Tips on how to push start your bike…
Nov 12th, 2009 by Leo
So ^there^ are the basics… Assuming there’s enough juice on the battery to light up the electronics (because not all bikes can start with zero battery charge – although many can), you turn the key to the on position and get the bike rolling in 2nd gear while holding the clutch lever. When you’re rolling fast enough you can let the clutch out while simultaneously hitting the starter button… and viola. If you have enough momentum the bike should be able to start without hitting the starter button as well – as long as the key and fuel switch are in the “on” position.
One catch though. What’s the likelihood you’ll get stuck with a dead (or weak) battery on top of a hill? If you live where I do, the chances are pretty close to nil. Although if you are near even a slight incline, you can push your bike up and roll down… So here’s a slightly modified approach – instead of sitting on the bike and riding it downhill and popping the clutch – you can run along side it and get it started on a flat stretch of road. The only difference is – and this is important – make sure to pull the clutch back in once the engine gets going otherwise it’ll run away from you.
Now it’s really easy to drop your bike this way (!) but with a little coordination this is often the only way to get a bike started without a hill, and without having someone push you while you sit…
So here’s the checklist:
- Ignition key set to “on”
- Fuel switch set to “on”
- Transmission in 2nd gear
- Get the bike moving at a good pace
- Pop the clutch while hitting the starter
So there you have it… The first time I did it I spent a few minutes trying to do it with the fuel switch “off” – then another few minutes trying to start in 1st gear – (can be done, but doesn’t work as well)… Good luck!
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