Kicker or Pusher

[Back Fire]

What do you prefer?? Kickstart or push button start??

me I'm a kicker :kick:

[Gremlin]

See: push button it starts.

I grew up (well I have only been riding for 5 months) with push buttons. Yes, there are down sides, but I really don't care. The bike gets ridden virtually everyday, so the odds of a flat battery are very slim.

And each time, all I do is sit on the bike, check kill, neutral, and push and it bursts into life :niceone:

Risk my shins when I don't have to? Why?

[Storm]

So you can be a MAN! Complete with hairy chest and small vocabulary:D

[Str8 Jacket]

I never thought that i'd own a bike with a kick start, but that's exactly what I got..... When my bikes running well it'll usually start with the first kick so no issues there. The only problem I have is when someone parks there bike waaay to close to mine, I always try and park it to the far right of the park but sometimes someone just has to squeeze there bike in next to mine, that's when I wish I had a push start . . . .

[James Deuce]

Ah yes I remember that Str8jacket. You need to modify your kick to the old 1, 2.

1. Kick out with your whole leg like those jolly Kung Fu chappies do.

2. Wait for the crunching sound, then place foot on kickstart lever and start as normal. If there is no crunching sound, repeat 1.

It's very important that you NEVER look at the bike next to you while you use the old 1, 2 so that you can go, "Did I do thaaaat?" in your very best Erkel impression if the aggrieved owner approaches.

[Str8 Jacket]

Ah yes I remember that Str8jacket. You need to modify your kick to the old 1, 2.

1. Kick out with your whole leg like those jolly Kung Fu chappies do.

2. Wait for the crunching sound, then place foot on kickstart lever and start as normal. If there is no crunching sound, repeat 1.

It's very important that you NEVER look at the bike next to you while you use the old 1, 2 so that you can go, "Did I do thaaaat?" in your very best Erkel impression if the aggrieved owner approaches.

LMAO!!!! Nice one Jim! I can just imagine it now! "bloody women riders" then the, "OMG did you see all that duct tape on her bike........."
BTW if I do need to do this and I get caught out, may I refer them to you? :devil2:

[James Deuce]

..... may I refer them to you? :devil2:

Yep no worries. My name is Rod Donald and I live in a biodome fashioned from dried cow poo.

[Sniper]

I always suspected that Jim2 :whistle:

I prefer push, basically because Im a lazy bugger and I could use the energy from kicking in entirely different forms such as getting off the couch to ride the bike.

[Str8 Jacket]

Yep no worries. My name is Rod Donald and I live in a biodome fashioned from dried cow poo.

So in a way you live in a pile of shit? Stink one. . . .

[Pwalo]

I'm old enough to remember when all bikes were kick start. Remember trying to get a warm four stroke single to #@$%^&g start?

I'll take electric start any day. Oh and decent tyres, dics brakes that work in the wet, pointless ignition, etc. Oh yes.

[Fryin Finn]

Kickstart - most of my bikes have em and I hate them - except when the battery goes flat. M first bike was a mean arsed son of a bitch - the very first day I owned it it kicked back and split my heel - blood every where. My current SRX is kickstart only and starts only when it wants to. You have to fold up the footpeg to swing the kick start through and needless to say my shins have collected the footpeg several times - bloody painfull. :doctor:
Then theres the WR - electric start on a dirt bike - bloody brilliant - when it works - I'll say no more.
Oh year the new Gas Gas is kickstart and I have a sore arch from starting it.

[WRT]

I got one of each, and wouldnt swap. No way I would like to try and kick over a v-twin thou, and I'm perfectly happy with out the extra weight of a batt and starter on the CR.

[ManDownUnder]

Big bike + kick start = PAIN!!!!!!!!

[zadok]

What do you prefer?? Kickstart or push button start?? me I'm a kicker :kick:
Does this mean you like bikes again?

[nudemetalz]

You guys ever kicked over an XR600 and had it kick back ???

Not cool, esp when knee meets underside of handlebar...

Nah I like my push-button thank.

[enigma51]

You guys ever kicked over an XR600 and had it kick back ???

Not cool, esp when knee meets underside of handlebar...

Nah I like my push-button thank.

My uncle bought me a XR500 when i was 12 and I could not reach the ground so use to stand it on the side stand and jump on the kickstart. The problem with that was that the timing was out and the comprension release valve was "broken" so one winter morning I jumped down on the kick start only to have the thing propel me in the upward direction. All would have been fine if only the handle bars did not catch both feet. So now Im the proud owner of pins in both feet and 6 months of 12 years old was spend on a combination of crushes and wheelchair. But the XR was my favourite bike even though the kick back action has hurt me after that a few times as well. :2thumbsup

So kickstart or psuh button I will have to go with the push button!

