I was a mechanic at a BMW/Triumph/Norton dealership. A customer came in with a BSA 441 Victor and I was tasked with writing up the ticket. He said "I want a tune up. Do anything and everything just make it where I can start it." He had purchased the bike but had never been able to start it on his own. I said "let me have a go." I turned on the gas, tickled the carb until I got a bit of gas on my finger, kicked it through with the ignition off and then gently kicked it until I felt the piston ease over top dead center. I switched on the ignition and gave it a sharp but not massive kick. It fired right off. The customer was hugely mad. "It's a trick!" he sputtered. "yes, it is a trick but I can teach you." We worked on technique for about 30 minutes and then he loaded up and took it home. I got a call at the shop an hour later from a very excited and very happy customer. "I can do it every time" he said.

@JR-bj3uf

4 жыл бұрын

@john harris Several yours ago I had a buddy with a Velocette Thruxton. He lived on a steep hill or he would have never rode that bike. It had the shortest kicker of any bike I had ever seen. Even if everything was right it was impossible to start. He could get it started on his hill but lived in fear of it flaming out away from home.

It starts at 2.54.

I had a BSA B40 trials bike, that I rode for 15 years, it started first or second kick every time. This video is a demonstration of how not to do it!!

I had a BSA Golden Flash 650cc twin in 1962, it had magneto ignition and Never in any weather refused to start mostly on the second kick. I did 34,000 miles on that bike without any major part failures, not even a new clutch. It was the ultimate in realiability and rode it through the worst winter I can remember when we had 13 weeks of ice and snow but that machine ran faultless right through winter. I ended up trading it in for an Austin A40 when I passed my driving test.

I had a 1967 BSA 442 Victor Special. It would usually start in about 10 kicks, but sometimes would kick back and nearly break your ankle. It was fun to ride once you got going

It’s never going to fucking start when there’s loads of people watching. You should know this!

I always found with singles that if you touched the throttle when kicking they would rarely fire up.

Funny really, when I was a student in 1970, I ran around in a 1962'ish BSA C15 250cc. A good honest workaday bike that I really enjoyed. Twenty years down the way, in 1990'ish I restored the 'roadgoing' version of the 441 above. Once I'd finished, I only actually rode it a few times, then got rid of it. Absolute pig to kickstart, whereas the C15 was easy peasy. To think, when the likes of Honda were producing bikes like the CB450 , BSA were making anachronisms like this.

had one of these bikes, sounds like the Timings out. mine would start 1st or 2nd kick.

In my young days these were regarded as 'unreliable', now they're called 'maintenance intensive''.

I also have one of these bikes and electronic ignition is the way to go. Then as long as you follow the right procedure it will start after two kicks at most. From cold, first start of the day, give the carb a tickle until a little fuel runs out, then push the kickstart down gently until you feel resistance. Then pull in the valve lifter and push the kickstart just a few inches further and let the lifter go. Allow the kickstart to rise fully back up and give it a good swing, but don’t use any throttle until the engine starts and turns over for a few seconds or you will flood the engine. After the first start of the day, don’t tickle the carb first or you will flood the engine. All these bikes have their own character and once you get used to it they are easy to fall in love with ....

Twin-plugging the things helps a lot, but they do need a good amount of fuel wheezed in to the cylinder before switching the ignition on. Use the decompressor as a half compression device, so roll the engine up to compression, then dip the decompressor. then poke the kickstart over, with the throttle closed ,given that there is a good tickover setting. That is a reasonable method to use....

They were hell to start. My dad used an air impact with a lawn mower tire to rub the rear wheel to start his We had to carry the air compressor out to the boondocks for that purpose.

I bought a new Triumph Cub in 1968. It had no battery, no key, but no one but me could start it. It was hard to start when I first got it but once I learned the technique it started easily on the second kick. This poor guy must be in good shape and must have a sore foot. Always wear boots.

Oh it's got a compression release on left

Had a 58 DBD34 GS , had black and blue calf's until I learned how to start it , after that it was a one kick ( 3 at the most ) start . Not sure about the Victor my Goldie had a mag , didn't need no stinking battery , and good old Lucas electric system never had to worry about home by dark . Great looking bike , hope you learn how to start it .

superb bike

Got kicked back on by a B50 that was a CCM 550. Possibly the most pain I’ve ever been in !

Every bike has its idiosyncracy. That makes them so much fun.

WHAT? This was a serious dirt-desert bike! Tickle those carbs and go!

