Last kick-start bike?

[19753C(E)]

I wanted to take my Velocette out for a spin yesterday, but neglected to retard the ignition before trying to kick-start it, with predictable results.  As I was nursing my bashed ankle the thought occurred to me - I wonder when companies stopped making road bikes with kick starts.  My '79 900SS Ducati has a kick start and I think Ducati kept making them into the early 80's.  So who was the last hold-out...Ural perhaps?

 

[Gravelroad]

Yamaha SR? Might be still in production with 400cc displacement. My youngest one is a 1993 Husqvarna 610TE (50hp @ 125kg weight, street legal ). The engine was in production until 2006 or so.

 

[Dellortoman]

I think kick starters are still reasonably common on some off-road bikes.

 

[Cosi]

1999 Rs 250

 

[Laverda SF]

For the Last Kick Start BIG Bikes, I would guess Harley Davidson although they were a combination of Electric Start with a Kick Start backup

 

[AndyW]

I used to avoid electric start bikes in case the battery gave out. Now I try to avoid kick-start bikes in case my knee gives out.. : :

 

[nick7]

I chose my Honda cos it didnt have electric start..ok  ok  its a lawnmower

 

[Gerald]

Mash 400 and several other China knock-offs.
Still have a (phantom) sore knee from that XL 500 I tried to kick start 38 years ago :'(

 

[andre g]

My Beta Alp 200 has a Kickstarter and an electric as well  ,
until now never used the Kick.....

 

[Basketcase]

You could fit an after-market electronic magneto with auto advance.

My Yamaha SRX600 (660cc) has both the valve lifter in the kickstart mechanism.

Valve lifter only disengages when the lever is fully down and ratchet disengaged - cannot kick back unless you fail to let the lever fully up before starting the cycle.

 

[motoddrob]

My 89 GS1000 BM still has the kick start fitted. Have never kick started it in the 10 years I've owned it.
I do use it to turn the motor over when doing the valve adjustments though.
My old 250 desmo ducati could cause pain sometimes when starting , one of the reasons I brought a new SF2 instead of a GT ducati back in 74.

 

[Vince]

The 1992 TE 350 Husky 4 stroke was left side kick only, I was very nervous buying it after years of XT 500 Yamahas being absolute bastards to start, well my worn out ones were. The Husky was a delight even with the left side kick. Some imbusile had removed its auto decompress system built into the kick lever itself but with that reconnected you could start it with your hand on the kickstart. Evan so I sold it for an at the time modern  2005 Te 250 Husky with the magic button, it's important having the button when you stuff up a hard hill climb and need a restart, dragging the bike to a spot where you can actually do a left foot kickstart on a shitty hard hill takes energy you could be using to ride the bike when your my age. Kickstarts are for the birds.

 

[Dellortoman]

My Yamaha TY 350 has a kick start. Dunno what year it is, but even modern trials bikes have kick starters. They have no battery or starter motor to minimise weight.

 

[Vince]

With way better ignition systems and EFI and power outputs bordering on nuts compared to even 10 years ago for absolute weight savings kick fills a need. BUT even in top-line racing, stall an engine and take 2 minutes to restart and that weight saving amounts to not winning.

 

[peterc]

2018 Yamaha road 400 is kick-start only. Described as an "authentic kick starter".

https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport-heritage/models/sr400

Peter

 

[carlitox33]

My ?76 kz900 has a kickstarter lever (and a magic button as well). Used to use the lever to impress friends, and it was actually quite good!

My current Dr600 only has kickstarter, and anything not perfectly tuned carb means a long wait until you get it running!

 

[Haggis]

From the other end of the timescale....

Tried to kick start a Brough Superior on Saturday. Jeez, what an effort! 50 weight oil in freezing temperatures. It didn't go; just couldn't get enough piston speed to get sparks and fuel to go pop. Ended up sweating like a pig with a knackered right knee. I didn't care though. It's such a beautiful machine.

I like electric starters.

 

[19753C(E)]

You ever get tired of dealing with that Brough just give me a call...

 

[sfcpiet]

From the other end of the timescale....

Tried to kick start a Brough Superior on Saturday. Jeez, what an effort! 50 weight oil in freezing temperatures. It didn't go; just couldn't get enough piston speed to get sparks and fuel to go pop. Ended up sweating like a pig with a knackered right knee. I didn't care though. It's such a beautiful machine.

I like electric starters.

That's why 20 or 30W is specified for those old cliunkers for winter service!  Tried it recently with my Matchy thumper.  Just getting it to turn was difficult enough, let alone get up some momentum.  I quickly gave up, will now wait till it warms a bit, too lazy to swap the oil...

piet

 

[Dellortoman]

I quickly gave up, will now wait till it warms a bit, too lazy to swap the oil...

When I was a kid I knew an old bloke when who used to do light a fire under the sump of his tractor to get it going in cold weather. Perhaps you could try that with your Matchy.