Gilera RCR 50 Won't Kick

[lukehanham]

So i have a gilera RCR 50,

It's been sat in the winter under-cover for a few months.

So i can bump start it fine, however kickstarting does not work.

What repairs can i try myself, without risking doing any more damage?

Estimated cost on other repairs?

Tips and advice?

many thanks!

[RhynoCZ]

Does it have a battery? If so, it's dead. Fresh battery should do the trick. My mates MZ is the same.

One thing to try - bump start it and ride it for at least 30 miles, that might gonna be enough to charge up the battery.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Iain.]

[316lad]

[lukehanham]

The bike seems to kick over fine, but bare in mind this is one of my first bikes.

It sounds like it really wants to start, but just can't do it.

It can be bump started extremely easily too.

I measured the battery and it is 12.64 Volts, Which is around the right amount.

What else can i do / check?

Would a video of me trying to kick start help out?

[RhynoCZ]

Did you try fresh petrol? Check and clean the spark plug if necessary and also have a look at the air filter. 12.64v is enough, so the battery is alright, although you said the bike was sat for a few months. The battery must have enormous capacity or, it was not that long ago since it was used.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[lukehanham]

I put a new battery in very recently,

Surely the spark plug is fine as it bump starts?

And is the air filter hard to access?

[RhynoCZ]

The spark plug will tell you, if the mixture is alright.
The air filter should be easy to access, but I've no idea where it is on your bike. A clogged air filter acts like a choke and makes the mixture rich. Which, and especially with two strokes, is not good for the spark plug.

EDIT: You're gonna need a NGK BR9ES which is quite cheap since you've got only one cylinder.
There you go: https://www.wemoto.com/bikes/gilera/rcr_50_enduro/03-05/picture/spark_plug_ngk/
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[MarJay]

This happened on my NS125R when I was a kid. I tore my hair out for ages, and eventually replaced the spark plug out of frustration more than anything. It worked, and it fired up first time.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[lukehanham]

I've ordered a new spark plug, will see how that works out!

[RhynoCZ]

Well, I'd check the old one first, but since it's cheap, it is worth the change.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[lukehanham]

Got it to kick start, tried putting in gear and that went ok.

I had put it in first, slowly letting out the clutch with no revs and it cut out, tried with a little rev, 2k? and it juddered a lot and then cut and came back to life and was able to ride a bit.

Anything worth looking into?

[316lad]

[Iain.]

Does sound like the kickstart itself is okay!

Perhaps the bikes just not keen on the cold - Possibly worth giving it a bit of a service. Air filter ought to be sponge, wash it out with petrol, pour around two tablespoons of EP80/90 gear oil on it & squeeze the filter to soak all the oil into it all over, fresh sparkplug and that's about it on these.

Other than that, as above, check choke cable isn't sticking and give it a minuite to warm up when it catches