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#81868
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.
#81882
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?

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