Any thoughts about just removing this seemingly useless gadget? Has anyone done this? Any tips to avoid problems down the road? I know the bike will start without it since mine was disconnected and I didn't even know it. But I don't like the idea of that shaft just vibrating around without the linkage hooked up to it.

I was told by few experienced bike mechanics that if the engine stops at the compression cycle and you try to crank it without decomp - it may crack or strip starter gears. I was gonna remove it, but decided to keep it after that advice.

I'll keep it intact then. As I said I don't want any issues down the road and since keeping it is the path to the least issues so be it. Thanks guys as always you always make me look at things alittle different than I would normally.

What's the benefit of a manual decomp? How does this change your start-up procedure?

CalisOsin wrote on 05/23/11 at 15:21:18:

What's the benefit of a manual decomp? How does this change your start-up procedure?

There are pros and cons to everything.  For a manual decompression device on the LS650 that replaces the automatically operated electrical device:

Pro:  a few pounds lighter, looks machine-like, cleaner appearance overall if you don't mind seeing the linkage, uses parts the RYCA conversion would otherwise have tossed out, it's cool, it starts conversations

Con: non-standard, decompression is not automatic anymore (you actually have to think about it everytime you hit the starter), linkage is hanging out there to get hung up and bent on something, more adjustments to adjust.

The startup procedure will be mostly the same.  The diff will be you putting your left foot on the decompression lever for about a half a second when you hit the starter button.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 05/23/11 at 19:10:12:

As much as I ..... can appreciate your solution......... I wonder if it would be possible to build another setup that swings a lever on the head......

It is my solution only in that it is what RYCA will send in the kit.

To build on your idea, how about having a lever on the shaft that lifts the exhaust valve for decompression set up with a microswitch the triggers the starter relay?  You'd sit on the bike ready to start it, put the key in, turn on the ignition, reach down with your left hand, lift the decompression lever mounted on the cylinder head -- which would lift the exhaust valve and click the starter relay, starting the motor.

It would be rather unusual, so you'd get a lot of conversations started.  It would have fewer parts than any setup mentioned so far, but you'd have to figure out something to do with the starter button.  It would have fewer mechanical pieces hanging out in the breeze waiting to get banged around.

Just a thought,...

I felt like since I was trying to have fewer parts, the big linkage all the way down the front of the bike was counter productive for my build. I put a cable pull from the top of the head under the tank to just in front of the tank at the tree. When I hit the starter button (which is still in the stock location) i just pull the little ring on the end of the cable for a second. It weighs as much as a 16" or so peice of about 12 guage steel cable and whatever you put on the end to pull. I chose this mostly because i wanted get rid of a bunch of wiring and clean up the look and went with the cable pull because it cost me literally nothing. I will probably make a little lever right on the mechanism in time and get rid of the cable.

Yeah, two handed for mine now and i also got rid of my idiot proofing (neutral start and kickstand kill switch) I can just see myself one day forgetting that im in 1st and starting it while leaning over to pull the lever and the bike lurching forward and falling over. Haha.