This is how to install a kick starter on a DRZ400S

Mr. Cob · 06-24-2004, 07:44 PM

Howdy All,

I recently installed the kick start kit on my DRZ400S, if your interested in how it's done, click on this link for complete photos and commentary. WARNING, the instructions that come with the kit DO NOT do a very good job of showing or explaining some of the finer points of this modification.

http://mr-cob.smugmug.com/gallery/136763

This is one of the best things I have done to my bike.

viverrid · 06-24-2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Cob

This is one of the best things I have done to my bike.

Interesting sentiment. I have it on my list of things I'd like for my DRZ-S, but feel little urgency. Yet there is another fellow out here who feels it is an almost useless mod. Adds weight for something that he claims isn't effective for hot starts anyway, and which you will just about never have to use anyway. Use a battery tender, and when that fails, bump start. That is what the other guy said, more or less.

I can see both sides of it, maybe that's why I have not taken any action yet.

I have heard from people that there is a spacer that gets re-installed, and it is not clear from the instructions that you are supposed to reinstall it, and if you don't then a piece of your case gets busted off internally when you start the bike. But I don't know this from personal experience, just hearsay.

How often are you actually using this to start, and why?

-Vincent

Mr. Cob · 06-24-2004, 08:15 PM

Howdy Viverrid,

I always use my battery tender plus, still when using my bike in some very rough terrain, after dropping it too many times, and in a situation where it is impossible to bump start because any direction from where I am at is, "UP" the hill, the kicker will get me back to the truck.

I have ridden the bike without the kicker for two years and have been damned lucky to have made it out of some of the places I ride. Hopefully, I will never have to use it, but I feel a lot better knowing it's there if it's needed.

If I was worried about a few pounds of extra weight on the bike I wouldn't have added the oversize gas tank, skid plate, hand guards, etc. I am not a Moto-Cross star, I just ride the thing for fun not to go as fast as I can, if I survive the day it's a good ride for me even if I am the last rider in the pack.

06-24-2004, 09:30 PM

Howdy Cob,

I had the "Kick only" DRZ400 and never felt the need for electric start as it started well with the kick cold or hot, plus the 20lb weight savings was a bonus.

BTW how are you doing haven't seen you sence the eastern Wa ADV meet.\

Cheers,

Ostrich · 06-25-2004, 07:00 AM

Hey Mr Cob,

That is a really nice gallery you set up there. How you been man?

jdiaz · 06-25-2004, 07:13 AM

FWIW, my '00 DRZ400E was a leftover and the battery died on the second ride I took. Bump-starting that bike is a bitch. I had the kicker installed when I returned the bike for a warranty claim on the battery.

As Tracker mentioned, the bike is a one-kick starter hot or cold. I usually use the kicker in cold weather to lessen the load on the battery, or anytime I want to make fun of my Yamaha buddies. And it sure is nice to have the button as well.

Jon

HighwayChile · 06-27-2004, 11:04 PM

back up = good
many times a bump start is impossible.

bpeterson · 06-28-2004, 12:15 PM

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen such a wonderful set of instructions like those before! I wish every part/accessory /upgrade was illustrated like that!

Thanks for the details Mr. C - it's on my list of things to add to the S.

Dualsport · 03-24-2006, 06:33 AM

Suzuki says the kick start kit does not fit an S. I'm glad to hear it does work.

I have a Re-Kluse clutch and can not bump start. A kicker for back-up would be great.

Thanks

SIKLR250 · 03-24-2006, 06:37 AM

Good for you! Real motorcycles have kick starters.

yater · 03-24-2006, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKLR250

Good for you! Real motorcycles have kick starters.

....from the guy on the klr250. I've never HAD to bump start my dr650 (or any of my electric start bikes over the past 10 years....but I've done it "for fun" plenty of times. I've never had a problem bump starting any bike

6Speed4 · 03-24-2006, 09:27 AM

does anyone know of a kicker kit for a DR650? cause those KTMs look dead sexy(and reliable) with em.

SIKLR250 · 03-24-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yater

....from the guy on the klr250. I've never HAD to bump start my dr650 (or any of my electric start bikes over the past 10 years....but I've done it "for fun" plenty of times. I've never had a problem bump starting any bike

It's not a matter of having a back up system for starting a bike. A motorcycle with an electric starter just seems so lame (unless one has a disability that makes it difficult to use a kick starter). What gets me are those Yamaha commercials that make it seem oh so difficult to kick start a motorcycle. Quite pathetic...

SIKLR250 · 03-24-2006, 12:09 PM

Just my opinion of course and we all know that opinions are like assholes - everyone has one.

Cannonshot · 03-24-2006, 04:18 PM

I know I wish I had a kick starter on my DRZ last year when I killed a marginal battery on a single track in a valley between two hills. Tow rope (elastic ATV version) worked well for bumping on muddy roads where it sometimes took a while to get adequate traction. The electrical is not too powerful on this thing so now I do some careful battery management like some of the rest of you.