[James Deuce]

My only 4 stroke kick starting experience was a Shovelhead Harley with one of those bicycle pedal spring loaded kickstart jobbies. I swear it launched me 6 feet in the air. It was back when I weighed nothing and I gave it everything I had and it just spat me up in the air.

RG250 and RG400 were a piece of cake to start.

[Back Fire]

lol... you people are lazzy... I can kick start a 51' BSA B31 on first or second go.... big old 500cc 4-stroke single... much fun. Must admit... I never thought of room problems with a kicker though. Something to think about...

[enigma51]

lol... you people are lazzy... I can kick start a 51' BSA B31 on first or second go.... big old 500cc 4-stroke single... much fun. Must admit... I never thought of room problems with a kicker though. Something to think about...

Wait till that fucker kicks back on you mate

[Back Fire]

Wait till that fucker kicks back on you mate

Had it happen once, wasn't as bad as I thought It would be

[speights_bud]

On the farm bikes both is good. The yammy XT only has push button and its a bastard of a thing to try crash start in a gully should a light be left on for somereason and flatten the battery. Whereas the Yamma Ag 200 and Suzuki DR 200 have kickers aswell, Very handy. But given the choice one way or the other, i'd have to say push.

[Stroker Girl]

Had it happen once, wasn't as bad as I thought It would be

My mate had a BSA 500cc (not sure what year) and had it kick back a few times. Wasn't too bad except for the time he was wearing jandels.....broken toes are a bitch :crybaby:

[Ixion]

lol... you people are lazzy... I can kick start a 51' BSA B31 on first or second go.... big old 500cc 4-stroke single... much fun. Must admit... I never thought of room problems with a kicker though. Something to think about...

B31 was 350cc. The 500 was B33 (or B34 - the Gold Star :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: )

If I have to take only one, I'm a kicker. Best is both, can't see why manufacturers can't leave the kickstart on.

Kickstarting a 500 single is not too hard once you know the knack (unless you have GP carbs!) . V-twin is easier, the non compression cylinder acts as a flywheel. Vincent 1000 was easier to start than the Comet 500.

[Back Fire]

B31 was 350cc. The 500 was B33 (or B34 - the Gold Star :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: )

If I have to take only one, I'm a kicker. Best is both, can't see why manufacturers can't leave the kickstart on.

Kickstarting a 500 single is not too hard once you know the knack (unless you have GP carbs!) . V-twin is easier, the non compression cylinder acts as a flywheel. Vincent 1000 was easier to start than the Comet 500.

really??? thats odd... mine has a B31 frame and a B33 engine then....

[Mental Trousers]

Push the button. If that doesn't work then I'm an expert at push starting stubborn bikes. Kicking doesn't work because my knee is so screwed it makes surgeons eyes gleam as they think of how much they're going to be paid to fix it.

[Ixion]

really??? thats odd... mine has a B31 frame and a B33 engine then....

Could well be. Heaps of people did that. Tthe bigger engine pretty much dropped straight in. Not sure, you may even have been able just to swap the barrel and head. Mr Motu would know, he had one.

[Back Fire]

Push the button. If that doesn't work then I'm an expert at push starting stubborn bikes. Kicking doesn't work because my knee is so screwed it makes surgeons eyes gleam as they think of how much they're going to be paid to fix it.

some bikes have left side kickers :blip:

[nudemetalz]

When I first saw this thread I thought it was, "Do you prefer to kickstart your bike, or push-start your bike"...and I was thinking WTF is this on about.....

Hmm,...push-starting a big single, now TRY THAT for fun !!!!

Lots of black lines on road and no sound from motor with sweaty, exhausted rider swearing just a little.....

[SlowHand]

thread title sounded dodgy to me, Tugger or a Pusher :whistle: :tugger: :buggerd:

I want a push start for my next bike, just push the thing and leave to warm up, instead of crrrreeeek, RING a ding ding.

Infact, Im going to buy another battery just so I can sit in the garage alternating between the start and the kill button :weird:

[Ixion]

some bikes have left side kickers :blip:

Yep. T500 does. Takes a bit of getting used to (no button either)

[avgas]

I used to be quite the kicker, but since the 'implant', all i do is hurt myself. Same reason i cant push anymore.
So now the bike either electric start.....or i set her on fire

[sunhuntin]

pup has a push, but i wouldnt mind learnin how to kick start. tried to kick over an old 1970s ironhead last year....damn near cracked my ankle when it bit back! but that bikes a mother for her owner to even kick over, so its no wonder she retaliated, lol.

ideal bike would be a 65 panhead...got both, so can choose! LOL.

pics: left: me, glenn and mike with mikes ironhead.
right: glenns 65 panhead, my two wheeled lover.

