Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet Electra & AVL => Topic started by: normanwald on June 05, 2008, 11:18:03 pm

Title: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: normanwald on June 05, 2008, 11:18:03 pm
Does anyone else feel that the kick start lever is in the way of their leg? Mine looks like it does in all the pictures, but I'm wondering if I can, or should remove it since I'm using the electric starter.

I have a brand new Electra with the chrome Classic tank and front fender...

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Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: luoma on June 05, 2008, 11:34:17 pm
Mine feels like it's in the way too, but I've gotten used to it. I thought about removing it, but if I did, I would keep it in the saddle bag. There have been times I was really glad for a kick start. I had a solenoid go out and when the new one finally arrived, I wasn't too sure I wanted to put it on, except for those times in traffic when you need to start quick.
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: birdmove on June 06, 2008, 12:46:54 am
    I wouldn't remove it due to the fact that the starter sprag clutch can be a problem on some Bullets. I use the kick start all the time, except for when I stall the engine in traffic. But I have noticed my right leg has to be in an odd position.I think I need to adjust the position of the foot brake pedal on mine.

   Jon
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: ridgerunner on June 06, 2008, 01:15:29 am
At first mine was feeling like it was going to eat a hole in my leg. I found myself riding with my foot perpendicular to the bike...sort of flat track style. I had the same issue with my XR1000 except it was the air filters hanging off the duel carbs hitting my knee.
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: PaulF on June 06, 2008, 01:36:42 am
No way around it. A straight lever would smack the toolbox.

One of those quirks you live with.
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: Leonard on June 06, 2008, 02:52:13 am
I removed the kick starter on my Sixty-5, it had the same long stock muffler on it as the Electra.  I was quite comfortable until my foot got hot.  You can see from the picture the chunk it melted out of my boot heel.  The kick starter went back on and I've learned to live with it.

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Title: Re: Remove kick start lever? (XR1000)
Post by: Thumper on June 07, 2008, 12:05:12 am
At first mine was feeling like it was going to eat a hole in my leg. I found myself riding with my foot perpendicular to the bike...sort of flat track style. I had the same issue with my XR1000 except it was the air filters hanging off the duel carbs hitting my knee.

RR,
What do you think of the new XR1200?

Loved the original and race XR's, but the new version seems to have lost something in the translation. To be brutally honest, it looks like a giant Honda Ascot to me!

Maybe they should give the XLCR another shot...

Matt
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever? (XR1000)
Post by: ridgerunner on June 07, 2008, 02:21:21 am
At first mine was feeling like it was going to eat a hole in my leg. I found myself riding with my foot perpendicular to the bike...sort of flat track style. I had the same issue with my XR1000 except it was the air filters hanging off the duel carbs hitting my knee.

RR,
What do you think of the new XR1200?

Loved the original and race XR's, but the new version seems to have lost something in the translation. To be brutally honest, it looks like a giant Honda Ascot to me!

Maybe they should give the XLCR another shot...

Matt
Yeah, they didn't make much of an impression on me. In fact, I think Harley is heading down the same road they took 30 years ago. Mass produced overpriced for purely asthetic "changes". I really liked the VR1000 concept they raced briefly. i thought it would have been a great platform for a sport tourer like the FXRD tried to be. They turned it into the VRod and really didn't take advantage of all the opportunities presented. The Sportys are still good bikes, I won't knock them, they just seem to have become after-thoughts and not recieving the companies attention they deserve. Too caught up in the bigger is better BS.
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: tony_s on June 07, 2008, 06:11:19 am
When I was buying my Bullet Classic, the dealer mentioned that he had moved the one on his Electra back a couple of inches because he kept hitting his leg.  It will make it a little harder to kick start, but you don't have to completely remove it. I like kick starting, so I haven't tried to move mine.

-Tony
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: PhilJ on June 07, 2008, 12:17:39 pm
Mine is moved back for the reasons stated. I find it no harder to kick start at all. If fact maybe a little easier, as I don't have to reach so far up the get the lever. Just easily push the kick lever barely through TDC then a firm kick a she ticks over.
Title: Re: Remove kick start lever?
Post by: luoma on June 07, 2008, 03:01:48 pm
Mine gets in the way when I'm stopped at an intersection and put both feet down. Not too bad when riding, but feels out of place when stopped. Anybody else have the same experience?