XR250R Compression Lever...?

[Dan 4RR]

Hi, I recently bought a 1995 Honda XR250R and it's kick start only, although I can kick the bike into action I don't know at which part of the 'kicking' action I'm supposed to pull in or let out the decompression lever. Can anyone help. Cheers.

[G]

I wouldn't have thought you need to bother with one on an XR250.

When I've ridden them, I've just kicked it, where ever it is really.


However, what I'd do on bigger bikes is to get it just past TDC* then, use decompression if I wanted and kick from there. You can tell when it gets to TDC as it gets really hard to push.

(*Piston at Top Dead Center)

[Dan 4RR]

[G]

The lever opens a valve, usually, I believe.
This makes it easier to kick. This lets the engine get a decent spin going, before it closes the valve to let the engine start.

I found my DR600 actually had an automatic decompression on the kickstart as well as a manual one that worked the other valve. Still could be a bugger to start, though.

Note that at TDC it gets harder to turn, but for bikes I've ridden (600cc + singles) it's been the best place to actually kickstart it from.


So, what you would do... keep pushing the kickstart slowly until it gets really hard, go /just/ beyond this point. Then pull the decompression lever, then give it a good kick.
As I said, never needed to use a decompression lever on the XR250 as there wasn't much resistance in the first place.

[hmmmnz]

the infamous decompression, there is a nack to it, hold in the lever for one stroke of the kickstarter(no need to do it fast) then bring the kick start back up now do your hard kick, and just past half way (not before as it'll be still on the downward stroke on the engine) let the lever go, it should start, if not then do another hard kick and let go just after half way.
it takes a while to get the hang of.
good luck
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