NOW can we have electric start, you Japanese OEMs?

Highsider
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9/30/2008 4:10pm
Pdub wrote:
What? Do you think that the reason KTM didn't win any American titles is because their electric starters make the bikes uncompetitive? There's no way in...
What? Do you think that the reason KTM didn't win any American titles is because their electric starters make the bikes uncompetitive? There's no way in holy hell that in 2008 ALL race bikes should be without e-start. If James had the happy button on his works KX yesterday, much shit-talk could have been avoided. But NOOOOOO.....
BINGO...we have a winner! We bench raced this topic years ago. Existing parts is all it would take. The technology is sitting on the parts shelf!

JJ
Pdub
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9/30/2008 4:15pm
Pdub wrote:
What? Do you think that the reason KTM didn't win any American titles is because their electric starters make the bikes uncompetitive? There's no way in...
What? Do you think that the reason KTM didn't win any American titles is because their electric starters make the bikes uncompetitive? There's no way in holy hell that in 2008 ALL race bikes should be without e-start. If James had the happy button on his works KX yesterday, much shit-talk could have been avoided. But NOOOOOO.....
Good call, vet954. But I can't help but think that if the Chinese can put viable e-start on shitty $200 pitbikes, then our Japanese friends can help out the kickstarter-challenged motocrossers among us!

KAWboy14
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9/30/2008 5:56pm
2009 kxf's start themselves they are so easy to start!
user760a
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9/30/2008 8:18pm
I will never, ever buy an electric start MX bike. who wants the extra weight? they start like cake now anyway.

The Shop

TerryK
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9/30/2008 8:40pm
I've been saying this for YEARS. How can the factories allow championships to be lost because a rider can't start his damned motorcycle? I'm sure they could all make a system that would add little to the weight of a factory bike. With the new battery technology available, space wouldn't be and issue either. Besides, four strokes are heavy anyway so the average rider won't notice a few more pounds. KTM makes it work, why can't the big four?

I have a solution that requires no battery.
9/30/2008 9:16pm
TerryK wrote:
I've been saying this for YEARS. How can the factories allow championships to be lost because a rider can't start his damned motorcycle? I'm sure they...
I've been saying this for YEARS. How can the factories allow championships to be lost because a rider can't start his damned motorcycle? I'm sure they could all make a system that would add little to the weight of a factory bike. With the new battery technology available, space wouldn't be and issue either. Besides, four strokes are heavy anyway so the average rider won't notice a few more pounds. KTM makes it work, why can't the big four?

I have a solution that requires no battery.
No battery? What, every bike comes with a quad and a tow rope? Maybe a homeless guy hangs out around the track to push start you? Fill us in on your plan...
sam90lx
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12/24/2008 8:02pm
Greetings and Merry Christmas. My name is Sam and this is a great site. I am from Phoenix and I am thinking about buying a KX 500. This thread is of interest to me as I would love to have an e-start as I am older now and have a left artificial leg. Please tell me there is a product or way to have an Easy Button?

Thanks in advance.
Cory976
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12/24/2008 10:34pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 9:38pm
For the average Trail rider, or someone physically challenged, I think they are a good choice, but for Pro Motocross, Electric Start is bullshit! Many races and Championships have been won or lost because of a stall, and the rider could'nt kick the bike over to get it started, and thats always been part of the race! Hardcore Old school guys don't like this subject because manually kick starting your bike has always been a part of the race! How boring would it have been to watch Chad Reed try to "push the button" over and over again on his drowned out YZF at Daytona this year. instead of kicking the shit out of it. Him trying to kick it over and over again, while Windham slowly made his way toward and eventually past him had everyone on the edge of their seat!

NO ELECTRIC STARTS FOR MX!
neysbo
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12/25/2008 6:09am
Pdub wrote:
The history of competitive fourstrokes in modern MX is full of "can't re-start, so I lose" stories... remember the '99 L.A. Supercross? Doug Henry on the...
The history of competitive fourstrokes in modern MX is full of "can't re-start, so I lose" stories... remember the '99 L.A. Supercross? Doug Henry on the then-new YZ400 led the entire race, only to stall and get passed by 'erebody...

And I could be wrong, but after having a phenomenal rookie season on the then-new YZ250F, the only thing that kept Ernesto Fonseca from going undefeated in the SX class was when he crashed and stalled at one round.

Electric start is the answer, it doesn't add that much weight, it's not rocket science and it just doesn't make sense to exclude it any longer. There's no gain by not having it.
Two strokes are the option.

Motocross bikes should not be electric start.

