I am almost without words to write. But already hear some crying and screaming coming from each corner of the custom motorcycle scene.
An electric kick? Yes, because the manufacturer will tell you that many bikers want to look root without obssessing at the idea of being genuinely authentic. Especially those with weak knees (many…)
Now that some of you are interested, let me tell you that it’s for you guys & gals with a Harley Sportster 1993 to 2015. At Esteves Motorcycle Design (EMD) or email: esteves5@wanadoo.fr
Oh my. At first I was thinking this was going to be a kicker for an electric motorcycle. I was thinking of some type of device that three or four kicks would wind up and assist the takeoff and extend the battery range. But this is way worse. I’m speaking that very softly, not screaming lol.
Ahh …. yes … the Age of Blatant Pretense is now truly upon us in the M/C world . Thanks in part no doubt to the hoards of pretentious Suburban/Urban Wanna Be ‘ Hipsters ‘ ruling the media’s attention of late
Patience though my fellow site mates . Like all things ‘ trendy …. the ‘ Hipsters ‘ days are numbered . And then … and only then … maybe we can get back to real motorcycles … real customs … and real motorcyclists . Give it time gents . It’ll happen . re; Zepplin’s ” Your Time is Gonna Come ” as well as Richard Thompson’s ” House of Cards ” .. not to mention the whole premise of the Potemkin Village 😉
BobS – My initial impressions/hopes as well before reading the details … with both of us unfortunately … being very much in error
What kind of person would have one installed! What next, one for knuckleheads, pans and shovels? just plain embarrassing
Cantrell!
I’m pretty sure a person with one of these would not be a member of our riding group…
Just sayin
Didn’t someone come up with this years ago for big twins? Seriously, I think it was even named the pussy foot… a microswitch type of thing activating a starter switch…
I think it would go great with your Sons of Anarchy patch…….
domino dave
Dave is right “pussy foot” was the name, it fit then and it fits now
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
In the T.V. series “Then came Bronson” had an XLH Ironhead, both kick and electric. In some scenes he is kicking at the same time he is hitting the button.
I could only hope when one of these “goes nuts” and starts a fire or something on a bike Im around to witness it first hand…and possibly photograph it too… I promise to laugh and share them here…idiots..
In the same vein, trikers that think they’re bikers
Seriously? This replaces the starter button I presume when it gets to the end of the kick then?
Seems like more of a novelty item than something would put on with the intent of using it to impress anyone. Something to have fun with and laugh with the owner; not at him.
Interesting development … some may crap on the floor because of it, but I think it will be a help to many bikers overall!
RE:
“…Seems like more of a novelty item…”
-No-
More like another “Poser Prop.”
(check me out kick-starting my bike, I’m a real biker)
But there is a lesson here.
And this is a great example of yet another attempt at “pretend-equality.”
This is a modern phenomenon that seems to have infiltrated all levels of contemporary society.
it insists that we are all “Magically Equal”
Examples:
Everyone goes to college…….. (but some can only manage a degree in gender or ethnic studies).
Everyone has a career…….. (but some are limited to sanitary engineering)
Everyone can qualify for a home loan…… (but some need it to be sub-prime)
And so….. every “biker” can Kick-start their scooter…… (but some need extra help)
Welcome to the age of socially engineered mediocrity.
-nicker-
Posing is nothing new. Do you remember the fake car phones in the 80’s? I think I just threw up in my mouth a little…
every bagger pile will have one…..
I think this will appeal to a lot of readers of this blog.
Guys this isn’t about posing or even manufacturing equality into society. “A sucker is born every minute”. This company would like to seperate those that ride Sportsters from some of their money. That’s the American way.
So, all bikers pushing a button on the bars are pussies. C’mon guys!
B.A.J. You beat me to the punch. When Bronson would kick the bike you could hear the starter . Wanted to make him look cool, but probably couldn’t risk down time when the ratchet slipped thru and hyper extended his knee. I know it happened to me too many times, ouch. But that’s what we were build then.
And that folks is why Harley stopped making kick start Sportsters
You mean you guys wouldn’t ride with me on my flatly with the electric kicker, my 24″ front wheel, my 225 rear, my handlebar mount 2000 watt sound with mega-bass and my flashing multi-color lizard lights that are synced to the music ??? What a bunch of prudes !
Oh my
Ha ha ha, ha ha, hah hah hah, ha ha.
It is to laugh.
I have seen Yamis with Harley emblems, Kaws with Indian emblems, late model Indians and HDs with fake hand shifters, and I have seen this done before. I used to get all worked up but now I laugh.
Riot!
To each his own and maybe the peeps inclined to do this will do it to a machine I would not own anyway, or least not do it to a machine I would own.
Say it ain’t so Bronson!
The comments are great
I want one of these for my truck
it may be dumb-
but i like it. it just hints at the fun. if you have an older bike with electric start what’s the difference?
it may be fun to kick it, and it start on the one try.
it is just moving the starter button anyway. now if this come out for a triumph bonneville look out!
hipsters will be all over the place.
neat piece of kit though.
As far as i am concerned the more fun & more people can have a two wheels the better.
who is going to really hate some one for putting ape hangers or fishtail mufflers on, it is their ride to enjoy.
Rodent – Read the words … M-O-T-O-R-C-Y-C-L-E …. B-I-K-E-R … pay attention . Read em very carefully my little muroid . Dost thou see anything referring to the number of wheels in either word ?
