KIck starterS....

[Planecrazy]

Yeah, Doug, it was a "kick" to read "Diaz Wisdom" again -- haha!! His impatience with anyone who differed in opinion is amusing too, though!

This one thread actually makes it easy to understand why he left when he did, although I would have preferred he stick around. If his view on kick starters was so narrow I can only imagine the private rants that went on in his head when he visited the Off Topic area... Oh well, someday perhaps he will return.

Come back, Nick!!

Regards,
Steve 8)

[Anonymous]

i dunno, but what nick said about kickstarters makes perfect sense to me...

i have a gk too, with no kickstarter, and i dont miss it

i dont think its worthwhile, time and moneywise to set up a kickstarter on a gs1100g

the 79 850 had a kickstarter, which took room behind the clutch housing

later 850 and 1100 models took away that room behind the clutch, and i dont know how it can be made up

not worth the trouble or time to mess with it

[Planecrazy]

Took it away with what?

My understanding is that there is nothing there ... just a space where the kickstart assembly could have continued to be installed, if Suzuki had simply chosen to keep doing so.

At this point I'm not really interested in whether anyone thinks it's worthwhile (to each their own), only whether it is technically possible.

Thanks,
Steve 8)

PS You WOULD have missed it if you had to push start your GK all weekend or give up on attending a great weekend...

[marcusc130]

I'm looking to do the same thing to my '80 GS550. I'm pretty sure that Suzuki just removed the kick starter assembly, and closed the hole on the case. I think if I can find a case and kick starter off a '77-79, it should bolt right up. My only question then is what needs to be done to the electrics, and what can I get rid of?

[GS550joe]

lately my 78 gs550 hasn't been charging the battery.. and when the charge in the battery gets too low... I need to kick it... starts on abouot the 2-3 try when cold and 1st when hot... being one of those poor students with other responsibilities.. I need to put prioritites on evertything.... and the wife wants the car to be fixed.. My 550 is a daily rider and until I can purchase the stator and regulaor and batterey then i will kick it to get from point a to b... ( i have a back injury and this is just about too heavey for the push job....

[GSstiny]

Not to hijack, but this thread concerns me a little. I kickstart my 750 occasionally, mainly because Im into the "cool" factor 8-[ It always starts on no more than 3 kicks, even cold, but its really, really easy for me to kick over. Granted, Im a young gun, and a mountain biker, so my legs are stronger than average. But still, my yz250 suicide machine was harder to kick than the GS. It may be geared into the crank differently, or just the longer lever. Maybe its time for a compression check.

Geez, I hope my ride doesnt have 123k as opposed to 23k

[omaharj]

Having lived without a motorcycle for over 20 years I had to think back a long ways---I REMEMBER--- the bottom inside part of my ankle would get shredded as frustration set in trying to start a bike that just won't. I don't miss that.

[earlfor]

Somehow, it just isnt a motorcycle if it doesnt have a kick starter. Using it has nothing to do with it. :-) Its like having a Harley. A Harley isnt a motorcycle. Its a fashion statement.

Earl

[tfb]

Too many posts from that prolific author "Anonymous" here. :mrgreen:

[rustybronco]

I have a 1939 farmall "A" never had electric start... and a 1948 mccormick derring "w-6" has both crank and electric start, the "A" is easy to start with a crank when in it's in a good state of tune above 30 degrees, the w-6 is rough one to crank because it's a lot bigger c.i.d., with that said make mine ELECTRIC!

[earlfor]

Ahhhh just more fashion statements. LOL

Earl

I have a 1939 farmall "A" never had electric start... and a 1948 mccormick derring "w-6" has both crank and electric start, the "A" is easy to start with a crank when in it's in a good state of tune above 30 degrees, the w-6 is rough one to crank because it's a lot bigger c.i.d., with that said make mine ELECTRIC!

[Planecrazy]

Here we are almost a year later and I STILL don't have the answer I'm looking for ... does anyone know if it is TECHNICALLY possible to retrofit an older kick start to an '83 1100G?

I really could care less whether you think it's worth it to do ... I just want to know if it CAN be done.

Thanks in advance and Regards,

[Grandpa]

Can't be done. The 1100G, just like the 850G from 82 and 83, has no room on the right rear crankcase for a kickstarter. On the 80 and 81 850 and 1000G that room was still there. Suzuki just eliminated the room in the case where that could've been retrofitted.

[Planecrazy]

My understanding is that there is just a gap back there where the kick-start mechanicals used to be. Are you saying that the case was completely redesigned? Others have suggested that the spot for those parts still exists...

Thanks in advance for any clarification you can give!

Regards,

[Grandpa]

That's what I'm saying. Find an 850 or 1000G from 80 and 81, then an 850 or 1100G from 82 and 83. Look at the right side. Totally different. Nothing left back there.