Topic: Kickstarting!

[eigenvector]

It's my stated goal to rely on the kickstarter for my bike.

It was never plausible in the past due to the poor compression and overall bad wiring.  But now that I have it rebuilt I'd like to try using that thing.
Questions about it though - and this is more for FUN than something I'm seriously concerned about.
I often hear stories of people who get tossed by their kickstarter - thrown over the bars, break their legs, break their foot.  Are stories like that generally from specific bikes only (old Harleys, Norton's, etc..) or is that generally something to keep in mind for all bikes with kickstarters?

[LesterPiglet]

Generally the bigger the engine and fewer cylinders it has the harder it will kick. A 4 cylinder 750 is relatively harmless. I used to "kick" my triple with my hand.

[HondaMan]

The pre-AMF Harleys had a spark retarder for their distributor, which was on the left handlebar. It looked like a throttle grip, and worked similarly. To start, you turned it forward to retard the spark timing and then kicked the engine to life. If you didn't know this, and turned it "forward" as you started the kick (by holding the left grip tightly), the engine often fired about the time the kickstarter was horizontal. I learned about this the hard way when first working on the Harleys in 1970, and got launched back up in the air doing it exactly the wrong way! I came back down on the seat, though, with the engine popping along...

[eigenvector]

Really then it's matter of the older bikes that don't have the automatic advances and whatnot.  The technology (everything's relative) advanced to the point where stories like that just aren't applicable.  Does that sound right?

[greenjeans]

Kickstarting a CB750 is a piece of cake.  A well tuned CB will start 1st kick every time.  Piglett is right - you can kick these over by hand.

[MoMo]

The pre-AMF Harleys had a spark retarder for their distributor, which was on the left handlebar. It looked like a throttle grip, and worked similarly. To start, you turned it forward to retard the spark timing and then kicked the engine to life. If you didn't know this, and turned it "forward" as you started the kick (by holding the left grip tightly), the engine often fired about the time the kickstarter was horizontal. I learned about this the hard way when first working on the Harleys in 1970, and got launched back up in the air doing it exactly the wrong way! I came back down on the seat, though, with the engine popping along...

I know of a Harley rider who destroyed his knee when it smashed into the handlebars.  But kick start problems are only applicable to older bikes.  Harleys, some big CC 2 strokes and big Thumpers.   I can start a HOnda  750 by hand Fwtw

[seanbarney41]

Once at the Gilmore Vintage Motorcycle show I watched this little 140 pounder start his Vincent 500 single...kick nothing, 2nd kick cough, 3rd kick vaulted him over the bike still holding on to the handlebars and he landed on his feet on the other side, 4th kick vroom...

[chewbacca5000]

Quote from Terry, "Kick starters are for fags, real men push start their bikes LeMans style! "

2010 Miller motorsports Bonnevile GP classics. LeMans style start, pt.2

[70CB750]

My grandpa had problems with his shin all his life because he got hit by the kickstart too many times.

[martin99]

First time I kickstarted a Jap four I thought there was something wrong with it, it was that easy. I was more used to Brit twins where you have to have the 'knack' and tease them over compression first. It can be painful if you get it wrong!

[70CB750]

Jawa and CZ used the same lever for kickstarting and shifting, ever since I had one, the shifting lever on other bikes seems flimsy to me.

[MoMo]

Jawa and CZ used the same lever for kickstarting and shifting, ever since I had one, the shifting lever on other bikes seems flimsy to me.

That was one of Jawa's finest inventions.  My Trailmaster had it but the CZ was "normal"

[Garage_guy_chris]

I have one thing to add and it may or may not apply to the sohc4's but i have noticed this on my honda twin cyl.  On any dirt bike or modern bike with a kick you seem to just be able to take a whack at it and it will grab and turn the engine over. I have noticed on my twin you have to gently push down to engage the kick starter then once engaged follow through with the force necessary to start it. Just taking a whack at it makes the mechanism skip or not engage and it wont grab...

[Chachi]

Since you mentioned dirt bikes... I have a 75 MR50. You can let it sit for six months, but if you run some fuel out using the carb drain screw it will kick right up by the third time.

[strynboen]

it vas a germen idea..vith kombined kick/gear...mz and erlyer DKW..had it from erly on..

[70CB750]

Yes, DKW, copied in many countries.

[BobbyR]

Quote from Terry, "Kick starters are for fags, real men push start their bikes LeMans style! "

2010 Miller motorsports Bonnevile GP classics. LeMans style start, pt.2

That is true. Terry push starts his only going up a steep hill.   

[BPellerine]

I kick my 750 with an ard mag set at full advance and no kickback at all !bill

[chewbacca5000]

Quote from Terry, "Kick starters are for fags, real men push start their bikes LeMans style! "

2010 Miller motorsports Bonnevile GP classics. LeMans style start, pt.2

That is true. Terry push starts his only going up a steep hill.   

Is that before or after drinking one of the giant Aussie beers?

[fmctm1sw]

My grandpa had problems with his shin all his life because he got hit by the kickstart too many times.

My old Foreman 350 has one of those "suicide kickstarters" that kicks forward instead of backwards.  1 over high compression piston in it too.  I blasted myself in the shin the first day I had it trying to start it. 

[Lostboy Steve]

I had to kick my buddy's yz490 (which was on its last leg) and it kicked back once before starting. That thing wasn't hard to kick but it was a real pain in the ass to start cold. SO was my other friends cr500. My 550 isnt bad to kick but if its cold out, I'd probably be there for a minute kicking. In the summer it'll start one kick.

[LesterPiglet]

Two strokes are easier to kick than four strokes.

[Maurice]

Most of my bikes are kick only. I removed the starter motor from the CB550 and XS650.

As others stated inline 4 kick back is really mild, my 550 sometimes (rarely) does it and it's no more than a nudge.

Now the XS650 has kicked back on me a couple times and left me limping for days. It's a twin so it won't break your foot or what but careful... The trick, which is counter-intuitive, is to kick like a man so you really launch the motor.

Then I recently acquired an SR500, 500cc thumper. Kickstart only, here there isn't even a starter motor. This motor is also notorious for kicking back, so much so that there is a detent mechanism at the end of the kickstart lever travel to decouple it from the crankshaft. Once in a while it DOES pre-ignite, but you have to trust that mechanism. Which is prone to breaking. I religiously check that it operates normally. Because if this thumper kicks you back it may injure you. Also, kicking this bike without a decompressor is harder, because if the engine is in good shape you cannot kick it past compression cycle by foot.

For some reason I love the fact that the SR500 is designed to run without a battery, in fact the other day the battery disconnected itself during a ride and I only found out after getting home. This design cannot leave you stranded because of a dead battery, I guess a remnant of the XT500 design for off-road use.

[evanphi]

I can do mine by hand. Neat party trick!

[BobbyR]

I have done mine by hand to show off. Mostly I do it by thumb. 

[tfrasca]

I was surprised at how easy my 550 is to kick. It'll sit for a couple days and start first kick on a cold morning. The only time I ever had an issue was the first (and only) time I tried to kick it with the clutch in...

TF

[Vicman]

I kick mine because I'm too cheap to buy another battery.