How to Start a Dirtbike

Co-authored by Christopher M. Osborne, PhD

Last Updated: November 25, 2022 References

Many dirt bikes now start with the simple push of a button, but firing up the engine by stomping down on the “kicker” is also still common. But what do you do if your kicker is broken? Or if your battery is dead? Or if you just can’t figure out why your bike won’t start? Keep reading to get answers to several of your most likely questions—then go hit the dirt bike track with confidence!

Question 1 of 9:

How do you kick start a bike?

Stomp down on the kicker after completing the startup checklist. Kick starting a bike involves several steps, but you'll get the hang of it quickly! Here are the basics:^{[1]
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- Press the start button on the handlebars.
- Turn the fuel line dial to the on position.
- Lift the choke valve near the front of the engine if you’re cold-starting the bike.
- Shift the bike into neutral.
- Turn the throttle 3 times if you have a 4-stroke dirt bike. Skip this step if you have a 2-stroke bike.
- Extend the kick starter lever (the kicker) on the side of the bike.
- Put your foot on the kicker and press down firmly. Repeat this as needed until the engine starts up.
- Lift the kicker back against the body of the bike with your foot.

Question 2 of 9:

What about an electric start bike?

Just press the startup button—and use the kicker as a backup. It really is as simple as it sounds! Pushing the startup button, usually found on the handlebars, engages the battery to spin the crankshaft, which in turn starts up the motor.^{[2]
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- Your electric start bike may also have a kicker as a secondary starter—just in case you have an electrical problem that affects the normal startup process. Check out the section of this article on kick starting a bike.

Question 3 of 9:

Which is better: kick start or electric start?

Electric start bikes are probably both more convenient and less reliable. When they’re working properly, electric start bikes—which require just the push of the startup button—engage the motor much more quickly and easily than kick start bikes. That said, some riders find electric starters to be frustratingly unreliable, especially in real-world riding conditions (mud, rain, debris, and so on). Kick start bikes are basically the reverse: they start more reliably in all types of conditions, but it’s a much longer and more physically demanding process to get them to start.^{[3]
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- It’s easy to find dirt bike enthusiasts on each side of this debate. If you can’t decide which way to go, consider buying an electric start bike that also has a kicker as a secondary startup option.

Question 4 of 9:

What makes a dirt bike hard to start?

There are many possible causes, so run a checklist of likely issues. Dirt bikes fail to start up for lots of reasons, some very simple and others more complex. Diagnose the problem by starting with the simplest and most likely issues—and don’t ignore the really obvious stuff! For instance, make sure the fuel tank isn’t empty and that you turned the fuel line on (if your bike has this switch).^{[4]
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- Other potential causes include, but are certainly not limited to, problems with the following: spark plug; stator; coil pack; kill switch; fuel pump; fuel injector; fuel filter; fuel/air ratio; fuel float.

Question 5 of 9:

How do you start a bike without a kicker?

Bump start your bike if the kicker is broken or not working. Bump starting (also called push starting) works for a kick start bike with a broken kicker. It also works for an electric start bike that has problems with both its primary electric starter and secondary kick starter. Do the following to successfully bump start:^{[5]
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- Shift the bike into first or second gear. Second gear is usually preferred for bump starting.
- Engage the clutch and hold it.
- Get the bike moving, either by pushing it or (preferably) by coasting downhill. You need to get up to a speed of at least 5 mi (8.0 km) per hour.
- Stand up in your seat and then drop down firmly just as you let off the clutch.^{[6]
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- Once the engine starts, engage the clutch again and rev the engine 2 or 3 times.
- Shift into the appropriate gear for your speed and ride off as normal.

Question 6 of 9:

Does bump starting a bike damage it?

It’s possible, so confirm that you don’t have another option first. It’s best to do bump starts (push starts) only when either your battery is dead or your kicker is broken (if you have a kick start bike). Before bump starting, run a quick checklist of alternatives: Are you just out of fuel? Is the bike in gear instead of neutral? Did you leave the kill switch on? Is there a loose battery wire? If you fix any of these other problems, you won’t have to resort to bump starting, which runs the risk of damaging the bike’s electronics.^{[7]
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- Bump starting also carries an injury risk—it’s not easy to start a moving bike, especially when you’re alone!

Question 7 of 9:

How do you start up with a dead battery?

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Kick starting and bump starting both work with a dead battery. If your bike has a kicker, use it to start up the engine without the battery and then recharge the battery by running the bike. Bump starting the bike works if it doesn’t have a kicker or if the kicker is broken. In each of these cases, follow the instructions provided elsewhere in this wikiHow article.^{[8]
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Jump start the bike with a portable motorcycle battery charger. Portable battery chargers (jump starters) are small, lightweight, and can really help out in a pinch, so think about bringing one along whenever you venture out on your dirtbike. To use the portable jumper, put the red clamp on the battery’s positive terminal, then the black clamp on the negative terminal. Turn on the portable jumper and start your dirt bike as normal. Disconnect the black (negative) clamp and then the red (positive) clamp.
- Most portable jump starters intended for cars and trucks also work with dirt bikes and other motorcycles. However, the clamps are larger and more difficult to put on a smaller bike battery without accidentally touching surrounding metal and causing potentially dangerous sparking. It’s best to use a jumper that’s specifically meant for motorcycles.
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Jump start your bike with a second bike if you’re not riding alone. Using a portable jump starter is a bit easier and safer, but this method works as well. To jump start your dirt bike with another dirt bike, connect the motorcycle jumper cables in the following order: red clamp to your bike battery’s positive terminal; red clamp to the other battery’s positive terminal; black clamp to the other battery’s negative terminal; black clamp to a bare metal surface on your bike or, if necessary, to your battery’s negative terminal. Start the second bike, then your bike, then disconnect the cables in reverse order.^{[9]
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Question 8 of 9:

Is it OK to jump start a bike with a car?

It’s not ideal, but can be done as a last resort if you keep the car shut off. A car battery produces a higher amperage that can fry your dirt bike’s electronics system, especially if the car’s engine is running. To jump your bike this way, use motorcycle jumper cables whenever possible and clamp them to the batteries as following: red clamp to bike battery’s positive terminal; red clamp to car battery’s positive terminal; black clamp to car battery’s negative terminal; black clamp to a bare metal surface on your bike or, if necessary, the battery’s negative terminal. Leave the clamps in place for at least 1 minute with both engines off, then try starting up your motorcycle. Give it another minute if necessary.^{[10]
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- Once your bike starts, remove the clamps in reverse order.
- Do not start up the car’s engine at any time during the process.

Question 9 of 9:

Will a bike start without a kill switch?

Yes, but it’s an important safety feature that you should keep operational. On most bikes, the kill switch is prominently marked (often in red) and simply toggles either “OFF” or “ON” (the latter option shuts off the bike’s motor). Disconnecting the wiring to the kill switch won’t have any effect on the bike’s operation, but a working kill switch can be critical in the event of a crash—so just leave it alone!^{[11]
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- In rare cases, the kill switch may malfunction and cause a continuous electrical short that keeps the engine shut down. In this case, disconnecting the wiring of the kill switch is needed in order to start your bike. But it’s important to get the kill switch fixed as soon as you can.
- Kill switches are usually required by law. Disconnecting your kill switch may void your insurance policy and open you to legal liability if you’re in an accident.