Kick-starting LC4 with dead battery?

Here's the thread from awhile back lining out headlight switches and happens to cover a full twin lamp HID upgrade like those found on a 640A, Tiger, etc.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197163

Dirty

So, everybody is all about messing with headlights and switches. I found the other day that I could start the bike without lights by turning the key to the first place out of the lock position. No lights. The bike is an 06 and an 07 can do the same. You don't have lights but it would be enough to charge the battery.

You mean one click left instead of one click right? My '03 lights the IMO in that one click left position, so I always figured it would start in that mode (sans headlights)...

Yep that's it. One click out of the steering lock position and before the circled x.

Yeah I'm a victim of the dreaded lifeless battery syndrome on my 06 640 adv as well.good thread as I only wasted about 20-30 kicks before checking out this thread and sure enough won't start with a DEAD battery evidently.Considering where ive been with this bike it is definately a concern that I thought did'nt exist.I always assumed(I know) that if the battery died I could just kick the beast to start(wrong) So a couple of questions.
Will the 640adv start with dead battery on the bump,seems not?

Reccomendations on good replacement battery for my stocker,seems like shes near the end?

On the 06 640 adv one click after lock on ignition will be able to fire up without lights going on?Fact or?That would be cool,just can't check at the moment charging time.Update Yep thats a fact it works!checked out fired right up!
Thanks for the info on this thread saved my leg alot of kicking for nuthing!
PitbullDoug

I left the key on for a couple of hours once- ran the battery DEAD. No lights, no juice, nothing. Wouldnt kick start, BUT- it did roll start. By the time I was home the battery was charged.

Thats good news! any good recommendations on a good replacement battery for the 640adv? That fits right in,not alot of room their!

So you did or did not disconnect the headlights before attempting to kickstart? I didn't get the special ignition position (sans lux) to work for me, so I just disconnected the low beam headlight wire from the bulb.

I don't know about bump starting an adventure (dorkpunch has an Enduro model so it might be different ) on a dead battery WITH the headlights hooked up. You will have better luck with the headlights disconnected or off with a special switch.

WestCo batteries seem to be OK, and they plop right in. Odyssey batteries do not plop right in, but I have been happy with mine. Yuasa are great batteries too; don't blame them for any woes.

I have been happy with my Wesco, direct fit for my E model.

Hiya Meat!

Hiya fireman!

My buddy found a moto-saint that drove him and his bike back down to Taft, where the shop that had mounted his new tire the day before was ready to fix him back up.

The only shop in Coalinga that touches bikes said they were pretty busy that day, and they didn't have a 17" tube... can't imagine saying that to a stranded bloke.

Thanks for the reply meat.My 06 640 adv.I was trying to kick it with the key turned to headlight mode on and it would not start,then after checking this thread I saw that guys where having luck with key turned one click to right of lock and the bike will start without the lights on.I have not tried to kick it in this mode yet,next time.With battery as low as it was being the dumd arse I am trying to kick it with lights on certainly didnt do the battery any favors of coarse,killed it real quick.So next time I'm gonna check that out, if it will kick with battery low in in lights off mode.But Im looking for new battery at the moment.Any recommended place to pick up the Westcos/Yuasa in the california region?Also have you had luck kicking yours over with battery low in lights Off mode?Thanks PBD

I buy this kind of stuff off the internet. My Odyssey battery did come from a guy in Gilroy, CA but I doubt he carries anything else. Remember the Odyssey is not plug n' play.

I have had no luck with this secret squirrel lights off position... but I can easily pop the back cover off the lights, disconnect the wire to the bulb (ensuring the shroud covers the spade so it doesn't ground out and blow a fuse), and have started my bike after it sat for over 6 months off the charger. The Odyssey was still "lighting" the lights/dash, but the joy button just giggled at me. Disconnected the headlights, and had no problem kicking her over.

Meat I think the secret squirrel is probably a 05-07 change in switch?because it no doubts works on mine 06.What year is yours?Also where do you get your stuff online,munz racing in texas?Just curious THanks PBD

munz is groovy; KTMtalk discount.

2003 so maybe KTM changed the switch. What I really care about is why we don't get the Euro switch package, with the freakin' off switch.

Got that right,agreed.Seems like us Americanos always get the short end of the stick when it comes to our beloved orange machines!

probably some half-baked regulation...

It's federal law since 1980-something.

Do you have some explanation for why Luke? I do much better with why.

Hi Meaty.

If it's anything like over here, the guvvvmint decided that we should all ride with our lights on so car drivers might see us better. So, if your lights have to be on compulsorily, you don't need an off switch. That's what we got here, and there's a generation of bikes with no way of turning the lights off.
Interestingly, that stance has been abandoned lately, and now some bikes again have an off switch for the lights, as does my 2003 640A, but not my 2002 GS1150.
That's what I love about guvvmints, today it's good for you, yesterday it was bad for you. What changed? Some senior public servant had nothing to do, so they just think up arbitrary stuff to mimic real activity.

Hi Silla

That's what I was thinking, but it is a piss-poor way of implementing. Maybe it's easier to take away personal choice, but you also take personal responsibility at the same time. I think this is an example of the Nanny State so derided by Libertarians here.

Responsibility must first be offered before it can be taken.