Kick Start:

[Komito]

So is there a way to turn an R12GS into a kick start???

[Anorak]

Of course.

[JimVonBaden]

With enough money anything is possible, but realistically, NO!

Jim

[S2W]

I know I'm going to regret this but...




Why!



(someone had to ask!)

[configurationspace]

Originally Posted by S2W

I know I'm going to regret this but...




Why!



(someone had to ask!)

My old KZ1000 had horrid electric problems mostly due to the fact that a lot of the insulation on the wiring had frayed and melted away -- the bike would give off sparks sometimes...

But it kept on running because it had a kickstart. So even when the battery was totally dead, even with the engine cold, enough pounding on the kickstart could get it going. Most of the time kickstarting it was more pleasant than hitting the starter button.

But the KZ1000 has 4 small cylinders, and the GS has 2 big cylinders. Apparently that makes a big difference in the amount of energy you have to expend -- and in the amount of damage that can be done to your shin in case it backfires.

[bikerider1]

It would probably be easier to do a rope start. Airheads had a kick start, but I'd rather walk than try.

[v8toilet]

Originally Posted by configurationspace

My old KZ1000 had horrid electric problems mostly due to the fact that a lot of the insulation on the wiring had frayed and melted away -- the bike would give off sparks sometimes...

But it kept on running because it had a kickstart. So even when the battery was totally dead, even with the engine cold, enough pounding on the kickstart could get it going. Most of the time kickstarting it was more pleasant than hitting the starter button.

But the KZ1000 has 4 small cylinders, and the GS has 2 big cylinders. Apparently that makes a big difference in the amount of energy you have to expend -- and in the amount of damage that can be done to your shin in case it backfires.

Long live the KZ!! Back before Jap bikes all tried to look like harleys.

[Twilight Error]

Originally Posted by Komito

So is there a way to turn an R12GS into a kick start???

It would be easier and cheaper to turn a kickstart bike into a 12GS.

One of the reasons kickstart works is because of the very simple construction. The motor spins, fuel is pulled from the carburetors, the stator generates a current, plugs fire and off you go.

The 12GS is far more complicated with its electronic systems, even bumpstarting it is a huge pain because of the high electrical power requirements.

[The Jerk]

With a modern FI bike like this one, if your battery is dead you can kickstart/bumpstart all you want but it's not going to fire. The FI system needs a minimum voltage to work. If your battery is just a little dead (i.e. good enough to power the lights but not good enough to run the starter), then bump-starting should work but if it's really and truly dead, you're still screwed even if you have a kicker or a big hill to go down.

[blazer]

I'm 220 lbs. and I still don't think I could successfully move 1200 cc's with all that compression and get it to run with a kick start.

Would be fon to watch someone try though. Especially with this seat height.

B-

[Xeraux]

If the battery's completely dead, there's not enough power to run the spark plugs, fuel pump, etc. even if you could kick start it. A kick start on a 12 GS would border on useless.

[GB]

My buddy's R100RS has one and one time when he couldn't get the bike started due to a weak battery, he coudln't get it kickstarted either.. and we tried... we ended up bump starting it.. even on the KLR, the kick start was deleted, the earlier ones that had it were also hard to kickstart.

[bikerider1]

The kick starters on the airheads are not like the kick starters on any other bike. They kick down and out to the side. You put the bike on the center stand in neutral and stand to the side of the bike, raise your foot, place on the pedal, place your hand on the twist grip and give a mighty stomp down. After about 20 of these stomps with no results, you place a "For Sale" sign on it and wait.

[slackmeyer]

Originally Posted by bikerider1

The kick starters on the airheads are not like the kick starters on any other bike. They kick down and out to the side. You put the bike on the center stand in neutral and stand to the side of the bike, raise your foot, place on the pedal, place your hand on the twist grip and give a mighty stomp down. After about 20 of these stomps with no results, you place a "For Sale" sign on it and wait.

I used to have to kick start my R75/5 once or twice a year, before I replaced the battery with one that would hold a charge. Not really so bad if the bike runs well. But I felt bad for my friend with the Norton commando 850, kick start only (I may be wrong about the engine size, maybe it was a 750). He worked on the bike constantly, tuning and retuning, and it still took a good 20 minutes of sweating, cursing, and kicking to get the bike to roar to life.

But hey, beats walking, right?

[Twilight Error]

Originally Posted by slackmeyer

...
But hey, beats walking, right?

Maybe.

Is the place he was trying to ride to less than 20 minutes away by foot?