Is this how...

Originally Posted by toonyank

Ask a Honda owner

Your theory is right!

Also the higher the gear the easier it is to bump but the slower the engine speed is so harder to start. 3rd or 4th seems ok though I've never bumped a twin before which would be interesting.

Ha ha, me and another lad were bump starting a third mate's Pan 1100 on the flat. That took some doing. We were running along holding onto the pillion grab rails like a bobsled team.

As an aside, an old, v. experienced mechanic warned me never to bump start an FI bike as bump starting could sometimes fry the FI chip. I don't know if there is any truth in this (I've bump started an FI bike with no problems) and the guy did have a strong bias to carbs, but is there any real reason not to, or was it just hearsay?

[Ruffy]

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

As an aside, an old, v. experienced mechanic warned me never to bump start an FI bike as bump starting could sometimes fry the FI chip. I don't know if there is any truth in this (I've bump started an FI bike with no problems) and the guy did have a strong bias to carbs, but is there any real reason not to, or was it just hearsay?

I think this is b*****ks. All a bump start is doing is using the final drive to do exactly what the starter motor or kickstart (remember them?) does i.e. crank the engine. Makes no difference to the ignition circuit operation, irrespective of fuelling method.

You're more likely to get problems with any bike (especially with electronic ignition) if the battery's knackered or you try with the battery disconnected (greater chance of overvoltage in the system). These are both possible if you're having to bumpstart in the first place!

Unfortunately I've only ever had to bump start my VFR800 a couple of times in it's life, so it's not really a good example, but I've never seen a problem.