicking is hipster, that's fine. Labeling doesn't offend me. I just don't care. If you love your button, push it. If you love your kicker, kick it.

Not trying to be a troll and wasn't trying to be at the start of this thread.......

Please explain the "certain coolness" to those of us old people who only had kick starters back in the day.....

I'm just struggling with how its cool.......

If you like it great.....start your bike however the F$ck you like.......

[fdbrat]

Back in the day buttons weren't an option. Then they came out with the option. Bam every one thinks its cool.

Now a days all you see on new bikes is a button.yah yah. We have all seen that. But then the next generation sees a vintage bike and stares in awe of somthing that isn't as common.

Tails is now heads and heads is now tails. When somthing isn't as common it kinda makes it cool.

[750K]

This topic reminds me of a pods vs airbox or even an oil thread, haha

[Mooshie]

This topic reminds me of a pods vs airbox or even an oil thread, haha

I was thinking the same thing.  I was waiting for the picture of popcorn to appear!
That being said, as one of the few females who ride with you fellows on the World Tours and actually read these threads. I do kick start my 550 and I do think it is cool.    You should see the looks at gas stations and other sundry places I get when I kick it to life with ease.  Why is it cool?  If you have to have it explained then you will never understand...

[ZanVooden]

This sux. Why crash down on a good thread idea. Really....

If it was a "good thread idea" wouldn't it be 4 pages of people kick starting their bike, and not 4 pages of defending why is it a "good thread idea"?

I occasionally kick my bikes over, just to do it. No other reason. Just to assure myself that it is a functional bit on the bike.

[nccb]

I was working at a hardware store a couple years back and it was January and had been raining for a couple of days.  I rode the bike to work and was trying to go home for lunch.  Of course the battery was on its last leg, but it was also so freaking cold that I couldn't get the bike to kick over for a LONG time.  I looked like a fool, plus I ripped the bottom of my pants    I kick mine when it is warm out, but thank god I also can just hit a button. . .especially when stalled at a light (but that doesn't happen anymore )

[fdbrat]

This topic reminds me of a pods vs airbox or even an oil thread, haha

I was thinking the same thing.  I was waiting for the picture of popcorn to appear!
That being said, as one of the few females who ride with you fellows on the World Tours and actually read these threads. I do kick start my 550 and I do think it is cool.    You should see the looks at gas stations and other sundry places I get when I kick it to life with ease.  Why is it cool?  If you have to have it explained then you will never understand...

Well said. Where's your video : )