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Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Yeah I've owned both, would gladly take the kickstarter any day of the week.
I've broken the wire to the start button during a race, had to bumpstart because the battery died at a race, had starter clutches wear out, and today I'm buying a new starter motor! Never had a kickstarter fail though.
Estart doesn't turn engine over "many many times" because the voltage drops after you press the button, after 3 seconds it's not turning anything over until you let off the button and try again (most mfgs suggest waiting 30 seconds)
If you pay attention you'll notice when riders get into an awkward situation, they start the bike then reorient themselves to get back on the bike before proceeding. With a kicker you can reorient yourself first, then start the bike. It's the same steps (and time cost) but in a different order.
Someone who panics or has poor clutch control might think the estart is essential, but it doesn't eliminate their problems, just kicks the can down the road a little while longer.
Starks don't need a button or kickstarter 😁
they need a whole ass generator 😆
I've broken multiple kickstarters over the years. Levers snapped, springs broken, levers stuck down, etc...
First year RMZ 450s had the entire run recalled because the kickstarters broke. Cases had to be replaced.
If your e-start quits spinning the motor after 3 seconds you've got a battery problem and obviously don't know how to care for an electrical system of any kind. Should stick to YZ250s in that case.
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The 05 was a carbureted 4 speed with a completely different frame and 47mm showas. It was completely new in 08. The 26 RMZ has very little in common with the 05. I've had a 05 and 18 model.
Buddy, you’re talking directly out of your butthole here. It’s totally fine for you prefer a kickstart, but let’s not make stuff up and act like there is no advantage to Estart lol.
30 seconds? Is that from the very first e start lol? I’ll attach the 2026 yz instructions. It says “a few seconds” to wait if it doesn’t start. Let’s also not forget those 5seconds of clicking the button, that’s equivalent to kicking the bike like 20 times lol. Just stop man. I truly don’t believe you’ve kicked a 4 stroke and used the button on a modern 4 stroke. It’s not even debatable how beneficial the button is especially in a race.
lol ok I guess stalling is more of a problem for you than it is for me.
I don't like spending money on e-start components that fail every year. The next bike I buy will have a kickstarter.
my point was despite the NEW frames, suspension components etc. the rider triangle, the geometry of the frame, the basis of the motor design, are still there in the current rmz450. its the original design, except its been REFINED, meaning they didnt scrap the whole concept and start over.
in 09 honda released an entirely new chassis design and feel that was nothing like the 08
yamaha completely changed its motor and chassis designs in 2010,
ktm/husq had a complete overhaul in 2016
for reference, ive had 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2018
I’ve been riding and racing e start offroad bikes for nearly 25 years. Never had one fail.
If you practice it and are quick, when you stall you can most of the time pull the clutch in, push the starter and be going again before the bike even stops moving.
E start clearly turns the engine over faster than kicking, not even a contest.
If e start is so bad, why does almost every modern MX bike have it? MX is probably the weakest use case for estart and they still use it.
The only post in this whole thread so far that matters!
Actually kicking turns the motor over faster, as long as the user does it correctly.
Estart is common now because it gives marketing departments a feature to dangle in front of the basic consumer. Same reason automatic transmissions are common in cars even though they are inferior in performance and reliability.
Just because something is popular doesn't mean it is better.
What type of "care" is required for an estart system with Li-Ion or Li-Fe battery?
Only on vital will people talk about bringing back two strokes and the 1999 number system, but want e-start on every bike.
If a pro can win on any bike, a weekend warrior should be able to start any bike (500’s not included)!
sarcasm
Sooooo with your logic Anderson above there, who definitely appears to not have a kickstart on his suzuki, did so because it’s worse? Suzukis marketing department got to him? lol
Pit Row
Just because he's testing it doesn't mean he will race with it.
Wasn't there rumor of Kenny testing it last year?
And why do you suspect they are testing estart yet again? Could it be because they also know how beneficial it is to have estart and they want it?
I’m not sure lightening the flywheel wheel to compensate for the drag of the idler gears would achieve the same feel as the kick start bike.
@3strokemx the hills you choose to die on baffle me.
Between this estart bit and the Kawasaki 2 stroke thread you just really can't read a room.
But hey, you do you. If it wasn't for the oddball contrairian viewpoint, how would the rest of us know who the true nutjobs are? I suppose you are the forums version of a flat earth true believer.
The version the dad tested before was the Pantera or something therefore made by Pantera this is completely in-house I think or at least by the Suzuki .
Motocross bikes have minimal stator for the electrical system, and especially at lower RPMs.
Put the Lithium battery on a GOOD charger/maintainer regularly. A "Battery Tender" is not one of those. A Noco is good, an Optimate is best.
You also need to have a GOOD Lithium battery. There is a reason some batteries cost twice as much as others. AntiGravity small (401) and medium (801) case and NOT the restart OEM size are good, SuperB is the best.
I've got one LiFe battery (Ballistic) that is going on 15yrs old and is still in near perfect condition.
Maybe Japan said they need to figure it out because the chuds wont buy the bike without it?
If they thought it was important, why wasn't it used last year?
Exactly! Have you measured battery voltage during a start?
It drops, then takes a few seconds to recover and contained energy decreases every cycle.
That's why you have to maintain/charge a battery and why mfgrs recommend a 15-30 second pause before refiring. Even if the engine is turning, it still pulls voltage for spark and fuel (through the ecu) or it wont start. I suspect all Li batteries also have BMS for heat so they wont output when hot (after a few seconds) which reduces the risk of a thermal event.
So you might continue turning the engine (and burning your starter motor in the process) but it's not going to fire/start until the battery recovers.
This is directly quoted from a Jason Anderson interview with racerx. Him politely saying he wants estart. So is he also a “chud”?
So he thinks the bike is good, doesnt want to change it, e-start isnt a necessity, but Japan wants them to make the e-start work?
Isn't that confirming exactly what I speculated earlier?
Alright. You’re obviously 12 with poor reading comprehension or troll level 9000. It’s been fun chatting. You’re a funny guy man. Keep that right leg strong brotha!
Maybe this starter mod isnt so dumb after all..
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