kick start?

[superdave]

Who's got one and have you ever used it ? Just for kicks !

[Douce]

have one and used it. twice

[planedick]

Kickstart

Have one, never used it...

[superdave]

saw a kit to convert my xj over to kick and decided not to do it but was wondering how it would kick over. And what years xs's came with kick. Thanks for the feed back !

[gerkenbruce]

The last year for kick start was 79.
I have used it every time i left the key on

XSivly
Bruce

[strom]

78E. Used it once the battery was very low. Didn't start. Started it with a full battery without problems. Wouldn't expect it to be so easy for a 1100.

[jeffe]

I owned an SR500 Yamaha for about 3 years. 500cc single single...no...as in none...electric start. My XS11 is a piece of cake to kick start compared to it. ITh SR even had a compression release and a little indicator to line it up to the best point to kick start it. If you didn't kick it with a lot!!! of authority bad things happened. With that said I still get up set at my self for getting rid of it. What a great bike. Even though it sounded like the worlds largest lawn mower.

[superdave]

battery dead !

so if the battery is too weak to turn it over, will there be enough to get spark for a good kick start ? than it is basicly worthless? In a pinch...

[Pat Kelly]

I think the kick starter is for when the starter dies, not the battery.

[Materi]

I have one, and use it frequently. The bike is amazingly easy to kick, and usually starts on the first kick. Why do I use it? Well, my starter is getting a little wierd, and I guess I want to preserve it for as long as possible. Also, and here's where you can call me wierd, childish, whatever...I just think it's kind of cool to kick start a big bike

[xs650mike]

My experience with electronic iggy Yammies fitted with kickstarters is that they actually start quicker kicking than they do with the starter. It usually takes 2 or 3 seconds of grinding away with the starter, but usually only 1 kick does it. My theory is that the starter draws so much juice that the iggy doesn't get enough voltage for a hot spark which it does when you kick. The XS11 is ridiculously easy to kick start, the more cylinders the more chances one is gonna light and the cylinders are smaller than a twin or a single so it's easier to kick over. I usually reserve the electric starter on my bikes for when I stupidly stall the bike in traffic and don't want to find neutral...just suck in the clutch and hit the button. I didn't use the starter on my XS400 for over 2 years and when I finally tried it the motor was frozen...a case of use it or lose it. The silly little "emergency" start lever that comes with the XS1100SF is way too short, it took me a while to figure out how to kick the engine over without my size 10 hitting the footpeg but then it is supposed to be a contingency device only. I installed a longer folding lever from an XS750 but even then it's a little tricky.

[superdave]

materi

I don't think it's childish, It's unique! Gives the bike style!!!!!

[xs650mike]

Should have mentioned, when the battery is too low to start with the starter turn off the key and then back on before trying to kick, that way the headlamp won't be on robbing voltage from your iggy. If the bike fires but doesn't catch the headlamp will come back on, turn it off and then back on to make sure the headlight's off before attempting another start...the voice of experience talking here. Just another feature that Yamahas have that other brands don't, other brands headlights come on when the key's turned on, Yamahas when the engine starts.

[Materi]

Originally posted by xs650mike
I installed a longer folding lever from an XS750

Hey Man, that's what I need! I didn't know or think to check (duh?) if one of those would fit the shaft. I do get tired of taking mine off and putting it back in the saddle bag, and then re-installing the rubber cap on the shaft. Plus, the kick-starter takes up valuable space in the bag. I'm going to go to e-bay right now and start looking. Do the XS650 and 850 also have compatible kick starters? Please advise, thanks..

Keith

[xs650mike]

The 650 lever will fit but the 750/850 lever fits a little better because of the way it's bent.