@pbrucpaul

5 жыл бұрын

Keep that choke on!

People that owned them were called 441 Victims.

Yay ! 25 kicks and it started, better take a nap after that 😁

First motorcycle I ever owned was a BSA 441 Victor freaking awesome bike probably the most perfect all-around bike ever made perfect for trails trials and the highways I could do 100 mph with no problem on it. . The only problem I had was for the for the first 3 months I could not Kickstart it because the gear for the kickstarter was stripped took 3 months for the shop to get one in and work on it I had to run start it to for the first 3 months boy was that a lot of fun. One time when I was kickstarting it failed to start stopped and then the engine started it through my heel right into the passenger goot pegs that hurt

@peterohalloran1977

Жыл бұрын

liar!

That looked like JUST as much FUN as me kicking my Bultaco Pursang 350 until IT feels like it wants to be ridden. Stone cold, when everything is right, stars aligned, bike in the right mood, and I didn't hurt it's feelings by riding the Honda first, 6 kicks. In a bad mood, maybe 12-20. Restart after stalling it on the track or trail, 1 or 2 kicks. After riding a while, stopping and letting it sit for 15 minutes, roll the dice. These old hot rods are moody to put it nicely.

I made a straight pipe from SS tubing (I worked at TWA) for my 1970 441 and it really barked. Not too great for playing around on the dirt hill climbs because when dropped, the amal flooded and the kicking game began all over. Still have fond memories though.

When these bikes are properly tuned they're a 1 or 2 kick starter. Period. End of story. I could do it when I was 14 and there are about a half million old Brits who could show how it's done to this day. You clowns in the comment section want to talk about a hard-starter? Try kick-starting a 60's model Sportster. Especially when it's cold.

Key on?

I didn't have a compression release on mine. Wound up in the emergency room, doing my best not to scream when the nurse grabbed my foot! A week later, I was back at it, though. Too much fun to not ride!

I had a 67 round barrel fun starting hey

I hope my '67 starts that easy the first time. Sitting on it I notice the speedometer blocks out the high beam indicator light. I wonder if that was a stock feature? I wonder how many experts commenting here ever owned one......

why were you twisting your left hand like it was the throttle?

You might have better luck if you followed the drill. First, I kick some gas through the cylinder after tickling once to build up the chamber with fuel and oil, with key off. When you kick to get on top of the compression stroke, you release the compression release to move the kickstart position from top or 10 o'clock down to around 7 o'clock, then let kickstart return to top position for starting. Tickle the carb until gas comes out of tickler, turn ign. key on and do not touch the throttle when kicking, it should start on it's own gas. I have to turn the mixture screw 1/3 turn clockwise to start cold, then back it to 1-1/2 turns open when warm. Good luck.

@dougiequick1

6 жыл бұрын

KEY words "good luck" lol

@alancox1444

5 жыл бұрын

"build up the chamber with fuel and oil"? this is a four stoke engine so what's the oil about?. And yet the rest I agree with so I'm guessing you have one. A lot of these dudes don't even have the valve lifter(decompresor ) fitted, let alone have a clue what it's for. The best thing he can do after flooding it so bad is to kick it over with the throttle fully open( A trick I learnt from an older DBD34 owner).

@seivaDsugnA

5 жыл бұрын

It won't just fire up until you've established a mutually respectful rapport. Even then, it will penalize you one kick for every person watching.

you people remember how hard an xt 500 was too start why pick on this BSA

Welcome to 6 volt electrics

Bring it up to topdead center tickle it quarter throttle

@timeinthepast

3 жыл бұрын

About right for my Victor too Slowly roll a little throttle at the right time in the kick Too much and it will kick like a mule👍😂😂

This is my bike.

I had one of these kick the heel of my boot. I never found it!

Despite all BSA's many problems demand for them always outstripped supply, only botched up reorganisation of 71 had not happened then BSA would have lived on

