Electric or kick starter

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Northdakota

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Me and my grandpa just got a 1971 750 Commando and it came with a bunch of parts. One of the interesting parts was a CNW electric starter. We’ve debated if we should install the electric starter or keep it a kick starter. The whole starter and everything is already taken apart so all we have to do is put in electric or kick start. What do you guys thing would be better? Thank you for the advice.
 
+1 on what Rob says. Nothing like stalling at a traffic light to make you want the starter. And you get a great belt drive kit to boot. nice dry primary that doesnt spew. Nothing like flat battery to make you want the kicker. Install it.
 
gortnipper said:
+1 on what Rob says. Nothing like stalling at a traffic light to make you want the starter. And you get a great belt drive kit to boot. nice dry primary that doesnt spew. Nothing like flat battery to make you want the kicker. Install it.
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Thank you for the advice! Ill have to convince my grandpa
 
You don't "lose" kick starting when you install the E-start so if you want to kick start it to prove some point, you can do so. OTOH, after the E-start is in place you may choose to remove the kick start lever...as motorcycle companies eventually did... ;)

It may not matter at all but the CNW Estart negates the use of the OEM (Ham Can) air filter so depending on how "stock" you want the bike to look that may affect your decision.
 
Back in the day, with my '71, I jumpstarted anytime the bike was pointing downhill! On my current '73 with Alton Estart I removed the kickstart lever a couple of years after installing the Alton. But, as noted - can still jumpstart...though can't think why I'd want to! :)
 
Bike's been standing for over a fortnight, with supermarket fuel and a five year old AGM battery (which has been on a charger only once in it's lifetime)...
Normally I'm a kicker, save the 'soft' option for emergency starts (which rarely happen, nowadays). But did it all 'on the button' today, and apart from me over choking the initial start which needed a few more thumb presses to clear, that and every subsequent fire up was done without that jumping up and down bit!
I could get used to it :-)
 
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If ya can't kick a early 70's Norton over, why own one? ;)

Takes a lot of parts to install that CNW starter. You sure they are all there? I'd sell it myself, but I can still kick start a motorcycle. If I couldn't kick start a Norton, I probably wouldn't be able to ride it either. Might need training wheels to hold it up at a light too.
 
Schwany said:
If ya can't kick a early 70's Norton over, why own one? ;)

Takes a lot of parts to install that CNW starter. You sure they are all there? I'd sell it myself, but I can still kick start a motorcycle. If I couldn't kick start a Norton, I probably wouldn't be able to ride it either. Might need training wheels to hold it up at a light too.
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If you are on the waiting list for a knee replacement and you can ride the bike just fine but can't kick it over
Would you sell the bike ? or buy a starter and carry on riding ? I chose to carry on riding
 
Be sure to research the install process for the electric leg gizmo. There are a few YouTube videos that detail some issues that can arise and how to deal with them. I'm sure CNW can also provide guidance/install documents etc.
If all that seems too much fuss, you just throw it in a box and send it to me for proper 'disposal' :-)
 
I'd sell the starter to finance putting the rest of the bike together. (If I couldn't kick it anymore it's probably time for a 250 with electric start or just stop riding.)
 
Must say it is a really nice feeling to kick start one of these old lumps into life. Its such a rarity these days. Other modern bike riders/random on-lookers/chicks will tend to look onwards as your prepare to fire it up and give a grin or cheer when you succeed. There is a definite technique to learn how to do it. Hopefully OP's grandad will know how to teach it. I needed guidance from an experienced kicker when I first got this bike four yrs ago.
 
I graduated to kicking Norton twins by way of BSA singles, so reckon I've scored my Brownie (Browknee?) points.
My '67 Sunbeam Rapier came with a starting handle, great for winding onto firm ground if stuck in mud or snow (courting days :-) ), but I never felt any less of a man by discarding it and twisting the key to fire it up.
 
Schwany said:
If ya can't kick a early 70's Norton over, why own one? ;)

Takes a lot of parts to install that CNW starter. You sure they are all there? I'd sell it myself, but I can still kick start a motorcycle. If I couldn't kick start a Norton, I probably wouldn't be able to ride it either. Might need training wheels to hold it up at a light too.
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I always viewed the kick start as a "field sobriety/roadworthiness test". If I can't kick start the bike in a few strokes of the foot, I'm either way too drunk to ride it or the bike is so far out of tune that it isn't roadworthy. JMO
 
Tornado said:
Must say it is a really nice feeling to kick start one of these old lumps into life. Its such a rarity these days. Other modern bike riders/random on-lookers/chicks will tend to look onwards as your prepare to fire it up and give a grin or cheer when you succeed. There is a definite technique to learn how to do it. Hopefully OP's grandad will know how to teach it. I needed guidance from an experienced kicker when I first got this bike four yrs ago.
Click to expand...
There's nothing like having your bike fire up first kick in front of a crowd at a show'n shine
 
Satan's Aardvark said:
There's nothing like having your bike fire up first kick in front of a crowd at a show'n shine
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I used to start my 86 cu in '64 Panhead stroker woth my hand. It had a lot of overlap in the cam lobe separation which made ot seem like there was no compression. Once it got to about 2500 RPM it would come on like a freight train.

I used to win money on "bar bets" until the word got around.
 
baz said:
If you are on the waiting list for a knee replacement and you can ride the bike just fine but can't kick it over
Would you sell the bike ? or buy a starter and carry on riding ? I chose to carry on riding
Click to expand...
Is the OP getting a knee replacement? I must have missed that.

Personally, if my knee went out, I'd get rid of the bike at my age. If I still wanted to ride with a shot knee, it wouldn't be on a Norton. No offense to the Norton stalwarts. I've just ridden a lot better, and know what is comfortable for me particularly if I was messed up enough to need a knee. I'd probably forget motorcycles and just drive my '65 El Camino if I wanted to drive something old. Not as much fun or stimulating, but a sweet ride it is.
 
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