kick start

[Lew Waterman]

List: I would not want a bike without electric start, but I would like to be able to kick start as well when adventure touring. I can tell you that kick starters are not infalable either. Once upon a time I had a 1958 Sportster 883 that stripped a gear in the kick starter and I was forced to bump start it a couple of times during a trip. I too left it running while gassing it up during a 1100 mile trip. I still feel the pain in my right knee from getting on that kick crank with all I had and having it just run through with no resistance. I felt like my knee turned inside out. I will be prepared to bump start and beg for assistance if necessary, jump start from my own spare battery, be towed or put in the back of a passing truck. Thanks for all the advice. Lew Waterman Punky & Lew's Americas Motopaseo