https://www.arhcustom.com/product/v-...rtster-22-0213

V-Twin Kickstart In Raw Aluminium For 1991-2003 Sportster (22-0213)
(I couldn't find a video of this but I assume this works like the Led Sled one)

vs

https://www.arhcustom.com/product/em...ster-kexli-r-r

EMD Electric Kickstart In Raw Finish For 2004-2020 Sportster (KEXLI/R/R)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZW0UTyY9xs
The electric one seems a bit less satisfying lol

I'm debating getting an 2003 Sportster 1200S with Vtwin Mfg kickstart or 2014 Sportster 1200X Forty-Eight with EMD Electric kickstart

 

Electric kick start!!! Dude, just don’t.

 

Seriously, no electric kick start. I feel like that's the most hipster thing I've ever seen.

 

+1.

John

 

TOO FUNNY!!!! This is like ***** envy for someone without a kicker. LMAO

 

The electric kicker is OK if you want to give your motor a retro look.

For what it is, it's an expensive add-on and unfortunately it's an expense that I personally wouldn't be prepared to pay.

For less money you could buy a proper kick start conversion that works by kicking the thing, not by using an electronic gizmo.

 

If there was a kicker kit for '04 on Sportsters I may consider one. That would cure the scary sounding noise my '05 starter makes after the engine is warmed up.

 

Is your starter problem related to more compression on a warmed up motor?

I would think a stronger starter is likely less expensive than a kicker kit. Doesn't All ***** make an upgraded starter?

John

 

I asked Chat GPT AI what changes were made to Sportsters that made these kits no longer work and it explained:
In 2004, Harley-Davidson made significant changes to the Sportster model line, particularly to the transmission and primary drive system. These changes rendered many existing kickstart conversion kits incompatible with Sportsters produced after 2003.

One of the primary alterations made by Harley-Davidson was the switch from a traditional spline shaft in the transmission to a splined clutch hub in the primary drive. This change necessitated modifications to the kickstart conversion kits, as they were designed to work with the previous spline shaft setup.

Additionally, changes in the transmission gear ratios and clutch components may have also contributed to the incompatibility of existing kickstart conversion kits with post-2003 Sportster models.

Vtwin Mfg and Led Sled Customs, like other aftermarket parts manufacturers, would have needed to redesign their kickstart conversion kits to accommodate these changes in Sportster design. This likely involved redesigning the components to match the new transmission and primary drive configuration introduced by Harley-Davidson in 2004 and later models.

 

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California Motorcycles sell a kicker kit for rubber mounted Sportster models.
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