So be it if the damn 4 stokes are hard to start , that is racing.

motogrady
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12/25/2008 6:33am


Take the weight limits off both 2 and 4, and do what you like.

Some will choose a 300 pound efi model with electric start, cushy seat,
complete with centerstand.

Some will take a sub 200 pound that you have to kick.

Take the weight limits off both 2 and 4 and do what you like.
Soozie125
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12/25/2008 8:41am
What's next after the E-start? the Pro's will be using Rekluse clutches?

Where does it end?

Real men ride 125 2 -strokes
mx317
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12/25/2008 9:05am Edited Date/Time 12/25/2008 9:40am
EFI and electric start will work well together because the battery can power the fuel pump. It doesn't add much if any weight if the kickstarter and all it's parts are gone like KTM. The KTM E-starters have proven to be very dependable.
jtomasik
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12/25/2008 9:21am
Electric start on an MX racing bike. Hilarious. Make sure you have your AAA card on ya....

Oldmotoguy
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12/25/2008 9:36am
jon(#42) wrote:
haha I dont want to live in a world where I have a choice where I can either sit around and ware myself out tryin to...
haha I dont want to live in a world where I have a choice where I can either sit around and ware myself out tryin to get my bike goin. or be lazy and use an eletric start. I dont care how nice they are, id rather kick thank you very much
SethLex wrote:
While I understand most of you ride/race MX almost exclusively, I think where the electric start really comes in handy is in cross-country riding. I ride...
While I understand most of you ride/race MX almost exclusively, I think where the electric start really comes in handy is in cross-country riding. I ride mostly tight woods here in Kentucky, with very technical hill climbs and other obstacles the likes of which I would be willing to bet most of you west coast guys have not experienced. In a situation where you are in a 2-3 hour race, and happen to stall it on a tight, technical, gnarly hill climb, the e-start is a GOD-SEND and allows you to save a ton of energy, not just from kicking the bike, but from wrestling your bike to an angle on the hill where you can actually physically kick your bike.

I myself don't ride a bike with the e-start, but I am jealous everytime I see one of my buddies push that "magic button" after wadding it up on a gnarly hill, and just taking right back off in no time.
dude..we have all kinds of hills and trails in cali..everything
mx317
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12/25/2008 9:39am
jtomasik wrote:
Electric start on an MX racing bike. Hilarious. Make sure you have your AAA card on ya.... [img]https://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/300/0000_Bikemaster_Jumper_Cables_--.jpg[/img]
Electric start on an MX racing bike. Hilarious. Make sure you have your AAA card on ya....

We could go back to points and condensor like what came on my Elsinore in 1973 also.
jtomasik
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12/25/2008 9:45am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 9:38pm
mx317 wrote:
We could go back to points and condensor like what came on my Elsinore in 1973 also.
Laughing


Well, if you call adding non-performance enhancing complexity and weight to a race machine an advancement, then I guess putting the points and condensor back on would seem like a step forward, too.
Soozie125
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12/25/2008 11:07am
mx317 wrote:
EFI and electric start will work well together because the battery can power the fuel pump. It doesn't add much if any weight if the kickstarter...
EFI and electric start will work well together because the battery can power the fuel pump. It doesn't add much if any weight if the kickstarter and all it's parts are gone like KTM. The KTM E-starters have proven to be very dependable.
I'd still like to have the kickstarter for backup. Being stranded out in the desert is no fun.
CR250Rider
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12/25/2008 11:36am
[img]http://www.motorsports-network.com/kawasaki/KX07/klx450open.jpg[/img] anyone know how that bike performs on a MX track??
anyone know how that bike performs on a MX track??
Not as good as this one, and this one starts easier, hot or cold

Holigan
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12/25/2008 2:57pm
For those that would want a bolt-on electric start kit for your current motorcycle, what price would you be willing to pay?
TerryK
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12/25/2008 9:26pm
Wow, talk about digging up old threads! lol
fBgM54
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10/26/2016 1:40pm
bummmmmp due to the new 2017 crf450r with optional e-start

the new lithium phos batteries are soooo lite. I debating on selling my bike to get the new crf450r.

I'm curious if thoughts are still the same about having an e-start on a MX bike

Robgvx
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10/26/2016 1:43pm
2008?
endurox
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10/26/2016 1:53pm
Progressions of the sport
5 inch travel to 12 drum brakes to disc air cooled to water cooled heavy to light bikes points and condensors to electronic ignition cable to hydraulic clutch kick start to e start
4 speed to 6 speed etc etc
How many riders make fun of estart are driving their bike to the track in a model T. They have a hand crank., e start is here to stay. E start on factory Yamahas and on Roczen's bike as far a jap bikes go. If one wants to live in the dark ages kick starting a bike, that is one's choice. As an older rider the estart is nice to have with broken down knees or on the edge of a cliff trail. Jap bikes are just 15 pounds heavier with e start than KTM?Husky. Is this the problem?
Highsider
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10/26/2016 2:00pm
Love my E-Start FC450.



