That’s exactly how I start my 1976 XS650C when stone cold. Petcock on. Choke on. Pump kickstarter a couple of times. Ignition on. Kick her over usually in one or two kicks. As soon as she fires up, turn off choke. Let her warm up about three minutes depending on ambient temperature. Then start off easy going through gears and heating up tires. Once I’m into my ride and stop for a break or whatever, when I’m ready to ride I’ll use the electric starter. I always use the kickstarter when she’s cold. I do this with my Russian Ural as well. It’s always safer to use the kickstarter to at least circulate the motor. Miles of smiles…
Good video like you showed all bikes start the best this way. I have been turning the fuel off and running all my motors out of fuel have never had a carburetor problem doing this my snow blower is 22years old never had the carb off
Awesome. I need to iron out my kick starting. It works, but I'm not sure how well. Grew up watching Fonzie. In teens I wanted an XS650. My mother had a PISS Fit. So I waited until at age 64 (11 months ago). Back in the day, as you surely remember, at least for me the XS650 was the best looking bike out there. I lived that dream now. I spent alot of time on it and it runs and looks good. good. Your videos have helped so much. Nice shop. Are you a pro ? 1don't have a garage so I work in my drive way. I've live 15 miles west of the U.S. Capital in Maryland for most of mile life. To many people IMHO in this rat race. I;ve been an avid bass fisherman since 1981. Did you know that Maryland has no natural lakes? I have a aluminum outboard jet with a 60/40 Mercury. the boat is an 1997 and the motor is 2003. This boat has been launched an estimated 900 times. I personally have replaced the trailer axle 4 times. the boat ramps I use get washed out by floods. Skills keeping the boat running have helped me with the 650. My grandpa was machinist mill right and ex farmer. I like doing it myself. Thank god for ebay, you tube, internet parts schmetics, and used OEM and CHINESE parts. I've been able to re-wire that Mercury twice with cheap used parts. I learned how to cross reference outboard motor parts. They play games (as you surely know with part numbers and model years. S0 I might find a part for a 90 or 50 or 60 cyl 2 stroke and plug and play. I've been able to find XS650 parts the plug and play off virago and v-star. It is a good thing that consumers aren't captive to OEM parts like they used to.. OEM parts are now the cheap Chinese parts. Now you can buy brand remote boat control unit for U.S. $200-250. Thats in current value dollars. Thank you very much . Next I will watch the Sprocket video.
My XS650 had hard starting and some severe kickback, even with the timing spot on, I chalk it up to bad (Cheap) points. I put electronic ignition in and no more kickback, starts in 1-3 kicks now. I agree technique is everything, I would watch videos of people starting their 650's so easily like they had no compression, not mine, it's a bear to kick over. I use to try while sitting on the bike (because I can do that on my Honda CB350) but never got the leverage right. I have to do it on the center stand though, if I try to kick on the side stand it will sometimes pull the bike off the stand when I give it a good kick. Cheers.
This is great information Mr Miyagi! I just bought myself a 1980 xs650 yesterday and have not ridden a bike with kickstart, so been looking for info and came across your wonderful treasure trove of a page! I am absolutely smitten with the aesthetic of the xs650 engine, it just looks so great. Unfortunately, the previous owner lost the key so I am currently looking for a decently priced replacement ignition with keys. Any advice? No luck as of yet with local motorcycle shops on the part, so the bike is currently a beautiful paperweight in my driveway. It does, however, kick freely and has tags from last year so I know it was running as recently as July of '21. Also, I'm looking at Mike's XS for their OEM replacement ignition and key but haven't pulled the trigger yet. They do seem to have the best price on the part. I'm mechanically inclined (according to the Army), but have not turned many wrenches (none on a motorcycle) and am really looking forward to diving into this bike. I know you've said in previous videos that it's not the easiest thing, but the Army taught me how to trace faults through electrical systems and I'm fairly confident I can work through learning the mechanical side of things with CZcams University, Professor Google, and hopefully friends lured by the promise of pizza and beer. I know the basics of what you need a motorcycle to do are: Spark, Suck, Bang, and Blow. I haven't looked through all your videos yet, but I'm trying to figure out what kinds of things I can do without a key to start getting the bike ready to ride. If email would be easier, please let me know. I'm also honestly hoping to get some help from the comments as well. Outside of the missing key, I noticed on visual inspection of the bike that the bottom of the oil pan is generously caked with grime. I honestly haven't checked to see how much of it is oil. The other thing I noticed while I was rolling it onto the trailer was the rear wheel was groaning and squealing. I'm curious if it's the rear brake, and not sure how to diagnose.
