# Kick, Start, Go!

- Source: StoryWeaver (storyweaver.org.in), CC BY, Pratham Books, StoryWeaver, CC BY 4.0
- Reading level: Grade 5
- Subjects: Stories, How Things Work
- Topics: engine, motorcycle, petrol, crankshaft, closed, piston
- Length: 385 words, about 3 min
- By: Nikhil Gulati
- Original: <https://storyweaver.org.in/en/stories/136847-kick-start-go>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/storyweaver/kick-start-go>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=storyweaver/kick-start-go>

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Brrrmm Brrrrrmmmm...

Check zero.

Do you know how a motorcycle works?

A motorcycle needs petrol to run.

But what exactly is going on inside the motorcycle when it runs?

A motorcycle is basically the same as a cycle.

The main difference is that a cycle is pedalled by your legs.

But a motorcycle has an engine that does all the work.

Engine

Let's take a look inside the motorcycle engine.

![The inside of an engine.](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/storyweaver-kick-start-go-0e8d86e510.gif)

IN · Spark plug · OUT · Cylinder · Piston · Crankshaft

The engine is made up of three parts: cylinder, piston and crankshaft.

It also has two gates, IN and OUT, which open and close to let petrol enter and smoke leave the engine.

To get the engine started, you have to give it a kick.

The kick makes the crankshaft spin.

When the crankshaft spins, the piston moves up and down inside the cylinder.

![Petrol enters engine from the petrol tank.](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/storyweaver-kick-start-go-39951a658d.gif)

Petrol from tank · IN (closed) · IN (open) · IN (open) · OUT (closed)

When the spinning crankshaft pulls the piston down, the IN gate opens and lets petrol enter the cylinder.

![The petrol gets compressed inside engine.](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/storyweaver-kick-start-go-0fdaf97fbc.gif)

IN (closed) · OUT (closed)

Then the spinning crankshaft pushes the piston up, the IN gate closes and petrol gets compressed inside the cylinder.

![The spark plug is lit which causes an explosion.](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/storyweaver-kick-start-go-726ef4a735.gif)

Spark plug · IN (closed) · OUT (closed)

Then, a spark sets the petrol on fire...

...making it explode like a firecracker.

The piston is pushed down with great force, and it makes the crankshaft spin even faster.

![Smoke exits out of the engine.](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/storyweaver-kick-start-go-47fd16f970.gif)

OUT (closed) · OUT (open) · IN (closed) · OUT (open)

Now, when the piston moves up again, it pushes all the smoke out through the OUT gate.

The crankshaft continues to spin, the piston moves down once again, petrol enters the cylinder and the whole cycle is repeated over and over.

1\. Petrol goes in 2. Spark 3. Boom 4. Smoke goes out

The engine keeps running until it is turned off or it runs out of petrol.

While the engine runs...

...the crankshaft continues to spin...

...making the back wheel of the motorcycle turn.

The back wheel drives the motorcycle forward...

...while the front wheel is used for turning.

And the smoke from the engine is let out from a pipe in the back.

Next time you sit on a motorcycle, you will know what is going on inside this amazing machine.

![Parts of a motorcycle labelled.](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/storyweaver-kick-start-go-88c6cd9d18.jpg)

**Parts of a Motorcycle** · Accelerator · Brake · Headlight · Engine · Petrol Tank · Seat · Tail Light · Smoke Outlet

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## Picture credits

- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36784-a-woman-is-riding-a-motorcycle-with-a-beautiful-scene-behind-her>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36785-a-woman-speeds-ahead-on-a-motorcycle>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36786-a-boy-sees-a-woman-on-a-motorcycle-and-plays-with-a-tyre>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36787-a-woman-zooms-ahead-on-a-motorcycle>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36788-a-woman-on-a-motorcycle-arrives-at-a-petrol-pump>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36790-a-man-fills-petrol-in-the-motorcycle-and-asks-the-woman-to-check-the-meter>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36791-a-woman-puts-on-her-helmet>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36793-a-woman-starts-the-motorcycle-with-a-kick>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36795-the-engine-of-the-motorcycle-starts-up>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36796-the-transformation-from-a-cycle-to-a-motorcycle>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36797-the-close-up-of-an-engine>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36798-the-inside-of-an-engine>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36800-the-kick-makes-the-crankshaft-spin>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36801-the-spinning-crankshaft-moves-the-piston-up-and-down>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36802-petrol-enters-engine-from-the-petrol-tank>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36804-the-petrol-gets-compressed-inside-engine>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36805-the-spark-plug-is-lit-which-causes-an-explosion>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36807-smoke-exits-out-of-the-engine>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36808-the-4-stages-of-the-enginge-cycle>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36809-the-running-engine-makes-the-crankshaft-spin>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36811-the-spinning-crankshaft-makes-the-back-wheel-turn>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36817-the-petrol-from-the-petrol-tank-enters-the-engine-which-makes-the-back-wheel-spin-making-the-motorcycle-move-forward>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36818-smoke-from-the-engine-leaves-through-the-exhaust-pipe>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36819-a-woman-makes-the-motorcycle-accelerate>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36820-the-motorcycle-makes-noise>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36821-a-woman-drives-of-into-a-beautiful-scenery>)
- Nikhil Gulati, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/36822-parts-of-a-motorcycle-labelled>)