revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Here are details of the kickstart mod that I did on my Fantic Caballero 500. The mod is applicable to all bikes that use the Zongshen NC450 and NC450S engines which includes the Kove 450 Rally. Any questions please ask.

Very cool mod.
It looks like the engine was designed with a kickstart in mind, perhaps due to its rally intent? Or is it like many other Chinese engines, and actually a clone of an old Japanese bike which might have had a kicker?
Were the parts (lever and gear) available from an OEM?

Why did you feel the need to add a kick-start?

Just because I noticed that the engine case had provision for a kickstarter and I also thought it would be good to have backup setup in case the battery died on me. Parts are also dirt cheap from China

A_morti wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:35 pm Very cool mod.
It looks like the engine was designed with a kickstart in mind, perhaps due to its rally intent? Or is it like many other Chinese engines, and actually a clone of an old Japanese bike which might have had a kicker?
Were the parts (lever and gear) available from an OEM?

Some bikes that the NC250 engine is fitted to do have a kickstarter fitted as standard and the NC450/NC450S uses alot of the NC250 parts. The kickstart cluster and lever are easily obtainable but the other parts took nearly a year to arrive directly from Zongshen so I had to improvise for a while (see pdf).

Dave G wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:52 pm Just because I noticed that the engine case had provision for a kickstarter and I also thought it would be good to have backup setup in case the battery died on me. Parts are also dirt cheap from China

None of my last 3 enduro bikes had kick-start and had no problems ever.

If any failed it would be easy to bump them.

But do admire your work.

Yorick wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 1:14 pm

Dave G wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:52 pm Just because I noticed that the engine case had provision for a kickstarter and I also thought it would be good to have backup setup in case the battery died on me. Parts are also dirt cheap from China

None of my last 3 enduro bikes had kick-start and had no problems ever.

If any failed it would be easy to bump them.

But do admire your work.

I'm too ancient to bump start. Just fancied a new project really if I'm honest.

I kinda like kickstarting bikes.

Nice work btw.

Oldschool stuff, like the look and lever shines up nicely,

Dave G wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 2:09 pm

Yorick wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 1:14 pm

Dave G wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:52 pm Just because I noticed that the engine case had provision for a kickstarter and I also thought it would be good to have backup setup in case the battery died on me. Parts are also dirt cheap from China

None of my last 3 enduro bikes had kick-start and had no problems ever.

If any failed it would be easy to bump them.

But do admire your work.

I'm too ancient to bump start. Just fancied a new project really if I'm honest.

What more reason does a chap need eh? 'Because I can' usually works for me.

Count Steer wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 3:16 pm

Dave G wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 2:09 pm

Yorick wrote: Thu Jan 29, 2026 1:14 pm

None of my last 3 enduro bikes had kick-start and had no problems ever.

If any failed it would be easy to bump them.

But do admire your work.

I'm too ancient to bump start. Just fancied a new project really if I'm honest.

What more reason does a chap need eh? 'Because I can' usually works for me.

Anything to do with Bikes beats DIY!.

Share permissions changed, hope that the PDF is now accessible!

Doesthe gear engage off the centre of the clutch bsketoroff the outer teeth had all thinner teeth shear off ahusky610

Yes it does, here's a pic showing rear of clutch basket.