Why can't the motorcycle be kicked to start?
4 Answers
Motorcycle cannot be kicked to start due to excessive carbon deposits in the idle motor, intake tract, intake valve, and combustion chamber. Here is an introduction about motorcycles: Introduction: Sports motorcycles, also known as racing bikes, are designed primarily for leisure and vacation use. They serve as an entertaining means of transportation and a recreational tool to experience the joys of life. Working Principle: Motorcycles are powered by gasoline engines and steered by handlebars to control the front wheel. They come in two or three wheels, are lightweight and flexible, and can travel quickly. They are widely used for patrol, passenger and cargo transportation, and also serve as sports equipment. Broadly speaking, motorcycles can be categorized into street bikes, road racing motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, cruisers, and touring bikes, among others.
I've seen this motorcycle kick-start issue many times, mostly caused by internal engine seizure. It's likely due to dried-up oil from long-term storage, causing piston rings to fuse with cylinder walls. Another possibility is accidentally leaving it in gear during last shutdown - the transmission gears mesh too tightly, locking the kick lever solid. We often encounter this in Northeast winters at -20°C when oil congeals to paste, making the kick feel like striking iron. Never force it! Last time I saw someone hammer the kick lever with a wrench and cracked the crankshaft journal - repair costs reached half a new bike's price. Best try pulling the clutch first. If that fails, push the bike a few meters to loosen gears, then check oil condition.
My old motorcycle wouldn't start last year either, turned out the clutch cable rusted solid after I rode in the rain and didn't dry it properly. When you pull the clutch lever, does it feel unusually stiff? Or is the neutral light on but it's actually still in gear? If it's been sitting in the garage for over three months, the carburetor jets might be clogged, and the cylinder walls could have rusted and stuck. My solution is to first put it in neutral, use a heat gun to warm the engine for ten minutes, then drip some penetrating oil into the cylinder gaps. If that doesn't work, the last resort is to remove the spark plug and pour some engine oil to soak for two hours, letting the piston rings slowly lubricate and free up. This trick has revived three vintage bikes for me.
The most frustrating thing is when the motorcycle kick starter won't budge! From my experience, check in three steps: First, check the clutch - try squeezing it to see if the kick starter moves; Next, look at the gear lever to ensure it's in neutral; Finally, inspect the oil dipstick - if the oil is thick and black, it's time for a change. If all three are normal, it's likely an internal engine issue. Once when I borrowed a friend's bike, this happened - pushing it to the repair shop revealed a seized small sprocket, costing 800 in repairs. Regular maintenance is crucial, especially for long-term storage - start the engine for five minutes monthly to let oil lubricate the crankshaft. In cold weather, don't rush to kick-start; using a heater to warm the engine for half an hour helps a lot.
