Topic: Kicker Only Honda Fours...

[754]

How many run Kick start only??
 I did in the late 70,s already.. dont ride stock bikes and usually take off stuff I dont need.. Probably saves about 14 lbs..

 You can usually start them by pushing the kicker with your hand, not like a lot of energy used there.

 Anyone else trun kick only??

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I used to be able to hand start using the kicker but not since I played with the engine and upped the compression. Only time I use the kicker is to save the battery.

[Soos]

How many run Kick start only??
 I did in the late 70,s already.. dont ride stock bikes and usually take off stuff I dont need.. Probably saves about 14 lbs..

 You can usually start them by pushing the kicker with your hand, not like a lot of energy used there.

 Anyone else trun kick only??

If I had one on my 650 I would.
Electric start is easy... but i wish they had kept the kicker when they made the 650's.


l8r

[paulages]

i'm going to fabricate a starter motor plug out of the ends of an old one for my new motor. i'll probably use the starter for initial startup and break-in, but eventually lose it altogether. a toddler could kickstart a 550.

[mark]

I usually give the 550 a kick first. If that doesn't get it going, I give it some choke and hit the button.

The GS didn't have a kicker and it always seemed like something was missing. The T350 didn't have a button and I never missed it.

Happy trails.


The auto parts store probably has a freeze plug that would fill the starter hole, for those so inclined.

[amemoryoncelost]

 I've been using mine a bit lately, mainly because I think the battery is about to die and doesn't always start real quick, but then again I was using it a bunch trying to figure out my fuel problems. But the PO broke the right side foot peg and he replaced it with something from a different bike. so they only way to kick my bike is with the footpeg up since it rests in front of the kicker when it's down.

 But there is nothing better than walking out to your bike and kicking it over. Love the rawness of it...

[Gordon]

My three Hondas are kick-start only, but not because of weight savings.  The starters on each of them are not working for various reasons, and I never bothered to fix any of them.  They all usually start on the first or second kick, so I don't really see the need. 

[mlinder]

My starter button hasn't been connevted in 1.5 years.
Removing the starter motor this winter.

[SEBNN]

This maybe a dumb question, but if you pull the starter, do you still need the battery?  I am looking to ditch as many components as possible to save modification time.  If a battery is needed, is it possible to replace it with a capacitor or bank of capacitors?
thanks

[fuzzybutt]

bad knees so, i can kick start sometimes but not usually.

[754]

If a few people ask for them I could run off a few starter plugs, tach as well.

They also bump start about as easy as they kick.

 As far as I know Juice required to start, so I run a small square Battery, I thnk 12N-5.5-3 B or A.

 With my stretched Swingarm , I will build a battery box for the C/stand area.. keep the heavy parts down low.. where they belong. With my Webers and not much air cleaner room , I been thinking of building an airbox that leads to a filter in the battery tray are,, like Z-1 had..

[TwoTired]

This maybe a dumb question, but if you pull the starter, do you still need the battery?  I am looking to ditch as many components as possible to save modification time.  If a battery is needed, is it possible to replace it with a capacitor or bank of capacitors?
thanks

No.

Alternator needs a magnetic field to operate.  It uses an electromagnet powered from the battery.
No power generation without the battery to get it going.
No spark without electrical power.

Magneto ignition conversion? Yes, to get the motor to run.
Change alternator to permanent magnet type?  Then no battery needed.

This had been covered "painfully" in many prior posts.

Cheers,

[Geeto67]

I ran kick ony for a couple of years (mostly because the starter solenoid was burned out). I liked it but there were some tasks I found easier to do when you had an e-start, plus I still had to carry the thing around so there would be a cover to keep crap out of the engine. I haven't used the e-start for anything other than service items in about a year. 

[MoTo-BunnY]

I pretty much do the kick start only like 98% of the time - its sooooo easy, I don't see why one wouldn't, really. Plus, you get that old-school street cred from doing so.. . .lol.      Though several times now peeps witnessing it were like "What, no electric start?!  OMG!"  and I was like um, yeah. .  .but,I'm just not using it. . . . they seem truly baffled for some reason.

I have also witnessed twice now other riders having dead batteries and NO kick starter (newer bikes) and what fun THAT is  . . . .no thanks.

I only use the electric start if I stall in traffic or something.

[neil young]

one kick and mine starts every time.also as previously stated.it's much cooler to use than the electric start

[paulages]

i have to admit, the small amount of extra effort using the kicker on the 550F-- lifting the footpeg, turning out the kickstart lever, and returning the footpeg  -- often keeps me from using it.

[333]

I won't own a bike without a kickstarter, but at my age, I prefer the button.  It's nice to know it's there if I need it.

I realize it's not a SOHC4, but when I rebuilt my 69 Trail 70 a few years ago, it surprised me one day.  I was pushing the kicker around to find the top of the stroke, and it started!  Startled the hell out of me.

[Terry in Australia]

I thought a trail 70 was a starter motor! 

I've had CB750's for almost thirty years now, and when I bought my first (a new F1) the mechanic told me to always kick it over 10 times with the ignition off when cold to circulate the oil around the cam and cam bearings, and to pump up the oil pressure, so I've done it ever since, out of habit, I guess. My Suzuki GS1000S doesn't have a kicker, and can be a real pain to start if I leave it too long between rides. Cheers, Terry.