[medioXcore]

Just wondering, but how often do you all use your kick start? Is it something that you used initially because of the nostalgia factor, or do you use it to make people think your RE is actually really really old?  I'm just wondering, because for me it seems like it would be the former.

[NorthernMonkey]

I've only used it when my battery died on me. Electric start all the time.

[hortoncode3]

I use mine all the time. Why not, it starts easy enough.

[mattsz]

Just wondering, but how often do you all use your kick start? Is it something that you used initially because of the nostalgia factor, or do you use it to make people think your RE is actually really really old?  I'm just wondering, because for me it seems like it would be the former.

That's not too many choices!    You'll hear "why not?" a lot, I'm guessing.

I switch it up.  Admittedly, I kick it when I think guys are watching (no girl will ever be impressed by the spectacle of a 50-year-old guy in a day-glo yellow jacket kick-starting a geezer's motorcycle).  But I also kick it when it's cold, sometimes, to gauge how the bike feels...

[bluesdaddy2]

Just wondering, but how often do you all use your kick start? Is it something that you used initially because of the nostalgia factor, or do you use it to make people think your RE is actually really really old?  I'm just wondering, because for me it seems like it would be the former.

I'm 50/50. Both of my Harley's were kickers only and the old 38 still gives me a workout on occasions so it's nice to just hit a button.  I also find the placement of the kicker a little awkward compared to the Harley's.  I kick from the seat rather than standing off to the side and the lever on the RE is placed such that I have to move my leg out of the way and use my hand to position the pedal.  On the Harley(s) the lever is positioned back farther and I can use my foot to position the pedal and step back onto it, it has a more natural/intuitive feel when accessing from the seated position.

[sven trials]

Wish mine had a kick, I use the button or bump start..

[lemming]

I mostly use the kickstart to preserve my battery for in-traffic stalls....which, of course, NEVER happen.

[Subbu-500]

You beat me to this thread MedioXcore...but thanks for starting it. I have this question too. I don't think the owners manual that came along with my B5 says anything that suggests a kick start is better than electric start or vice versa. So I want to know if one holds any advantage over the other and why. I love to kick start always as i feel electric start is for auto-geard scooters used by the ladies here (i know i may come under some heavy bashing for that comment  ) So i kick start the bike all the time except when i am at a traffic signal. It makes me feel good coz people in India always thought of RE as the most difficult bike to start  ... but i must admit that the electri start is a boon when you need to make a quick get away or when you are in no mood to kick

[azcatfan]

 I kick start everytime.  Only time I use the ES is the rare miss on the clutch in traffic and I have to get rolling quick...   

[i.candide]

Almost exclusively kickstart for an amalgamation of the reasons given by azcatfan, lemming, and hortoncode3. But mostly because it feels good.

[Bulletman]

 
Mine didn't come with a Kick Start..so I use the electronic ignition.

[gremlin]

........................... because it feels good.

+1

[tooseevee]

Mine didn't come with a Kick Start..so I use the electronic ignition.

           What does electronic ignition have to do with electric start?

[Russ]

I think, before the upgrade, there was an issue with a damaged Sprag Clutch ...

[Candoman]

I always use the kick starter to turn over the motor and then to break the clutch free.  Then I either start the bike with the kick starter or electric depending on my mood.

[gizzo]

I like using the kick start. It makes me feel good. The old guys on Nortons and Triumphs at the MILF cafe' ( a fun bike friendly cafe up in the hills, not it's real name  ) approve, and the kids on tupperware bikes get to see how it was done back in the day. A bit of an affectation, I guess. I use the E start maybe 50% of the time.

[tooseevee]

I always use the kick starter to turn over the motor and then to break the clutch free.  Then I either start the bike with the kick starter or electric depending on my mood.

          Why do you need to "break the clutch free"?

[Arizoni]

I break the clutch free just as a bit of niceness to the gears.

By doing this, the dogs on the gears have an easier time of it when shifted into 1st.
They don't have to break loose the plates and disks that are always stuck together in the clutch pack after sitting overnight.

