| Author | Message | ||
     Dave_02_1200 |
I am still interested in having a kick starter on my Buell. Does anyone know what might be involved? (perhaps a shovelhead Sportster could be adapted?) Or, is there an aftermarket solution that might work? Any advice will be appreciated. Regards, Dave | ||
| Cyclonemduece |
i did some looking around and i cant find anything for an evo | ||
| Reepicheep |
Ugh. I have a KLR-250 kick start, and some pretty good battle scars as a result. Can't imagine trying to kick over a "real" motor. Yikes! | ||
| Road_oiler |
I visited a shop near columbus ohio last fall- a custom bike shop, Lead Sled Customs. Pat Paterson told me he was working on a kick start conversion for EVO XL model H-D's. he builds XL based bobbers in the Exile cycle style, and he really wants a kicker to make it retro. I imagine that any kick conversion for an evo xl would work on a tuber buell. | ||
| Guell |
i like the kicker on my 90cc kawasaki, but on a high comp engine, i would take a push button starter anyday of the week. I really dont feel like being launched over the handle bars. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Ironheads had extra holes in the case, and extra bosses in the clutch compartment for spur gears and all that. There are alot of differences that make retrofitting very difficult. If someone made a kicker work on an evo XL that was reliable, I'd tip my hat, even though I think that's, well, kinda pointless. I prefer the "Mike Hailwood Bump-start" when my batteries poop out. | ||
| Grovskopa |
"Mike Hailwood Bump-start" what's that? I tried running my bike to start a week ago, didn't work at all =I | ||
| Warlizard |
I imagine it could be done, but why? You w/ be spending considerable time and money to ( IMO ) downgrade the bike. Retro can be cool, but these bikes are at most 15 years old and kickstarts weren't in when they were new. No offense, but if I saw a tuber w/ a kickstart I w/ probably laugh at the owner. Put your money into the suspension or the motor. | ||
| Xldevil |
  It has been done on an Evp-Sportster by the use of Yamaha RD parts.Regarding this, it should be possible for a tuber. Ralph (Message edited by Xldevil on April 03, 2008) | ||
| Djkaplan |
You'd have to install compression releases for the 10:1 compression ratio along with the kickstart or you'll get 'Sportster Leg', a malady that was eradicated in the 70's. I love the Rube Goldberg kicker Ralph posted, but am more inclined to do as Warlizard suggested. But that's me... you do what you want. I'd laugh if I saw someone jumping up and down on that, but it would be a good kind of laugh... you know? | ||
| Jayvee |
Wow that is awsome, that somebody had both the vision, and the cojones to make that. Looks like a few other custom touches on that bike, that is just wild. I would like a kickstarter (with compression release) but for looks, I wouldn't really use it; but I would let others try it! I had an SR-500 and told people they could ride it if they could start it. Never happened. | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
Good comments all. I may simply install some compression releases to make it possible to bump-start like my old roadracers (Yamaha and Triumph). That would be a simple way to accomplish the goal of having a bike that will start when its starter won't. Thanks, Dave | ||
| Jos51700 |
Get the T-Man compression releases. They're mo' betta. Thanks for the kicker XL! Consider the hat tipped! | ||
| Warlizard |
It was mentioned that a kick start w/ be a contingency for a failed starter. I wonder if you could pop the clutch to start the bike in a pinch? W/ be nice to know. | ||
| Jos51700 |
" I wonder if you could pop the clutch to start the bike in a pinch? " Works for the XBRR... | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
Jim, Popping the clutch in a higher gear to start the bike can be done, but it isn't easy. The compression is high enough that, unless you get the bike moving well, are on good dry pavement, and your butt hits the seat at the same time the clutch is released, the motor fires on the first or second turn, and you pull in the clutch immediately when the first cylinder fires so you don't kill it, you are screwed. It takes practice to do it well. Some good compression releases would simplify matters by allowing the motor to spin up a bit so it will fire when the compression releases close. I have a manual compression release on the diesel inboard motor in my sailboat and a backup hand starting crank for emergency use when battery power is low. I doubt that I could even hand crank it over against the compression but, when I depress the compression release, I can spin it up, close the compression release, and she starts right up. So, who has recommendations for good high quality compression release valves that will fit my Thunderstorm heads? Regards, Dave | ||
