Push button starts on current two strokes

[firecrotch]

So one thing i always wondered, are the ktms just have bad starters or are the gas gas , betas and husabergs starters that much better? My friends 2011 ktm 300 started sputtering after he bragged its never had issues. Always curious if thats just a ktm two stroke issue only or are there just so many ktms it appears more of a topic?

Just curious thats all.

 

[Motosportz]

So one thing i always wondered, are the ktms just have bad starters or are the gas gas , betas and husabergs starters that much better? My friends 2011 ktm 300 started sputtering after he bragged its never had issues. Always curious if thats just a ktm two stroke issue only or are there just so many ktms it appears more of a topic?

Just curious thats all.

Seems there is an update to make the KTM starters work better and you need to service and grease them periodically.

 

[rajobigguy]

Its not difficult to get a skewed veiw of things on forums, let face it most people wont make a post that says "I just wanted to say how awesome my starter has been". You are also correct that there are a lot of KTMs out there in comparison with other 2t e-start bikes so that may play a role in the perception.
All that being said I can tell you that the earlier e-start KTMs did have a bad rep for going through starters. Some of the crowd started calling them Emergency starts because you could only get a few starts out of them before they bit the dust so you only wanted to use them if kick start broke.
They have made big improvements in the dependability since those early days.

 

[ajaxauto]

I had a 1989 yes 1989 ATK 604 with a button after 10 years the button and starter worked great then in 2006 got a Husky 510 te with a button and that button and starter are still working great

both good bikes with great parts on them Now lets hope the new Husky can say that in a few years

 

[Farmer John]

The KTM/Husaberg (and now Husky) starters work great if maintained. When I get my new Husky 300 (maybe a 250) the first thing I will do is take the starter apart and confirm it is shimmed and greased correctly.

1989 ATK 604

I got one of those in the garage.... nothing like bringing a sledge hammer to knife fight.

 

[Norman Foley]

I have a '12 Husaberg TE250 2 stroke, with E-start. It has worked well for me. 1.5 years and many miles in nasty Northeast conditions and still have the original battery. I do start the bike cold, with the kicker, as recommended. I didn't do the "wet mod", so it needs to be greased occasionally. It is an after engineered system, but KTM has upgraded it over the model years. Gas Gas E-start is similar, but I'm not familiar with it. It looks a little better than KTM's. Sherco and Beta units are designed to be fully integrated with the engine and of course Sherco doesn't have a kicker at all. I rode a Beta and the dealer said, that he used the kicker once after assembling the bike and never again.

 

[firecrotch]

I guess reason I ask is my next bike needs a decent reliable e button. I went and looked a a "demo" txe 511 with supposedly 10 hrs on it. Just laughed. Thing had probably 50ish hrs on it. Was beat to hell.
Then saw the look of the new Husky two strokes/4 strokes. Very sexy. I prefer 2 strokes but not necissarily.
Now...a push button start new husky 300 two stroke duel sported. OMG****************************************

 

[fletchman45]

It's a two stroke! And unless a guy has a serious physical problem or has earned super senior ranking the weight penalty probably isn't worth it............. Lots of fast guys remove the e-start to save the weight and I would do the same......................On topic probably so many more orange bikes that it just seems like they have a problem. Seems like the older ones were problematic compared to the newer ones.................

 

[ajaxauto]

It's a two stroke! And unless a guy has a serious physical problem or has earned super senior ranking the weight penalty probably isn't worth it............. Lots of fast guys remove the e-start to save the weight and I would do the same......................On topic probably so many more orange bikes that it just seems like they have a problem. Seems like the older ones were problematic compared to the newer ones.................

I hear you My 165 is so east to start There there is my 300 the only button I want on it is the KILL button which I use after the race. Because once started it will run all day and almost never stall.
OMG if for some reason I do stall it one kick and it will re light Why would I want to take a battery and the stuff to keep that battery charged and the weight of the starter on a field trip

 

[Motosportz]

Stall it cross it on a log crossing on an off camber hill side in a race and the button becomes priceless and can be the difference of winning or coming in 7th. There are lots of times a button can be a savor even in racing and is not just a convenience. Many top racers use them. I like personally them. KTM / Berg / husky offer both so you can choose what works for you.

