Kawasaki tecate forward kick conversion?

[onestop2050]

Hello folks,i hate starting them tecates,everytime i try to start it,85's or 86's my damn foot hits the footpeg or goes under it,very painful,i think if one of them kawasaki engineers back in the day would have attepted to start one they would have quickly changed their minds,anyway has anyone out there ever tried to make it kick forward like a honda 250r,seems this would be the right solution,is this possible,would it require alot of work,has anyone thought about it or is there a easier way to start them green beasts,let me know guys.thanks

[TexFest]

the tecate kicker shouldn't even go under the foot peg, you sure you have the right one on it?

[rdlsz24]

I thought they already kicked forward? Do you have a kx engine in there?

Rob

[nd4speed]

the tecate kicker shouldn't even go under the foot peg, you sure you have the right one on it?

Have you ever kick started a Tecate?


I thought they already kicked forward? Do you have a kx engine in there?

Rob

Um...they dont kick forward- normally.

[nd4speed]

I just keep my toe pointed upwards and out to the right some

[fabiodriven]

I've never had an issue with kicking a Tecate. If you can kick start any dirt bike you shouldn't have any issues starting a Tecate. It's the same thing.

[oldskool83]

wear mx boots, i wont start anything with out them anymore, your just asking for messed up shins or what not.

[dcreel]

The only problem I have ever had kick starting a Tecate is hitting the rear reservoir with my foot. So I bought a rear reservoir guard, and ended up breaking it. I personally would rather have rear kick. On our 200X My foot definitely hits the ground kicking it over.

[oldskool83]

my 200s i start off the bike and looking towards the rear of it, helps alot. them kickers were too long and the bike were too low

[dcreel]

After my wife did this on her 200X

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/4thofJulyweekend-20080282.jpg

and some tips from you guys she now starts her 200x standing at the side facing the rear with no problems

[rdlsz24]

I figured anything with rear fenders kicked forward. Learn something new every day

Rob

[nd4speed]

Kicker hit my shin pretty good last week, so I cant agree more with wearing MX boots. But who wears MX boots around the house?

There's nothin like havin a third knee though.

[nd4speed]

A battery, electric motor where the coolant bottle is supposed to go, and a couple gears and chain would be better.

[dcreel]

I figured anything with rear fenders kicked forward. Learn something new every day

Rob

The Tecate has a cutout "tunnel" in the rear fender for the kickstarter and your foot to fit through.

[oldskool83]

I wear mx Boots to beds haha.

[TexFest]

Have you ever kick started a Tecate?



Um...they dont kick forward- normally.

yeah i used to have one, it wasn't even bad kicking it

[Curtis-Tecate3]

Traitor......
Someone wanting a forward kick Tecate needs to put a thumb throttle on it too.
Those are just the nuances of having a Tecate. Figure it out.

Curtis.

[Curtis-Tecate3]

Sorry for being harsh Onestop, I just realized you only have like 5 posts....

Curtis.

[onestop2050]

i am not worried about peoples comments,i am more worried that i am going to break my foot starting these monsters,cause if you ever tried to start a tecate your foot hits that footpeg hard sometimes it slams on top sometimes it gets jammed on the bottom,i know someone else has experienced this,where are you?

[dcreel]

When I am kicking mine (usually in tennis shoes), cycle it through to the bottom, (choke on, no throttle), cycle it all the way back up to the top. Then stomp on it. I keep my foot tilted back toward the heel to keep from hitting the footpeg. Usually takes 2 kicks to get it fired up.

[RID3R]

Like someone else said - Stand on the side of the bike facing the rear, turn the engine over by kicking forward in that position. I did it often with my 86 tecate when I had problems starting it. Once it was warmed up though, I could easily start it otherwise. Ive experienced everything your saying, to me its kind of a small area to be kicking into, try the other way! Its alot better if your having problems.

[onestop2050]

thats what i am talking about,thats a small area to begin with,but once i start it the first time and warm it up it will start the next 1 or 2 kicks ,just the initial start up is a bummer sometimes,i will try kicking it from the side,that might be a new avenue for me.

[dcreel]

I happened to find a pic of me kickstarting mine: As you can see if you keep your foot tilted back it won't hit the footpeg.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/dcreel/Riding%20pics/trackpics036.jpg

[3 or die]

I dont like kicking my 86 at all. That cut out is about big enough for a size 6. Ive got a big ole fat size 13. I live on a mountian, so I am lucky enough to clutch start mine. If it dont crank I sure dread kicking it at the bottom of the hill. Nature of the beast I guess.

[Enigma]

When I start mine I position the starter toward the back of my foot almost on my heel. That way when I kick it over my toes point up above the foot peg. I know what you are talking about, when I first got the Tecate I kept smashing my big toe on the foot peg destroying my toe nail.

[hang&rattle]

I actually curl my toes up while kicking, but I have a size 6 shoe. Have your 8-10 yr. old kick it over (ha ha). That was a sort of fly-by-night set up, but here's what a wise Tecate owner once told me (dcreel), that if it didn't make it go fast, kawasaki didn't use it, it's a sport model, no luxury's, built to scare the &%#!!* out of ya, yeah baby!

[kristofrogers]

Yea... I think anyone who has tried to start anything (with a kickstart) has regretted it... My right shoe is just destroyed while my left one looks at least a year newer.... My Tecate has a different engine and i think the kick starter is actually further back. That little dinky cutout on the fenders is a joke haha... I hit it EVERY TIME I kick my T3 over and I catch it on the way up and cheese grate my Achilles tendon. MX boots are your best friend, unless you enjoy pain...which I'm sure there are a few out there...

[Jeepermc]

I wear my boots everytime I fire up my tecate now. I could hardly walk one day when I was kicking it over and it kicked back into the middle/bottom of my foot with tennis shoes on...I also had to pay attention to where my toes were in relation to the foot peg...Made that mistake a few times too... When I was looking it over to buy..the previous owner kicked it over to start it and caught the rear brake reservoir with his heel and broke it...Rendering the only functioning brake on it inoperable. I added a "sleeve" made from heater hose to cushion the blow...it stays on there once you slip it over the end of the kicker, but also twists when you kick it...If that makes any sense.... It stays in the same place under your foot, while the kicker rotates inside of it when you kick it over....

[cr480r]

no offense to anyone in this thread.. but if you have trouble starting the machine, or adapting your method to its kicker design limitations you may want to re-evaluate rather or not you even belong on it... there is exceptions, but this almost always proves to be a good rule of thumb for the safety of the rider and the machine.

[Maico]

If you have a good ignition....and the carb jetted properly....1 or 2 quick snaps on the kicker using your heel should have the fire lit before your foot even gets close to the footpeg.

[Xpress]

I've never had an issue kicking my T3 or X, with their standard configurations. Both of mine usually fire up with a couple quick kicks.

I tend to wear my steel toed working boots when I go riding, and haven't had issues. I just put the kicker in the middle of my foot and go for it. If you are having troubles starting your bikes, then perhaps it's time for a tuneup. A good running one should start within a couple of kicks.

[fabiodriven]

no offense to anyone in this thread.. but if you have trouble starting the machine, or adapting your method to its kicker design limitations you may want to re-evaluate rather or not you even belong on it... there is exceptions, but this almost always proves to be a good rule of thumb for the safety of the rider and the machine.

Totally correct. My Tecate starts in two kicks at the most, even after sitting for months at a time. I only weigh 140-150 lbs and I've never had an issue.