[Mental Trousers]

some bikes have left side kickers :blip:

In that case I'd just look seriously unco :argh:

[Bartman10]

I used to have an SRX. Sometime it bit back but most of the time it was OK.

Once I lost the kick start lever between Ashvapus and Timaru. It caused a lot of grief, becasue when I tried to push start it I sliped off the seat and fell onto the road.

The bike took off at high speed and crashed into the gutter. I smashed my knee in the process.

The advantage of a kick start, especially on that bike was the it didn't matter if you had a flat battery which was always the case on that bike.

Once the choke cable broke and I was too skint to replace it. Every morning I'd kick the thing for half an hour before I could get it going.

Another time this dweeb in the WoF station tried to kick start it, and droped the bike. I was a little pissed off with him.

I prefer the thumb start on the GSXR. But one day I'll have trouble starting it and then I'll miss the old SRX. Or not.

[Black]

I'd love to have a push button starter.
Kick-starting is a pain in the arse, I hate it.
Its not that kick starting my girl is hard, its my objection to physical labour first thing in the morning (or any time in fact) that has my back up.

Also, when she's playing hard to get and your sitting at a set of traffic lights furiously kicking to get her started again (ok, I stalled - I admit it :Oops: ).
Then you finally get her going and the light goes from orange to red - that sucked. :mad:

[Back Fire]

I'd love to have a push button starter.
Kick-starting is a pain in the arse, I hate it.
Its not that kick starting my girl is hard, its my objection to physical labour first thing in the morning (or any time in fact) that has my back up.

Also, when she's playing hard to get and your sitting at a set of traffic lights furiously kicking to get her started again (ok, I stalled - I admit it :Oops: ).
Then you finally get her going and the light goes from orange to red - that sucked. :mad:

hah... had that happen once... the more frustrated you get the harder it is to kick over...

[XP@]

Bump

I like bumping... but there again I don't have a charger and live at the top of a hill.

[NordieBoy]

After 2 weeks I had the knack for kicking the Nordie (560cc Single).
When I finally got the decompression cable fitted it was much easier.
Without a hill it's impossible to crash start.
I've never had kickback at all and both my kicker bikes will start when hot no problems at all.

[enigma51]

I went through about 7 or 8 kickstars on the xr cause they use to break off at the bottom. And trust me replacing those was a bitch! Running start that was good fun especialy seeing the tar road was about 11km from the house and we lived in the mountains so we use to seek out a rocky section run it down the hill as fast as possible flick it into third or fourth and off you go

[flash]

ive never tried a push start, ive only ever riden two strokes, and man i get sick of it.
When school finishes and all the bikies/scooter dudes (which dont wear any gear and it fucks me off) just jump on their bike, press a button and flog off with me there just slowly reving it and waiting for it to warm up while making a small fog could around me. also i hate the style of a kick start, lets say you meet some chicks who want to see the bike and when you get there you have flick out the kicker and put on the choke, when right next to you is a four stroke with a guy on that just preeses a button and off he goes (very cool)

[TwoSeven]

Push button, but I'd prefer if they got rid of the ignition key and used personalised RFID. So I can start the bike if I walk up to it.

[speights_bud]

That would be cool, wouldn't be so easy to jam a screwdriver in the lock then take it for a joyride <_<

[XP@]

ive never tried a push start, ive only ever riden two strokes, and man i get sick of it.
When school finishes and all the bikies/scooter dudes (which dont wear any gear and it fucks me off) just jump on their bike, press a button and flog off with me there just slowly reving it and waiting for it to warm up while making a small fog could around me. also i hate the style of a kick start, lets say you meet some chicks who want to see the bike and when you get there you have flick out the kicker and put on the choke, when right next to you is a four stroke with a guy on that just preeses a button and off he goes (very cool)
Just find a cool way to kick it...

or let one of them borrow your bike... if they can start it, then who's the cool one...

