My brother wants a quad that will run with me any our cousin's DSs in the dunes. He likes the stability given by the size of our Bombs, but don't want to "me too" and get another one. I suggested a Zilla, since they too are a bigger quad, and the 500cc monster would more than keep up. He liked the idea of owning one too. However, I didn't realize that they didn't have a compression release. How hard is it to kick over? My Dad worked with someone who claimed his Zilla nearly threw him over the bars a couple of times, while trying to start it. Is that normal? I know you can get add-on electric starters for some quads, but I don't know about the Zilla. I need some opinions, I think a 500 would work out great for him...if he could start it. My brother is 19 and about 150lbs, if that helps.

 

Yes, the Zilla will more than "keep up" with those DS's. You guys will be shopping for one after he buys one. They can be a bear to start, but once you master the technique they aren't that bad. If you catch it in the wrong place, it WILL throw you. As far as I know, there isn't an electric start available for the 500, but then again who wants that anyway?

 

Thanks ZillaRider. I figured it would be like any other kick start...keep trying till you find what works. However, everything I've ever had to kick had a compression release and was ALOT smaller, so I didn't know what to expect. I just don't want him blow his money on a machine that he'd never be able to fire up.

 

A buck fifty might be a little lite. But once he gets the kick down the LT500 will blow past your ds anytime. It will break your foot if you don't wear riding boots.

 

Anyone who has ever owned one or at least kicked one over knows they can be a bear to start, but as ZillaRider02 has stated once you learn the technique and have refrained from kicking it over while the lever is in the wrong position it's not that hard

 

kicking over my xs650 special is really hard to kick. reason being the special has more compression, and its a 650 twin 4-stroke, with no compression release, now thats hard. but yeah, you just got to get it in the right spot.

 

If it's tuned up and running like it should, the 500 should start after just a few kicks anyway. Sneakers aren't the answer to keep the middle of the bottom of your foot from getting sore, and you do wanna watch out for the starter kicking back and bitin' ya. (DAAAHHH!!! SOMETHIN' BIT ME!!!) I always laugh at my silly friends that get bit then jump around on one foot swearin' and carrying on like a f@#king idiot. It's a good time[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Thanks, but I think he's decided against getting one. He didn't really like kicking over my old 250X, so I know he'd have a hard time getting used to a Zilla. This, in combonation with the known case problems those machines have; basically means that if he'd get one, I'd be spending all the time with it. Not that him buying a Zilla...for me to ride would be a bad thing [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I have an 87 that was rebuilt from the ground up and was left stock. I went out and started it over the weekend and it started on the second kick and it had not been started in over 2 weeks. It was also only 38 deg F out. Mine always starts on the 2nd or 3rd kick.

 

I got a friend that has one and it is fairly easy to start.