What's your kick-start technique?
Discussion
I've noticed start both my classics in the same and different way. If I'm stood to the side, either with it on the centre stand out just lifted up, I'll push just past compression then give it a good hard kick. However if I'm astride the bikes I'll get it ON compression, let it take my weight, then bounce and kick with my full bodyweight.
ker when it's hot.KTM with a left side kick start, being short there is no way I can sit on it and kick start it so I have to get off and stand to the left of the bike then kick start it with my right leg. I have only had to do the "waddle of shame" once to the side of the road when it run out of petrol at the front of a set of traffic lights.
Actually starts pretty easy though, nudge it just past compression and then one smooth kick all the way through.
Actually starts pretty easy though, nudge it just past compression and then one smooth kick all the way through.
crofty1984 said:
When you say astride I assume you mean just balancing the bike, no centre stand? I'm scared I'll throw the bike over, but I'm trying to get used to it!
I'm most comfortable with the bike on the centre stand and me stood to the side, but I hear that can bend your stand?
No problem on or off the centre stand , even propped up on the side stand, which actually is my preferred option on many bikes as I'm not exactly tall I'm most comfortable with the bike on the centre stand and me stood to the side, but I hear that can bend your stand?
pozi said:
KTM with a left side kick start, being short there is no way I can sit on it and kick start it so I have to get off and stand to the left of the bike then kick start it with my right leg. I have only had to do the "waddle of shame" once to the side of the road when it run out of petrol at the front of a set of traffic lights.
Actually starts pretty easy though, nudge it just past compression and then one smooth kick all the way through.
Used to have something similar with my 525 EXC, usual technique was to find a kicking tree to lean it up against.Actually starts pretty easy though, nudge it just past compression and then one smooth kick all the way through.
I'd never start a bike on the stand, as it will bend your stand.
Singles and twins take a different method, I find. Parallel twins are just brute force, no need to fanny about looking for compression. Singles; find compression and ease just past then give it a good swing.
If you have a valve lifter/decompressor you can swing the kickstart and let go of that at the same time if it isn't too high a compression ratio/a Velocette
Singles and twins take a different method, I find. Parallel twins are just brute force, no need to fanny about looking for compression. Singles; find compression and ease just past then give it a good swing.
If you have a valve lifter/decompressor you can swing the kickstart and let go of that at the same time if it isn't too high a compression ratio/a Velocette
srob said:
I'd never start a bike on the stand, as it will bend your stand.
Singles and twins take a different method, I find. Parallel twins are just brute force, no need to fanny about looking for compression. Singles; find compression and ease just past then give it a good swing.
If you have a valve lifter/decompressor you can swing the kickstart and let go of that at the same time if it isn't too high a compression ratio/a Velocette
Yes absolutely right. I start my 1954 Matchless 500 Motocrosser by standing beside the bike as I find this easier; for sure you must give a single a long swinging kick if you just stab the kickstart lever then you could find yourself heading skyward as it kicks back!Singles and twins take a different method, I find. Parallel twins are just brute force, no need to fanny about looking for compression. Singles; find compression and ease just past then give it a good swing.
If you have a valve lifter/decompressor you can swing the kickstart and let go of that at the same time if it isn't too high a compression ratio/a Velocette
Kickstarting a bike for me as i got older became a psychological barrier for me,due to the dozens of 500cc motocross bikes i would try and kickstart on a frosty morning since i was 14 years old.
Ripped boots,trousers,ankles,you name it it's happened to me!
The amount of severe kick backs i've had really affected me buying kickstart bikes later on.Made me laugh though when one day i bought two rgv 250's and they kicked over by hand!
Technique does very much depend on the bike,and even similar 'animals' can be very different,1981 Kawasaki air cooled kx500,just kicked it down and it fired right up,no tdc nonsense,1986 Honda cr500,every day clean idle jet!!Fanny about trying to get the perfect tdc where you can stand on it,then pray you don't break you're ankle or get catapulted off the bike when you clattered down with all your might!
1976 Kawasaki kh400 two stroke,just kick the damn thing and on your way! ;-)1957 matchless ë50cc g3ls,kick it dozens of times at will till it started,not a great feeling of much compression,just kick?
Ripped boots,trousers,ankles,you name it it's happened to me!
The amount of severe kick backs i've had really affected me buying kickstart bikes later on.Made me laugh though when one day i bought two rgv 250's and they kicked over by hand!
Technique does very much depend on the bike,and even similar 'animals' can be very different,1981 Kawasaki air cooled kx500,just kicked it down and it fired right up,no tdc nonsense,1986 Honda cr500,every day clean idle jet!!Fanny about trying to get the perfect tdc where you can stand on it,then pray you don't break you're ankle or get catapulted off the bike when you clattered down with all your might!
1976 Kawasaki kh400 two stroke,just kick the damn thing and on your way! ;-)1957 matchless ë50cc g3ls,kick it dozens of times at will till it started,not a great feeling of much compression,just kick?
Edited by robbocop33 on Saturday 30th July 13:16
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