How to start a motorcycle with a dead battery

Travis Langness

My Honda CBR600RR died at the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado. I was stuck behind a cumbersome minivan with a driver who struggled with the concept of a parking space. Combine the snail’s pace of the family car in front of me with the lack of oxygen at 4,000 meters above sea level and my motorcycle couldn’t maintain the proper mixture of fuel and air, so it died. No worries, just hit the start button and keep going, right? Wrong.

The battery in my motorcycle was a few years old, and mine the alternator wasn’t keeping it charged properly. I knew this was a problem, and I had been trickle charging the bike as often as possible, but I was on a cross-country trip and there weren’t many electrical outlets at the campsites I visited. The bike had some power, but not enough to get it going again. Luckily I was close enough to an open parking lot, so I pulled in, took off my helmet and went to check out the view from the top of the mountain. When I finally got back to the bike, I asked two fellow riders nearby to help me – they knew exactly what to do. I jumped on the bike, depressed the clutch, put it in second gear and the two strangers pushed me to about 10 miles per hour. At high speed I released the clutch, the bike revved up and I waved as I rode down the mountain – a perfect bump start.

How to start your motorcycle

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Push starting, also called bump starting, is a relatively simple process. A motorcycle with a dead (or nearly dead) battery can be started with proper techniques and a little forward motion. A push start uses the motion of the bicycle to turn the engine, just like it would happen in a car. To make a bump start, get on the bike, turn the key to the on position, engage the clutch and put it in second gear. Point the motorcycle downhill (or have a friend push you) and when the motorcycle reaches anywhere from 7 to 10 miles per hour, release the clutch quickly.

If you do it right, this procedure will start the bike while it is in motion, but it may take a few tries. And remember: you’re in gear at this point, so the bike keeps moving forward. Therefore, it is important to press the start button while you are in the riding position and there is nothing directly near your motorcycle. To slow or stop the bike, treat it like you would ride, so re-engage the clutch, slow to a stop using the brakes and put it in neutral before lowering the stand.

When to Press the Home Button (and When Not to)

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There is a long list of reasons why a push start won’t help your motorcycle. If there are other mechanical reasons why it isn’t turning, pushing won’t help. And if the battery is completely discharged (not just low), a push start may not be enough. If your motorcycle has an automatic transmission, it is not eligible for a push start. So it’s always a good idea to have a starting aid box on hand.

Before you start your dead motorcycle, you need to check a few critical items. Make sure your kill switch is in the correct position, make sure the kickstand is up, and make sure the key is in the correct position to start the bike. It’s also never a bad idea to double check any fuel cutoff switches or make sure there is fuel in the tank. Once all these items are checked off the list, give it a try. And if all else fails, give it a flying start to get started.