How to Start an XR 400

The Honda XR-400 is a wildly popular bike. This is because it performs well off and on road, and has a powerful four-stroke motor to back it up in any situation. If you have purchased one of these amazing machines, and you have never ridden a motorcycle, the first thing you need to know is how to start the bike. After all, you won’t be getting very far without knowing this bit of information.

Instructions

1. Sit on the bike and pull the kickstand in. Use your foot to pull the kickstand up against the bike.

2. Shift the bike into neutral. This is done by holding the clutch in with your finger, and tapping the gear lever all the way down with your toes. When you feel the gear shifter stiffen up, you are in first gear. You then need to tap it back up once. This will shift you up half a step into neutral.

3. Pull the kick starter out, and put it at top dead center. This means that the kick starter will be standing straight up, bent end facing out and away from the bike. This will put the pistons at top dead center.

4. Put your foot on the kick starter, and push down until you feel a bit of resistance. This will mean that the motor has compression.

5. Kick your foot forward on the kick starter. You should hear the motor trying to turn over, and with any luck, the bike will start. Speed is the key. You have to find the sweet spot with speed and power. If you kick the starter too fast and hard, then the motor will just putt a couple of times and not start.

Tips & Warnings

• Every time you try to kick start, you need to reset the kick starter at top dead center and push it forward until you feel compression. If you don’t do this, then kicking the starter will not start the bike.

• After you start your bike to put the kick starter back against the bike.