- Joined
- Oct 29, 2006
- Messages
- 1,075
Those who are interested in the Alton E-start may have seen my posts a while back re a problem/resolution I had with the initial installation of my Alton E-start. I concluded that series with a very favorable review of Alton's customer support.
So now, with some time on the system, I thought I'd post an update. I guess the first thing I should say is that it is very impressive and I can no longer imagine kick-starting my Commando! It has performed flawlessly and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in adding an E-start. I now have considerable "starts'" on the system, many full throttle WOT runs to 7k RPM, and, in every way, the starter is completely transparent other than the fact that it just takes a button-push to start and the actual start occurs almost instantly. From stone cold, starting requires tickling (Amals) but if the bike has been running within a couple of hours (and I remember to turn the fuel back on!) it starts at almost the instant I hit the button. From cold, after tickling, it will start within a revolution or two which, based on the speed the starter spins the motor, happens very quickly. My Commando starts much more quickly from cold or hot than my wife's new BMW F650GS.
It's really a great piece of kit. No, I am not associated with Alton.
For tech purposes - My 850 has the Alton Estart, Trispark ignition/standard type dual coils, Podtronics regulator and Shorai 18AH battery. It was a one kick-starter prior to the installation of the Estart and, at that time, had the Trispark/standrd dual coils, a 14AH flooded YB14L batt and the oem Lucas rectifier. The podtronics and the Shorai were added at the same time as the Estart. I had no issues at all with the oem Lucas rectifier but it just seemed like I should add a "modern" unit.
So now, with some time on the system, I thought I'd post an update. I guess the first thing I should say is that it is very impressive and I can no longer imagine kick-starting my Commando! It has performed flawlessly and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in adding an E-start. I now have considerable "starts'" on the system, many full throttle WOT runs to 7k RPM, and, in every way, the starter is completely transparent other than the fact that it just takes a button-push to start and the actual start occurs almost instantly. From stone cold, starting requires tickling (Amals) but if the bike has been running within a couple of hours (and I remember to turn the fuel back on!) it starts at almost the instant I hit the button. From cold, after tickling, it will start within a revolution or two which, based on the speed the starter spins the motor, happens very quickly. My Commando starts much more quickly from cold or hot than my wife's new BMW F650GS.
It's really a great piece of kit. No, I am not associated with Alton.
For tech purposes - My 850 has the Alton Estart, Trispark ignition/standard type dual coils, Podtronics regulator and Shorai 18AH battery. It was a one kick-starter prior to the installation of the Estart and, at that time, had the Trispark/standrd dual coils, a 14AH flooded YB14L batt and the oem Lucas rectifier. The podtronics and the Shorai were added at the same time as the Estart. I had no issues at all with the oem Lucas rectifier but it just seemed like I should add a "modern" unit.
