Tips for kickstarting

**Bullitt** · 7th February 2009, 16:04

My girlfriend recently bought a Vespa 50s (97 but looks like an old one) but shes having trouble kickstarting it.

Whenever I try I can start it on the first or second try but shes often taking 10 or more trys to do it. My guess is she isnt putting enough force behind it.

Her technique looks ok to me (not that Im experienced enough to know by looking) and its abit hard for me to say just kick harder. Its only a 50 so dont have much compression against it.

Surely lots of other girls ride kick start scooters so there must be something I can tell her which might help?

**Dave Lobster** · 7th February 2009, 16:31

Eat more pies?

**Spuds1234** · 7th February 2009, 16:41

Dont need much technique to kick start a bike.

Slowly kick the kick start until its "hard" to move and then give it a wee bit of throttle and kick it over hard.

Always worked when I was 13 on just about any bike.

Should mention to always have the clutch in and front brake on when kick starting a bike. Once saw a rather amusing accident when a friend just kicked his bike over with no regard for either the brake or clutch.

**FJRider** · 7th February 2009, 16:51

See if the plug needs a clean, dirty plugs need a stronger kick to get a stronger spark.
Try different technique's to start ... full choke full throttle, no choke full throttle etc, ... see what works

**Bullitt** · 7th February 2009, 17:04

I dont think theres anything wrong with the bike, it starts fine when I try.

Dont think eating more pies will help either. Shes already slightly heavier than me (Im only 60kg so thats not too hard).

Im guessing she'll get better with practice anyway. Just worried she'll give up before she gets there.

**FJRider** · 7th February 2009, 17:19

Then tell her to kick it like she means it...

**McDuck** · 7th February 2009, 17:50

Also tell her to time it with a small 'jump' with the other foot so the other foot is off the ground when braking through compreshion if you get what i mean?

**Ixion** · 7th February 2009, 17:53

Originally Posted by Spuds1234

Dont need much technique to kick start a bike.

Slowly kick the kick start until its "hard" to move and then give it a wee bit of throttle and kick it over hard.

Always worked when I was 13 on just about any bike.

Should mention to always have the clutch in and front brake on when kick starting a bike. Once saw a rather amusing accident when a friend just kicked his bike over with no regard for either the brake or clutch.

You've never owned a big single have you?

**koba** · 7th February 2009, 17:54

I just taught two young lads to kick start a bike.
It took me a while to work out what they were doing wrong.
They weren't keeping the pressure of the kick going all the way through the stroke.
"Stop kicking it like a pussy and give it a good boot" described it to them adequatley.

**Ixion** · 7th February 2009, 18:05

Well, here is the full monty technique to kick start a bike.

As per me

Originally Posted by Ixion

Yep. Separates the men from the boys.

Full drill for those too young to have done it

Retard ignition (I REALLY REALLY recommend not forgetting this bit)
Tickle the carb
Free the clutch
Stand on kickstart lever and take it down until it hits compression.
Let kickstart come back up to top
Lift exhaust valve
Take kickstart through one complete stroke with valve open
Allow kickstart to come back up
Kick start **HARD** . With **ALL** your weight on the lever (one foot on kick start other off the ground, kicking with all the strength of your back and leg. And whatever you do don't let the bike fall over at this point because you have no foot on the ground, so you have to balance it)
Absorb impact when kickstart hits compresion (like kicking a brick wall)
Repeat until it starts
*REMEMBER TO ADVANCE THE IGNITION*

Bah. Electric starts, just push a wussy button. Wusses. See what you miss out on nowadays. Bet half of you don't even understand half the above process. (PT). Though the guys with big trailies I guess still have to do the full drill

Yeah, I've still got a kick start bike.

**Spuds1234** · 7th February 2009, 18:06

Originally Posted by Ixion

You've never owned a big single have you?

Nope. Biggest I ever owned was a TS250.

**Trumpess** · 7th February 2009, 18:08

Maybe check the position of her foot on the kick stick.
I had the same problem as her when i first started to ride.
I found my foot was on an angle (sticking out a bit) when I first started. Hubby picked that one up straight away. Foot has to be straight on, and having a smallish heel on ones boot also helps keeping that foot straight.
Compression is a factor too. There are obvious differences between both our bikes, but I can bring my kick stick half way down till it meets its compression and then put all my weight in behind it to kick her over. It just depends on the compression.

From dead cold I cheat. Before I kick her over, I slightly open my throttle and tickle my carb till she leaks, then close off my throttle, i dont have a choke.
1st kick she usually kicks back, but 2nd kick she goes no worries.
If i dont put any weight in the kick she wont go and just ends up flooded.

**xwhatsit** · 7th February 2009, 21:19

Well, it's not a big single, it's a two stroke. So they whole deal about finding TDC on compression stroke and easing it over is not necessary. I don't know shit about two-strokes but I find GiJoe1313's collection of various stinkbombs like a short, sharp jab -- not the prolonged push-through of a four stroke single. Just get the end of your shoe on the starter and flick it quickly with some speed. Not a lot of force is needed.

The other thing is what's the throttle hand doing? 4T one-pots don't seem to like any, but out of an Elsie and an A100 they both like a little flick as you kick. Get her to copy what you're doing, because it's starting for you, innit?