[Ixion]

ive never tried a push start, ive only ever riden two strokes, and man i get sick of it.
When school finishes and all the bikies/scooter dudes (which dont wear any gear and it fucks me off) just jump on their bike, press a button and flog off with me there just slowly reving it and waiting for it to warm up while making a small fog could around me. also i hate the style of a kick start, lets say you meet some chicks who want to see the bike and when you get there you have flick out the kicker and put on the choke, when right next to you is a four stroke with a guy on that just preeses a button and off he goes (very cool)

Man, you are riding a crm ? Just tell the chicks (and anyone else) that it's a competition bike (almost true). And doesn't have wimpy stuff like electric starters, cos race bikes don't. "wimps who ride scooters can't even start bikes like mine". Then start up (and rev it's nuts off to make your point -LOTSA smoke) and take off with the front wheel in the air. And pull a few other off road type stunts, then challenge the scooterists to do the same. Point out that you have to be bloody hard , cos of the injuries that y'get riding a competition bike, and wheelying, and broken legs rom kicking back when starting it, and so on. Chick cred guaranteed.

(Oh, and make a real performance out of kicking it. Don't just go prod prod prod. Do it like starting a big single, the whole "heave body into air and crash down " thing.And rev the shit out it once it starts. Chicks get turned on by that )

[DMNTD]

Mmmmmmmmm...show me that button!

[Phenoix]

Now for us newbies, (Well mainly me)
How do the bigger bikes "kick back"
All I've ever needed to kick start was an unknowen 100cc farmbike with no problems.

[NordieBoy]

Now for us newbies, (Well mainly me)
How do the bigger bikes "kick back".
Violently.

Apparantly the kickstart gets to near the bottom of the stroke and the engine catches and sends it back whence it came.
Quickly.
And if your foot is still on it, well it probably won't be for long :D
Just hope your leg isn't completely extended at the time.

[Ixion]

Techo reason.

Almost all engines actually fire the mixture before the top of the stroke. Rationale is that when the engine is running the inertia of the crank mass will carry the piston over top dead centre before the flame path has fully propogated. If the plug fired at or after TDC the explosion wouldn't complete until the piston was well down the following stroke.

The distributor/magneto/ECU changes the amount of "before TDC" (the advance) depending on revs etc. But, even when starting, normally before TDC.

When kickstarting , if the crank doesn't have enough speed, the compression on a big cylinder can stop the piston as it comes up the cylinder. The when the plug fires the piston is still BEFORE TDC, and the explosion sends it down again BACKWARDS. This of course is carried through to the kickstart lever which is violently forced back up, giving your leg and foot a hell of a bang, even throwing you right off the bike.

Some early singles had manual advance retard, with a lever. It was up to the rider to set it. Very nice it was in some situations (ask any sidecar driver - as good as a second gearbox on a sidevalve). But woe betide you if yu forgot to retard it when starting. Ouch. Oh ouch.

[Phenoix]

I thank the benifator for sharing his wise knowledge :not:

[Motu]

lol... you people are lazzy... I can kick start a 51' BSA B31 on first or second go.... big old 500cc 4-stroke single... much fun. Must admit... I never thought of room problems with a kicker though. Something to think about...

Even my piddly little 230cc 2 stroke dirt bike has an electric start these days,and I love it!

But I started riding when all bikes were kick start - and I used to start my B31 with my hand...and that's with Goldy cams,high comp piston and a big carb.Kick starting was just another of those many lessons involved with learning to ride,and it took quite some time to get it right.Just one more thing to add to all the good advice - follow through with all your weight on the lever,don't take your foot off at the end of the swing or it will slam your leg up into the bars.On a centre stand I've ridden the lever up and down a couple of times - if you stay on the lever with all your body weight you'll never get tossed off,and I'm a small guy who used to start some big bikes.Another trick of mine to counter my lack of weight was to pull myself down with my left hand under the seat.Modern bikes have light flywheels which makes them hard to kickstart,big flywheels will store your energy and take it over compression for you.


Having worked as a lawnmower and hire plant mechanic I would put pull starts in there too,getting a reluctant 18 hp single to pull start took everything you had for that day.

You could do anything you liked with the old BSAs alright Ixion,for Rayza's benifit here is my old 1951 ZB31,with B33 top end in a 1954 A10 frame,and a few years later the same bike with a 1948 M20 motor.The sidevalve motor was always harder to start than any OHV motor I had,dunno why.

[Skyryder]

There is still something macho about kick starts that buttons lack. Just not too sure what it is. Perhaps it's the physical ability of stomping the kick start and the bike just roars into life. (in theory) No whirring of starter motors, no nothing but just the plain old roar of an engine starting up. But when push comes to shove I'll go with my push start anytime.


Skyryder

[froggyfrenchman]

push is good for cold mornings, rest of time i like to kick (ride gb400 with both)