Bump start technique

[Itchy]

Is my bump start technique right? , I managed it on my 2nd go 15 minutes ago, but I'd like to know if my technique is correct, to prevent possible future difficulties , pushing 210kilos of bike is tiring!,

put bike into 1st hold in the clutch , turn the ignition on , 1/2 choke , push the thing fast as you can at some point push the starter let the clutch out most of the way then if you get it to start rev it hard
to keep it running , jump on and ride off keeping revs above the normal .

+ any general complications with shaft drive ? or is this possibly a bonus as theres no chain
slack to consider?


Any suggestions?

I don't exactly want to make a habit of this but its something useful to know (the other two times
I bump started bikes were for girlies stuck by the side of the road on smaller bikes who incidentally
said thanks but declined some post bump start action with me)

Ta.
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[G]

It's very rare that I try to use a starter while bump starting - infact the first time and only time was today, however I was stuck in mud halfway up a rather steep hill!

Normally I will have it in the lowest gear I can without it locking the rear when I release the clutch. If it'll turn freely in gear, then run along in that gear with the clutch in - when I'm going fast enough jump on the bike and dump the clutch as I land.

Can be done by just dumping the clutch without jumping on. Sometimes I just jump on side-saddle. I may do it in neutral and drop it into gear if there's a bit of drag.

If you're sitting on the bike, it's worth standing up, then dropping onto the bike as you dump the clutch - this gives the rear a bit more grip.

[cagiva gezzer]

Second gear is a better bet.
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[G]

[nick606]

this is what i do .....
1. if possible find a small slope its a hell of a lot easier than running with it (even if you need to turn around) or get a guy/girl to push i have my own professional pusher i like to call him dad

2.knock it into first gear while sat on the bike i push off the floor release the clutch rev and wam bam it starts (if the bike is cold use choke)

make sure you have it in gear though my dad waste to pleased when i got him to push and it was in neutral

[h00dwink]

considering you're ment to dump the clutch i wouldnt do it running aside the bike as you'll probably need to rev it to get it going over better. i did it once, fortunately i managed to pull the clutch back in to avoid a ghost bike
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[Ariel Badger]

My 1930 500cc Longstroke Ariel needs a bump everytime. Engage second and roll her backwards untill it hits compression, flood carb, 3/4 advance magneto, pull in valve lifter and clutch and run like hell.
Drop clutch then valve lifter and open throttle.
With luck she will fire
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[Aikman666]

Generally i always do it in as high a gear as i can get into (though 3rd will usually suffice) run along side get up a bit speed, jump on while moving and dump the clutch. Mind you ive only done this on small capacity 2-stroke kickstarted bikes! The extra weight of you on it will also prevent the wheel from locking if it screws up.
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[Ariel Badger]

Jumping on the 1930 can be alarming if you are not prepared, the rear brake is two inches higher than the foot peg (you raise your footfrom the rest to apply the brake) If you do not take due care you land on the brake rather than the rest and go flying over the bars.
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[MarkJ]

I like to use 2nd gear. 1st gets the engine turning over quicker, but it also doesn't roll for as long in the gear due to the engine braking. 3rd is the opposite - runs easily but doesn't turn the engine over as quickly so I use 2nd. Choke if it's cold. Run along next to it holding the clutch in, jump over it and as you're squashing the back wheel into the ground with your arse dump the clutch. Works every time. I don't bother putting my feet on the pegs as I just on, just let them hang either side.

[Finglonga]

Always used 1st gear as G said, even my 1100ZRX was a peice of piss to start that way.

However my 1150GS has too much compression to start unless you can get a good speed up and get all the weight over the back wheel to stop it locking, or get someone to push me. Otherwise its second gear bumping.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Generally find a bit that is downhill, ignition on, get some speed up, onto bike, stand on pigs, drop myself onto the seat and knock it into gear simultaniously.

All the best

Keith
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[Aikman666]

[Kickstart]

[Ariel Badger]

Poor little pigs.
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[aha-shake]

Had a dodgy battery on the Varadero for a while, after nearly a week of bumping it twice a day at the least I could do it sitting on the bike with one good push off and a little bump.