Cut to 4:10

ALL 4 stroke singles just scream for an electric starter! ...even good starting ones when cold can become impossible to restart when hot or vice versa ....love em and I hate em at the same time ... It was circa 1972/73 When I was begged to go out to the desert one monday morning when John the old parts guy begged me to take a ride with him ...He had stalled his BSA 441 Victor desert sled the day in some hare and hound race (Checkers MC prolly) I guess in total frustrated defeat finally he just had to her there and take the last ride back to the pits by the final sweep crew....no one left in the pits by then I guess to help him on Sunday afternoon ... So anyway we loaded up someone's Husky 250 from the shop (I was a mechanic back then) and drove clear out there from San Fernando Valley Chatsworth "Welty's motorcycles" somewhere out past Palmdale, Ca I think ...we parked the truck and rode double back into the hills to retrieve the bike (bet he was sweating bullets it would still be there!) ....the old girl started right up after sitting all night... but a day earlier? I guess it just beat the old man...I imagine it was just another huge reason why everyone gravitated away from big 4 stroke singles ...after all for less money a 250 two stroke made more power, weighed 40 pounds less or so AND started up reliably with one or two kicks! ....as fun as 4 bangers ARE to ride ?...just just were not worth the trouble ...not to mention the maintenance costs over the long haul compared to the smokers...

You need to open the throttle a little bit to a bit when starting these bikes. After tickling it of course.

Good old Amal Monobloc carburetors. The bane of motorcycles. (not to mention Lucas Electrics )

@berndbehr1412

5 жыл бұрын

Wrong it is a Concentric carburetor.

finaly ......... engine sounds thight ;-)

Your starting it wrong...while decompression is preased...go a little past tdc...then let go and kick

nice bike but your shirt is way too loud

Would these be street legal in the USA?

I've had 2 many British bike too count. Kicking ur brains out try this. ROLLING Start. 2nd gear,push fires right up! Lucas Prince of Darkness not with standing.

@onepunchgeorge9251

5 жыл бұрын

I'm 60 still have a BSA .650!

Try anew set of points and throw in a new concentric carby!

its groovey ? ? =

Take the Bicycle in the Back Ground you'll get there FASTER.....🤔🤔🤔🤔

Needs a new plug.🔧

Oh brother . . . bye! I already know what's wrong. Your idle is too low. After storing my Norton for about 5 months over winter, it will start 2nd kick most times. If not, on the third. I run the bike with the gas taps turned off until it stops. This is all you need to do, then you have no problems with dirty carbs, a frequent problem with a lot of bikes. Lack of use and then the varnish sets in. Stabilizer is good also.

Fuckit. Finally.

@JLajos

5 жыл бұрын

After the first five attempts, I thought the entire video was going to be him unsuccessfully trying to kick this bike to start, but strangely, I actually would have been OK with that.

Those were the days, 1/2 hour to start it for a 20 minute trip to work.

It just needs a basic set up then it's a three kicker at worst

The long stroke on the 441 always made them a bit of a pig to start... But a beautiful machine all the same..

Your starting method is a bit wrong man. For a start bring that piston up to TDC every time. Tickle that carb a bit more, and a tadd of throttle. My mates old man had one of these beauties in his garage when I was about 16 and it would fire up after a couple of kicks from cold. Damn fast bike too.

Why don't you try breaking the clutch free by hand first instead of kicking like crazy!!! I do it alol the time with my TR5T and no problems!!!

He isn't kicking fast enough. You really need to jump up and come down as fast as your weight allows.

Typical British weekend get-a-way bike. It takes a weekend of kicking it over just to get away.

Any single is a bitch. Piston has to be at top dead center. Even my brand.new Honda xr600 wouldn’t start unless at Tdc. Sure pisses you off, until somebody teaches you how to start a big thumper.

Go over the ignition, carburation & valves, in no way should it take that long to start that.

@exb.r.buckeyeman845

2 жыл бұрын

Plug as well.

givr ya a hhundred bucks for it.

This is a fine example of why the Japanese killed the British motorcycle industry.

@theneutralplatform4834

5 жыл бұрын

I had this very same bike from new back in 1969, I never had any problems with it, my only criticism with it was it was under geared, BUT it was a scrambler type of bike and lower gearing was necessary. I was a good bike. I sold it 3 years later for what i paid for it!

@normanwells2755

5 жыл бұрын

Whenever there is a vid on a late '60s British bike someone has to come out and say that. Truth is in the 60s they ruled. It was what happened next that led to their demise. But some self appointed sage cloistered in mother's basement will invariably chime in.

@burthabard8316

5 жыл бұрын

Tickle the carb again

You can always tell a British single owner a mile away, massive right thigh. Who needs a gym?

@highdownmartin

4 жыл бұрын

Bruised instep more like

It's pointless to continue 'kicking' a bike over as long as that, it will never get any better without some attention.

simply, an embarrassment - do some tuning and electric upgrades.

Biggest bag of crap ever made by BSA