Kick Starting a Norton with a new knee?

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jimbo

jimbo

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Has anybody had any trouble kicking their bike with a new knee?

I know there are e starts available but its not an option on the bikes I have
 
jimbo said:
Has anybody had any trouble kicking their bike with a new knee?

I know there are e starts available but its not an option on the bikes I have
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In the early days, yes! Later it was fine and I've got a snapped posterior ligament and had both collaterals repaired, and my knee is as slack as hell. It's only recently I've reverted back to my left leg starting.
If you have had a partial knee replacement you should get all the movement back. If it is a total replacement you will have to work hard to get it to bend past passed 90deg. There's no gain without pain in this instance.
Best of Luck,
Dave
 
A good friend of mine had both his right hip and knee replaced and he can start his 72 combat, though he will bump start going downhill when he has the option.
 
If I need to , I guess I could sell off the heavy kickers,,,,,
my mobility down the road is more important ?
 
I have compromised right knee (2 complete rebuilds) and right hip waits on surgery , I have used left leg exclusively for last 15-20 yrs starting the Commando , put 'er up on centre stand and have at it .... while I have had left leg repaired, it was with a rod and pins which were removed and it did come back pretty well , no issues with getting bike to start with my method as long as it in fine tune .... if I were you it would be either left leg or electric leg ....
 
I have lived with knee problems for some time as have been told for a long time that I need a right knee replacement, for a long time I have started them with my left leg, with age I have had to sell my Mk2a and have purchased a project mk3 to get an E start, I don't have trouble starting my other bikes with my left leg.
 
I have a really torn up right knee from an injury, fractured patella with torn quad and patella tendons. Doc was afraid going in that he wouldn't be able to re-attach the tendons to the knee cap as it was in so many pieces. I've had multiple surgeries on it, and for the last 3 years I have been able to start the Commando with my left leg on the centerstand.

That said, I suspect a CNW estart is in my future.
 
Couple of things.

I have a friend with a replaced right knee and no other joint problems. He stands on the left foot rest with his left foot while straddling the bike. Then he basically climbs up on the kickstarter with his right leg and with a straight leg rides it down. Seems to work fine - just worries me what would happen in a kickback. He's about 5'10" and maybe 160 pounds.

My left side joints (shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot) have been replaced/repaired. My right hip and knee are not good, but no surgery. It's comical watching me climb on a bike and I cannot start a Norton while straddling the bike. I put it on the center stand, stand on the right side, and kick with my right leg. That seems easier than I remember while straddling the bike. I'm 6'1" so that could have something to do with it - my knee is not very bent when I'm applying force. I haven't tried my left leg on the right side of the bike, but I suspect that I could do it even with all the bad joints.
 
Sounds like a bunch of geriatrics with deteriorating bodies! I got the cNw electric start just in time. I'm afraid I would do serious
damage to my hip and knee to attempt kick starting today. And riding is the most important thing.
Hmmmm; cNw for $2500 OR the deductible for a $20,000 surgery. A no brainer especially when considering the pain factor.
 
I got 2 new knees over the winter now waiting to try out the kickstarting. Just building strength and courage. I'm a right foot kicker so got the right knee done first Dec. 10. Bike is ready to go with a new AN master cylinder and hose. Usually it will fire right off.
 
Lineslinger said:
Why don't you ask you r surgeon?
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I did, he seemed puzzled but thought it would be OK, not sure he knew what I meant.
Worst kicker pain I had when I was kicking and kicking a 500cc single Norton , then the pawl or something in the trans free wheeled and my leg just hyper stretched out, boy was that painful( maybe that and all rest is why I am where I am at now!)
 
worntorn said:
My wife the OR Nurse has assisted on many hundreds of knee and hip replacements.
She recommends the CNW or Alton electric start. She also speaks highly of the Commando MK3 with uprated starter and cables.

Glen
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Duly noted Glen , I have my heart set on new cNw e-start internals when I get the extra money, if I may ask, where does that leave you with regards to that wonderful custom Vincent you built?...…………. Jimbo, I'd convert your bikes to 'lectric start if you could, I've babied a bad left knee for so long now that my right hip is giving me problems, so IMHO better to not place your knee in harms way before you even leave your driveway. Cj
 
So far I'm on original knees and they are in pretty good shape for kick starting. I can just manage to kickstart the 1360. It usually starts easily
and, thankfully, doesn't kickback. I do the cold start on electric rollers. After that 1 kick generally does it.

I expect that in a few years it will be getting an e-start.
Glen
 
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