JM485
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10/26/2016 2:08pm
I often ask myself if the idiotic comments have always been a part of this place, and after reading this thread I've come to the conclusion that they have beenGrinning
peelout
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10/26/2016 2:15pm
E-start and torqued sprocket bolts on both my bikes bro
fBgM54
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10/26/2016 3:02pm
endurox wrote:
Progressions of the sport 5 inch travel to 12 drum brakes to disc air cooled to water cooled heavy to light bikes points and condensors to...
Progressions of the sport
5 inch travel to 12 drum brakes to disc air cooled to water cooled heavy to light bikes points and condensors to electronic ignition cable to hydraulic clutch kick start to e start
4 speed to 6 speed etc etc
How many riders make fun of estart are driving their bike to the track in a model T. They have a hand crank., e start is here to stay. E start on factory Yamahas and on Roczen's bike as far a jap bikes go. If one wants to live in the dark ages kick starting a bike, that is one's choice. As an older rider the estart is nice to have with broken down knees or on the edge of a cliff trail. Jap bikes are just 15 pounds heavier with e start than KTM?Husky. Is this the problem?
i agree completely. I am going to be 34 for next riding season and I just dont know for how much longer i can sit there and kick these big bikes. Nothing worse than laying my bike down on the track, I'm already kind of tired, and sitting there trying to kick the shit out of it while standing in some awkward position, or on a hill. It really takes it out of me.

I also ride woods on occasion and there's nothing worse than being 2-3 hours in and having to start/stop/wait for other's, constantly kicking in an awkward position.

I think within a few years i think all the major manufacters will offer e-start in some way on their MX bikes.
eazrider
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10/26/2016 3:16pm
endurox wrote:
Progressions of the sport 5 inch travel to 12 drum brakes to disc air cooled to water cooled heavy to light bikes points and condensors to...
Progressions of the sport
5 inch travel to 12 drum brakes to disc air cooled to water cooled heavy to light bikes points and condensors to electronic ignition cable to hydraulic clutch kick start to e start
4 speed to 6 speed etc etc
How many riders make fun of estart are driving their bike to the track in a model T. They have a hand crank., e start is here to stay. E start on factory Yamahas and on Roczen's bike as far a jap bikes go. If one wants to live in the dark ages kick starting a bike, that is one's choice. As an older rider the estart is nice to have with broken down knees or on the edge of a cliff trail. Jap bikes are just 15 pounds heavier with e start than KTM?Husky. Is this the problem?
fBgM54 wrote:
i agree completely. I am going to be 34 for next riding season and I just dont know for how much longer i can sit there...
i agree completely. I am going to be 34 for next riding season and I just dont know for how much longer i can sit there and kick these big bikes. Nothing worse than laying my bike down on the track, I'm already kind of tired, and sitting there trying to kick the shit out of it while standing in some awkward position, or on a hill. It really takes it out of me.

I also ride woods on occasion and there's nothing worse than being 2-3 hours in and having to start/stop/wait for other's, constantly kicking in an awkward position.

I think within a few years i think all the major manufacters will offer e-start in some way on their MX bikes.
I'll be 65 next month, no problems starting my 750 Shell kitted XS 650, YZ 360 Vintage scoot, or my '06 YZ 450. I would like to think a fellow that is 34 years old would be able to kick start his dirt bike. When I start feeling ;like whining, I usually just pull over and change my diaper... Smile
fBgM54
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10/26/2016 3:29pm
eazrider wrote:
I'll be 65 next month, no problems starting my 750 Shell kitted XS 650, YZ 360 Vintage scoot, or my '06 YZ 450. I would like...
I'll be 65 next month, no problems starting my 750 Shell kitted XS 650, YZ 360 Vintage scoot, or my '06 YZ 450. I would like to think a fellow that is 34 years old would be able to kick start his dirt bike. When I start feeling ;like whining, I usually just pull over and change my diaper... Smile
well that's impressive! I guess i was whining a bit and a huge bitch compared to you. But for me it's something i want on my bike and something that will make things just a little bit easier on me. To each his own. Can't teach old dogs new tricks. Change is inevitable and there will always be pro's/cons. People who like it or dislike it.

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