GasGas and Rieju MR starter issues troubleshooting and repair

If you have a 2018 - 2019 GasGas EC/XC or a Rieju MR where the electric starter isn't working, these tips may help you in bringing it back to life. May be helpful with some KTMs as well.
This video is for informational purposes only and I am in no way professionally qualified to repair anything. Watch and use at your own risk.

[@drew7224]

Nice video! Just an FYI, those KTM starter motors work great without swapping parts. All you need to do is loosen the two long bolts and spin the middle cylinder 180 degrees. This will switch polarity and rotation of the spin. Tighten the bolts and you are good to go. A few other things to watch out for: The bendix cover will wear over time causing the gears to get out of alignment. Upgrade it to the AS3 bendix cover or the new 2021 Rieju MR300 bendix cover. That will solve that problem. While you are at it, replace the hex bolts on the bendix cover with M5x15mm allen bolts. The hex bolts are known to slightly move the cover out of alignment causing binding with the gears. If you want to get crazy with it, throw in an extra battery for a 24v starting system. Instant starts every time even when cold. (See video on my page)

[@DmitriyAdv]

Thank you for all the details and tips! That's definitely a much easier way to do it. Since I've managed to kill my starter again (doing some hard enduro things...), I've done the 180 thing on the new replacement.

[@dennisoven9259]

Part code for bendix cover is the same for gasgas 2014 up to rieju 2021. Updated version that is sold, has needle bearing, so no need to buy the actual MR cover, any with updated bearing is OK.

[@450jgh]

I LOVE all of you!!! I was at my wits end of starter issues on my 2019 model. And I think you saved me!

[@nils8485]

@@DmitriyAdv Which brand did you use as replacement? Ich can find starter motors from 50 Bucks and some reinforced ones all the way to 200 bucks and I don't really know which one to pick.

[@DmitriyAdv]

@@nils8485 I don't remember to be honest. It was probably the Tusk brand one from RockyMountain ATVMC

[@Steveman61]

Great video. I have a few on my channel as well, covering that topic. All you need to do to make the (KTM) starter work is loosening the two screws and then turn the housing 180 degrees, tighten the two screws, done.

[@troyd-motorsport9933]

Great video, thanks, im having issues with a brand new lithium battery in my recently purchased ktm 300exc where it still doesn't have enough power to start the motor, ill try the upgraded wiring! Also, that starter you used is a 410w out of a 15/16 model, the older ones run a 350w which are crap.

[@Walter_melon21]

I feel like it is worth mentioning that the magnets are quite difficult to move by hand. I was having trouble with moving the magnets so I further disassembled the starter and could not get the springs and contacts back in place. I ended up buying another starter to try again. This time I will not fully disassemble the starter

[@vasilisdedes5100]

Thank you for the heads up. Gas Gas (the real ones😊) are great bikes!

[@marioschristofi3145]

Thanks for the video! Good stuff.

[@pharettface]

Seems like Rieju has updated and fixed a lot of the easy stuff with this starting system. They don't say what new motor they went to but probably a KTM spec like this. Yet to see any issues with my MR Pro but we shall see. I guess at least the starter is easy to get to! haha

[@DmitriyAdv]

For what it’s worth, mine worked fine for like 100 or so hours.

[@carlmigueljose1097]

Mine starter motor just died. 55hours on my MR 300 Pro.

[@pharettface]

@@carlmigueljose1097 Do you have the updated oil bath starting system?

[@carlmigueljose1097]

@@pharettface not that i know. O haven't done anything to the starter system. Mine is year 2022.

[@pharettface]

@Carl Miguel José For some odd reason the US market seemed to only get the new starter upgrade kit from Rieju. Some in Europe did but a lot bikes were still made with the old system. No idea why. The oil bath bendix seems to have really fixed the issue or at least make it far more reliable.

[@trevornugent9680]

Great video, thanks 👍

[@Booki89]

Thanks for posting the video! Subbed :)

[@mew1216]

I think simply reversing polarity would have worked. Nice job though - appreciate the insights!

[@gasgasman230]

You can rotate the KTM starter housing 180 degrees to make it work.

[@sbrito9403]

Great Vídeo, thanks from Portugal 🇵🇹💪

[@DmitriyAdv]

Thanks for watching!

[@carlmigueljose1097]

My starter motor broke today. 55 hours Rieju MR 300 Pro 2022 year. Which years does the starter motor from KTM fit? Is there any specific reason to go with a KTM starter instead more then its probably more easy to find?

[@DmitriyAdv]

To be clear, this starter is not made by KTM, it just happens to fit a KTM :) Off the top of my head, it's a 2009-2016 KTM 300.

[@carlmigueljose1097]

@@DmitriyAdv Thank you. Is it ordered from "Wish" or similiar? If thats the case, could you link me to it? It would be fun to try one of those. If thats the case, is it still working properly?

[@DmitriyAdv]

@@carlmigueljose1097 I sold the bike a year ago, so I have no idea honestly :) I ordered it from Amazon, which is (generally speaking) marginally better quality than what you'd get on wish.com.

[@MrBoomtheroom]

what wires recharge the battery?

[@DmitriyAdv]

I'm not sure what you mean, sorry

[@solox5157]

Pinion shaft broke on mine can’t find one anywhere

[@DmitriyAdv]

Bummer! Rieju dealers don’t have them?

[@JOE-rp2cz]

can u simply just remove the e-start? I don't mind kicking bike over

[@DmitriyAdv]

I don’t see why not. Estart is nice in technical terrain though!