How do you usually start your Commando?

What's your preferred method to start your Commando?

  • On the centre stand.

    Votes: 30 37.5%

  • On the side stand.

    Votes: 11 13.8%

  • Astride it.

    Votes: 24 30.0%

  • Press the button.

    Votes: 27 33.8%

  • Get a fit mate to push you :-)

    Votes: 1 1.3%
  • Total voters
    80
My '75 Commando, I can stand on the kick start, with it at 9-o'clock and it holds me there. My '76 CB750, I can start on the kick start with my right hand, it's so easy. Never crosses my mind to use either. Happy to just push the button and go on both.

:)All the kids know we're old farts. They're not watching or impressed. They're too busy with their iPhones. Loud pipes please two people, the bloke that sold them and the bloke that fitted them. Never stopped me, though!
 
The only people who are impressed by someone kick-starting a motorcycle are the other old folks like us who kick start (or used to kick-start) their motorcycles. But nowadays, if I saw someone kick-starting a Commando I'd feel bad that they couldn't afford an Alton or CNW E-start. ;)
 
Last edited:
Tickle choke do the little Norton dance on the kicker to get it just before tdc and kick! Side stand most often and center stand if level ground. Wish I had an assistant!
 
I don't have a Commando anymore. When I did have one, I'm fairly certain I kick started it both stands up. I remember after starting it, I would put it up on the center stand and it would spin around in circles idling on the center stand. Always thought that was funny. Current Norton is kick started side stand up. No center stand. The startup ritual is unique to my build.

I have never started a kick start only bike on the side stand. I'm thinking many of the electric start motorcycles I've owned wouldn't start with the side stand down. Ignition kill switch on the side stand.
 
" I'm thinking many of the electric start motorcycles I've owned wouldn't start with the side stand down. Ignition kill switch on the side stand.'

Hmmm...all the bikes I've owned that had start linked to the side stand position also had it linked to the gear selection. If in neutral they would start on the side stand. In gear, they wouldn't.
 
Dan1950 said:
I now drive a 4Runner TRD Off Road premium.

I have the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
The only Toyota allowed on the Jeepers Jamboree on the Rubicon Trail are Land Cruisers. A 4Runner could not survive on this run.
And I agree about Commando 850 Mk3. The poor starter design is just additional baggage to go wrong.
 
When lazy, and my e-start worked, I pressed the button.
Otherwise, Astride it, usually forgetting that the side stand was still down.
Suck my gut in if attractive ladies are around.
 
MexicoMike said:
" I'm thinking many of the electric start motorcycles I've owned wouldn't start with the side stand down. Ignition kill switch on the side stand.'

Hmmm...all the bikes I've owned that had start linked to the side stand position also had it linked to the gear selection. If in neutral they would start on the side stand. In gear, they wouldn't.
Click to expand...
Probably had something to do with it. It's been a while.
 
ILLF8ED said:
The only Toyota allowed on the Jeepers Jamboree on the Rubicon Trail are Land Cruisers. A 4Runner could not survive on this run.
And I agree about Commando 850 Mk3. The poor starter design is just additional baggage to go wrong.
Click to expand...
 
MexicoMike said:
The only people who are impressed by someone kick-starting a motorcycle are the other old folks like us who kick start (or used to kick-start) their motorcycles. But nowadays, if I saw someone kick-starting a Commando I'd feel bad that they couldn't afford an Alton or CNW E-start. ;)
Click to expand...
Don't feel bad for us kick start Norton owners, has never fazed me kicking my Norton to life, in fact it's a dying art and having the knack of kick starting and a bike that fires up on first kick helps, love pulling up on our Sunday rides for coffee somewhere and there are other motorcycle parked up, when leaving I always draw a crowd to watch someone kick an old bike over and hearing whispers in the back ground "wonder how many kicks to start it" has never let me down for it starts first time every time and kicking it over while sitting on the seat, my Norton has very little baffle and when fired up and I take off I always give it a good hand full to let them all know what a real bike sounds like.
When I brought my 850 new aged 17 it was the last of the KS models, I could have paid an extra $450 to buy a M111 but I went the right way, skinny little runt I was then, didn't take me long to learn the kick start knack and these days with the Joe Hunt maggie it's been the best of all ignition systems I have ran on my Norton, for starting and running.
No I am old school in everything I do and the old Norton will always be a kicker, I have my Thruxton as my lazy bike, but I get more enjoyment while out on my old kicker.
A lot of late Norton comers will always pay the $$$ for a push button start as they just never learned the KS knack.
So don't feel sorry for us kickers who take pride in still being able to fire up an old bike the way it was meant too.

