If you converted your bike to kickstart only... do yo need a new ground?

[Audiowize]

The stock bike uses conventional ignition coils and breaker points/electronic ignition. If the OP had converted to a magneto ignition, I don't think he would've asked this question in the first place.

[scootsx2]

The stock bike uses conventional ignition coils and breaker points/electronic ignition. If the OP had converted to a magneto ignition, I don't think he would've asked this question in the first place.

Point taken and I'm probably going off topic somewhat but ignition coils and electronic ignition don't preclude a magneto.
- My 1956 Francis Barnett with a Villiers 8e engine has magneto ignition and runs an aftermarket Electrex electronic ignition with an ignition coil. A battery is only used in the lighting circuit and gets charged from the lighting coils and rectifier.
- My 1959 Solex's 2-stroke engine has magneto ignition and uses an ignition coil and has been retrofitted with an Atom electronic ignition module. No battery whatsoever.

[Bugdaddy66]

I do this type of conversion to bikes all the time. To answer the original question, you have to have a ground path between the engine and all electrical components. Since the engine in your bike bolts directly to the frame with no rubber isolation, you should not need any additional grounding there. All other components can then be grounded through the frame. To run without a battery, the charging system must be of a permanent magnet style so it can generate a current without a battery to energize the field coil. The gold wing uses a permanent magnet style alternator, so you could conceivably build a kick only no battery bike using the factory points ignition.

[scootsx2]

I do this type of conversion to bikes all the time. To answer the original question, you have to have a ground path between the engine and all electrical components. Since the engine in your bike bolts directly to the frame with no rubber isolation, you should not need any additional grounding there. All other components can then be grounded through the frame. To run without a battery, the charging system must be of a permanent magnet style so it can generate a current without a battery to energize the field coil. The gold wing uses a permanent magnet style alternator, so you could conceivably build a kick only no battery bike using the factory points ignition.

+1

[mhynze]

Sorry for the late response i just got busy... I have no magneto ignition... the CB500T I am working on does have a permenant magnet though, so would still need the magneto ignition ??

because reading what bugdaddy wrote.... I do not need a magneto ignition, i can just use the factory points ignition with no battery since it has a permenant magnet? is that correct?

If not.. I will just add a small power sports battery

and if the GL1000 has a permenant magnet,then you could techinally do this with it since it does have a kick start?

[Whiskerfish]

I have tried kick starting a GL1000 with a flat dead battery and never had any luck.

[Bugdaddy66]

You should be able to eliminate the battery completely in your 500T if you want, usually a capacitor is installed in the system to provide some initial power for the coil at start-up. A small battery if you want to use on the bike isn't a bad idea, without a battery, any charging failure cause instant failure of ignition and lights (think of powering through a corner at night and having that happen!).
As to kick starting a bike with a dead battery, it is very hard to generate enough amperage to overcome the huge sponge that a dead battery is. That is why a capacitor is used in battery elimination systems as it charges almost instantly.

[mhynze]

Thanks for the input, would you happen to know what size of Cap would be suitable?

is there much difference between using a cap, or a tiny power sports battery?

[Bugdaddy66]

Sorry to be so slow getting back to you, long day at work. This is the type of capacitor I use, https://www.mikesxs.net/parts/capacitor ... ing-system
They can be had from a variety of sources. As I stated previously the advantage to a battery is you have some reserve if charging system fails to at least get off the road. You do have to be sure the regulating system is working correctly, one of the downfalls of the permanent magnet charging system is it is poorly regulated, its output can quickly overcharge a small battery.