[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.