Hitchcocks Forum

Got an Electra X but i'm trying to master the art of kicking it into life. Using it to get to work on the weekends. But i can't fathom out the following :- 1st thing in the morning, 2 kicks to prime, ignition on 1st kick....STARTS!!! Home time, same procedure....NOTHING. 10 kicks later (i know i've flooded the engine but i won't give up). I do give up and use the electric start. The other day in Ludlow on a slope, a balancing act worthy of the 'White Helmets Display Team'...1 swift kick....STARTS!! I guess my bike just doesn't want to go home......Ah well.... Moan over!!

My own experience would be it needs a tiny bit extra throttle whn starting later in the day. Would be interested to know if anyone else is the same.

Maybe the pilot is just a tad large and running a bit rich, ideal for cold starts first thing in the morning..

Later in the day the air is warmer (little less air density) then just a little too rich and wets the plug?.

Hense as Chris has found opening the throttle slide just a crack gets the balance right again..

Back to throttle closed in the winter at 20 degree C cooler.

Hi,



are you using the original CV Mikarb carburettor or an aftermarket item>

Original mikuni carb. Got it going after 7 - 8 kicks. It started on :- No Choke - throttle slightly open.
So i need to try different methods when it's 'warm'.......I'll get there........

Definitely sounds like its set a bit rich. It should require either the choke or tickling the carb to start cold and nothing much when warm. Mind you if its burning a nice clean plug I suppose the old engineers maxim applies. If it works leave it alone.

I had a similar problem with mine; hubby told me to leave the petrol off and kick it. Sounds bizarre and took me a while to be desperate enough to try it but it seems to work - first or second kick every time!

Yeah, got to get used to 'no choke' on these warm afternoons when i finish work. Definateley a different approach needed compared to my early morning starts. At least i know it does kick over 1st time. Just nice to be able to use the bike at the moment. I've been looking forward to these moments all winter!

Yay - Started 1st kick last night. No choke. All is good. Got the MOT booked for Tuesday. So far a great summer!! Safe riding all!!

My bullet starts first kick from cold (assuming I keep focused!) and second kick with a warm engine. Until this evening when I filled up with standard unleaded at my usual garage. For the last few months I've been using 97 octane,and this time I thought I'd go back to the cheaper stuff to see if it makes any difference. Now it takes five or six attempts before it will fire up. Is it me? Can't see how it can really make it any harder to start. I imagine the fuel in India is probably of a less than reliable quality compared to UK.
By the by, on a 150 mile return trip to Pateley Bridge last Sunday I managed to get 77MPG. I thought that was pretty good. At that rate perhaps I should just keep using 97 octane.