I have a few ideas about making a roller starter but thats going to be way down the road yet as I have no problems with kicking it, just lately its been a bitch to start after sitting for a while but its only the first start that its been hard, if I was riding it everyday then it would start first kick, but after its been started for the day it starts first kick everytime, I am just thinking down the road.
Back in 79 some low life stole my kicker off my Norton, at that time a replacement was hard to come by, no internet in them days and for 4 months I was push starting it, 1st and 2nd just locked up the back wheel, 3rd was okay but found 4th was the best to push start it to life, but once it fired up you had to be quick on the clutch lever, it was easier for me to push start in top gear as I was only a 9 stone weakling at the time, it took me 4 months to find a new kicker and of all places it was a unknown little bike shop that didn't even do work on British bikes that had a new one.
As well push starting it in 4th gear put less strain on the gear box, this was just after replacing the blown lay shaft bearing, one thing was I got good at push starting a Norton.
Ashley