3 Ways to Start a Honda XR150
Updated 04/05/25
The Honda XR150L is a great little bike that will get you to 90% of the places you might want to go. If she won’t get you there, then maybe it isn’t the right place for you :)
Our bikes are new and well maintained and will start at the drop of a hat. Here are three ways to put life into the ‘little buffalo’.
Contents
Before We Begin
Before you even begin to start your bike, make sure:
The ignition is ON.
It obviously makes sense to turn this on or you wil lget absolutely nowhere.
You are in NEUTRAL.
This will lessen any friction in the engine and make it easier to start.
The kickstand is up.
Generally, this is a good idea if you are sitting on the bike or you are attempting the Bump Start. (Keep it DOWN if you are not on the bike )
Note: There is no ignition cut-off on the kickstand.
Starting the Honda XR150
Now, you can begin powering up the ‘little buffalo’ as I call her. Here we are going to show you 3 ways to start up the Honda XR150.
1. The Electric Start
This is the simplest and easiest way to start the Honda XR150. All you need to do is: turn on the ignition, check the bike is in neutral, have the kickstand in the correct position and now press the electric start button. Voila! She fires up.
There is usually no need to twist the accelerator (gas). The bike will start and then idle without any input on the accelerator.
Now, you are ready to drive away. Have fun.
2. The KickStart
If your electric start does not work for some reason (most likely a dead battery), the next best option is to kick start the bike. It is quite simple and as this is only a 150cc, it doesn’t take much effort.
On the right side of the bike is a large silver lever, which you can move out from the bike and rest your foot on. It will be loose and then it will feel firm. That is the point at which you want to ‘kick’ start the bike. It is actually more of a strong push downwards from the leg that will do the trick. One good push will get the bike started and then you should return the kick start lever back to its original position. They hurt a lot if you hit yourself with them.
Now, you are ready to drive away. Have fun.
3. The 'Bump' Start
This is definitely the hardest work of the 3 methods and can be a killer in the Summer. It is most preferable to find a small incline or hill to do this on but you rarely get a choice in this.
So, you make sure the ignition is on, the bike is in neutral and the kickstand is UP. Then, you run as fast as you can whilst pushing the bike. Once you have gained enough speed 10kmh or more, the technical operation begins. You hop onto the bike, pull in the clutch, shift UP into 2nd gear and wham! Let the clutch out all at once.
You will feel a slight loss of momentum but, hopefully, the engine will rev into life and you will then be accelerating away.
Now, you are ready to drive away. Have fun.
Cold Starting the Honda XR150
Now, this business of starting bikes is all well and good but sometimes it is a little cold and hard for the bike to get going. This is where the choke lever comes in and you can use it in conjunction with any of the methods above.
This lever is situated in the heart of the bike on the carburettor. It has 3 settings: fully OFF, HALF ON, and fully ON. When you first try to start the bike you can flip the lever to its highest position. This will give the bike a lot of fuel and hopefully it will start.
Once it is running and maybe idling you can reduce this to the first position and then fully OFF. You should not drive away whilst the choke is on because it affects the acceleration of the bike. You might not be used to this and it is potentially dangerous.
Another reason for turning the choke OFF before you drive away is that it uses a LOT of fuel and we should try not to waste this.
Now the bike is idling well and you are ready to ride. Have fun.
Honda XR 150 Motorcycle Rental
Ready for adventure? The Honda XR150 is your perfect companion for rugged backroads, mountain passes, and open highways.
✅ Lightweight, reliable, and fuel-efficient
✅ Comfortable for long rides and multi-day tours
✅ Trusted by riders across Vietnam for the legendary Ha Giang Loop
Why Choose the Honda XR150
The Honda XR150 is an excellent bike for Vietnam. She is light and agile and has enough power for most situations. The bike is great for both on and light offroad and it won’t break down easily. It is very easy to drive and manouvre in traffic here and other drivers of think you are bigger than you really are. Also, mechanics all over the country are becoming familiar with the bike so it means you can get parts and repairs.
She won’t get you up the toughest enduro hills but there are plenty of great roads out there that are not as tough as hell to drive. There is also a lack of power but when you are here as a tourist and are not in a hurry you’ll find she purrs along just as fast as you need.
FAQ
Is the Honda XR150 a good bike for a Vietnam Motorcycle Tour?
Well, each to their own, but yes. The Honda XR150 is cheap, light, easy to handle and quite easy to repair. She is also very good value at prices from 13usd per day. Generally speaking, this is a good bike to tour Vietnam and she will take you to mos tof the places you could ever want to visit on a motorcycle.
What is the easiest way to start the Honda XR150L?
The Electric start is by far the easiest method. Simply, make sure that the bike is in neutral, or you have engaged the clutch and press the electrict start button. No gas needed, she should start up after a second or two, and then you remove your finger from the starter. Job Done.
When do I need to 'choke' my Honda XR150?
The Honda XR150 has a carburettor and on this there is a Choke Lever which will allow you to enrichen the fuel mixture. This is usefull when the engine is cold or if you are high up in the mountains with thinner air. The most common time for needing the Choke is in the morning after the bike has been sitting idle for some time. It is quite normal to need a little choke at times because of temperature, humidity and altitude fluctuations.
When would I use the Kickstart on the Honda XR150?
This would be when the electirc start is not working or if you have a dead battery. It is the next easiest method to start the bike.
How much weight can I carry on a Honda XR150L?
Tricky to say because anything is possible, right? We have all seen vietnamese riders loading their vehicles with crazy loads. You might think, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’ and we hear your logic. However, do you have the same level of experience, on these roads, as the locals? Are you really willing to accept the conzequences, if it all goes pear-shaped?
The rear rack has a rating of 5kg load. We feel you can put more on there than this, but we encourage as little as possible for the sake of safety. A 40l pack is usually enough for the longest of trips.
Now You can Hit the Road
You are now fully aware of how to start the bike and can use several different methods to do this. Now, you can get out on your own ‘little buffalo’ and start ripping through the vietnamese countryside. You may want to check out 3 Things You Must Know About the Honda XR150. Then, you are set and you won’t look back