[Royal Stargazer]

I kick because it feels right. Doesn't hurt that she always starts on the first kick, either.

[PrairieCanuck]

Howdy:

How does one kick start an RE?  Still haven't figured it out. I'm a rookie eh. Thanks in advance.

[medioXcore]

That's a good mix. When I finally pick mine up, I imagine it'll be my go to method. I grew up on dirt bikes, and kick starting just has a certain feeling about it. I imagine it's even more gratifying on a RE. You'd think more manufactures would have it as an option.

[mattsz]

          Why do you need to "break the clutch free"?

What Arizoni said, but I'll elaborate: when the clutch plates stick (search the forum for the "stiction" discussion), the engine and gears aren't isolated from each other when you pull the clutch lever in - obviously a problem.  If they're only lightly stuck, you might not hardly notice it when you drop it into gear.  If they're really stuck, like mine get in the cold, dropping it into gear can provide a loud bang and a jump of the bike.  Or, like mine did the first time I learned about this, a loud bang and a jump of the bike and stalling.  Hard on the gear(s).

So, in the cold, I use the kicker to break the stiction before starting.  If you're in neutral, with the clutch lever pulled, and your kick lever doesn't travel freely and without resistance to speak of, your clutch plates are stuck.  Free them up with the kick lever before your usual starting routine - Neutral, clutch in, push down on the lever... but be prepared to ease up quickly, because you'll suddenly find no resistance in the lever when the stiction breaks.

PraireCanuck - search the archives: there have been a couple of thorough UCE kick-start tutorials in the past couple of years...

[PrairieCanuck]

Thanks mattsz

[Subbu-500]

Hello Arizoni/Mattsz, While on this topic, i would like some advise. I have observed that when i try to kick start the bike in the mornings, i have had the lever kick back really fast with a fairly loud sound. It is not a bang, but more like some thing (metal) slipping or like a tightly wound spring going off in a flash sending my flip flops flying a few times  ....however, the next kick is fine and the engine turns over like normal. What could it be ? it has happened at least 7-8 times in the two weeks of owning the bike...should i worry

[barenekd]

You should only worry if you're using flip-flops to kick start a bike! I've seen bikes kick back hard enough to rip the soles of riding boots and literally throw guys over the bars! Pull the clutch the first couple of times you kick it and that should take care of your problem.
Bare

[Subbu-500]

Thanks Barenekd. I know i am being irresponsible by using flip-flops while riding. But i wear them only when i need to make a quick trip to a store/supermarket not more than a couple of miles from home. Ok, so about the sound while kick back, is it just a case of stuck clutch plates?

[Arizoni]

I'm having trouble figuring out exactly when this "kick back" is happening.

Are you saying that if you push the kick starter lever down with your flip-flops and then your foot slips off, the lever rapidly snaps back up to the top?
If so, that is just the return spring doing its job.
It shouldn't damage anything but try to keep your foot on the starter lever.

If your saying you try to start the engine by just walking up to the motorcycle, flipping the lever out and then stomping on it and then, half way thru the stomp it suddenly stops causing your foot to come off and the lever then snaps back up to the top, you are using the wrong method of kick starting.
The reason the lever stopped is because the piston started up on the compression stroke and the force of the compression stopped the progress.

If you push the kickstarter lever down slowly until it stops moving, and then you apply more pressure to the lever to overcome the compression, the piston will slowly move up in the cylinder as the compression escapes.
When the piston reaches the top of the compression stroke, it will suddenly become very easy to move the kick starter.  At this point, stop moving the kick starter down.
Allow the kick starter lever to return to its position at the top of its stroke.

Then, with the piston just past top dead center, give the kick starter a full kick all the way to the bottom of its stroke.

If you are doing this and bringing the piston to TDC before you start the final, full stroke kick and the engine suddenly fires, driving the kick starter lever back up, the ignition timing is set too far advanced.
There is no easy way for you to fix this yourself so take the motorcycle to a shop and tell them in detail about what starting method your using (piston to TDC, then kick) and tell them it is kicking back.
They should be able to fix the problem.

