Startng techniques?

DogT · Jun 29, 2014

I keep wanting to start my bike without any stand, but every time I try, I loose my balance and the bike goes over. And it's a bear getting it back up. Only way I've been able to start mine is get both feet on the pegs and give it a good thrust after it's just over compression and through the next one with my weight (180lb) and usually it starts 1 or 2 hits. If not something is wrong. I think it's easier if you use 20W50 V-Twin instead of the SAE50 too. It's also easier if you take the seat off.

That said I've been starting my bike off the prop stand since '72 and I haven't had any problems, but it's always been a pretty easy starter and like I said after 2 tries, something's wrong. I tickle the carbs until I see fuel, engage the air control and it usually goes off, but I'm still up both feet on the pegs and pushing it through 2 compression strokes. Pazon helps.

I know there are guys out there that can sit on the seat and push it over with just the leg muscle and the left foot on the ground and it starts, I've seen them do it on my bike, but I've never been able to do that for some reason. Now that I've gone to 20W50 maybe, we'll see.

Dave

1up3down · Jun 29, 2014

fancy paying over $2,500 for a E/S, be better spending that money on performance parts

that is exactly what I would have said from 1970-2012, but not now

after two spine surgeries I can't kick my Norton over anymore, and have an Alton on order

so you see, not everyone is a sissy, sometimes there are good reasons to spend over $2500

this will allow me to keep owning and riding my Commando

Hobot · Jun 29, 2014

I got to look up to those having straddle kicking balance issues for working around it and public opinion just fine to carry on till the end. Ms Peel on the otherhand had a drop or so of Vampire blood and a good shot of Ozark Kick-a-poo Joy Juice so have walked in and out a store to turn on boyah power and she started with the key turn like magic. I've heard a couple other electronic ign. events like this and one reason for programable ignition is to try to get it to do it routinely. I can tell ya that Commando's are among the easiest of decently powerful cycles to pick back up, damhik.

MikeM · Jun 29, 2014

Its been quite some time since I had a kick only bike, and it was a Kawasaki 500 triple 2 stroke and not much compression. This is a whole different deal for my almost 60 year old legs.
I think technique will win over brute force. I just need to figure out what works best. I also live at the top of a fairly substantial hill. I havent played that card yet.
Thanks for all the advice.
MikeM

Hobot · Jun 29, 2014

Do keep in mind the Norton has a rather disadvanaged kicker ratio compared to HD and most if not all others so does indeed take a serious thrust close enough to a real kick down to actually be a bragging right among bikers to kick a Commando to life. There are tales of HD guys with kick starts asking to start a Commando and fail to do so first try or so as requires more focused manhood state on it than they are used to. I frequency just roll off start when on a slope that allows it. All bad boy biker movies require them to kick theirs to life to show their powerful manhood off. Wes and I have both had our share of kicking out selves to a pulp away from home for a number of reasons, so when we ride and stop somewhere we generally give a relex nod or grin of recognition we lucked out this time again.

kerinorton · Jun 29, 2014

hobot said:
Too bad we can't put a pull cord on em. By far the worse kicker ever was swoshdave that kicked for over 5 min past painful to watch but finally got it going...
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ando+start

Hey Hobot, its not a bloody chainsaw, and even the old pioneers were bitches for trying to disengage your hand from your body.

kerinorton · Jun 29, 2014

hobot said:
How funny this thread strikes me in this day and age. If you have finesse enough its possible to kick with side stand out but by golly better not actually apply any load that gives any leverage spring back or that side stand's pivot days or tube twist are numbered. If the Cdo is in proper tune ya don't actually have to kick but just 'purposely' step/press down and should be running before foot hits bottom. In shooting school ya supposed to learn both hands and eyes in case of disabling injury, so same with me after THE Gravel taught me another hard one. I'd love to see a rally start contest with various limbs disabled by splints so can't bend or put any load on em. I still have not found a way to hold kick rubber on when wet but ain't tried many yet.

I wind a bit of 1/16' welding wire round the outer edge of my kickstart rubbers [ just inside the bulge ]. They are worn and loose but don't come off. Learnt the hard way a few years ago. It hurts too much. Don't care what other think, its my ankle that's more important.

kerinorton · Jun 29, 2014

hobot said:
Yep normal is just a step down on or arm shove so any thing else is merely common. Jim Comstock is a football tackle size guy with low-is non Combat compression on a well worn engine not a skinny dude like me with brand new Combat ring sealing. Dozen tales of hand starting a Cdo in proper tune. BFD.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmM5emTXK-g[/video]

where did your compression go Steve. I weigh about 80 kg and have to stand on mine [ especially after putting new pistons in ]. Prior to that it turned over too easily but would not start so well because of lack of compression. Good demo Steve but how is you hand. I noticed a bit of a shake just after you started it.
Dereck

kerinorton · Jun 29, 2014

hobot said:
Like the enricher cicuit on Miki carbs the Amals have similar in the pilot circuit so best to leave throttle closed on first step though then crack on second then stop and figure out what's wrong after that before 3rd step on. The Amal pilot mix chamber fills up before fuel drips out btw. Its an art to tickle just short of drooling.

