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Cars & Other Vehicles
Motorcycles
How to Start a Motorcycle Download Article Reviewed by Jason Shackelford
Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked
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Getting your Bearings
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Starting a Carburated Motorcycle
|
Starting a Fuel-Injected Motorcycle
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Video
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Q&A
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Tips
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This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 336,111 times.
So you want to start a motorcycle. If the machine is in good condition, this should not be difficult. Read on for a basic tutorial on how to start a motorcycle!
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Getting your Bearings
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1 Determine whether you have a carburetor-based or fuel-injected motorcycle. Many motorcycles, especially older or less expensive models, do not have modern fuel injection systems. If you aren't sure, you can tell by looking for a choke control. It is normally located on the left handlebar, above the horn. Carbureted motorcycles have a choke, but fuel-injected bikes do not.[1]XResearch source
2 Sit on your motorcycle seat when starting it. This will put you in full control of anything that happens once it's started. If you are starting the motorcycle unmounted for some reason, make sure that you shift your bike into neutral (located between 1st and 2nd gear) before you fire the engine. You don't want the bike to take off without you! Advertisement
3 Make sure that the motorcycle is in working condition. You should have plenty of gas and a well-charged battery. It is important to keep the motorcycle properly serviced, particularly in damp or cold conditions. Fit new spark plugs, or, if not worn, clean and gap the old ones. Check the ignition timing, and adjust if necessary; if fitted, have the ignition points replaced. A carburetor service and cleaning is also a great idea.
Replace the spark plug leads if they look old, worn, or frayed. Use only manufacturer-recommended spark plugs and plug leads – look for the reference in your motorcycle's handbook.
4 Check the oil level. Before starting any engine, make sure it is lubricated by checking the oil level. If there is no oil, or the oil level is too low, do not start the engine. Otherwise, it will heat up, then will break down.
5 Check the battery. Put in the key and turn the key clockwise until the lights turn on. If the lights do not turn on, that usually means the battery is dead and you need to recharge it or install a new one.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Starting a Carburated Motorcycle
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1 Look for the "choke" lever or cut-off switch. For cold starting, there is usually a choke lever or "cut-off switch" on the handlebar. On some bikes, there may be a choke lever mounted on the carburetor. Operating this will provide the necessary rich fuel mixture when the motorcycle is "cold" – when it hasn't been used for more than a few hours. The dirtier the carburetor, or the colder the engine is, the more the choke will need to be engaged.[2]XResearch source
You don't need to use the choke lever when starting a motorcycle "hot." If the motorcycle has been running and the engine is already hot, you won't need as much power to get it going. Just use a small amount of throttle and the engine should fire.[3]XResearch source
Many bikes have a cut-off switch on the kickstand, so make sure that the kickstand is up as well. Having the bike in neutral will disable the kickstand shutoff.
2 Open the choke lever. Make sure that the cut-off switch is "on." You will need to leave the handlebar throttle twist-grip closed while operating the starter motor or kick-start lever. Otherwise, the engine will flood, making starting difficult or impossible. Remember – the choke lever is usually not necessary if the bike has already been running in the past few hours.[4]XResearch source
3 Turn your ignition to the "on" position. Your dash lights should "light up" when it's in this position. Also if your bike is in neutral as suggested, then you should notice a green light indicating that you are in neutral.
4 Start the engine. Squeeze and hold your clutch lever down (located on the left) and push the start button (located on the right). You should hear the blissful sound of your motorcycle cranking up.
5 Close the choke and open the throttle. Shortly after the engine fires, close the choke lever progressively and open the throttle slightly as the engine warms. As you ride, you may still need some choke for a short distance – but close the choke lever as soon as possible to achieve smooth running. Do not over-rev the motorcycle when it is warming up.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Starting a Fuel-Injected Motorcycle
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1 Put the motorcycle into neutral. You can almost always find this between first and second gear.[5]XResearch source
2 Don't worry about the choke lever. For electronically fuel-injected motorcycles, the engine management system will automatically look after fueling needs whether the engine is hot or cold. There is no choke lever on these motorcycles. Use a small amount of throttle when starting either hot or cold.
3 Pull the clutch in toward the handlebar. It's usually on the left-hand side. Many riders choose to also pull in the front brake (on the right handlebar) at the same time.
4 Press and hold the start button. This is usually located on the right handlebar, near the bottom of where the hand will naturally rest.
