Hitchcocks Forum

2 weeks into Electra EFI ownership and I have a question. On the right hand side of the engine is a hinged lever which appears to be designed to be depressed by pressure on a rubber end-piece. What is its purpose please?

No. I'm not gonna bite....

It serves no useful purpose whatsoever. It is there purely for aesthetic reasons to give the bike that classic nostalgic look. You can depress it by foot as hard as you like should you wish to do so, without any adverse effect.

It has been known to fit an adapter to the PAV on the exhaust port which is then connected to an air hose which is then connected to either tyre needing inflation then the said lever can be pushed down allowing the built in return spring to do its job then push down again.

Of course you need to do this with ignition off. 😈

When your over-complicated but poorly assembled electrical systems fail, which almost inevitably they will do at the furthest point from home, the shiny rubber ended lever is for you to kick down upon in anger. Whilst kicking down on said lever you will have time to think "why didn't I buy a simple old 4-speed classic, on which the electrics could be fixed by replacing the blown fuses with a bit of silver paper from a fag packet?" Then, if you have exhausted your anger before the RAC man comes to rescue you, you take a gentle stroll along the road to the YamaKawaHondUki dealer and beg forgiveness and say "please will you take my EFI in part-ex for a Honda 50 please mister?"

It kicks in the nitrous boost

Ah rumbled! Seriously, if the electrics do fail, or the battery runs flat, then the kick start is neither use nor ornament. Out of curiosity I have tried to kick start the EFI when everything seems in order - but with no joy. An experienced old hand assures me that it is, to all intents and purposes, an impossible task. Hence my rather stupid posting - apologies to all concerned. Actually I swapped my Honda 500 for this bike, I suspect that some of you are suggesting that this was not an altogether wise move. And, yes, I did previously have an old Classic 500 for many years, and it started great on the kick start. Well we will see how life with the EFI unfolds. So far, in 6 days of ownership, I have been rescued once by the dealership (flat battery, apologetically replaced) and today a mysterious significant mis-fire which equally mysteriously disappeared after 3 or 4 miles. Luckily I always have my faithful 1953 Dot to fall back on! Pretty well first time kick start every time.

Sorry. In my first posting I think that I referred to 2 weeks ownership. It is actually 6 days only - it just feels longer!

Use the lever!



Make sure from day one that your bike knows who is in charge!



The start button is only for emergencies, like when it stalls pulling out of a junction.

The kickstart is certainly not the best design feature of the bike; it's difficult to get a good swing with it.