Hitchcocks Forum

I came across this video. Is this long winded starting method really necessary or is this and old April Fools Day video?
How To Kick Start A Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic Motorcycle With An Amal 930 Carb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41igYhb_XDg

Wow, as easy as that, eh?

Cov Lad, just remember if you go down the Electra path you have no decomp valve ( they had a valve lifter that was an abomination) and you have no ammeter deflection as shown because of the electronic ignition. See if you can find a clip showing how to kick start an Electra, millions of clips out there on how to start a Bullet

I, ve had boyer ign on a iron barrel for years now get ammeter deflection on that, ease motor over tdc about 50mm on kickstart, dont open throttle and give adecent follow through kick, starts easy. Amal carby take off bike kick it over fence replace with mikuni jap one prob fixed.

Norm, here's a clip I made on starting an Electra X ... https://youtu.be/axOs4qRkob8

The chap in the first video says it's "ice cold". I tend to wear more clothing in those conditions.... but then I'd never ride wearing shorts, even in summer.

My technique for my 350 when very cold (i.e overnight cold), is to rotate the engine a couple of times with the fuel on and the mixture enrichment knob pulled up, Mikcarb), ignition off, decompressor operated, to break initial "stiction". The latter saves wear on the kickstarter.

I then do as Paul does, just rotate slightly past TDC then ignition on and one long kick. It normally starts first go.

I learned how to kickstart in the 1970s on my first bike, a BSA C15 which was bored out 60 thou to 272cc, had a grasstrack methanol cam and a 12:1 piston from a Triumph Trident. Now that bike could REALLY kick back. I had to buy spare cotter pins for the kicksart three at a time.

I made this video after watching that one.



https://youtu.be/xYAqgsYRyZw

That's more like it.

However, on my 350 there is no "dip" on the ammeter because it doesn't have points ignition so I have to feel for TDC.

The video by whisperer is very good at showing how to do it. I had a go at kicking over an oldish 500 today, after crushing my foot with the centre stand I managed to start it in a similar fashion to whisperer video. I can see how it might put some people off running a kick start only bike, especially with an audience watching on.
I wonder how many electric start owners use the kick start to lengthen the life of their sprags?

Cov Lad, using the kick start on an E/S will not lengthen the life of the sprag generally, it is the kickback that usually trashes the sprag , no sprag in the world can withstand that punishment