A common theme.

[desertgasser300]

I've only been on this forum for a few years, but the "common theme" on here is mostly just two things.
1. The cost and availability of oem parts.
2. The fragile kick starter.

The parts situation aside I can understand, to a point. Its been beatin to death. But the kicker is something the factory can fix. I have to ask, is the factory aware of this? Having owned 3 gassers every time I get a new one I immediately buy a yz kicker to put in the parts bin until the oem kicker snaps, which doesn't take very long.

 

[scratch250]

I wonder how u all are kickin, 2st doesn't take a heavy foot. ????

 

[swazi_matt]

I wonder how u all are kickin, 2st doesn't take a heavy foot. ????

+1 my 2010 kicker is still fine, granted it is a bit gouged out where it hits the foot peg, but I try to stop kicking before hitting it now

 

[Jakobi]

I haven't snapped one.. But place one next to a YZ and the difference in build quality is immediately evident. Test them against each other on the bike and you won't want to use a stock Gas Gas one ever again.

 

[eff]

My 2004 has the original kick starter and the YZ one has an odd shape and is too long. I really like the GG kick starter.

 

[desertgasser300]

I wonder how u all are kickin, 2st doesn't take a heavy foot. ????

Yeah, but have you ever seen my muscley thighs?

 

[gasgasxc]

You can take an old tube and cut it in half at the valve stem.Cut it out,
Take the tube and roll it up, then take a sharp knife and cut it in 1" widths..
Take the one inch wide strip of rubber and wrap the kicker tight with the rubber wrapping in spiral clockwise wraps starting well above the part of the kicker that gets hammered on the peg to well down below that.Start the wrap tight around itself so the pressure holds the tucked under end down then wrap it laying half the strip over the rubber you are wrapping.Their is a welt there to lay the new wrap against.Stretch it tight as you wrap.Cut it where you want the wrap to end holding it tight and sieze the end with good electrical tape, a zip tie or 120 tarred nylon if you have a good cinchy knot.

Takes the shock out of it.Its chafing gear, you will use it for many things once you master rubber wrapping.

 

[gasgasxc]

Uh, its not pretty if pretty is your style.

 

[houndog]

Guys, I have no clue what the issue is, seriously. My 450 is flat impossible to start by kicking it. Not a single person has been able to do it. That includes everyone at the dealership I bought it from and "Byron" starts my buddy's 500 Husky in 4 kicks....my buddy can not start it at all....I do it for him!

So I took it off to stop it from mocking and laughing at me. It's gone and it no longer taunts me.


My 300 lights up in 3 small kicks, max, if I do not do it "just right"....no strain at all, no effort.....I weigh 140 and am 60.

No lever will help the 450 and the 300 needs nothing which makes me wonder why a different lever would be needed? I never bottom it out and am sure it will last longer than me.

Are your bikes hard to start? My 300 had not been started in 2 weeks at least and today I went to ride her. I cut the gas on, the choke, turned her over a couple times and with one gentle kick she fired right up.

The idea that the kick start lever is inadequate or lacking completely baffles me! Unless of course it is stripping from the shaft! I see no indication that is happening.

Help me guys, what is the problem you are having that causes you to dislike the stock lever?
Ed

 

[gasgasxc]

I think 3 gentle kicks or small kicks max may work in the garage or just unloaded at the truck.
Doesnt work for me.But Ive seen vets make things look easy before.

If you are riding gnarly terrain with a fast paced crew in the heat of battle so to speak.
People generally kick it down to the peg after a mistake or after a group stop.
I havent seen or done alot of gentle kicking out there.Ive seen frustrated and amped up kicking.Even on everything going right super smooth days I kick it through and make sure its lit.On dead engine start race day its gonna get hammered.Gotta practice those starts too.You ride the bike hard enough long enough the lever is gonna take a beating.

I wouldnt be opposed to steel.Old Yamaha YZ-IT kickers were damn tough.
Id put up with the extra 10 ounces of weight.

 

[houndog]

GGXC, I always forget most of you race. I do not. I am extremely gentle with all my rides. Probably the reason she's got >10K miles and runs 'like new" or better. My 300 starts in one "gentle" kick (after a couple "priming kicks" when cold ) even when scorching hot. Now, since I've only dumped her twice in 10K miles I can not say for sure how she'd react after laying down a couple seconds/minutes when hot.

I have never kicked her hard enough for the lever to contact the peg! Not a single time! Never had a reason too and since I'm not racing there is no need to get excited or brutal due to being under pressure!

