kick starting? Don't laugh at the noob.

Ok, seriously please don't laugh at me but I just got a '79 KZ750 and I have no idea how to use the kick starter.

I did a little googling and found a video on how to start a Royal Enfield and it looked kind of complicated. You sort of built up pressure with the kicker and somehow charged up the amps or something.



Anyway, before I try this and risk breaking the bike or falling on my ass, I thought I'd ask for a little help.

Is the process any different than electric start?

Turn on the gas, set the choke, put it in neutral, hold the clutch, then just give it a good hard kick?

Can I leave it on the side stand or should I be holding the bike up?

Thanks.

watch that the gas is on for a second,blip the throttle twice...turn it on full choke for the first kick...key on...in neutral...on the side stand...kick it over hard and follow through....to the bottom of the stroke...watch out for kick back.....if it starts then dies quick or tries to cough...try setting the choke at 3/4 full...1/2 full...1/4 ...ect.....try two kicks no choke....then if it still does not want to stay going ...go back to blip or two of the throttle and give it full choke then repeat the cycle....

no clutch in neutral...kick it with no levers depressed hands just free on grips...

depending on how tall you are you might want to stand off to right side of bike and kick with wour left leg,thats how i kickstart mine anyway

trianglelaguna wrote:

no clutch in neutral...kick it with no levers depressed hands just free on grips...

This bike has a kill switch on the clutch and I have to hold it in when using the electric start. So that kill switch is bypassed when kicking?

Put the bike in neutral. No clutch. You will hear it go and when it starts to fire, just a little gas to get it moving.

With the clutch in, you will just be kicking air and getting no compression.

750 - 4 shouldn't be too rough to kick over. You don't need to prime it really and it's not going to throw you like an old Harley.

Lol, been there man. On my old yamaha 2 stroke 250 dirtbike, it was too tall and i was too short at 14 and had to lean it against a tree to even begin to kick it. 20 kicks later......

Keep it on the side stand, Neutral, key on, kill switch set to run/start, choke, get the kicker lever all the way up, put your foot on it and push lightly untill you have some resistance then kick it! repeat if neccisary, adjusting choke as was said.

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Thanks for all the tips. I'm not having any luck, but I'll keep trying. I'm on the small side, 5'-8" and about 155lbs. At least I know I'm on the right track.

The bike has a little trouble with the electric start and I suspect the infamous starter clutch is to blame.

Would a bad starter clutch also interfere with my ability to kick start?

WHHAAAAATTTTT????? No clutch?!?!?!?

So THAT'S what I'm doing wrong...

When I want to look like a badass, I'll "kick" it over, with my thumb on the starter button; mid-kick I'll press the starter to ensure that it starts up first "kick."

Shoot, I have to go practice kick starting it for real now...

My first KZ was a '79 twin. The starter clutch never worked, kickstarting was the only way. Speaking from experience, watch for kickback!
Here a couple of examples from YouTube...

Wow, they make it look easy!