So while I've heard of sportster leg, I've never heard anyone's account of how it happens.

Consequently my old kicker broke down on the side of the highway a few weeks back and while trying to kick it back into submission it showed me who was boss.

and its not me . . . who'd have thought.

I pushed her through her exhaust stroke, got er back up to the top and got ready to jump.

As soon as I put my 250lbs into her she dropped all compression and just fell through till i hit the end of the pedal.
Hyper-extending my knee as best as I can figure (went for an x-ray request form today)

Anyone share my misery? I'm not the only one.

Did it ever heal?

And I've heard that these old ironheads are the hardest harley to kick, that a fact or more bs?

 

Yep...you got it. When the kicker lets go, you get to land on your knee joint.

~Joe

 

Is it the same as an ACL injury, I know thats a common knee injury for football players and the like. Figured it might be the same motion.

And whats the cause of the kicker letting go? is it the the actual kicker or the engine?

 

ROFL ... Geez,,, does my old heart good... dont mean to sound mean... but ya, that is the ol' sporty knee kickin in.... God I used to miss my sporty till I read this, ouch.

 

a acl injury is from your leg twisting, when the kicker lets go your knee bends backwards.. i did it once.. hurts like hell but healed up pretty good, i was young then thou(20).it is caused by the ratchet not catching the gear on the back of the clutch hub.. kind of like if you slip on the top step then your *** bounces on every step down to the basement

 

Buddy of mine did that,, Was in surgery the next day and in a contraption for 5 months.. I still cringe when I think about watching his leg bend the wrong way..

 

I feel like all I did was tendon damage or something like that.

I'm not limping anymore, but the leg gets real stiff quick. so I constantly have to stretch it out and then stretch it in. I cant bend my knee all the way without grabbing it by the pant leg and pulling it up or in.

Sure feel it first thing in the morning putting the pants on lol.
we'll see what the x-rays say but i'm pretty sure its just going to take time to heal and stretch and heal and stretch etc. maybe i'll wear the old limp as a badge and not get looked at like such a green kid lol.

i'm currently looking for an electric start
lol

 

I've heard guys say "only pussies like electric start".

Well, I guess I am what I eat.

Electric start is a WONDERFUL thing...just like fuel injection and breakerless ignition....just makes life that much nicer, IMHO.

(Use the starter, and if your buds give you $hit, tell 'em to f-off!)

~Joe

 

I have no experience myself, just what i have read on these forums the past few years. My understanding that XLCHs are the most difficult of any bike to kick start. No other bike bites back like these.

 

Lol thanks guys good to know I'm getting a chance to share in some great Harley old time tradition.

As for pussies use electric start. . . well when its raining and your huffing and puffing and coughing up a lung trying to kick the ***** over well. . . . enough said I think.

Not sure i'll take the fuel injection jump, I'm a carbeurator junkie.
I like my bikes like I like my car.

Any leads on an electric start would be pretty gnarley


Oh one other thing. I see alot of these Harley designations XLH blah blah blah, how do I know what kind of bike I have. all I know is Ironhead lol.