| Fullauto |
When I roll start my Norton 850 with only 8.5 to 1 compression, first gear would only lock up. I need second to start. My knee is currently twice the size of the other one due to a little incident four weeks ago kickstarting a Norton with 10.5 to 1 compression. | ||
| Warlizard |
Dave, thanx for the info. I found these in the fatbook. http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/8/420/59061 32?q=buell | ||
| Fullauto |
Oh, by the way Dave. Wanting a kickstarter makes me think that you are a sick man with masochistic tendencies! Hahaha! | ||
| Tom_b |
popping the clutch in 3rd gear will work on just about any buell provided the run length and solid surface. and the battery isn't totally dead. have done it on my x-1 a friends x-1 and a friends xb, beats the hell out of kicking. | ||
| Silas_clone |
I never rode a button start til 3 years ago. You just gotta keep them tuned and know how to prime them. My ironhead was 4 kicks, full throttle, full choke with the ignition off. 1 kick half choke, 1/4 throttle with ignition on. Hot starts are easy too...but don't try to go and get gas, then "warm" start, very tricky | ||
| Brokeneck |
I met my best Buell buddy (Bogie) when he was rebuilding an old Iron Head, magneto fired Sportster. When he got it done he brought it over to show me. I asked if I could ride it -- of course his answer was if you can start it you can ride it. Little did he know my first bike in high school was a 1960 Sporty -- gave it one kick --and took that beautiful bike for a ride -- now we're wrenching and riding buddies-- I've never had to bump start my S3 -- but I have for fun on numerous occasions-- 4th gear works well -- but of course the battery is fully charged -- the FI needs that. -- Bneck | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
I have had good luck bumping by hitting it in 2nd from N with out using the clutch. If you get rolling too fast (8 mph or more) it will grind. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I think the only riders that miss kickstarters are the ones that never had one. | ||
| Phat_j |
I think the only riders that miss kickstarters are the ones that never had one. ****** amen ********* | ||
| Xldevil |
I think the only riders that miss kickstarters are the ones that never had one Oh contraire I´ve had one on any bike before my Evo XL and my Cyclone and I miss it Ralph (Message edited by Xldevil on April 06, 2008) | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
Dan and Jason, One might argue that the only people who think as you do on this subject must be those who never had a kick-start and/or never learned how to use the one they might have had. Let's show some respect for different points of view, especially those based on personal experience. I can remember several times when my friend who rode an XLH that had both a button-start and a kick-start needed the kick-start to get started. The battery had enough charge to fire the coils but not both the starter and the coils. My 1970 Triumph that I bought new and still have has only a kick-start and in 38 years, I have never wished for a large battery and associated stuff just so I could push a button instead of a lever to get it started. I used to joke with my XLH and Dresser riding buddies that "if you are too drunk or too weak to kick-start it, you probably shouldn't ride it anyway". That said, I do want to be able to easily start my Buells when the battery is less than 100% and may have enough power to fire the coils and run the FI in my S3T but not enough power to run those essentials and the electric starter too. It looks like the easiest way to do that is to install compression releases so I can spin it up for an easier bump-start. I'll keep everyone apprised of the results of my experiment. Thanks, Dave | ||
| Jos51700 |
I might think about electric compression releases. Then, you can really get some rev's out before closing the releases and starting. I realize that this goes against your "dead Battery" fears, but most can be manually reset as well. | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
John, That is very interesting. Where can i get more information? Thanks, Dave | ||
| Djkaplan |
Oh contraire I´ve had one on any bike before my Evo XL and my Cyclone and I miss it Ralph I think I'd miss it on a competition offroad bike, never on a new street bike. I've been in situations in the dirt where there wasn't enough room to push start, but that's never happened to me on the streets. |
