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Post by solosolo on Jun 3, 2008 19:36:29 GMT -5
Hi All,
Just wondering if it is bad for the bike to be hill started as a matter of course. Very lazy I know and not proud of it but... I live up a steep drive and despite the fact I can normally get the bike to start in 2 or 3 kicks it is so tempting just to roll down the hill and gently start the engine.
Is this bad for the bike? Should I man up and embrace the satisfaction associated with the kick?
New to bikes generally and have just bought an SR 400. Absolutely loving it. Have spent the last 3 days replacing indicators, seat, drop bars and repainting fuel tank and side covers. Starting to look very pretty indeed.
Cheers
Solo
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Post by solo2racr on Jun 3, 2008 20:06:49 GMT -5
Nothing wrong at all with bump starting. Get a good roll, pull in the clutch, dump it into 2nd gear, let out the clutch. Pretty much the same thing that's been done with race bikes forever. Make sure you have a GOOD roll, speed wise. It takes a bit to turn over a big single.
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Post by colinjay on Jun 3, 2008 21:30:26 GMT -5
Ditto, I don't think there are any problems with roll and bump starting the SR500 (or XT and TT500's). I have been doing it for as long as I have been riding them (i.e. since 1976). For several year my cafe racer never had a kickstarter fitted and it was the only way to start the engine.
I use the decompressor / valve lifter when bump starting (i.e. drop the clutch while holding in the decomp lever until the engine is turning freely, then drop the decomp and the bike normally sarts within 2 revolutions). I have been told many times by many people that this will bend valves, break rocker arms etc, etc. However I have not had anything break in 30 odd years of doing it so I don't think I will stop doing it any time soon.
CJ
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Post by malakiblunt on Jun 4, 2008 4:49:02 GMT -5
Yes as the other guys have said bump starting is how a race bikes are started, theses days they have powered rollers , but its exactly the same as pushing it or as you do rolling down the hill,
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Post by solosolo on Jun 4, 2008 5:53:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips... The guys at Deus said it was not good for the bike but had no reasonable explanation so I'm gonna go with the gravity fed starting option... I like it.
Ps just posted pics of the new bike in the projects section.
Cheers
Solo
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Post by marlon on Jun 4, 2008 17:35:57 GMT -5
I'll go with the others. I don't have as much experience with it all, but everybody who knows their stuff has always told me it's fine. Just make sure you've got a dry surface and good tyres. It can get embarassing if you stuff it up!
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Post by wotavidone on Jun 4, 2008 17:50:21 GMT -5
Only thing I find wrong with it is that it seems to leave a little black mark on the road when it comes up against compression, whcih suggests its not doing anything good for the tyre.
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Post by joneill4 on Jun 4, 2008 18:16:00 GMT -5
When I used to work in a bodyshop, I saw a sticker under the hood of a VW (I think) that said bump starting was bad and would void the warranty. I have often wondered about this, because the engine has no way of knowing what is making it turn. I went without a starter in my car for months once, but I find it easier to kick my SR than to bump it.
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Post by malakiblunt on Jun 5, 2008 3:29:03 GMT -5
the only thing i can think that it could be would be trying to bump in to low a gear thus shocking the gearbox? when the engine wont turn, but the reality is the tire just breaks traction so know big drama.
but thats only a geuss.
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Post by solosolo on Jun 5, 2008 5:55:54 GMT -5
Thanks all sounds like it won't do the bike major if any damage. I can't see a 15 km/hr hill start damaging it or puting more stress on the gearbox or anywhere else for that matter than the enormous stresses placed on the system under normal riding conditions... ie 5000 plus rpm at 120km/hr etc.
Anyway I guess time will tell???
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Post by chew652 on Jun 5, 2008 7:21:53 GMT -5
Only thing I find wrong with it is that it seems to leave a little black mark on the road when it comes up against compression, whcih suggests its not doing anything good for the tyre. You should pull the bike back until you feel the motor stop on compression so that the motor will have alomost a full revolution to build flywheel momentum before it comes on the compression stroke again. It's the same principal has putting the kick inbdicator inthe window when you kick start it. Back in the day big bore2-strokes could be a bear to push start if you didn't back them up against compression and pick a higher gear. Of course if they are running right they should kickstart. The only thing thyat can bite you about living at the top of a hill is that every once in awhile you are going to have to push the b**ch back up it. |
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Post by solosolo on Jun 6, 2008 23:26:04 GMT -5
Deginitely don't think I could push the bike up the drive... Just too steep. I am getting better at the kick start. Been getting it first go so it is actually easier than bump starting even with the hill. Thanks for the compression tip. Seems to work really well.
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Post by stevec5000 on Jun 6, 2008 23:46:24 GMT -5
I don't believe anyone has been able to bump or push start one of these bikes by themselves. Maybe if you had a couple other guys to push you it could be done but would it be difficult.
Today I was in a hilly community and decided to try starting it rolling down hill. That's very hard to do, I had to get up to 10 MPH before it would start. I would never be able to bump start by pushing it since I can't possibly push it that fast and if I was off the bike pushing it there wouldn't be enough friction for the rear wheel to turn the engine over and it would just slide to a stop.
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Post by davedunsboro on Jun 7, 2008 3:51:35 GMT -5
You can do it but you need it in second gear ,facing downhill & you've got to be able to master the clutch & the decomp lever at the same time( its almost likened to doing a F on a guitar but upside down). I agree if you are on the flat bumping isn't an option unless another person is pushing you & you still need to play the tune or the rear wheel will just lock & skid & frustration usually gets the better of you before the bike will start cheers Dave.
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Post by solosolo on Jun 7, 2008 6:02:16 GMT -5
You can definitely start an sr 400 on your own on a flat surface... I know cause I did it at work yesterday because I left the ignition on all day and had a flat battery and couldn't kick start it.
I guess the 500 is harder.
Seems to have more puff than the 400???
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