First off I want to thank you for your service in the military. You can jump around on the electrical to get it started but there was a gentleman on eBay that was remaking keys if you had a number which should be on the ignition switch. Let me look around I may have a complete ignition switch with key I could send you. Anyway thanks for watching and hope you get that darn thing running. PS: I do have a IGN/ w key. I will also be doing a video on deleting the ignition switch or wiring in a toggle switch or a universal ignition. Email: teammiyagi@hotmail.com
@@outlaw86custom Thank you for the reply Mr Miyagi! I sent an email your way. I've got a honey-do list this weekend, but hope to be able to get to the garage for a bit and work on my current list for the bike: - Wash it - Check/change the oil - Check/change the brake fluid. If I have to bleed the line, this will be another thing in a lengthy list of learning curves. I see a video of yours titled "Got brakes?" Gonna go check that one out - Figure out how to check for spark if I can do that without the key. I haven't had much time this week to research that, I had first day of a new job today and had trainings the rest of the week - Chain maintenance. I have not seen a video on that topic from you yet, but haven't looked hard I think that's my list as it stands, then see what I need to do with carbs and valves after I have it running
Lucky for me the gotten almost every thing I wanted. Stages little boy goes through Thanks Sir it's been great sharing with you. Item age wanted age I got it Pocket knife. 3 12 Hatchet 10-11 50'S i got my dad's and my Grandpas BB gun 10-11 bought a couple since age 40 Schwinn Sting Ray 7 still on the list. Schwinn 10 Speed 10 12 bought one used stolen 2 yrs. later revolver like the cops 5 SW model 10 age 43 Go kart 10 61 found a rupp style built clone mtr. REd f-150 40 63 motorcyle 1 year old 64. The go cart was to dangerous LOL
@@outlaw86custom I mean the `kickback´ because u didn´t hold the kickstarter in the lowest position. If u make this mistake while starting my SR 500 it will breake ur food!
@@d.j.k.3041 but I did, so what the problem.... I've been kick starting for over 50years plus it's not food it's spelled Foot 🦶 . If you don't like the way I do my videos put out your own .
That’s exactly how I start my 1976 XS650C when stone cold. Petcock on. Choke on. Pump kickstarter a couple of times. Ignition on. Kick her over usually in one or two kicks. As soon as she fires up, turn off choke. Let her warm up about three minutes depending on ambient temperature. Then start off easy going through gears and heating up tires. Once I’m into my ride and stop for a break or whatever, when I’m ready to ride I’ll use the electric starter. I always use the kickstarter when she’s cold. I do this with my Russian Ural as well. It’s always safer to use the kickstarter to at least circulate the motor. Miles of smiles…
Thank you for watching
Good video like you showed all bikes start the best this way. I have been turning the fuel off and running all my motors out of fuel have never had a carburetor problem doing this my snow blower is 22years old never had the carb off
Always fun to read these comments. Thanks for watching
Beards lookin good Mr. Miyagi! Thanks for the video
Thank you for watching
Awesome. I need to iron out my kick starting. It works, but I'm not sure how well.
Grew up watching Fonzie. In teens I wanted an XS650. My mother had a PISS Fit. So I waited until at age 64 (11 months ago). Back in the day, as you surely remember, at least for me the XS650 was the best looking bike out there. I lived that dream now. I spent alot of time on it and it runs and looks good.
good. Your videos have helped so much. Nice shop. Are you a pro ? 1don't have a garage so I work in my drive way. I've live 15 miles west of the U.S. Capital in Maryland for most of mile life. To many people IMHO in this rat race.
I;ve been an avid bass fisherman since 1981. Did you know that Maryland has no natural lakes? I have a aluminum outboard jet with a 60/40 Mercury. the boat is an 1997 and the motor is 2003. This boat has been launched an estimated 900 times. I personally have
replaced the trailer axle 4 times. the boat ramps I use get washed out by floods.
Skills keeping the boat running have helped me with the 650. My grandpa was machinist mill right and ex farmer. I like doing it myself.
Thank god for ebay, you tube, internet parts schmetics, and used OEM and CHINESE parts. I've been able to re-wire that Mercury twice with cheap used parts. I learned how to cross reference outboard motor parts. They play games (as you surely know with part numbers and model years. S0 I might find a part for a 90 or 50 or 60 cyl 2 stroke and plug and play. I've been able to find XS650 parts the plug and play off virago and v-star.
It is a good thing that consumers aren't captive to OEM parts like they used to.. OEM parts are now the cheap Chinese parts. Now you can buy brand remote boat control unit for U.S. $200-250. Thats in current value dollars.
Thank you very much . Next I will watch the Sprocket video.
Thank you for watching
My XS650 had hard starting and some severe kickback, even with the timing spot on, I chalk it up to bad (Cheap) points. I put electronic ignition in and no more kickback, starts in 1-3 kicks now. I agree technique is everything, I would watch videos of people starting their 650's so easily like they had no compression, not mine, it's a bear to kick over. I use to try while sitting on the bike (because I can do that on my Honda CB350) but never got the leverage right. I have to do it on the center stand though, if I try to kick on the side stand it will sometimes pull the bike off the stand when I give it a good kick. Cheers.
