POLL: Do you know how/can you actually kickstart the Buddy?
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- un_designer
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POLL: Do you know how/can you actually kickstart the Buddy?
I sure can't. Maybe it's time for a video demo and an addition to the tech library.
- skullmechanic
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- BuddyRaton
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The main thing is tomake sure the ignition and kill swith are on. Flip out the little peg. Stand next to the scooter and kick it down sharply. It may take a few times. I have never had my Buddy start on the first kick.
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'06 Cream Buddy 125, 11 Blur 220, 13 BMW C 650 GT, 68 Vespa SS180, 64 Vespa GS MK II, 65 Lambretta TV 175, 67 Vespa GT, 64 Vespa 150 VBB 64 Vespa GL
- Eazy
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- un_designer
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yes. i've tried kickstarting it a couple of times but have never been successful to get it started that way. and yes, i've checked the kill switch and the key position. i saw a video someone posted of the dealer doing it and it didn't look that easy either because it took a while before they were able to get it started.
- Eazy
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- Howardr
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I have the best luck when the motor is warm. It's not easy though. The Stella is designed to be kick-started and you can do it while sitting on the seat.
It appears that kick-starting is an after thought on the Buddy. You must be standing next to the bike, while it's on the center stand, in order to start it.
Howard
It appears that kick-starting is an after thought on the Buddy. You must be standing next to the bike, while it's on the center stand, in order to start it.
Howard
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- jmazza
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The tip that is most important that everyone posts in these threads is to slowly press the kickstart lever until you feel it "catch" and THEN let it up and kick. That way, you'll get more out of the stroke.
Remember that a brake doesn't have to be held for this so you don't have to worry about that.
Try standing a bit behind the scoot. Try with your right foot as well as with your left. It's all about getting the right position. I think it takes maybe two tries to kick mine, warm or cold.
Remember that a brake doesn't have to be held for this so you don't have to worry about that.
Try standing a bit behind the scoot. Try with your right foot as well as with your left. It's all about getting the right position. I think it takes maybe two tries to kick mine, warm or cold.
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- brape
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De4b2BpueOo
I found thinking about pushing forward instead of down helped me a lot. I forced myself to figure it out when my battery died and i had to get someone else to kick start it for me.
I found it easier to face forward and use my left foot. That way i can hold on to the sissy bar for balance and as everyone else mentioned push forward slowly until you feel it catch.
I really need to make a better video, but you can see how i like to stand in that.
I found thinking about pushing forward instead of down helped me a lot. I forced myself to figure it out when my battery died and i had to get someone else to kick start it for me.
I found it easier to face forward and use my left foot. That way i can hold on to the sissy bar for balance and as everyone else mentioned push forward slowly until you feel it catch.
I really need to make a better video, but you can see how i like to stand in that.
- RonF
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I used to own a '79 Triumph Bonneville and it didn't have an electric start. As I recall it was not that hard to kick start. I tried a few times to kick start my 150 but gave up. I need to try again just in case I have to.
I thought I remember someone saying that if the battery is completely dead you couldn't kick start a Buddy. Is that true? Maybe I misread it.
I thought I remember someone saying that if the battery is completely dead you couldn't kick start a Buddy. Is that true? Maybe I misread it.
- Eddy Merckx
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- Orange Guy
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Kickstart is the ONLY way I start the Buddy. I'd bet 80% it's on first kick, three kicks at most.
I suppose I should be upset, even feel violated, but I'm not. No, in fact, I think this is a friendly message, like "Hey, wanna play?" and yes I want to play. I really really do.
Orange Guy, Inc.
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I can kick start my Buddy, and I'm pretty wimpy. I had a heck of a time learning to use the center stand. Everyone at the MSF class ran to help me. I'm sure they thought I would knock the scooter over. After about the tenth time I could do it myself. YAY! They didn't teach us to kick start. I learned that from my friends here at MB.
I think both issues are about getting at the right angle and using your force at the right time. Keep on trying, you'll get it!
I think both issues are about getting at the right angle and using your force at the right time. Keep on trying, you'll get it!
- Orange Guy
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Well, me being badass is one of the reasons, but I think my insecurities play a larger role. I mean, here I am, 6-foot and 220 lbs riding a scooter. Kickstarting it lets me a bit of a man.jmazza wrote:Really? How come? I'm guessing just 'cause you're that badass!
OK, not really.
The truth is, if you don't kickstart a red Buddy, it'll turn pink.
Yeah, that's not it either.
I have no clue why I kickstart only. I have a lawn mower with keyed start, but I still use the rope. Ditto for the snow blower. I guess I just enjoy the interaction of manually starting the engines.
I suppose I should be upset, even feel violated, but I'm not. No, in fact, I think this is a friendly message, like "Hey, wanna play?" and yes I want to play. I really really do.
Orange Guy, Inc.
Orange Guy, Inc.
