push starting dirt bike?

[memphisjim]

ok as ive said before i have no dirt bike experience

ive read things on here about how difficult it can be to kickstart a bike in certain situations

my last bike (before it was stolen) was a honda interceptor it was a 550 pound crotch rocket at one point my battery wasnt holding enough charge to crank the bike , but once it was started it ran fine

out of laziness i left it this way near 2 months and would simply put it in second

gear do my best fred flintstone and pop the clutch worked every time

is there any reason this wouldnt work for a dirtbike?

(for the sake of argument we will say you are attempting this on a level concrete surface)

[tt3506spd]

it should work i guess

[honda88]

On level ground you would never get going fast enough to bump start. It would have to be on a hill. Street bike gearing and dirt bike gearing are much different.

[skindiver]

I do this from time to time on my WR450. But you have to be going a bit faster than you can push it. On dirt the back wheel is just going to slide instead of turn the engine so you jump up on the pegs and drop your weight back on the seat as you drop the clutch. 2nd gear.

[downonmonday]

You can for sure bump start a dirt bike. The verdict is already in...you better be on a hill!!! *or somone with strenght to push you*

[maximoose]

You need to be in 3rd or maybe higher for it to work easily. I had a crf230 and my battery died and there is no back up kicker, so had to bump it...

[SDet]

I've started my 125 by running along side and jumping on. I've also done it with an 80. I would say that for anything begger then a 125 it is better to have a hill.

[rayivers]

I bump-start both my 175's every time I ride them, to save wear and tear on the kickstarter return springs (high-failure items). The only time I use the kickstarter is if I stall in the woods.

I sprint alongside the bike for maybe 30 feet, hop on, stand up, then drop down hard on the seat while shifting up into 2nd gear (not 1st). Sometimes the rear wheel will lock up briefly, but it has always worked for maybe the last 100 times or so. I used to use 1st gear, which mainly just put black rubber marks all over my driveway. ?

Ray

[memphisjim]

wow i thought dirt bikes were geared lower so you would need even less speed

or a higher gear

on the interceptor it was easiest in 2nd or even 3rd

i was thinking maybe youd need 4th on dirtbike

ill put it bike specific im thinking of getting a xr650r

the interceptor in 6th gear did 105mph at 7000rpm

so im thinking there are final drive ratios that match up some where

the interceptor only needed the speed of a fast walk at best

why would you need such high speed for the dirt bike?

or does this change now that i made it bike specific? xr650r

[memphisjim]

easier on a big bore?

[CBus660R]

wow i thought dirt bikes were geared lower so you would need even less speed

or a higher gear

on the interceptor it was easiest in 2nd or even 3rd

i was thinking maybe youd need 4th on dirtbike

ill put it bike specific im thinking of getting a xr650r

the interceptor in 6th gear did 105mph at 7000rpm

so im thinking there are final drive ratios that match up some where

the interceptor only needed the speed of a fast walk at best

why would you need such high speed for the dirt bike?

or does this change now that i made it bike specific? xr650r

The interceptor is a multi cylinder bike, that helps out. With a single, you need 720* of rotation for each firing of the spark plug, with a 4 cylinder with an even firing order, you only need 180* rotation to get 1 of the 4 cylinders to hit the ignition phase.

[SDet]

I would say that the 650 will be next to impossible to push start. 200's seem to be the upper limit with just pushing. With a hill on pavement you could start the 650 but otherwise just use the kickstarter.

[markgoodall]

When you buy older bikes like we do, bump starting is a normal activity until we get them tuned ?

Our little Honda Z50's can be bump started on level ground, but a gentle slope helps on the bigger bikes.

[memphisjim]

ok i see the theory behind 1 cylinder vs a 4 cylinder

ive never had a bike that wasnt electric start

im a pretty strong athletic guy is kick starting a bike easier than people make it out to be?

[CBus660R]

ok i see the theory behind 1 cylinder vs a 4 cylinder

ive never had a bike that wasnt electric start

im a pretty strong athletic guy is kick starting a bike easier than people make it out to be?

If the bike is in working order (good compression, valves adjusted right, properly jetted) it isn't that big of an issue. The big thumpers like the XR can be a bit of a pain when they're hot/over heated like if you stalled out in a mud hole in tight single track. Under normal conditions, it shouldn't be an issue. The key will be to get into the XR section and read up on what works for guys who already own them.

[podfish]

bumping to restart a stalled bike on a downhill is easy and natural. But dirtbikes tend to end up in mudholes, ditches, or other awkward places where it's hard enough to kick, much less push.

Check this video at around 2:50 and imagine a push-start.

[downonmonday]

bumping to restart a stalled bike on a downhill is easy and natural. But dirtbikes tend to end up in mudholes, ditches, or other awkward places where it's hard enough to kick, much less push.

Check this video at around 2:50 and imagine a push-start.

Effin, no way!!!! I like hard trails, but that is insane. ?

[long arm]

bumping to restart a stalled bike on a downhill is easy and natural. But dirtbikes tend to end up in mudholes, ditches, or other awkward places where it's hard enough to kick, much less push.

Check this video at around 2:50 and imagine a push-start.

Damnit!! when is that video going to die??

I used to kick over my 605 all the time, it takes a little knowlege but really isn't all that hard. Make sure you get it to top dead center and when you kick it for real just give her hell and make sure you are committed. Each bike seems to have different preferences as to whether or not they like throttle or there's a specific sequence to follow, or if there's a special dance to do whatever.

[keithh2oskier]

My buddies cr125 will bump start by looking at it. No joke I have seem him start it going crawling pace uphill... It's truly amazing. My kdx is a little finicky but it's so easy to kick over that I just go that route.

[picapacapopo]

bumping to restart a stalled bike on a downhill is easy and natural. But dirtbikes tend to end up in mudholes, ditches, or other awkward places where it's hard enough to kick, much less push.

Check this video at around 2:50 and imagine a push-start.

Holy crap, I wouldn't even walk there.