01/25/2026
Old bikes often give a jerk when you try to kick start them. This happens because the engine fires suddenly and pushes the kick lever back. Riders feel a quick shock or movement in their leg when this occurs. It is called a kickback.
In older motorcycles the ignition system was simple and sometimes the spark happened too early. That caused the piston to move backward instead of forward. The result was a sudden jerk while starting. It could be strong enough to surprise the rider.
Many riders used to handle this by finding the right position of the piston before kicking. They pressed the lever slowly until they felt resistance and then kicked hard. This reduced the chance of a kickback.
Old bikes had a lot of character and power but needed skill to start. Modern bikes have better systems that prevent such jerks. Still old riders remember the feeling of starting those classic machines with care.
Credit YT/lastweekofjuly1189