5 Try using the throttle. If the motorcycle does not catch and start, try using the throttle while pressing the start button. Make sure to keep the clutch held all of the way in while doing this.
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Community Q&A
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Question How do I keep from falling off when stopping? Community Answer Keep your balance while on the bike and place both feet on the ground when stopping. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 13 Helpful 21
Question What if it won't start in cold, damp weather? Community Answer The problem could be water in the fuel icing up, or it could just be damp electrical. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 18
Question In which gear should I climb a hill area? CrayFish715 Community Answer Depends on the bike. Really, you can use any gear so long as you keep mid-range revs at a comfortable speed. Don't let it stall. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 11
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Video
Tips
Make sure your motorcycle has new fuel and a fully-charged battery before attempting this. If the bike isn't starting, there might be something more seriously wrong with it. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 336,111 times. 109 votes - 80% Co-authors: 10Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 336,111 Categories: MotorcyclesArticle SummaryX
If you haven't used your motorcycle in several hours, open the choke lever on the handlebar before starting it. Then, turn your ignition on, squeeze and hold your clutch lever down, and press the start button. Shortly after the engine starts, close the choke and open the throttle. If your bike is fuel-injected, simply pull the clutch in, and press and hold the start button whether you're starting hot or cold. Use a bit of throttle when you press start if your motorcycle doesn't start up first time around. Keep reading the article if you want to learn how to inspect your motorcycle before riding it!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Sumadhu Chakrabarty
May 2, 2020
"Just learning to ride. This article seems helpful. Will be sure once I ride on my bike the next time. By the way, animated demos helped to understand the tips. Thank you wikiHow!"..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Co-authors: 10Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 336,11180% of readers found this article helpful. 109 votes - 80% Click a star to add your vote
Sumadhu Chakrabarty
May 2, 2020
"Just learning to ride. This article seems helpful. Will be sure once I ride on my bike the next time. By the way, animated demos helped to understand the tips. Thank you wikiHow!"..." more
Anonymous
Sep 21, 2016
"I never thought of holding the clutch in. I wonder how that helps starting the engine."
michael kiely
Sep 2, 2017
"The detail on the different actions with the pictures helped." Rated this article:
Anonymous
May 27, 2017
"Excellent review for returning riders." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Reviewed by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 336,111 times. 109 votes - 80% Co-authors: 10 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 336,111 Categories: Motorcycles Article SummaryX
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1 Determine whether you have a carburetor-based or fuel-injected motorcycle. Many motorcycles, especially older or less expensive models, do not have modern fuel injection systems. If you aren't sure, you can tell by looking for a choke control. It is normally located on the left handlebar, above the horn. Carbureted motorcycles have a choke, but fuel-injected bikes do not.[1] 
2 Sit on your motorcycle seat when starting it. This will put you in full control of anything that happens once it's started. If you are starting the motorcycle unmounted for some reason, make sure that you shift your bike into neutral (located between 1st and 2nd gear) before you fire the engine. You don't want the bike to take off without you! Advertisement 
3 Make sure that the motorcycle is in working condition. You should have plenty of gas and a well-charged battery. It is important to keep the motorcycle properly serviced, particularly in damp or cold conditions. Fit new spark plugs, or, if not worn, clean and gap the old ones. Check the ignition timing, and adjust if necessary; if fitted, have the ignition points replaced. A carburetor service and cleaning is also a great idea. 
5 Check the battery. Put in the key and turn the key clockwise until the lights turn on. If the lights do not turn on, that usually means the battery is dead and you need to recharge it or install a new one. Advertisement 
1 Look for the "choke" lever or cut-off switch. For cold starting, there is usually a choke lever or "cut-off switch" on the handlebar. On some bikes, there may be a choke lever mounted on the carburetor. Operating this will provide the necessary rich fuel mixture when the motorcycle is "cold" – when it hasn't been used for more than a few hours. The dirtier the carburetor, or the colder the engine is, the more the choke will need to be engaged.[2] 
2 Don't worry about the choke lever. For electronically fuel-injected motorcycles, the engine management system will automatically look after fueling needs whether the engine is hot or cold. There is no choke lever on these motorcycles. Use a small amount of throttle when starting either hot or cold. 
Community Answer Keep your balance while on the bike and place both feet on the ground when stopping. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 13 Helpful 21 
CrayFish715 Community Answer Depends on the bike. Really, you can use any gear so long as you keep mid-range revs at a comfortable speed. Don't let it stall. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 11 
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