n.a metal
bar on motorcycles, which sticks out on the side of the engine, and which is used to start the engine when pushed down by the foot of the rider. On older motorcycles the rider forcefully pushed the starting
bar down with his foot and then turned the spark on (meaning to activate the
mechanism, which provides a spark to ignite the fuel inside the engine). If the spark was on when the
bar was kicked down, it could ignite the fuel sooner than expected and the engine could start, causing the
bar to forcefully fly back up to its starting
position. Electric push-
button starters have since become common, largely replacing the starting
bar.
on older motorcycles, a metal
bar which
stuck out on the side of the engine. When forcefully pushed down with the foot it caused the engine to move into
position for starting. If the spark was on at the
time that the
bar was kicked down, the engine could start unexpectedly, causing the
bar to come
flying back up, sometimes hitting and causing damage to the ankle from the
force.