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Push Start.
Reading a lot lately about jump starting bikes. Is it safe to jump off a car or truck? Most people say no. I've never really worried about it. 95% of the time I just push start it. I've owned multiple bikes, some of which have been old and/or in rough shape. Push starting is something that has saved me from being stranded many times. Its easy, especially with a smaller/lighter bike. Unfortunately for me, I've never owned a small or light bike so I learned on a KZ1000. Believe me, if you can push start one of those you can probably push start any bike out there. Heres my technique:
1. Very Important! Turn key to ON! If the key is not on this will NOT work.
2. If need be (like on older bikes) make sure fuel is on. Most probably don't need to worry about this, its automatic.
3. Get that bike rolling as fast as you can. A hill helps but is unlikely to be there when you need it. You're going to have to do some running. Stand on the left side. Grab the bars. Bike in Neutral. Start pushing. The faster the better, however you don't have to be going that fast really. If you have a partner just sit on the bike and let him/her do the pushing.
4. Hop on! Sounds easy right? Left foot on peg, swing right leg over. Be careful! Falling and/or dropping your bike is a real bummer. Don't be scared, its not hard.
5. OK, you're in good shape now. Ignition is on, fuel is on, you're sitting in the saddle, bike is rolling (hopefully not too slow), trans is in neutral. Now twist the throttle. Not too much! How much is too much? Well, 1/2 way is probably too much. Maybe 1/4 maybe 1/3. Not really sure as I don't remember paying that much attention.
6. Here we go! With throttle partly open, click the tranny into first gear. Don't worry about the clutch, you don't need it.
7. Be ready! At this point something is going to happen! Hopefully the bike is going to start, be ready for this. Make sure you have some room in front of you like some open road or a parking lot or something. Remember, its in gear and the throttle is turned, it might just try to take off. I watched my friend jump a GS650 over a grassy embankment this way. "Hey Blake, should you be push starting that bike while pointing at a grass hill?" 650's jump pretty well actually. I'm sure other bikes do too but lets not find out just yet. Like I said, hopefully it starts. At this point maybe just ride away. It might be sputtering or cold or something though, so you can just pull the clutch at this point and give it some high revs and keep it running. You're running, life is good ....
.... or maybe not. Be ready for some other options. You might skid the rear tire. Or, when you click into 1st it might turn the motor over a few times but not start. Either one of these is going to bring you to a stop fairly quick. Try a couple times. If the bike is in fair shape this should work on the first or second try. However, if you're on like your 10th try and it still wont start, you probably have other problems. Time to call someone with a pickup truck to come get you. Good luck. Try not to fall. Getting hurt or hurting the bike ruins the fun.
Any fellow push starters in the house?
Tom
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Quote from a Kaw mechanic (my dad)
"Great idea, buy your kid a ninja for his last birthday."
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to Slim It's a little easier if you try to go from second gear or even third on some bikes,it turns the engine over just as well, and when (if) it starts it will not take off as hard. and if it doesn't it more or less just bogs down instead of jerkin you around so bad.
