It sounds as though there is a bit of knack to getting the bike in gear – rocking the engine back and forth to get things moving helps, and it sounds as though there might be a dangerous edge to the art:

“When the engine isn’t running, if you rock the bike gently back and forward whilst changing gear (up or down) you should be able to find second or third gear for bump starting.

If pushing the bike, third is better as there’ll be less torque to wrestle with/rip the bike from your hands when she fires. The trick is to have a hand on the clutch lever and pull it in and blip the throttle as the bike fires.

It’s much safer to be sitting on the bike rolling down hill when bump starting (in second): get it wrong running along with the bike and you could find yourself being dragged down the road or watching your bike roar off on its own.”

I might have a practice later, at the very least it should give me something else to blog about.