There is one consideration.....for a small. skinny, old guy I can kick the snot out of a bike with a "short stroke type kick". My buddy Mac can not start his Husky 390 or 500, period. I do it easily and have in fact broken the spring in the kick start mechanism 3 or 4 times over the years. He has never been able to start his 500 which makes it useless. So he bought a 510 with e start....problem solved .

I would have never known there was an "issue" had I not seen this thread.....now I'll be even more careful.....maybe I'll use my hand to spin her over
Ed

 

[AZRickD]

No broken kicker for me. But my right knee has a bit of a twinge now. I might need to get it scoped to clean out years of particulates.

I think I could use a YZ Kicker just for leverage. Which model do so need ?

 

[TheLetterJ]

No broken kicker for me. But my right knee has a bit of a twinge now. I might need to get it scoped to clean out years of particulates.

I think I could use a YZ Kicker just for leverage. Which model do so need ?

Similar story here. Stock kicker worked as it should, but with 2 false hips, I added the YZ kicker just for a little added leverage. It wasn't terribly hard to start before, but it is noticeably easier to start now... worth the $100 for me.

2006 and newer yz250 is what you'd want. 2006 and newer yz250f fits too, they are just shaped slightly different.

 

[houndog]

Rick, NO, NO...let it go away by itself. I am not a doctor but I do avoid them. I fixed my knee easily decades ago by leaving it alone. As for stuff floating around, I can almost make my daughter puke by the noises I can make them do. Every single person I know that has been "fixed" is crippled compared to me. I know that many will think I'm insane for saying that but most of them have been "fixed" and do not actually know what happens over time. Say, 30 years or so.

I blew my right knee out and it would completely lock up and go out of joint. Orthopedic guy I was doing work for said...."when it finally gets bad enough and you go to the doctor you'll get an operation to fix it". Or something to that effect. I said "I doubt it".

I bought a brace and wore it for over a year......bought an IT175 started riding again (with brace at first) and it healed....all crunching (that is painful) went away...no pain at all.....it does not come out of joint or lock up any more, has not in decades, however I know they are not "strong" but they are better or as good as all my friends my age that got fixed, after several years of getting fixed Oh, I managed to do the the same to the left knee with the same results a few years later...........this was decades ago.

Ya'll better not listen to my advice, I'm immortal, even though my stories are true!

Here's a pic. of the way I roll and fix things...... Duct tape sucks if you leave it on too long! And don't forget my "Tactical Walker" that I used to get around. I try hard to amuse my "homeys". These pics are of a couple years ago....completely healed. No issues. Damn tree appeared across the path. Crash 2 on Ting Ting...and the last one

Please guys do not think I'm suggesting anyone choose the path I have. I'm terrified of doctors and so far my body has healed just fine w/o help for the most part. If a bone ain't sticking out and I ain't having a spasm on the floor I'll just heal. Immortality has it's benefits

Welp, off to ride the 300!
Ed
edit.....I did find a "witness mark" on my kick starter lever so I have apparently hit the peg at some point

 

[Buysomerice]

It was quite cold when my kicker snapper.

 

[gasser]

I can't believe I'm the first person to bring this up but it seems to me that GG kick levers have gotten worse over the years. My 07 lever was weaker than my 99 and 01 levers and my 2011 lever is the worst yet. The metal is visibly less substantial in the wear area and seems to be softer as well. I agree that GG needs to improve this part - it is simply unacceptable that a part that lasts the life of the bike on most bikes only lasts 1-2 years on a gasser.

 

[nknudsen]

I have no complaints with the kicker on my 00'. It's a smaller kicker, but it looks the place on a 2T.

 

[desertgasser300]

I can't believe I'm the first person to bring this up but it seems to me that GG kick levers have gotten worse over the years. My 07 lever was weaker than my 99 and 01 levers and my 2011 lever is the worst yet. The metal is visibly less substantial in the wear area and seems to be softer as well. I agree that GG needs to improve this part - it is simply unacceptable that a part that lasts the life of the bike on most bikes only lasts 1-2 years on a gasser.

LOL, yeah that 07' kicker was warbled out pretty bad.

 

[adv rider]

Kickstart

My 12' kicker broke, but I was to cheap to buy a YZ kicker. So I bought an 04' GasGas kicker off e-bay. It was about 13mm shorter then the original. The first time riding the decrease in leverage was noticeable. I don't notice it anymore though.