I don't mind drooling Steve. At least in know the fuel is ready for me. Generally kicks over first time, but needs a good kick and follow through as mentioned above..

kerinorton · Jun 29, 2014

john robert bould said:
Steve , not surprized you hand start ! Look at the damage to your pants the kickers done! :lol:

Play it AGAIN JOHN.

hobot said:

Yep normal is just a step down on or arm shove so any thing else is merely common. Jim Comstock is a football tackle size guy with low-is non Combat compression on a well worn engine not a skinny dude like me with brand new Combat ring sealing. Dozen tales of hand starting a Cdo in proper tune. BFD.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmM5emTXK-g[/video]

Click to expand...

Unclviny · Jun 29, 2014

I was taught NO STANDS, START IT ON IT'S WHEELS!! from day 1, lean it left a bit before you kick it and it won't fall. I'm an old, fat guy with bad knees and I can get mine started!!

Vince

toppy · Jun 29, 2014

Ashley I have spent much more than the cost of the Ekit on performance parts. I can kick it up but don't have to as I live on steep hill an can bump it in 3rd gear by letting it role about 10 feet (2nd is to low it locks rear wheel it very steep hill).
If you and many other can kick your bikes then I for one am happy for you. But if you think ES is waste of money that could go on performance then do what friend of mine did spend 2k on an old second hand Honda Fireblade. It has performance and reliability no Commando can hope to achieve.

I say all this with a smile on my face an if you can't or dont want to kickstart your bike I don't think less of you but I don't think more of those who can either

Hobot · Jun 29, 2014

Good point about roll start in 2nd or 3rd as I've used up a loose slope discovering rear just skidded to the bottom on dead battery. W/o battery or a bad one i've grabbed on side of a number of PU trucks by them pulling off slow enough I could hold on to about 25 mph to vaRRoom on out of there with a wave.

ashman · Jun 30, 2014

I didn't mean to call you girls, it the way I talk with a bit of fun, but they are easy to start, I sit on my Norton and still get a good kick and it starts I have injuries as well with my knees but once you know the nack to kicking a Norton, I had my kick start peddle stolen in 1979 and at the time was hard to find another one, so for about 3 months I was clutch starting it, I found it easier to put it in 4th gear and as soon as it fired up grab the clutch lever, even on flat ground it didn't take much to bump start it and most of the time it was just me pushing and bump on the seat, but it was good to get another kick start lever.

When i first convered my 850 to the Featherbed frame I ran it for 33 years without a side or centre stand, so it was easy for me to start my bike without a stand.

Ashley

auldblue · Jun 30, 2014

We're not girl's, we're ladies , yes ladies.
Semi finalists of the 1973 commando hand starting competition .

Ashley did you not win in 73?

ashman · Jun 30, 2014

Thats me behind the drink bottle on the table :roll:

Ashley

Matt Spencer · Jun 30, 2014

Proceedure for Starting the Commando . From Cold .

NO centerstand ( excees weight :wink: ) DONT use Sidestand .

Fuel on , Ignition OFF ( 2MC only - no battery ) - Choke Mk IIs , or Damp Carbs ( Mk 1s )

Pull in Clutch , Kick :shock: through Twice ( to Free Plates )
Release kickstart to 10 O'clock - ( from Right )
Push Through , Repeat . To prime 2 cylinders - in Snow FOUR .

Release and ENGAGE Kick Start at TOP of Stoke .
Turn ON Ign. ( 2MC primed

)

Leap UP , so as LEG is fully Straight as kickstart startsa motion / Before Half Horizontal .

With Throttle cracked just open , it will catch Two Cylinders and FIRe - before your shin hits the Fottrest .

:?
AS it Fires the Throttle is Cracked to 1/4 ish , almost . And wiggled for the first second or two .

===============================================================================================

Proceedure For Magneto Bonneville , baffled Meghaphones .

Come into Town and park along from the Honda Shop . In front of the plate glass widows , :?

5 minute later with Heat Soak , leap on kickstart throttle slightly cracked . Chuff Chuuff .
Start to swing of for rekick , pushing throttle UP . KA ROARRRR .

:shock: :x
as a Triumph will Hit Three Cylinders with the Full Travel of the Foot Crank . :? :wink:

So BEWARE of Plate Glass Windows .

olChris · Jun 30, 2014

auldblue said:
We're not girl's, we're ladies , yes ladies.
Semi finalists of the 1973 commando hand starting competition .

Ashley did you not win in 73?

Wow that is scarey... more so it was the 70's aswell.. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Hobot · Jun 30, 2014

My P!! had no stands so always needed a tree or post or wall or big bush to leave upright. Pain in the butt actually.

ashman · Jun 30, 2014

33 years without a stand didn't worry me as there are always fences, walls, post and even buildings to lean the bike on, at lease I did not have a stand that scraped when hooking around a few tight corners and it made you learn to start your Norton without reling on your stand to start it.

Ashley

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