Single cylinder engines and large V-twins take some extra effort to kick start. When kick starting it's necessary to develop enough piston speed to get the piston through its compression stroke without kicking back. Depending on the engine size, this can require a pretty strong leg. Even an electric start system can use some assistance on larger engines.

Whether kick starting or using electric start, Suzuki's automatic decompression system makes it easy. As you move down on the kick start lever the decompression system automatically opens the exhaust valve(s) as the piston approaches TDC, (top dead center). This relieves some of the cylinder compression that pushes back when kick starting. Just as the piston passes TDC, the exhaust valve automatically closes, enabling the piston to develop enough speed as it cycles through to the next compression stroke and starts. When used with an electric starter, the decompression system sometimes uses an electronic timer and other components, but in theory it operates similarly to kick start applications.