Kick Starter?

[Cobia]

Hi,
Is it worth it to install the kick starter gears and setup on my '80G in case the battery ever goes dead? There's one for sale on cheapbay.

[randy]

If your battery is truly dead, it won't have enough juice to light the TCI anyway, so the kicker may not help. The kicker will work if the battery charge is marginal. I think better than the kicker, if you find a nice steep downhill, first gear and pop the clutch to start it.

[erithanis]

It doesn't even need to be that steep. I've successfully started my 79SF by getting going at a fast walk, hopping on and dropping it into gear.

[Dennyz]

In all the years of running XSs, I have only had to resort to the kick starter once and it was marginally successful. I had to ride with the head light off to make it home. A new battery is probably cheaper that the ticket for no head light.

If the battery is too dead to start the bike, but the kick starter will fire it up, as soon as the head light comes on, the engine will die. To keep it running while putting the headlight fuse back in is an awkward situation. The motor has to be doing over 2k to charge the battery, run the bike and power the light. And that is if everything is working correctly (which means you would probably never need to kick start).

Save your $$ for a new battery (IMHO).

[Cobia]

Kick starter

Thanks guys, I was just wondering if the alternator had enough juice to keep the bike running even with a dead battery. I saw an assembly on cheapBay and wondered if it would be useful.
Gracias Amigos!!

[Paintman]

Kick starters

After spending many yrs jumping on my old Norton 850 and my 750 Bonnie LOL id rather push something home then get launched over the bars.
John

[xsilerating]

Originally posted by erithanis
It doesn't even need to be that steep. I've successfully started my 79SF by getting going at a fast walk, hopping on and dropping it into gear.

Agree! I've started mine quite a few times on a very slight decline - while sitting on it - and taking 3 - 4 steps and popping the clutch. Worked every time.

(Had to do this until I figured out that my aux. lights were sucking the juice out of the battery. )

[desert1]

850 yAMAHA

I put a folding kickstart on my 78xs its off an 850 Yamaha, $15. on ebay, works great and I do use it, folds up neatly out of the way, only minor alteration on the kick shaft some dremmiling to allow for the pass thru bolt on the kicker.....

HEY "PAINTMAN" I hear yah about launching over your bike: long time ago owned an AJS 650 twin, when that kickstart would slap back at the sole of your foot, many expletives would follow, still remember the pain...

You still need some power in the system to fire the engines but I just wanted a kickstart cause every bike I rode in the 60s and 70s had one and now I do.....
Bruce
78xs1100

[AlanB]

Hi Guys,

Fours are a LOT easier to kick over than twins!

The XSs electronic ignition should make sure that the timing is always correct, so the "kick-back" and the launch over the 'bars which the old Brits were famous for is a thing of the past.

I really don't know why, but there is something cool about seeing a big bike kicked into life........

AlanB

[jurgenkoppen]

I agree, to kick it into life is cool

Especially when she goes on the first kick.
I got a 750 foldable kicker from Ebay, and will install it in my 79 engine in 80 frame red unit asap, just for kicks....
I have been futzing with my projects and just got my first "home build" bike road ready.
Had gotten it all in bits and put it together, painted it, and with Andreas' and Ebay parts and your help got the show on the road today and now applied for collector plates.

Anyway, wondering if anybody might have the little anti rattle clips for the 80SG, which sit in the fork's indentations and keep the brake pads from being noisy.
Also missing in action on my other project is the spacer, which keeps the front wheel bearings apart, and one muffler hanger rubber grommet.
If you have, could you let me know, I never seen those things on Ebay.
Thanks Jurgen

[erithanis]

that bike is beautiful

[egsols]

I have the original that came with the 79 and use it occasionally for fun. It starts up no problem and I was surprised how easy it was to kick. I was used to kicking old singles and twins but the worst to kick was an old HD sportster.

I guess the fascination in having a kick start is like the old wall phone I have in my garage that you actually have to "dial"!

[RUSH]

Ive used the emergency kick start on my bike many times. It works well and I have often wished I could mount one permanently. You do need a battery with some charge left in it to use the kick starter. The occasions I used it were with an old battery that would not hold a full charge, but could still run the lights.

[ross]

hey there desert1....any chance you remember what 850 that kickstarter came off of.....i got the stock one, but if i could find one that folds...i just might have 2 make that the starter of choice some times...thanx in advance....

p.s. if u got fotos of yours that would be cool also...just 2 get an idea...ross

[Cobia]

Kick start it to life...

Since Yamaha did away with the gearing, as well as the lever, in 1980...... my question is can you retrofit the kick start gears/shaft/etc. from an older one if you can find it? I saw one recently on ebay and that's what got the string started.
I agree with all of you that kick starting the bike is way cool, especially since the fours are well manered and won't buck you over the handle bars.