No ? Then your argument is at best moot … and at its worst becoming redundant , trite , childish and annoying . Hang it up son . Guaranteed . They’s plenty o’ bikers out there riding trikes for one reason or another that are still fully capable of sending you home in tears
LeChatNoir – Political Correctness … is in fact … never correct … and certainly has no place in this discussion what so ever
Seriously? Why was this developed??? Simply to make the poser, (Thanks Nicker) good choice of words, feel like a real biker…? Just when you thought you had seen it all, this to make those who lack confidence and need to like a real man,…. give me a break! Back in the 80’s there was a outfit that sold ¨fake kickers¨ that did not do zip except look the part… And what a big LAUGH that was!!! I Have both, Kick and Electric and I ride a shovel and have a back problem. If I choose I use the button, BIG DEAL! If I prefer, I use the kick! SO WHAT? To each his own… I guess… but to pose as a kick start?
tattooeddmike
TJ, you are a pain, yes I do, bi are the first two letters of biker, tri are the first three letters of triker. B I is 2 and T R I is 3. But you are either illiterate or stupid or perhaps both.
If I ever see a guy using one of those I’m going to kick him in his vagina
Sigh. Again, I think this part is silly. But whatever. If some dude is willing to give this company his hard earned money for this silly part, no skin off my nose. The biggest posers on motorcycles are the ones who complain about posers. Real bikers wouldn’t give a rat’s ass if some guy gets his jollies pretending to kick start a Sportster.
Inflammatory.
Now I see the part fits Sportsters. If ya want the real deal, it can be had as there is an outfit making a kit for the sportys,… forget the name, but this shop also builds some clean sleds!
RE:
“….Real bikers wouldn’t give a rat’s ass if some guy gets his jollies pretending to kick start a Sportster….”
No they wouldn’t.
But they also wouldn’t give him the time of day.
So, the point is….. We are NOT “all the same” or “created equal.”
My son-in-law leaned an interesting lesson from a co-worker.
His friend recounted a trip to Africa that he had taken to “rediscover his roots.”
During a conversation with a local this friend happened to call the local “brother.”
The man’s reaction was very pointed. He narrowed his eyes and said;
“…What tribe do you belong to?…… if you’re not from my tribe you are certainly Not my Brother…”
Those in need of “aides” to appear “authentic” are certainly not “of my tribe.”
-nicker-
-nicker-
@Daves…you forgot your fake Knucklehead rocker boxes.
This is just an extension to what Victory, Indian, & HD have been doing for decades. Its not too much of a stretch from those marketing tactics. Most of you play pirate, so gut check time.
To save anyone else looking it up – the Muroidea are a large superfamily of rodents, including hamsters, gerbils, true mice and rats, and many other relatives. They occupy a vast variety of habitats on every continent except Antarctica.
I don’t care one way or the other, because this product does not interest me, Therefore no comment is needed….
Steve Carr
This is for all those people that gather around to watch me kick my Panhead in front of boot hill , when she wanted to be temperamental and take pics and videos and wish they could do that without the labor involved …….RUBS!!!!
TatMike, LedSled makes the american kits, I think Ted makes a shitty repop.
What’s wrong with a button on the solenoid???
rodent.
What is it that trikers try to emulate that challenges some bikers ?
Do bikers have a certain skill set or right of passage ?
Yeah fugi,
To heck with all you. im gettin one. Puttin it on my old lady….
I’m not even a purist but jaaaaaaaaysus. Cheese! I’m all for retro styling but there are lines not to be crossed, I think this is one of them.
RE:
“…a certain skill set or right of passage…”
Actually, more like “a certain skill set which once made motorcycling exclusive.”
And so what was once a “discriminating factor” which required effort to overcome has been eliminated by technology.
The point is that. as in all endeavors, seeking the lowest common denominator is a net loss to society.
For example…. Knowing your multiplication tables -vs- using a calculator……… etc., etc…..
-nicker-
” To be or not to be a REAL/TRUE Biker : that’s the question ”
Where begins the TRUE and where begins the FAKE “Biker” ?????
Personaly : i do not think i am a “Biker” .
i don’t wear tattoos , i don’t drink alcohol , i HATE the noise and i never weared any kind of “sticker” in my back .
but i think in facts i am MORE a biker than many many other guys pretending actually they are the TOP of the cream .
I’m riding Forty-fives , Panheads and Knuckleheads since the 90s , always did my mechanic repairs by myself , nowadays TIG welder , sheet former and motorcycle designer and builder ….i’ve restored and built from scratch many harleys ( the very-last one is called the WARBOY : sure ya already know this scoot )
And ya know what ?
i REALLY DIG this kind of stuff
Why ?
Simply coz this is FUN .
( “Fun” : did you forgot what does this word means ? )
and i will SURE install one of these on my next scoot .
Life is way-too short : let’s ride and HAVE FUN .
Rodent -“Bi” are the first two lettes in biker and “ker” are the last three letters in both trike and biker.
I own three “bikes” and a trike. I have a passion and unsatiable appitite to have any or all of them fufill my most intimate desires, sometimes multiple times per day.
You seem to believe that trike riding is unnatural and an afront to the rules of nature and masculinity.
I guess in this world of political correctness, that makes me a “crossrider” and you “trikeaphobic”.
Since we are all created equal, but with the ability to follow our own indivdual passions and desires, can’t we just agree to accept each other for who we are and join together as “Equal Riders” ?
Each to their own!!! who cares!!! I have been reading this blog for almost couple of years (this is my first Comment in all that time) and it is getting annoying, tedious and tiring hearing some of the usual posters claim to be the be all and end all of what it means to be a biker. Get over yourselves!!!! I am now going to go out of my way to buy one of these just so I can be the polar opposite of what it means to be a real “biker” whatever the hell that means?