If the engine is actually firing too soon and kicking back this will rapidly destroy your starter sprag clutch.  Get it fixed as soon as possible.

I the meantime, assuming the engine does not try to kick back during starting when the electric starter motor is used, stop kick starting it.  Use the electric starter until it is fixed.

[Subbu-500]

"If you push the kickstarter lever down slowly until it stops moving, and then you apply more pressure to the lever to overcome the compression, the piston will slowly move up in the cylinder as the compression escapes.
When the piston reaches the top of the compression stroke, it will suddenly become very easy to move the kick starter.  At this point, stop moving the kick starter down.
Allow the kick starter lever to return to its position at the top of its stroke.
Then, with the piston just past top dead center, give the kick starter a full kick all the way to the bottom of its stroke."
This is what i try to do everytime i kick start. But may be i just need more practice to get good at it... and  same is the case with false neutrals...i feel my bike has 10 gears. 5 to move and one neutral after every gear  ...needs practice i guess

[Bulletman]

I break the clutch free just as a bit of niceness to the gears.

By doing this, the dogs on the gears have an easier time of it when shifted into 1st.
They don't have to break loose the plates and disks that are always stuck together in the clutch pack after sitting overnight.

¥+1

[Arizoni]

Sabbu
Remember, when kick starting your motorcycle you need to give it a full kick, all the way to the bottom of the stroke.

If you don't, even the momentum built up in the flywheels on the crankshaft may not be sufficient to drive the piston all the way thru its compression stroke.

If you quit pushing down too soon, the engine will "kick back".

[Subbu-500]

Thank you Arizoni, i will keep that in mind

[boggy]

Just to echo what Arizoni wrote, Sebbu, if you kick all the way through it won't kick back.  Do it with the clutch in just so you can feel where that lever stops.  Every time you kick start, focus on getting that lever all the way through to it's full extent and you'll be golden.  Think of it as a kick-through and not a kick-start. 

[NorEaster]

Never... mine doesn't work very well. 
I luckily had it work once when I was showing the bike off to the mechanics and sales staff at the local Japanese Big 3 dealership.
Just tried it about an hour ago and it failed to work as usual.
Its like it fails to catch to whatever is needed internally an makes a loud snapping click as it moves downward.

[Gypsyjon]

Almost all the time. G5 is an easy starter.

[krimp]

My C5 has become an easy starter too. She will usually start on the first kick, which is something I do almost every time now.

[heloego]

+1

[Subbu-500]

one of the service advisor's at my dealer's service center asked me to use the electric sart (even during cold starts) saying that kick starting often is harmful as there is a "Single Clutch system"? i have absolutely no idea what he meant by single clutch system....i dont think i know of any bike that uses more than one!!!

[barenekd]

Its like it fails to catch to whatever is needed internally an makes a loud snapping click as it moves downward.

Sound to me like the pall that engages the kickstarter gear is broken. That's a little gadget inside the gearbox attached to the kickstarter that should catch the gear as it starter it starts to move down and releases as it comes back up, It's spring loaded and the springs have been known to break occasionally.
Bare   
Bare

[gremlin]

one of the service advisor's at my dealer's service center asked me to use the electric sart (even during cold starts) saying that kick starting often is harmful as there is a "Single Clutch system"? i have absolutely no idea what he meant by single clutch system....i dont think i know of any bike that uses more than one!!!

Don'tcha' love getting smoke blown up yer ass?

[jkrobin]

I do like to kick-start the bike, and find that if I'm just starting out for the day (ie. the first start of the bike cold) it turns over and starts great -- usually on the first kick. After that, however, when the engine is warm/hot I have a hard time getting it to start at all with the kickstarter. (Electric start has no problem cold or hot.)

Any suggestion on successfully kickstarting a warm/hot engine on my C5?

Thanks!

