Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners

So my owners manual shows a kickstart but my bike does not have one ( I sure wished it did!)
Were these optional? Is there a way/kit to put one on?

Snowbum writes that the '74 model was the last year for the kick start as standard equipment. It is/was an option up to a certain point of time...probably only for the twin shock models. I'd say that the parts along will be well over $500 and requires that the transmission be opened up which then means that things probably should be replaced since you're in there.

The kick start was standard on the /2 models and was a robust system because that was all you had. But the kicker for the /5-on bikes was not really up to par and was best left for emergency use. I think that the kick start would not really be worth the cost and effort for what little feature it provides and/or is needed.

I have a kickstarter on my R100RS. It is useless as a kickstarter. You will have much better success push starting your bike. It is handy for rotating the engine when adjusting valves or similar. Is it worth having?????? Not really.

Mike

All of the guys I know who have /6,/7 bikes all say the kick start is pretty much useless. The higher compression of the /6 and /7 bikes is more than the /2 bikes. Also, the design of the kick start for these /6 and /7 bikes is as Kurt said, not very robust. Kurt probably has records of old postings mentioning braking things in these gear boxes when attempting to kick start.

I have a kick start on my R100RS, I have used it once, it would have been easier to roll start the bike. St.

All good input. Thanks