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I'm afraid in the more 'Modern World' of M/C's the manufacturers have eliminated Kick-starts once & for all.

Personally, I don't miss it at all. (Been there Kicked that!) Just keep your Battery well maintained.

CentralOzzy wrote:I'm afraid in the more 'Modern World' of M/C's the manufacturers have eliminated Kick-starts once & for all.

Personally, I don't miss it at all. (Been there Kicked that!) Just keep your Battery well maintained.

Say, do they even make aftermarket kick-starters? I'd actually like to get one fitted on my bike anyways, just in case.

Yes the 1979 XS1100 has a kick starter shaft protruding from the gearbox casing and has a rubber cover over it. The kick starter lies horizontally across the frame and secured by a wing-nut. It takes but a moment to get the kick starter out and push it onto the shaft.
I frequent winter motorcycle rallies here in New Zealand, and know that when I find ice on my bike in the morning, it's time to reach for the kick starter. Then, as the throaty sound of my bike echoes around the valley and while I finish my mug of coffee, I listening to the whining of the flattening batteries on those 'younger' bikes without kickstarters.

Actually, later models of the XS1100 do not have the kick sarter shaft protruding, but instead have a plastic cover where the shaft would have protruded. I'm guessing that a kick starter shaft can be installed in a later engine. Can anyone enlighten? .

Poppygene had it right his first answer. I ride a Goldwing at close to 800 pounds. I only weigh about 135 pounds myself and I can upright my Goldwing alone.

As he mentioned it's a bit tricky if it's over on the left side, lucky for me I've had somebody around to take care of the kickstand for me.

I guess if the day comes it's on the left and there is nobody around to help with the kickstand I'll just drop it on the right side and do it myself! LOL

I asked to learn to pick up a bike when I took the course....
Last thing I wanted if I dumped it was to have to be rescued, (us women just don't have the same muscle power).
Here's what I was taught, worked well on the course, and when I managed to dumped my first bike (500 cc Buell)

-first make sure the wheels are in a straight line
-tuck your right hip into the bike, so you can use your legs to lift
-get both wheels touching the tarmac (really important seems to be the reason it works so well)
-then try to get the bike straight up as opposed to pushing on the bike (meaning put your hip undersneath the bike and lift upright)
-make sure it is your legs you're using so you don't damaged your back
-bike should just lift up-right no problem, don't believe you have to use the brakes (haven't had to do it again so I've forgotten)

Hope that makes sense, but it worked for me, no problem

Cheers,
Jan

Forgot to put down kickstand on my FJ1100 once in the middle of nowhere rest area and all it took was my decision of putting power on the rear wheel. Shift it to 1st gear crank the steering to the left and ease off on the clutch and little on the gas. I can't wait forever for help and at 5'8" and 165 lbs no way I'm picking up a 650 pound bike. I value my mechanical parts to use for riding.