Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer 
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the Horizons Unlimited logo on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
ll 5 DVDs with a custom printed slip case. "The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."
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| Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions. |
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#1
17 Apr 2008
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Do I need kick start?
 Techies, overlanders out there, i've got an electric start '02 XT600e. For an overland trans-Africa trip, is it worth having kick start fitted? If so, know of a supplier of such a kit, or is it a breaker's job? Cheers, Disco 
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#2
17 Apr 2008
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Same situation here, 2001 600e
I just put in a new battery and I'll just trust my electric starter. Maybe I'm gonna buy a solar battery charger just in case...
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#3
17 Apr 2008
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IMHO that a new battery and you are good to go. You didn't mention where you were going trans africa but the majority of the riders going through africa are riding only with electric start. Unless the '02 XT's are notorious for ther unreliable starting (in which case I would recommend taking a different bike), putting on aftermarket kick start is overkill.
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#4
17 Apr 2008
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remember that you can always jump start a bike if needed, have even managed it on a 250 kg plus bike on flat ground (very, very tiring)
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#5
17 Apr 2008
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oops, meant bump start. I took a cable that had a cigarette lighter attachment on one end with a torch built-in-meant that I could run the torch off the bike battery and also stick the lighter end into a car or truck and jump start the bike from their batt.
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#6
17 Apr 2008
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Bump starting singles is not easy
You might like to read this thread:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ic-start-31595 including post number 12. I have never come to a firm view on your question, but, as someone once pointed out, it is a bitch to bump start any bike in sand or mud  .
__________________
Dave
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#7
17 Apr 2008
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I've put a kickstart on my XT600E...and don't regret doing it! I' am maybe going to put a manual decompressor on it but ain't sure yet...
 The kickstart is a plus in my opinion..doesn't hurt to have it on but it sure does when it's needed and you don't have one!
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#8
18 Apr 2008
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The big problem with many modern bikes with electronic ignition or engine management systems is that they need stable battery power to work. The only way is to use jump leads. You cant generate enough power kicking them. Unlike older Triumphs where to start with a flat battery, all you had to do was switch from 'ign' to 'emg' and that put you on an energy transfer system, once started the motor would bring up the battery voltage in less than a minute enough to switch back to normal ignition.
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#9
18 Apr 2008
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Hi... my battery is flat(it's wasted btw) and the kickstart does make it turn on...... just needs some practice on the kick
 Vando
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#10
18 Apr 2008
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My 3Aj with the twin headlights flattens the battery in 10 minutes if I forget them on. I put a kickstart on and have never looked back. Trying to bump start a bike with panniers on. Or will you remove them 20 times a day everytime you switch of your bike to take in the wonders and views? Bumping - Panniers - You are asking for trouble. The last thing you want on a trip is to physically hurt yourself. Riding long distance on a bike in pain is not fun. Getting caught in africa with a broken leg.... oh man. Bye bye bike, trip, everything.
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#11
18 Apr 2008
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Quote:
I didn't have my XT long enough to find out if this is possible, but can you put a socket and ratchet on the flywheel/generator? I've started sidecar outfits that way when unsucessful bumping was going to leave me with a horrible up hill push. In conditions too slippy to bump this might work? If the bike comes with a kickstart, good, if it doesn't why worry IMHO. Andy
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#12
18 Apr 2008
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As a field based geologist in a past life, my experience of africa and life nearly came to a grinding halt, when the 4x4 I was in, battery ran flat because I was using it to power the tent light. Coupled to this the "well" for water I found, wasn't a well, it was an abondoned french drain. Hoo Haa and with a squirt. No chance of push starting a 4x4 on your ace, chronic food poisoning and no water. 5 days on 2 litres of water, a couple of cans of coke and a bag of granny smith apples. The doctors say I was a medical marvel, the doctors are wrong, I died a million times. It's always the little stupid things that catch you out. Never falling off, never being attacked by a mob or whatever the general fear is the order of the day. The stupid and avoidable things. Dont take an avoidable chance.
being able to get out of a place is more important than being able to get in. Last edited by bruken; 18 Apr 2008 at 12:40.
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#13
18 Apr 2008
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Hi andy. you're reffering to the automatic decompressor... I'm talking of a Manual decompressor...
The manual decompressor only has the decompressor valve on top of the cylinder head, a cable and a small bicycle-lever that fits on the handlebar... If I could get my hands on a WR400 decompressor lever or one from another bike that would be even better Vando
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#14
18 Apr 2008
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Decompressor really not neded
All.
If you are using a retro-fitted kick start as an emergency back up, and are average hight and build you will get by fine without the decompressor, I do. Mark
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#15
18 Apr 2008
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I do fine without the decompressor... but doubt my mother or even my father could kickstart it without the decompressor....they also ride the bike from time to time
Vando
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