06-24-2004, 07:44 PM	#1
Mr. Cob ^OP Howling "Mad", Adventurer Joined: Aug 2001 Location: Granite Falls, Washington State, USA Oddometer: 8,801	This is how to install a kick starter on a DRZ400S Howdy All, I recently installed the kick start kit on my DRZ400S, if your interested in how it's done, click on this link for complete photos and commentary. WARNING, the instructions that come with the kit DO NOT do a very good job of showing or explaining some of the finer points of this modification. http://mr-cob.smugmug.com/gallery/136763 This is one of the best things I have done to my bike. __________________ Dave, aka "Mr. Cob" Want a STEEL SKID PLATE for your Ural, contact me for details. My photos, http://mr-cob.smugmug.com/ Help a CHEAP bastard keep his Smugmug, use this coupon ( geyYbNZwLLrl6 ) thank you.

06-24-2004, 08:15 PM	#3
Mr. Cob ^OP Howling "Mad", Adventurer Joined: Aug 2001 Location: Granite Falls, Washington State, USA Oddometer: 8,801	It's called, "Insurance" Howdy Viverrid, I always use my battery tender plus, still when using my bike in some very rough terrain, after dropping it too many times, and in a situation where it is impossible to bump start because any direction from where I am at is, "UP" the hill, the kicker will get me back to the truck. I have ridden the bike without the kicker for two years and have been damned lucky to have made it out of some of the places I ride. Hopefully, I will never have to use it, but I feel a lot better knowing it's there if it's needed. If I was worried about a few pounds of extra weight on the bike I wouldn't have added the oversize gas tank, skid plate, hand guards, etc. I am not a Moto-Cross star, I just ride the thing for fun not to go as fast as I can, if I survive the day it's a good ride for me even if I am the last rider in the pack. __________________ Dave, aka "Mr. Cob" Want a STEEL SKID PLATE for your Ural, contact me for details. My photos, http://mr-cob.smugmug.com/ Help a CHEAP bastard keep his Smugmug, use this coupon ( geyYbNZwLLrl6 ) thank you.

06-25-2004, 07:00 AM	#5
Ostrich Jaded and Happy Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Fresneck or Bust Baby! Oddometer: 8,731	Hey Mr Cob, That is a really nice gallery you set up there. How you been man? __________________ If you use Geico watch out. The buyout for my car was way below any objective figure (KBB, NADA, etc.). Also, I could not get in touch with anyone on the first try during a claim resolution. Just because it's a zoo out there doesn't mean you have to view it from a cage! Don't be an impulse buyer... afterall you have time..

06-27-2004, 11:04 PM	#7
HighwayChile greetings from Wa state Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Bow, WA USA Oddometer: 4,104	back up = good many times a bump start is impossible. __________________ “I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.” .....Steve McQueen

06-28-2004, 12:15 PM	#8
bpeterson pssst! over here. Joined: May 2003 Location: NJ - Garden State Oddometer: 914	Wow, I don't think I've ever seen such a wonderful set of instructions like those before! I wish every part/accessory /upgrade was illustrated like that! Thanks for the details Mr. C - it's on my list of things to add to the S. __________________ Brian '06 TE 610 '04 GS Adv '02 DR-Z 400S

06-24-2004, 09:30 PM	#4
Tracker Guest Oddometer: n/a	Howdy Cob, I had the "Kick only" DRZ400 and never felt the need for electric start as it started well with the kick cold or hot, plus the 20lb weight savings was a bonus. BTW how are you doing haven't seen you sence the eastern Wa ADV meet.\ Cheers,

06-25-2004, 07:13 AM	#6
jdiaz . Joined: Feb 2002 Location: Elburn, IL Oddometer: 31,201	FWIW, my '00 DRZ400E was a leftover and the battery died on the second ride I took. Bump-starting that bike is a bitch. I had the kicker installed when I returned the bike for a warranty claim on the battery. As Tracker mentioned, the bike is a one-kick starter hot or cold. I usually use the kicker in cold weather to lessen the load on the battery, or anytime I want to make fun of my Yamaha buddies. And it sure is nice to have the button as well. Jon

03-24-2006, 06:33 AM	#9
Dualsport Maker of Sweet Cheek Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Cincinnati the best riding in the area, aint here Oddometer: 537	Suzuki says the kick start kit does not fit an S. I'm glad to hear it does work. I have a Re-Kluse clutch and can not bump start. A kicker for back-up would be great. Thanks __________________ Ray Pope Dual Sport'n in Cincinnati www.cycle-analyst.com Dualsport screwed with this post 03-24-2006 at 06:41 AM

03-24-2006, 06:37 AM	#10
SIKLR250 NYC Joined: Dec 2005 Oddometer: 507	Good for you! Real motorcycles have kick starters. __________________

03-24-2006, 09:27 AM	#12
6Speed4 Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Georgia Oddometer: 78	650 kicker? does anyone know of a kicker kit for a DR650? cause those KTMs look dead sexy(and reliable) with em.

03-24-2006, 12:09 PM	#14
SIKLR250 NYC Joined: Dec 2005 Oddometer: 507	Just my opinion of course and we all know that opinions are like assholes - everyone has one. __________________

03-24-2006, 04:18 PM	#15
Cannonshot Having a Nice Time Joined: Jul 2005 Location: SE Wisconsin Oddometer: 14,301	Tow Start I know I wish I had a kick starter on my DRZ last year when I killed a marginal battery on a single track in a valley between two hills. Tow rope (elastic ATV version) worked well for bumping on muddy roads where it sometimes took a while to get adequate traction. The electrical is not too powerful on this thing so now I do some careful battery management like some of the rest of you.

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