I had a 1986 KTM 500 single cylinder with 18 to 1 comp. ratio. All my other bikes had right side kick start, but the KTM had left side. I hit that thing one day and it backfired and tore right through a Sidi riding boot. The leather on it must have been 1/4 inch thick at the ankle. After my hamburgered up ankle healed that was the last time I half-assed the kick on that beast. Best, CB

 

An old Yamaha 4 stroke (TT500) taught me the hard way how to kick start with the left foot while standing beside the machine. After some practice, I could roll the foot off the kicker right at the end of the stroke before she could have a chance to fight back.

She kicked back so hard once that the peg came right through the bottom of my riding boot and landed me five feet from where I started.

I hated that bike.

 

When I did construction we had an old diesel engined compactor that you had to start with a crank. You had to wind it up real fast like an antique car and keep cranking or it wouldn't start and you'd have to start all over again, but be careful cuz once it caught the compression would go up and it would swing back at you. I remember a couple of guys got hit on the fingers or hurt themselves trying to start that damn thing. We finally solved the problem by "losing" the handle.

 

And here all this time, I thought you were a Blood.

 

Carl, you can stay. But, dem legs has gots to go bro.....

 

Hey...those are some manly legs

 

Lenny, I feel your pain, man. I haven't had too much experience with kick-starting bikes, but my first motorcycle was a '77 Honda CB750F Super Sport. I once blew the head gasket while wearing shorts, going about 100 MPH. It felt like I had a swarm of wasps land on my shin. The funny part is that I rode it that way for quite a while, just wore jeans and ended up with oil splatter stains on them.

Jason

 

As in "Man, those are some skinny legs!"

 

My Dad had an Indian..'57 suicide shift he'd rebuilt.
Called me to come and get the bike outside the gin joint his GE union was having it's local meeting in Schenectady.
Sure Dad...(he takes a taxi home). I knew it was parked next to a tree but NEVER thought to look up or put a helmet on to kick the Bi&%h.

A low hanging branch, no helmet, and an Indian(damn that compression) is a concussion and embarrassment.

I've been shot, stabbed, run over, married(love you Hun rip), but the pain for the month of healing from being launched into that branch...I wouldn't wish on a commie.

 

When I was a kid my neighbors had an adult friend that would visit from time to time on a Norton (500, I think).
We would love to stand around and admire the bike and watch him start it up and roar away when he left.
He seemed to be a pretty big guy to us kids, but that sucker launched him right over the handlebars one time while we kids all watched.
He got up, picked up the bike, expanded our vocabulary a bit, and kicked it alive and roared off.
When I see those old boyhood friends from time to time, that is always one of our favorite recollections.

 

The Indian MOTOCYCLE was originally manufactured about 35 miles south of me in Springfield. The plant is now apartments. The museum is worth checking out if you're ever in the area.

 

When i had a 75 harley shovelhead 4spd it would kick righ off first or 2nd kick but if a chick as around it would throw you on the ground it was possesed. And im 5'7'' 160lbs more then once it made me limp for a day after because it wasnt cool to use the electric start