However, back in the good old 50cc days, broken down 50 miles from home at 2 in the morning with a copper pusihng me and the bike down the road, he didnt know how to do it, and neither did I.

The result? A knackered rozzer pushing me at a sprint down a road in the rain with the bike in neutral and my thumb on the starter.

Not a clue

shake

[scabstermooch]

You need a higher gear!

I think I used to use at least the third gear.

Clutch in, jog/run, then release clutch very quickly hop on then clutch in.

Last did it about 4 years ago on a 200cc.

[G]

[JonB]

I use second gear on the Bandit, cause in 1st it just locks up the rear.
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[Nath]

The key technique for bumping is landing on the seat with as much force as possible and dumping the clutch at that exact moment.

Very few bikes will lock the wheel up in first gear in the dry if you've got a good enough technique. Certainly any multicylinder bike shouldn't.


Jumping on the bike hard isn't just about stopping the rear wheel locking though. A nice aggressive clutch dump will also turn the engine over more forcefully, which should result in the bike firing up on the first compression stroke. Once you can jump on and dump the clutch correctly, you should be able to bump start at lower speeds, and also going up hills.
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[beast rider]

I had to bump start my bandit at least 4 times the other week as the battery is wankered, so i just got one of our engineers to give us a push!

My bandit is so hard to bump on my own as the clutch is dragging a hell of alot, I spose i should really adjust it then it might be a little easier.

[Johnny GSX-R]

I would urge for 3rd gear for a bump start solely as its not as harsh on the motor/ drive train.
The other factor is that with a lower gear you suffer a sudden and dramatic decelleration which could potential end in loss of balance and dropping the machine.

Once the engines fires pull in the clutch and catch the revs gently, don't thrash a recently started motor.
It all depends i guess on the reason why its being bumped.
Also consider the terrain your bumping it on, is it slippy, un even?
Best practice would be to sit astride the bike and have someone push YOU with a hand on your back NOT on the bike. If they push on the bike, especially on the wrong bit, they could cause damage when you drop the clutch.

I spent weeks having to bump start my Blackbird after the battery gave up, 3rd was by far the best gear.
My old YZ490 wouldn't bump, no matter what gear it was in i split 2 pairs of 'AXO' moto cross boots kicking it over too, what an animal

[phk6]

i find 2nd gear good, either jog with the bike with the clutch in and it in gear 2 ready for me, or like this morning when it stalled on me near the under pass which i use to get to work just push it along while sat on the seat free wheel down the hill at about 4 mph and drop the clutch once its started pull the clutch in str8 away give it shite loads of revs and then fuck off into the distance giving the bum who lives there a right good wake up call
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[mr.z]

See the thing is you really really shouldn't need to jump on it, not on a modern (japanese at least) bike.. afaik it was more for anything with valve lifters way back when (unless anyone else knows otherwise do say) the risk of droping the bike and possibly takeing yourself with it and under large fast moveing lumps of metal is a worry, not to mention damage to the bike..
500 twin, 650 twin, 125single, 125cc twin, 400cc inline 4 and others never ever needed it... just run allong side it feed the clutch out in an appropreat gear and let it catch, then clutch in and rev it to keep it alive..
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[Nath]

That would never work with my Honda Bros, and I know this for certain since I've been bumping it since the end of last winter, and have used it almost everyday for the past 3 months.

Gradually letting the clutch out in a higher gear doesn't work very effectively. Maybe different bikes like different things, but unless temperitures are below zero my Bros will always start first time the way I bump it. First gear, very fast clutch release, and nice hard jump onto the seat - All of which are to turn the engine as forcefully as possible to get a single nice firing stroke.


Some people in this thread are even admitting "I once bumped my bike x years ago" and still trying to offer (unhelpful) advice. Ask anyone who was on the big north Wales rideout earlier this year, cus I must have bumped my Bros about 20times that day. It's all about experience.
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