Kawi2strokes.com Forum

As the title says, is my kickstart lever correct? It has a definite bend through it, and it does stick out to the point that it's annoying and my leg is against it while riding. Possible it is an H1 lever, or just bent?

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.

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Bad decisions make the best stories.

Maybe a previous owner forgot to retract the foot peg when kicking. After a few dozen times, they get bent something like that.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

+1 looks bent compared to my H2B, but heard there is a curved designed one too?

And does not look like my H1D.

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H2B..... H1E..... Z1B ..... RD350...... X6 Hustler..... TS250.... CB750 ..... CB550...... and a Bomber!!

Thanks. It has a really nice arc in it, yes, but looks almost too correct to be bent, I would have thought it would bend down at the base if it had hit the footrest, but I really don't know. The bend starts out at the base in the same direction and looks like it was forged like that.

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.

I always have problems with the levers hitting my leg, not comfortable. So, I mount the levers on the kick shaft down a couple of serrations, puts the foot push area of the lever down a bit closer to the side cover when the lever is retracted, but, done right, and lever not bent, stops the leg issues. The levers get bent when people don't have the engines tuned correctly, then, whang down on the lever thinking it takes massive body weight to start a triple.

I have literally started a well tuned stocker, and even some fairly well hopped up H series engines with my hand on the lever, using only arm strength, they start that easy when right.

So you think it is bent then? I know what you mean about guys being hard on the kickstart mechanism, I always take up the gear backlash by putting a slight load on it before actually kicking, the shock load through the lever and gear train can be harsh, and it makes me cringe when I see guys just jump on the lever on their own bikes without doing that. This motor starts amazingly easy considering you are kicking a 250cc, one cylinder at a time.

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.

If the lever has been hitting the peg, there would be a divot/dent where they interfered with each other.

As far as starting, I have always run a piston to full TDC rock over, then lever back all the way up, back down to eliminate free play, and kick smartly. Using that procedure, I have never bent a lever.

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Always remember, there will be greater and lesser people than yourself . . . you can learn from either!

Ok thanks, I'll put it in the press and straighten it and hope it does not bend again.....

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.