Kick start on a V-Twin Guzzi?

[cliffrod]

As I’m slowly working on my V700 Corsa Record cafe project,  the starter detail is still uncertain.  The two original Record bikes (Ambassador model) had no starter, push start only.  I did that for a while on my V7 Sport when I was young and ambitious.  No more.  The original V700 starter has bendix/solenoid on the bottom, which will probably touch the planned exhaust pipe.  A later Bosch or Valeo starter has solenoid/bendix on top, which may similarly interfere with the planned carburetor mounting.  I haven’t fully mocked either exhaust or carb yet but don’t want to get to that point and have no Plan B.

Has anyone here made or tried doing a BMW-style kickstart for their Guzzi to replace the electric starter?  The one on our old /2 worked fine.

[guzzisteve]

You save 10lbs, Ha Ha. I have a few times started on one then regained my sense. Like a BMV but you pull it off when started.

[Lee Bruns]

I have never seen it done, but it will be VERY cool if you can make it happen.

[Shorty]

How about a starter gear on a shaft, spring loaded to self extract. (Inward pressure keeps it engaged to flywheel.)  Make it long enough to use socket extensions skinny enough to bypass your exhaust/carbs.  Jerry rig a way to attach it all to a 20 dollar lawn mower 12v starter motor, so you don't need to ruin a Guzzi starter. Or, make an adaptor to put a BMW kicker transmission on the Guzzi. Third option is a device that rotates your rear wheel while the bike is on a connected lift.

[AJ Huff]

I've always wondered if a kick starter couldn't be retrofitted on at least the loopframes. I think the 60s era Lodola had one? And I think the NATO V35/V50 maybe? Always wondered if a Guzzi Kickstarter could be transplanted.

-AJ

[John A]

Here is a vid that may have ideas on ways to do it. https://youtu.be/_uFh3I-7gSI
  the second one is a kick starter

[reidy]

Some of the small blocks had a kick starter. The parts diagram shows how it worked so could be a good starting point.

[fotoguzzi]

Here is a vid that may have ideas on ways to do it. https://youtu.be/_uFh3I-7gSI
  the second one is a kick starter

great video, thanks for posting.

[cliffrod]

Here is a vid that may have ideas on ways to do it. https://youtu.be/_uFh3I-7gSI
  the second one is a kick starter

I’m actually familiar with that method.  There’s a throttle control engine at the shop.  It’s like a hit & miss but different. Think it’s mine, we’re not really sure who owns it anymore.   we got about a decade ago.  It’s got a crank for starting but after enough alcohol, the kick-the-flywheel-to-start method has been employed as we watched to see what would happen to PeeWee when he tried it…  it never gobbled him.

[Frenchfrog]

The V 50s supplied to the Dutch army had them but stock were not supposed to be that strong.I think those gearboxs also might have non standard ratio's. Some of the small block built to order Baja competition bikes also had them but you can count those bikes on one hand.Big bloc, never heard of it and I doubt that grafting one on would be easy or very pratical either.They would swing in the same way as the BMW ones did so dispacement and compression ratio would be hurdles!