I'm sure it's been done before..just wondering. I was on Exile's site and saw that they had kickstart kits...I was wondering how big of a job it is to put one on an EVO, and how hard the thing would be to kick. I'd like to have it for looks, and for that fact that if I got out and my battery crapped out on me, i'd have a backup.

 

Not that hard, depending on the kit. Your pipes would have to go; top one goes past the tranny where the kicker sits. The new tranny cover sticks out further than the stock cover, and makes it so you'd need some custom pipes. Reckon Exile could supply them, too.

 

This guy at work rides a 1984 Softail. It came original with a kicker on it. Does the guy ever use the kicker....hell no!!! It does look cool though.

I'll never go back to a kicker.....no way!

 

Well, i'm wanting to keep the electric start too..just have the kicker as a backup, in case the electric went down on it (battery died, etc.)..And the looks will just be a plus, as i'm wanting to eventually end up going for the bobber look on my Fatboy.. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

I ride a 85 FXST, The last year of the electric/kick combo. Its not that hard to start and it's saved my *** several times.

 

The 86 FXWG Wide Glide was the last of the 4 speed kick models.

 

I learned something new today, The last of the softail Kickers then

 

I've actually push started mine on flat ground by myself before although not a very fun feat!

And if it didn't fire off right away...I would've been screwed.

 

...the kick start sounds much more fun to me, and it looks awesome. BUT just as a backup, push start would work..

 

I still have the 85 FXWG I bought new. It has the evo with 4 spd kick start. the 84-85 softails were evos with 4 spd kickstart, chain final drive. 86 softail was 5 spd, no kick, belt final drive. the 84 FXWG was a shovel with 4 spd kickstart, belt final drive. the 85-86 FXWG was evo with 4 spd kick start, belt final drive. the FXWG was discontinued after 86. I bought the FXWG in 85, and not the softail, because I wanted the belt drive. Now I'm glad because softails are everywhere and the evo FXWG with kicker is somewhat rare.