Kick Start Levers
About Kick Start Levers
A kick start lever is the pedal you push down with your foot to turn the engine over. On dirt bikes it takes abuse, and levers get bent in a fall, lose the tip or wear at the spline that grips the shaft. Riders also change them for a different color or a tougher finish.
Fit comes down to the model and year. The levers listed here are made for Honda CR and CRF, Yamaha YZ, Suzuki RM-Z, Kawasaki KX, KTM and Husqvarna bikes, and each is shaped for the shaft of one engine, so a lever for one model will not necessarily fit another. The same model can have more than one lever, since the Honda CR250R, for example, is listed for different year ranges. Finish choices include silver, hard anodized black, blue and orange. A bent lever is weakened, and straightening aluminum can crack it, so a replacement is safer.
Brands in this category include RFX, Moose Offroad, Colony, Jims and Emgo. Pick your machine in the Ride Finder at the top of the page. For other engine parts, see Engine Covers, Engine Crankcases and Engines & Engine Parts.
FAQs on kick start levers
How do I start a bike with a kick starter?
Put the bike in neutral, follow the choke or hot-start steps in your manual, then press the lever slowly until you feel resistance and kick through the full stroke in one firm motion. Wear sturdy boots, since a kickback can hurt an ankle.
Why does my kick start lever slip or fail to engage?
Worn splines on the lever can cause it, but so can worn parts inside the engine that the lever drives. Inspect the shaft and the internal kick starter parts as your manual describes before ordering a lever, so the real cause gets fixed.
Can I use a kick start lever from a different year of the same model?
Not always. Listings are split by year range, such as separate Honda CR250R levers for '88-'96 and '97-'07, because the shaft or its position can change. Match the year as well as the model before you order.
What does hard anodized mean on a lever?
Hard anodizing is a treatment for aluminum that makes the surface tougher than standard color anodizing, so it resists scratching and wear better. It affects the finish only, and fit is still determined by the model and year.
Should I replace a kick start lever that is bent?
Yes. A bent lever may be weakened, and bending it back can create cracks that lead to a break while you are riding. A new lever made for your exact model and year is the safer fix, and it is not expensive.
