Showerthoughts
 

Showerthoughts is from reddit and it is where you have an epiphany or maybe just an odd thought.

Here's mine: there will be some members on here that have never kickstarted a bike. :o

Re: Showerthoughts
 

Ha! True. I kind of miss the cold-start drill for my old GT380: if you didn't follow this religiously, it would sulk and refuse to start.

- fuel tap to 'prime'
- lift choke lever, leave ignition off
- kick three times (one kick per cylinder to get a rich mixture in the cases)
- ignition on, kick once, ring-ding-ding and a cloud of sweet smoke

A fiancée of my big sis had an early 70s Commando with the engine in Combat trim (high compression etc). That thing was EVIL.

If it didn't start second kick from cold, he used to leave it for 5 minutes before trying again, because the kick-back from that engine could leave you limping for several days. You could stand on the kickstarter and it would hold your weight against compression ....

Re: Showerthoughts
 

I have used them, but really don't miss them!

When I was little, I could ride a bike that was far too big for me, but if I stalled it I was stuffed as I wasn't big enough to kick start the thing!

Re: Showerthoughts
 

We used to 'borrow' a neighbours XT500 thumper in our early teen years when he was out. couple of times I thought I had snapped my shin bone trying to kick start it!
Was an awesome machine though. Others were my IT175 & KDX200 crossers.

Re: Showerthoughts
 

I had a Ducati 250 desmo with the kick start on the left side. Took a lot of getting used to.

Re: Showerthoughts
 

The Can-Am 250s I rode in the army had left side kickstarts and drum brakes front and rear.
Bloody awful things.

Biggest bike I've kickstarted was a 1979 GS850G.

Re: Showerthoughts
 

My first Motorcycle after 50cc mopeds back in the day was a BSA Bantam 175cc D14 2-Stroke.Luckily not a lot of power but nippy as hell around town and easy to kick-start.

Like this one,

https://classic-motorbikes.net/wp-co...5/10/11203.jpg



My Norton Dominator 500cc was also kick-start but I put racing rear-sets on so couldn't have a Kick-Start so had to bump the bike off every time :smt118


It was never in as good a condition as this though<grin>,

http://www.classic-british-motorcycl...nator-99-L.jpg

Re: Showerthoughts
 

I've kickstarted plenty of bikes, but never tickled a carb... yet.

Re: Showerthoughts
 

Older brother had a Velocette Viper (350) and Venom (500), both singles with fairly high compression evil to start (valve lifter and very involved start procedure). Remember both would shake your eyes out at tickover / low revs, but handled well (limit was always tyres) and went surprisingly quickly. I had quite a few kickstart bikes, some two strokes but biggest was a 650 4stroke twin. gearlevers were on the right as well ?

http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=ss1...ateur%2Ecom%2F

Re: Showerthoughts
 

Just for you...

http://me-moto.com/uploads/postfotos...rmy-bike-1.JPG


I passed my test on one.