Kick Starting After Hip Replacement

I just had a right total hip replacement 3 weeks ago and let me tell you, it's a fantastic thing! I asked the doc when I would be ready to kick start my Norton again and he told me to give it a year, which actually was a bit of a surprise. I was prepared to hear that I should never kick a bike again, so I was relieved to hear it. Sad that I wont be able to ride the Norton in 2021 but happy that at least I should be able to again.

It still worries me a bit, because the last thing I would want to do is to cause this wonderful implant harm, and the setback it would force on me. I could consider an electric start conversion, but the Norton really is easy to kick start.

Are there any forum members with hip replacements that are still kickin?

I just read through a similar thread that involved kicking after knee replacement. The consensus seems to be that an E start should be in my future.

My problem is besides the Norton I have quite a few kick start only bikes. Ouch

I had a hip replaced when I was 66, I'm 70 now. Mine was the left hip and before the surgery I had to drag my left leg into the car with my pant leg. I kicked motorbikes over with my right leg but I couldn't lift my left leg onto the foot peg. I would pull the clutch, put it in gear with my hand and once I got it rolling, would stand up, get my left foot on the peg and sit down. Doing a similar gyration at every stop. I don't remember how long It was until I kick started a bike after surgery but my hip was replaced in December and I'm sure I took my Triumph triple to the local vintage bike show in late April. I never asked my surgeon about when I should kick over a motorbike, but when he gave me a green light to ride our horses I figured I was good to go. My hip replacement has been great and I'm sure yours will enhance your life as it did mine.

Thanks for that brokeneagle. I wouldn't be worried about kicking if it was my left hip. I suppose I could train myself to stand on the right side and kick with my OEM left leg.

Or you could move to a house on a hill.
Extremely helpful on wetsumped Nortons.

Interesting discussion and timely for me - I'm scheduled for a right hip replacement on November 25. My surgeon is performing the "anterior method" where the muscles are not cut and therefor the joint is fully supported. What method was used for your surgery?

When I asked about limitations after surgery his response was "other than avoiding impact - very few limitations". My days as a runner are over obviously (the 35,000 miles of running over the last 30 years probably caused the hip issue), and I should avoid jumping but he said use of my rowing machine is OK.

Didn't think about kick starting. Really don't want to convert my Commando to e-Start, and I'm not sure what I would do about the Triumph. I have one more appointment with the surgeon before the procedure - will see what he says.