4 tips to bump starting a dirt bike

Have you ever found yourself in the pits or on the start line and your motocross or enduro bike won't start? It's a situation we've all found ourselves in, and it usually calls for a bump start. 

A bike that won't start can be due to many different reasons, however a common reason is a flat battery (for those only with electric starters). 

In this guide, we cover four tips to bump starting a dirt bike.

Get speed: The key bump starting your bike is gathering speed - if you go to slow, you won't have enough momentum for the bike to kickover. There are two ways to gather speed - find a long hill that will allow you to get momentum and give you multiple tries if it doesn't start on the first go. Or alternatively, get one or two people to run and push the bike while you action the bump start.

Use second or third gear: One of the first mistakes riders make when bump starting a dirt bike is using first gear, however first gear rarely ever works. Using second or third gear will give you the best chance of starting the bike and getting yourself out on track.

Dump the clutch: The best way to bump start a bike is by clicking the bike into second or third gear and holding the clutch in until you're at an adequate speed. When you've reached speed, dump the clutch rather than slowly releasing it.

'Bump' the bike: A key to a dirt bike bump start is actually 'bumping' the bike, meaning that when you've reached a strong speed and you're ready to dump the clutch, you 'bounce' down on the bike. There's no technical advantage to this technique, but it's always worked for us and many other riders.

Note: If your bike won't start after a few attempts, it's likely to be an issue that needs further looking into.