[JVS]

It should be easier with the engine being warm. At least that's what I've noticed with mine. Anyway, try following Arizoni's guide - http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,14198.msg151037.html#msg151037

That should really help you with warm starts.

[MrMike]

Would like to kick start my G5 more but it a real chore with the sidecar attached.     Done it a couple of times to see if I could and it works.  Easier when it is hot.  Had a Yamaha SR500 some years ago that was kick only.  Now I'm old and enjoying life so it's button start most all of the time.   

[barenekd]

Mine kickstarted fine when the weather was warm or the engine was hot. However, if the weather was chilly, 50^o or less, I couldn't get it to kickstart!
There is no way that kickstarting is any harder on the clutch than the electric starter!
Bare

[Subbu-500]

hehehe..Yeah...i was pretty sure he was doing just that Gremlin....but being the noob that i am i started wondering if there was some kind of a clutch associated with the starting mechanism !!! ...

[Arizoni]

Your motorcycle has two clutches in it.

The main clutch is a wet, multi-plate clutch that connects or disconnects the power from the engine crankshaft to the transmission.

The starter motor has a 1 way clutch that allows the starter motor to turn the crankshaft but will allow the crankshaft to turn without driving the starter motor.  This is the sprag clutch.

When using the kick starter, the main clutch must be engaged so power is transmitted from the transmission (and kick starter) to the engine crankshaft.  This is done by keeping ones hand off of the clutch lever while kicking the starter lever.
While your kicking the starter and rotating the crankshaft, the starter motor sprag clutch will "freewheel" allowing the crankshaft to move freely without moving the electric starter motor or the gears that it drives.

[Subbu-500]

Hmmm...so there was some truth in what the service adviser said. Arizoni, are you saying i need to engage the clutch while kick starting? I have done that only when the bike is in gear....this might just be another stupid question...

[Arizoni]

You will find you cannot kick start the engine if the clutch lever is pulled in.

Also, never try to kick start the engine while the transmission is in gear, even if it is up on the center stand.  If the engine does start with the transmission in gear and the motorcycle falls off the center stand it will either stop the engine or it will motor away all by itself down the road.

[Subbu-500]

I thought so too. About starting the bike when in gear, i had to do it only once when the engine just died while i was on the move and in the middle of busy traffic. So i simply engaged the clutch and hit the button and the bike came to life...i just rode away. But i guess my question is still unanswered ...is kick starting often, not advisable? If not, why?

[JVS]

Always use the kickstarter. Save your sprag. Use the e-start in situations like you described - when it stalls in traffic, or you're in a hurry.

The only side-effect of kickstarting the bike is a huge smile on your face, which shouldn't be an issue 

[Subbu-500]

Thanks JVS just what i wanted to hear.

[gremlin]

....................  If the engine does start with the transmission in gear and the motorcycle falls off the center stand it will either stop the engine or it will motor away all by itself down the road.

Any personal experience you'd like to share with us ?

[FastDoc]

I've heard of a few leaking kickstarters, so I use the button mostly.

[Arizoni]

Sometimes I use the kickstarter but usually use the electric one on my 2011, G5.

I have never heard of a real problem with the kick starter in a UCE but I checked out what needed to be done to fix it if it ever failed.
The Kick Starter Return spring is pretty easy to replace.  The right sidecover, transmission output drive sprocket and the starter spring cover just have to be removed to get to it.

If something else breaks like the pawl spring or the pawl we're talking major tare-down.  The entire engine/transmission must be totally taken apart because all of the important stuff is inside the engine/transmission case.

The thoughts of needing to do that sort of major surgery doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling about using only the kick starter.
Hell, by removing the left sidecover, the clutch, duplex chain and chain tensioner and the crankshaft output sprocket you can replace the infamous Sprag Clutch.
Compaired with fixing a major kick starter problem, that's a walk in the park.

[FastDoc]

My thoughts exactly.

[adi-4004]

Now that I know now to kick start...

I always try kick starting twice. If it doesn't work then ES it is. Kick start always works on the first try when the engine is warm. With a cold engine sometimes kick start doesn't work.