Sometimes we take for granted that we all know the most basic tasks of motorcycle mechanics, however it is very useful to review how to push start a motorcycle.
Can you think of anything more annoying than getting to your bike and it not starting? I can’t think of many…
That’s why I think it’s important that you learn what the push start method is, but more importantly, that you learn how to put it into practice.
This is one of the tasks I teach you in my book on motorcycle mechanics for beginners.
What does it mean to bump start a motorcycle?
There are times when we have no choice but to start our motorcycle by pushing it. If we do not have a starter pedal and we have run out of battery, we will have no other option.
To do this we will cause the piston to move by means of the gearbox itself.
The mechanism is very easy to explain and the difficulty of putting it into practice depends on the weight and height of the motorcycle, the existence or not of downhill slopes and the skill of the driver.
How to bump start a motorcycle in practice?
- We will start the movement with the key in the on position.
- Second gear engaged.
- We will squeeze the clutch lever, otherwise we will not be able to move the motorcycle.
- We will force the motorcycle to move, helping us with a slope or pushing it.
- When the motorcycle has reached a sufficient speed, release the clutch.
- The motorcycle should start.
I leave you a video bump starting Azahara, my BMW R45.
Which gear should be used to start a vehicle by bump starting?
To start any vehicle we will put it in second gear. Only if it is very difficult to overcome the resistance offered by the gear when releasing the clutch will we use third gear.
When the engine is running and we engage a gear, the wheel moves, starting the movement. The rationale behind this method is to achieve the opposite, to force the motor to move by turning the wheel.
First gear is not used because it is the gear that requires the most force to move the wheel, so when releasing the clutch the bike would slow down a lot.