 

[hammer]

If you want trouble free e start get a Beta or a Sherco the rest are just add ons that are more problems than they worth.

 

[duggoey]

Stall it cross it on a log crossing on an off camber hill side in a race and the button becomes priceless and can be the difference of winning or coming in 7th. There are lots of times a button can be a savor even in racing and is not just a convenience. Many top racers use them. I like personally them. KTM / Berg / husky offer both so you can choose what works for you.

Steep hill where you have stalled and only your right leg can touch the ground. Button works well. I laugh watching the guys fall over or roll backwards down the hill trying to kickstart.
By the way the electric starter is the most reliable electrical component on my 310. I have only ever used the kick starter a few times time make sure that it works.

 

[DTX915]

We have a dead engine start and most guys hit the e button and swing the kicker with bike in gear and leave far quicker than me. I can think of a few times this past year the button would have got me back on the trail faster than the kicker, like the time another racers wheel was stuck on my right side in a rut.

 

[Freaky]

Maybe its an age thing, I wouldn't buy a bike without an electric leg these days. Our races are dead starts and I can get off the line just a second in front of the kickers, makes all the difference when your out in the front few or wrestling your way from the middle or back of the field. That said, there are often a few blokes with electric starts still trying to get them going when the pack has long gone! If the bike is set up well it should fire immediately but if your valves are poorly adjusted on a 4t or your jetting is out on a 2t you're going to struggle. 2t electric starts have only been commonly used since around 2008, back then they were far too weak and motors burning out, batteries going flat were all too common, I think the more modern ones are better. However The decision to ditch the kick start on some makes I feel is a mistake, I would always want this as a backup.

 

[water racer]

I think KTM was early to the game with an add on starter, more of a novelty than perfection. I am sure they will get it right with time, but then again, they seem to struggle with gas cap design...
I have used the kick starter only once on my Beta 250RR just to see if it worked, and since have forgotten about it. I am glad it is there though.

 

[ray_ray]

I hear you My 165 is so east to start There there is my 300 the only button I want on it is the KILL button which I use after the race. Because once started it will run all day and almost never stall.
OMG if for some reason I do stall it one kick and it will re light Why would I want to take a battery and the stuff to keep that battery charged and the weight of the starter on a field trip

I hear ya ... My 08 WR250 is a one kick pony about 99% of the time ... Hard to stall also... I would not want a battery added to it along with a starter ... Just is not needed ...

--
I do have a bike with an estart and its used alot but when the cheapo battery dies, I do not run out and buy a fix too quick .. Again, it just is not needed ...

 

[AOMC]

They went with a larger starter in 13 on the KTM/Berg. In 14 they went with the next size bigger battery, time will tell if they are improved or not. I know the one on my 300 GasGas cranks the engine a lot faster than the KTM does, whether or not it's going to last I have no idea.

 

[ghte]

KTM 2 banger starters are high maintenance and problematic. The issue is well know but has not been corrected for the past 3 years. I ride with 4 KTM 300's and literally on any given ride one of them is kick starting. Must admit they kick and fire up quickly. Must have been 7 or 8 replacement starters with the guys over the past 2 years alone not to mention re greasing etc.

 

[Motosportz]

KTM 2 banger starters are high maintenance and problematic. The issue is well know but has not been corrected for the past 3 years. I ride with 4 KTM 300's and literally on any given ride one of them is kick starting. Must admit they kick and fire up quickly. Must have been 7 or 8 replacement starters with the guys over the past 2 years alone not to mention re greasing etc.

Yep, thats what I see too. IMHO the E-start is a good idea just needs better implementation.

 

[AOMC]

Beta seems to not be an after thought, but it's on the very bottom of the engine. Kind of an odd place for a starter. Sherco 2 strokes have an electric start as well but no kicker, they obviously have more faith in battery technology than I do.