It's always something, thanks for watching.
This is great information Mr Miyagi!
I just bought myself a 1980 xs650 yesterday and have not ridden a bike with kickstart, so been looking for info and came across your wonderful treasure trove of a page! I am absolutely smitten with the aesthetic of the xs650 engine, it just looks so great. Unfortunately, the previous owner lost the key so I am currently looking for a decently priced replacement ignition with keys. Any advice? No luck as of yet with local motorcycle shops on the part, so the bike is currently a beautiful paperweight in my driveway. It does, however, kick freely and has tags from last year so I know it was running as recently as July of '21. Also, I'm looking at Mike's XS for their OEM replacement ignition and key but haven't pulled the trigger yet. They do seem to have the best price on the part.
I'm mechanically inclined (according to the Army), but have not turned many wrenches (none on a motorcycle) and am really looking forward to diving into this bike. I know you've said in previous videos that it's not the easiest thing, but the Army taught me how to trace faults through electrical systems and I'm fairly confident I can work through learning the mechanical side of things with CZcams University, Professor Google, and hopefully friends lured by the promise of pizza and beer. I know the basics of what you need a motorcycle to do are: Spark, Suck, Bang, and Blow. I haven't looked through all your videos yet, but I'm trying to figure out what kinds of things I can do without a key to start getting the bike ready to ride. If email would be easier, please let me know. I'm also honestly hoping to get some help from the comments as well.
Outside of the missing key, I noticed on visual inspection of the bike that the bottom of the oil pan is generously caked with grime. I honestly haven't checked to see how much of it is oil. The other thing I noticed while I was rolling it onto the trailer was the rear wheel was groaning and squealing. I'm curious if it's the rear brake, and not sure how to diagnose.
First off I want to thank you for your service in the military. You can jump around on the electrical to get it started but there was a gentleman on eBay that was remaking keys if you had a number which should be on the ignition switch. Let me look around I may have a complete ignition switch with key I could send you. Anyway thanks for watching and hope you get that darn thing running.
PS: I do have a IGN/ w key. I will also be doing a video on deleting the ignition switch or wiring in a toggle switch or a universal ignition. Email: teammiyagi@hotmail.com
@@outlaw86custom Thank you for the reply Mr Miyagi! I sent an email your way. I've got a honey-do list this weekend, but hope to be able to get to the garage for a bit and work on my current list for the bike:
- Wash it
- Check/change the oil
- Check/change the brake fluid. If I have to bleed the line, this will be another thing in a lengthy list of learning curves. I see a video of yours titled "Got brakes?" Gonna go check that one out
- Figure out how to check for spark if I can do that without the key. I haven't had much time this week to research that, I had first day of a new job today and had trainings the rest of the week
- Chain maintenance. I have not seen a video on that topic from you yet, but haven't looked hard
I think that's my list as it stands, then see what I need to do with carbs and valves after I have it running
Lucky for me the gotten almost every thing I wanted. Stages little boy goes through
Thanks Sir it's been great sharing with you.
Item age wanted age I got it
Pocket knife. 3 12
Hatchet 10-11 50'S i got my dad's and my Grandpas
BB gun 10-11 bought a couple since age 40
Schwinn Sting Ray 7 still on the list.
Schwinn 10 Speed 10 12 bought one used stolen 2 yrs. later
revolver like the cops 5 SW model 10 age 43
Go kart 10 61 found a rupp style built clone mtr.
REd f-150 40 63
motorcyle 1 year old 64. The go cart was to dangerous LOL
Thank you for watching
mr.miyagi can you have a video about boyer bransden ignition in yamaha xs 650 im having problem finding the right timing
Thanks for watching.
I busted the ligaments in my ankle when kickstarting my mates sportster . Yep timing was way out. 😰
I guess that's why they have electric starter sorry about your ankle.
Does this method work better than sitting / straddling the bike? All these years I always sat/ straddled on the bike to kick it.
It does because you get more force especially for high compression engine.
@@outlaw86custom Thank you!
Xs 650 is much easier to kick then a stroker ironhead thats for sure!
Thank you for watching
You shouldn´t try to show other people how to kickstart a motor! 1:56 almost break your food!!!
I'm sorry your comment you made, made absolutely no sense what are you trying to say or ask?
@@outlaw86custom I mean the `kickback´ because u didn´t hold the kickstarter in the lowest position. If u make this mistake while starting my SR 500 it will breake ur food!
@@d.j.k.3041 but I did, so what the problem.... I've been kick starting for over 50years plus it's not food it's spelled Foot 🦶 . If you don't like the way I do my videos put out your own .
@@outlaw86custom Sorry for the wrong spelling. I´m sure your german is way better than my english...