Dare I remove the kickstart?

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I find it difficult to put more than half my right foot onto the standard footrest when I’m riding, the Kickstarter swivel is right where I want my lower leg to be. Now I have a very strong CNW startle :)cool:) motor fitted I’m going to remove the kicker and prove my confidence with it gone. Please be the right thing to do.
 
I didn’t even consider it to be fair. Perhaps I’ll go and have a looksie dreckly. I do like the idea of confusing people though
 
Landspeedracer said:
I find it difficult to put more than half my right foot onto the standard footrest when I’m riding, the Kickstarter swivel is right where I want my lower leg to be.
Click to expand...
I recommend you fit a longer (RGM) kick-start lever. It folds out of the way completely and gives you more leverage for starting.
I know Fast Eddie will completely disagree - he's had his kick-starter circumcised (or something!)
Cheers

Edit - @Fast Eddie (so he knows he's being spoken about)
 
A year or few back someone local to here was so happy with his Alton that he had the gearbox outer shell welded up. No external evidence that it used to have a kicker.
 
I’ve just paid a visit to the garage and had a look at what difference a rotated lever would do. The rounded section will still interfere with my size 11s I think. Buggerit I have enough confidence in the CNW kit that I’ll remove it, and hope I don’t eat my words. If I’d known of a longer lever beforehand I may have never gone electric. Never look back is what they say.
 
I’m trying to remember which of the big 4 Jap bikes kept a kickstarter inside the toolbox because the world hadn’t accepted an electric starter as a must have.
 
I have both cNw and RGM - give it a go before you give up on the kicker - I strongly recommend.
I know the photo is with rearset - but it didn't get in the way before
Close horn RH.JPG
 
Nice, bright shiny things on yours. Your shortened rearset footrest appears a long way from the gear-lever, does it work well in practice?

what is the Allen bolt immediately behind the pedal rubber doing?
 
Yep - still not finished - working on the gear linkage.
The foot position (4" rearward) is perfect for the interstate - directly below the back of the tank ( same as std pegs on the roadster)
Feels sooo much better
 
I suppose it depends on where your mind (and body) is at.
I still play LPs now and then - even though I know CDs make better sound - I suppose I still like the "process".
Kind of like kicking the Norton to life - as well as the fact that I know it pisses off nearby Harley riders.
Very "manly" bikes - but no kicker.
I'm 63 and intend kicking until I can't.
Cheers

Sorry - I was responding to a deleted post
 
Well I’m a bit older and I’m happy to get a blister on my right thumb pressing the starter button, but when an XS750 had an issue with the kicker and I ended up under the surgeons knife now I’d like to keep walking while I can. I did raise a chuckle a week ago when a bystander was waiting to see me start her up, I pressed the button, and he had assumed I was going to kick it - and wanted to see me try. Those occasions when I allow the motor to just die on me when I’m waiting at lights makes it just so right to have gone electric. It’s a bit like a/c in a car, you can do without it.
 
I had the same issue with the original kickstart lever on my 73 Commando constantly rubbing on my lower leg and making it hard to have proper foot position on the peg. Installing the RGM folding kickstart lever has completely solved the problem for me, and now my size 13 boot sits comfortably on the footpeg. As an added advantage the longer lever makes it a lot easier for my aging and arthritic knee to get the bike started. They are not cheap, but one of the best upgrades I've done on the bike so far.
 
I removed the kickstart lever from my Alton-equipped '73 six or seven years ago. Never found the need for it since then. Worst case, if the battery is depleted too much to operate the starter, you can still bump-start the bike. Never needed to do that either...
 
A splined shaft sticking out of the gearbox would be fugly (IMO). At least put a plastic cap on it.
I have the cNw e-start and RGM kick lever, no interference with my size nine's.
 
My kicker is quite annoying, no 'lectric start either... I've been living with it very happily and can't make myself change to a folder. Guess I find pleasure in being annoyed and don't mind slewing my foot all that much.

The early Honda Goldwings had the removable kicker, but it was done away with prior to my '79. My BIL had a '75 with one and said it was a PITA to drag out and use. They kicked sideways. Pax.
 
I installed a black plastic cap on the kickstart shaft and appearance-wise it looks like it was designed to be that way! And not really noticeable unless you KNOW there was originally a lever there. :)

That means that nobody under age 50 (60?) will ever realize it's not OEM! :rolleyes:
 
As long as you maintain the bike and you are not prone to leaving the ignition on then yes remove it
My mate always says of my Kickstart only bikes "when was the last time you started your car with a starting handle" !!!!!
 
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