Ashley
How do you usually start your Commando?
 
jaydee75 said:
Ash, do you have to run a battery when you have that mag?
jaydee
Click to expand...
I had a capacitor on my A65T and I ran without a battery. Sounds like a good idea until the bike dies on you at night and you're stuck alongside the road with no lights!
 
If I had to start my bike on the center stand kicking with my left foot from the right side, I would probably opt for an electric foot. Mounting from the left is just natural. It's how you get on a horse. I can keep my left foot flat on the ground and swing my leg over the seat, ratchet to kicker up to the top and give it a stab. I just don't see any other way that's not awkward.

Sorry for the underscoring. I don't know how that got activated.
 
jaydee75 said:
Ash, do you have to run a battery when you have that mag?
jaydee
Click to expand...
No need for a battery at all, I did run a battery eliminator for lights to run, but at night the head light was dull and when hitting the brake the headlight faded even more, but I don't ride the Norton at night no more but still good to have good working lights if caught out late, I now run a very small battery under my seat from my dirt bike just so I have a bright brake light when out and about, my Commando/Featherbed is a light weight bike built for handling and grunt and the idea of carrying a big heavy battery is just not on which you need for EI, the Joe Hunt has been on now for 15 years without touching it and will out spark any other system I have ran in 48+ years of ownership.

Ashley
 
Dan1950 said:
I had a capacitor on my A65T and I ran without a battery. Sounds like a good idea until the bike dies on you at night and you're stuck alongside the road with no lights!
Click to expand...
Never had my Norton die on the side of the road at night in 48+ years, but have had 2 EI fail on me, I had an older Joe Hunt on my 81 Triumph Thunderbird for 9 years and 250K km without any problems with the JH.
 
ashman said:
Don't feel bad for us kick start Norton owners, has never fazed me kicking my Norton to life, in fact it's a dying art and having the knack of kick starting and a bike that fires up on first kick helps, love pulling up on our Sunday rides for coffee somewhere and there are other motorcycle parked up, when leaving I always draw a crowd to watch someone kick an old bike over and hearing whispers in the back ground "wonder how many kicks to start it" has never let me down for it starts first time every time and kicking it over while sitting on the seat, my Norton has very little baffle and when fired up and I take off I always give it a good hand full to let them all know what a real bike sounds like.
When I brought my 850 new aged 17 it was the last of the KS models, I could have paid an extra $450 to buy a M111 but I went the right way, skinny little runt I was then, didn't take me long to learn the kick start knack and these days with the Joe Hunt maggie it's been the best of all ignition systems I have ran on my Norton, for starting and running.
No I am old school in everything I do and the old Norton will always be a kicker, I have my Thruxton as my lazy bike, but I get more enjoyment while out on my old kicker.
A lot of late Norton comers will always pay the $$$ for a push button start as they just never learned the KS knack.
So don't feel sorry for us kickers who take pride in still being able to fire up an old bike the way it was meant too.

Ashley
View attachment 114392
Click to expand...
Ash we've been down this kick-starting road a few times now
If you ever end up with no cartilage,bone on bone you will not be kicking your Norton over any more
You can't kick with your left either because your right won't be able to take your weight
So you fit an electric starter or you stop riding your Norton
Unless someone else starts it for you
It's as simple as that
 
In 26 years, 21 Nortons of my own, and 23 Client bikes, and at least a half-dozen friend's Nortons, I have used all of the above methods; plus, tying a rope to a truck and pull starting.

But the single most-used method is on the centerstand, and the least-used method is pushing the button.
 
baz said:
Ash we've been down this kick-starting road a few times now
If you ever end up with no cartilage,bone on bone you will not be kicking your Norton over any more
You can't kick with your left either because your right won't be able to take your weight
So you fit an electric starter or you stop riding your Norton
Unless someone else starts it for you
It's as simple as that
Click to expand...
Baz I never think about things like that, I keep kicking as long as I live but thinking about worn out parts or what may happen down the road is just not on my mind, I take each day as it comes to me, and I know all about knee injuries I have had 3 left knee injuries in my life time, first time hit from behind from a speeding car while stopped on the bike turning into a mates place at the age of 17, then in 84 hit a car which stopped in front of me without working brake lights, just clipped him when my left knee got hooked up on the handle bars of my Triumph and pulled the knee out of its socket then 12 month later jumping off a fence post, each time 4 months off work.
Besides I can't afford the high price to install a push button starter, retired now I got to be wise with my money just too live and hopefully my 4 bikes will last my time, 2 on the road, one dirt bike and one project build Norton.
 

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