kick start lever? folding

[motrcyclryan83]

does anyone know if someone makes a folding kick start lever? i've tried different yamaha levers and none seem to clear the rear brake mount. closet i could come up with was one off a xs750 . heated and bent to clear but ended up pretty short. ... i got a 79 special that i hardtailed and am building a rat style bobber and want to keep the kick start but dont want the stock "emergency" lever sticking out the way it does. especially now with the tc bros forward controls its in the way. id appreciate any ideas. i'll get pics soon of current progress.

[Spider]

IIRC the XS850 lever fits with slight tweaking.

[MeatTooth]

I think this one is off of a suzuki GS model and it works with no tweaking.

[latexeses]

There are several posts about this mod.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...0+kick+starter

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...0+kick+starter

I know 3Phase has done the mod but it didn't sound like it was for the faint of heart. Last I talked to him he liked it.

Rodger

[Dragon Tamer]

Hope I get this in before Fredintoon does but if I was building a rat bobber it would be a harley and who cares if it would start.

Seriously I think that a kick starter from any of the GS series Zooks will fit it and work OK.

Still don't see why anyone would rather kick one than push the button.

[Silent]

I'll pop in and confirm that the XS850 folding kick start lever works well on a '79 Special. Works very well on mine anyway

[motrcyclryan83]

Hope I get this in before Fredintoon does but if I was building a rat bobber it would be a harley and who cares if it would start.

Seriously I think that a kick starter from any of the GS series Zooks will fit it and work OK.

Still don't see why anyone would rather kick one than push the button.

im building a rat bobber because i didnt like the way it looked stock. and i dont like having the same thing other people do. and by hard tailing it and fabbing everything myself i can call it my own instead of just painting or putting stickers on it. I didnt build a harley because i dont like harleys, and every poser out there "customizes" harleys. as for the kick start... i like kick start. i guess its because im still young enough to enjoy it. when i trade in my 2 wheels for an amigo , then ill just sit and "push the button"

[soccer4m]

xs750 or xs850

Howdy,,,I have used both the 1970's xs750 and xs850 kick levers on my xs's and they work fine. Scott, aka, 3 Phase also has used them and the only issue is to put a thin rubber washer or I just use some black electrical tape, to cushion the lever since it is real close to the oil filler area to stop any metal to metal rubbing-noise. Ebay has either one usually in the 10-20 buck range. They are bolt on and go,,,no mods needed other than the cushioning. The folding lever is much cooler to look at and easier than digging out the one in the frame to use....good luck, Mike in Sun Diego

[motrcyclryan83]

thanks mike... got one on the way from an xs850. hopefully i'l like it.

[joceiphus]

thanks mike... got one on the way from an xs850. hopefully i'l like it.

Let me know how it works out. I plan on doing the same thing. Thanks

[soccer4m]

remove the bolt

For those doing the kickstarter add on,,,remember to remove the bolt on the bottom of the kickstarter before sliding onto the splined shaft, or it won't slide onto the shaft. The shaft has a inset groove for the bolt to clamp down the kickstarter to the shaft. Slide on the kickstarter then put in the bolt and tighten. Good kickin',,,,,Mike in Sun DIego

[dshroyer]

Does anybody know if the kick starter from an xs850 will work on just a 79 sx1100. I was wondering if it works on a 79 special if it would work on mine.

[CatatonicBug]

Does anybody know if the kick starter from an xs850 will work on just a 79 sx1100. I was wondering if it works on a 79 special if it would work on mine.

Welcome to the forum! As far as I know, that is actually the BEST option for the folding kick-start lever on an XS11. However, the original lever from the '78-'79 was for emergency use only, and mounted under the battery box unless you really needed it. If you're looking for the emergency one, get the original XS11 version. If not, the XS850 one is the best folding version.

[DGXSER]

Bug is correct and also I believe there is no difference that would effect the kickstart lever of an XS850 between an F model and an SF model. I believe the exhuast would be different but all the engine and tranny are identical IIRC. Only ever owned SH models.....so far.

[dontlikeoc]

Please correct me if I am wrong.

I thought about the same kickstart conversion and researched throught the forum. I remember reading that later models dont have the parts in the trans that allows the use of a kickstarter as a snap on. That is why I gave up thinking about it. I have a 1981 XS1100 special.