Can kick-starting damage my bike? Or does it take load off the battery in the cold?

iridiumblue · 01-03-2021, 12:33 PM

Hey scoot people!

As winter weather grips the American North-East, I got to wondering about an old habit of mine : I often kick-start the bike first thing in the morning, so the battery doesn't have to put in all that work.

But I see warnings on the web about how this can stress/break the variator or some such thing.

What say you, scooter tribe?

wheelbender6 · 01-03-2021, 02:28 PM

I have never heard about variator problems from kick starting. I use the kick start a lot too.

tknj99 · 01-03-2021, 03:31 PM

The only tidbit i can add was that on my son's Tao DBX1 it started leaking oil around the kickstart shaft seal (a black rubber gasket piece) after about a month of ownership or so. Now my son was new to dirtbikes and it took him many kicks to start at first (and id try to refrain from helping him as much as possible) so that probably made it wear out faster.

iridiumblue · 01-04-2021, 07:51 AM

OK,

So far it sounds like kick-starting is fine under normal circumstances (doesn't take 25 frustrated kicks, etc.) I'll see if anyone else chimes in. (I find this forum is a good "Snopes for scoots" when it comes to sorting through all the BS on the web ...)

**cheesy** · 01-04-2021, 12:33 PM

That's a new one.

iridiumblue · 01-04-2021, 01:01 PM

It may just be urban legend with its roots in this sort of thing ...

**cheesy** · 01-04-2021, 01:30 PM

TxTaoRider · 01-04-2021, 04:00 PM

After watching the video I forgot the question. Lol!

wheelbender6 · 01-04-2021, 08:54 PM

I asked the same question on a scooter forum that I haunt after reading your post.
-Nobody there knew of any cvt problems related to kick starting.

GronkFries · 01-05-2021, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxTaoRider

After watching the video I forgot the question. Lol!

Similar thoughts but also "hey at least she got it started!"

grumpyunk · 01-06-2021, 10:24 AM

I think it depends on the bike in question. Many of the China bikes have a kick starter that should be labeled 'for emergency use only'. The mechanism on the 139QMB machines is functional, but klunky. I have seen CVT covers broken, with chunks of the case hanging loose(broken out of place anyway) where the kick start lever pivot is. A good strong kick can break the case as the case seems to be made of very thin material.(pot metal or aluminum?)
The larger ones may have stronger cases and not break or wear out under regular use.
tom

01-03-2021, 12:33 PM	#1
iridiumblue Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 15	Can kick-starting damage my bike? Or does it take load off the battery in the cold? Hey scoot people! As winter weather grips the American North-East, I got to wondering about an old habit of mine : I often kick-start the bike first thing in the morning, so the battery doesn't have to put in all that work. But I see warnings on the web about how this can stress/break the variator or some such thing. What say you, scooter tribe? Last edited by iridiumblue; 01-04-2021 at 12:59 PM.
	0

01-03-2021, 02:28 PM	#2
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	I have never heard about variator problems from kick starting. I use the kick start a lot too. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	1

01-03-2021, 03:31 PM	#3
tknj99 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Central VA Posts: 1,259	The only tidbit i can add was that on my son's Tao DBX1 it started leaking oil around the kickstart shaft seal (a black rubber gasket piece) after about a month of ownership or so. Now my son was new to dirtbikes and it took him many kicks to start at first (and id try to refrain from helping him as much as possible) so that probably made it wear out faster. __________________ 2024 Zuma Storm 150 DLX 2019 Beta 430 RRS 2018 VStrom 1000 XT Former China Bikes: Tao DBX1, Brozz 250, CSC RX4, Titan DLX, Templar X
	1

01-04-2021, 12:33 PM	#5
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,833	That's a new one. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
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01-04-2021, 01:30 PM	#7
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,833	__________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	0

01-04-2021, 07:51 AM	#4
iridiumblue Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 15	OK, So far it sounds like kick-starting is fine under normal circumstances (doesn't take 25 frustrated kicks, etc.) I'll see if anyone else chimes in. (I find this forum is a good "Snopes for scoots" when it comes to sorting through all the BS on the web ...)
	0

01-04-2021, 01:01 PM	#6
iridiumblue Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 15	It may just be urban legend with its roots in this sort of thing ...
	3

01-04-2021, 04:00 PM	#8
TxTaoRider Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Flower Mound Texas Posts: 904	After watching the video I forgot the question. Lol! __________________ 2021 Tao Tbr7 - "Lucille" Mods so far- Brozz swingarm, 21" front rim (Bridgestone Tw302 rear/Dunlop D606 front tires), Digital gauge cluster, pz30b pumper carb, after market hand guards, aftermarket brake and clutch levers, round fold away mirrors, Fly handlebars shortened slightly, 13t front sprocket 2009 Q-link Legacy 250 1982 Suzuki GS1100ES - "Jolene"
	2

01-04-2021, 08:54 PM	#9
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	I asked the same question on a scooter forum that I haunt after reading your post. -Nobody there knew of any cvt problems related to kick starting. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	1

01-06-2021, 10:24 AM	#11
grumpyunk Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: nw of atlanta Posts: 169	I think it depends on the bike in question. Many of the China bikes have a kick starter that should be labeled 'for emergency use only'. The mechanism on the 139QMB machines is functional, but klunky. I have seen CVT covers broken, with chunks of the case hanging loose(broken out of place anyway) where the kick start lever pivot is. A good strong kick can break the case as the case seems to be made of very thin material.(pot metal or aluminum?) The larger ones may have stronger cases and not break or wear out under regular use. tom __________________ vertical and above ground - my daily goal
	1