- illnoise
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I kickstart my Blur if I'm running a lot of short errands, just to give the battery a break.jmazza wrote:Really? How come? I'm guessing just 'cause you're that badass!
2strokebuzz: When news breaks, we put it under a tarp in the garage.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZA9JGmFqnI&fmt=18
First kick! It was dark and I just used my digital still, so not really a good tutorial. But it's pretty dang easy to do once you know how.
First kick! It was dark and I just used my digital still, so not really a good tutorial. But it's pretty dang easy to do once you know how.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
- un_designer
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ok i went and tried again a couple of different ways, and the way that brape did it worked for me. it's a down AND forward motion, and standing behind the scooter facilitated that motion. i noticed that if i stand the way that most people stand to kickstart, the motion is down only.
so now i can use the kickstart
so now i can use the kickstart
- PasadenaSue
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Good thread. I realized that I had never actually kickstarted the scooter. So, off we went, key in hand and it took a few tries to not push the scooter forward before I got it. 3 kicks both times.
So now I can say that I have actually kickstarted my scooter. But I still prefer the magic button!
PasadenaSue
So now I can say that I have actually kickstarted my scooter. But I still prefer the magic button!
PasadenaSue
- kraskaea
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Just be careful not to kick it off the stand! It appears that you would not have as good a grip on the scooter if you did it this way.un_designer wrote:ok i went and tried again a couple of different ways, and the way that brape did it worked for me. it's a down AND forward motion, and standing behind the scooter facilitated that motion. i noticed that if i stand the way that most people stand to kickstart, the motion is down only.
so now i can use the kickstart
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
- gt1000
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The Buddy's kick start is surprisingly easy when the bike is warm and, predictably, a lot trickier when cold. But all in all, it's a well designed kick start, a real rarity these days.
As for kick starting to "save the battery", there's really no need if you take care of your scooter. I don't use a tender, I almost always use the electric start and my rides are always at least 15 minutes long. The only battery issue I've ever had was a couple of loose terminals.
As for kick starting to "save the battery", there's really no need if you take care of your scooter. I don't use a tender, I almost always use the electric start and my rides are always at least 15 minutes long. The only battery issue I've ever had was a couple of loose terminals.
Andy
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2006 Buddy 125 (orange), going to a good MB home
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- ScooterTrash
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About 3 times as hardBuddy_wannabe wrote:Is it harder to kick the 125 & 150's then the 50? My 50 usualy goes on 1st or 2nd kick.
The video eazy posted was with me hurrying cause the camera was running, usually I face the front, push down on the back till the tire touches, rest left foot on lever till engagement then kick. Usually first try
- Dooglas
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+1peabody99 wrote:if you live in a cold climate and plan on riding in the winter, you will learn.
I almost always kick start in cold weather so I don't run the battery down by electric starting on short rides. I've never had much trouble though it does take several kicks. I figured the first 1 or 2 kicks after the scoot has been sitting gets some gas into the cylinder.
- ScootingInTheRain
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Did it this morning, 2nd kick, after the electric didn't work (low battery) because Tony was sitting several days with the switch on, then several more with it off, 12 days of no riding in total.
But...kick....kick ..wappitawappitawappitawappitabrpbrpbrpbpbpbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....
~SITR
But...kick....kick ..wappitawappitawappitawappitabrpbrpbrpbpbpbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....
~SITR
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- un_designer
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maybe it's because i don't weight enough, but doing it by standing behind the scooter like in brape's video is the only way i can kickstart. plus my right knee is weaker because of the injury so i can't get seem to forcefully kick with it.
in any case, i can kick-start now woot!
but it's easier to use the electric start. heh.
in any case, i can kick-start now woot!
but it's easier to use the electric start. heh.
- brape
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Hah I started that way because I sprained my right ankle and thought perhaps I should try the left foot. by the weigh my boyfriend weighs 120 lbs on a good day and he kick starts my scooter in flip flops with no problems so i don't think its a weight thing.un_designer wrote:maybe it's because i don't weight enough, but doing it by standing behind the scooter like in brape's video is the only way i can kickstart. plus my right knee is weaker because of the injury so i can't get seem to forcefully kick with it.
in any case, i can kick-start now woot!
but it's easier to use the electric start. heh.
- ericalm
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It's not weight—it's all in the action. You don't need to stand on it.brape wrote:Hah I started that way because I sprained my right ankle and thought perhaps I should try the left foot. by the weigh my boyfriend weighs 120 lbs on a good day and he kick starts my scooter in flip flops with no problems so i don't think its a weight thing.un_designer wrote:maybe it's because i don't weight enough, but doing it by standing behind the scooter like in brape's video is the only way i can kickstart. plus my right knee is weaker because of the injury so i can't get seem to forcefully kick with it.
in any case, i can kick-start now woot!
but it's easier to use the electric start. heh.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
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