Only Real Bikers Know This
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 12
From: Arizona
sportster, and yes it hurt. i found out the hard way that you dont start the kick from all the way up on the kicker, they had a problem with skipping off the gear, and blam, your leg goes right into the ground. happened to me and couple days later happened to my friend, he also had just gotten a sportster, week later i read a article in iron horse, guy writes = brought my sporty home today, 2nd day went to kick it over, 3rd day doctor says my lleg will be out of cast on couple months. wish i would of read that ariticla before i started kicking that bike over. anyway i found out how to push the kicker 1/2 way down the kick it. no problems after that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
Not gonna answer all because I don't have the patience but looked through and could answer most.
Had two Kickers. 64 pan and an 84 Evo.
Not retarding the spark on the pan could get you hurt and had the kicker arm break once, that hurt also.
The 84 FXST was the last year with a kicker ( miss that one, should have kept it). It was always hard to start with the foot so I usually only tried it when I was drunk and wanted to look 'Manley".
Had two Kickers. 64 pan and an 84 Evo.
Not retarding the spark on the pan could get you hurt and had the kicker arm break once, that hurt also.
The 84 FXST was the last year with a kicker ( miss that one, should have kept it). It was always hard to start with the foot so I usually only tried it when I was drunk and wanted to look 'Manley".
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 127
From: SW OREGON
unless you retard the spark, the engine can & usually will kick back & unless you have done it a thousand times you could get hurt.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 240
Likes: 1
From: West Michigan
All right I'll play....a little. I used to ride a '75 90 Cubic inch Sporty custom bike that I made kick only. The kicker gear would let loose sometimes causing you to hyperextend your leg.......damn that hurt! You also had to have some lead in yer a$$ to even kick it. Yes I've kicked an Evo, Servicars had reverse, and a pound of water weighs 16 ounces. And now for all you REAL biker's out there........have you ever kick started an Evo with your hand? If so what happened and what condition was the bike in ?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
All right I'll play....a little. I used to ride a '75 90 Cubic inch Sporty custom bike that I made kick only. The kicker gear would let loose sometimes causing you to hyperextend your leg.......damn that hurt! You also had to have some lead in yer a$$ to even kick it. Yes I've kicked an Evo, Servicars had reverse, and a pound of water weighs 16 ounces. And now for all you REAL biker's out there........have you ever kick started an Evo with your hand? If so what happened and what condition was the bike in ?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
I always ratchet the pedal until it goes to the top. The secret is to fully commit when you are kicking through. The hardest bike, to kick start, that I have owned, was a little 450cc, single lung, Ducati,Sebring. It had a reputation for being one of the worst bikes to start.
When I would stop somewhere, for 15 minutes or less, I would leave the bike running.
I was glad to get rid of that bike.
I had a Yamaha, Midnight Special, that had both a starter and a kick start. I stopped at a store on the way to work. When I came out the electric start wouldn't turn fast enough to start the bike. I thought well I'll just kick start it. It wouldn't start using the kick starter either, so a lot of good that setup was.
I for one, do not miss kick starting a bike.
Tom
When I would stop somewhere, for 15 minutes or less, I would leave the bike running.
I was glad to get rid of that bike.
I had a Yamaha, Midnight Special, that had both a starter and a kick start. I stopped at a store on the way to work. When I came out the electric start wouldn't turn fast enough to start the bike. I thought well I'll just kick start it. It wouldn't start using the kick starter either, so a lot of good that setup was.
I for one, do not miss kick starting a bike.
Tom