The reviewer's liked the 450R, and said it's a great all-around machine. But one thing they didn't like was, if stalled , it was hard to start. They say it's easy to start if the quad was shut off, but not if you stall it. They said it would take five to 10 kicks, even with the hot-start. This seem like this will cause a big problem if racing in the woods, or any other type of racing. My brother was looking hard at this atv for GNCC racing, but once he saw this, it put a big negative on it. For those who have them, what has been your result?

 

Personally, I don't like kick start, but I can live with it. BUT, it is real funny that nobody whines about the Banshee or Blaster or all the other bikes that have to be kicked over. What's up with that?

 

all the new 4 stroke mxers (bikes ) can be a bear after a crash or simple stall, one time my buddy kicked his yz 250f for atleast 5 minutes before it lit. most people run there idle a little high and keep a finger on the clutch constantly. i wouldnt let the starting issue sway my choice as once you get used to the machine and its traits you will be fine but thats just my opinion

 

I don't know for sure, but most if not all the kick starter atv's 2stroke. They have less compression, thus making them easier to kick over. Are there any 4stroke kick start atv's. I know there are 4stroke dirt bikes, my friend has one. It's a bear to start.

 

kawasaki mojave

 

Not only do 2-strokes have less compression for easier kick starting but you get a spark on every revolution. A 4 stroke sparks every other time the piston goes to the top so your kick could be ineffective if your kick only hard enough to get through the exhaust stroke.

I think most modern day kickstart 4 strokes have a compression release to make the kick easier but they still spark every other time.

 

recon- Have you ever kick started a banshee or blaster compared to a 4stroke? You can start a banshee sitting on the seat it is that easy.

In this day and age there is no reason not to have a electric start. Added 12 pounds to the yamaha. If that 12 pounds is the deciding issue i would go on a diet.

 

The old 250X was a kicker.

 

My 285f before the 03 cam change wasnt really hard to kick start!!! Once I got the routine of starting the bikes it was very easy to do!!! Just kick it down till the compression made it impossible to go any further, pull in the compression lever, move kick starter down half inch to an inch till you felt the piston become top dead center, I could feel a little bump in the compression lever so I always new when I was dead on!!! Let off the compression lever and kick away!!!! 95% of the time my bike would start first kick, but would ALWAYS start with the hot start lever pulled!!!!! Personaly I have found that if the carb was dialed in perfectly there shouldnt be a problem!!!! I start my 285 and my stock 450 the same way as I did before even with the auto decompression, so does most of the people I ride with!!!!!!! It took a a day to get used to my 4 strokes when I switched from 2, only real difference in riding style was clutch use and maintaining throttle when jumping whereas the 2 stroke was the opposite!!!! I've never seen the crf's really having a problem stalling either but the times I have ridden the crf it(IMO) was harder to start!!! May have been just me. If its cold out I turn the throttle wide open twice very fast!!! I also have my idle set up a little higher than stock when starting, this really helps then once started I turn it back down to where I see fit!!!

 

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Rarely a problem with my CRF, hot start gets me going in one or rarely two kicks.

Don't think it will be an issue.