Bump starting?

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Thought I would try to bump start my 1200 Sport just so I know that it's possible. It didn't go to well. I was on a slight downgrade going about 10 mph and I popped the clutch in 2nd gear... the rear wheel just skidded. I tried 3rd and 4th gears with the same results.

Am I going about it wrong or can't they be bump started?

[Triple Jim]

Most of the time I can start my Mille in 2nd that way, but sometime the rear wheel skids.  I'm surprised you skidded the wheel in 4th.

[Guzzistajohn]

That works on old bikes, but I'd "feather" the clutch a little. E-lectric fuel injection may hamper your efforts as far as actually starting the bike, I don't know. I bump start the old LeMans all the time (if parked on a hill)

[papatom]

Did you seat bounce when you dumped the clutch?  My EV died after miles of steady throttle and I backed off the throttle for a u turn.  It bump started in 3rd easily but I was still going 20 or 30 mph.  Kill it on a bigger hill.

[Idontwantapickle]

Willow,
I learned the hard way that the late model EFI bikes like my Norge can be bump started with the right technique. You must NOT give it any throttle. The ECU is expecting to to take care of that and human input just causes confusion and delay. The Norge does tend to slide the tire like your 1200. Try rolling it backwards in gear first to get the engine off the compression stroke and be ready to get a good head of forward speed going. As PapaTom says hit the seat as you let out the clutch. I use 3rd gear. It will be snatchy and ugly when it starts, be ready to grab the clutch.
Good luck! And I hope you never need to do it!
Hunter

[Wayne Orwig]

Yes it can be done.
I had to bump start the EV the other day. Second gear slides/hops the rear tire. Third was fine. I didn't have enough run to even think about bouncing on the seat.
I know the gearing is different on the Sport, but I would have thought that fourth would have worked well. Odd.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Nothing serious, the engine is just froze up.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I think you need to put on some weight ???

I have bump started each of my Guzzis on the flat at one time or another
VII Sport, I was surprised how easy
California II, you really have to watch the crash bars
EV, this was the hardest

My method is to use second, pull back against compression, key on, clutch in, run as fast as I can,
leap and come down hard on the seat sideways at the same time dropping the clutch.

With a slight downgrade it's a piece of cake

It certainly helps if ever you owned old Brit bikes ;D

[rocker59]

I always use 1st or 2nd . No biggie.

[twodogs]

Do the seat bounce as soon as you drop the clutch, remember when pushing for speed and getting back on the bike the heads stick out, don't ask me how my shins know this :BEER:

[charlie b]

LOL.

I've been lucky.  Had always had a slight down slope to get going.  So, I sit on it, crab walk to get it going, shift into 2nd, let out clutch.

The hard part is if I have to flip the choke lever too :)

[Sasquatch Jim]

  That doesn't work with the converts.  Maybe if you run really really fast before bumping it.

[tazio]

For clarity, not all bump starts are a good idea, under particular circumstances, correct?
Dead battery bumps can take out ECU's? or maybe I have misunderstood this significance.
~I know this doesn't apply to op's attempt..

[Brightblade]

When I got the 04 california push  started.  Battery had enough juice to Put pressure on the fuel stuff, but couldn't pull in the starter.... So it was fairly easy to start and go, but that thing was heavy.

[cruzziguzzi]

I know it's useless on my Spot 1100. I lived on a respectable grade in Oceanside, California and tried it in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. 1st just produced dangerous skids, 2nd and 3rd were intermittent skids till slowed to the point of realizing I had to push it back up the hill... CRAP! Couple of Harp lagers set me right though fuzzified my logic-ball a bit....

This then led to a nearly catastrophic collision of nostalgia and laziness as I began preparations to "pull start" it as the Ol' Man had done when I was young with our "Baja Bug". That was an an operation one must see to believe. Fortunately, my eminently (though surprisingly) practical roommate - he's "off the boat" Irish - asked what I "was about" and in explaining it to him, the Wile E. Coyote-ness of the brainstorm became apparent. Disaster averted and off to the "packy" for more Harps and then a battery from the battery place.

Never tried that again.

The Calvin (thanks to the craptacular alternator output/driving lights/moderate RPMs) has given me a couple-three opportunities to explore the joys of the GP start.
Seems quite impossible on my own. Bad enough trying to clear my flippers over the bags as I re-mount but running over one's self when the front of the left bag strikes the back of one's right leg really puts a hitch in yer get-a-long.

Anyhow, getting the nearest lay-about suckin' on a "40" to push, my narrow ass already in the seat and the gear selector in 2nd has produced decent results.

Todd.