Unless you have a kick-start motorbike, a flat battery means considerable inconvenience for most motorcyclists. Normally it’s possible to push-start a bike, but if your machine is very heavy this is probably not going to work. In such circumstances, however, the 'pull-start' method just might.

One Australian posted a video to Facebook showing him using the technique. It might not be terribly good for a bike's mechanics, but it does appear to work – in this case.

As the man makes clear, however, it probably won’t be effective on a completely flat battery.

Using a luggage strap, the man makes a big blowpipe loop, attaches it to the back tyre's knobs and winds the strap around the wheel. As the video demonstrates, the stand of the bike is very useful in this situation. However, it might be possible to improvise if a bike doesn't have one.

The bike is then put in its highest gear with the key on and the kill-switch on. If a makeshift centre-stand is used, it’s extremely important that the kill switch is on.

In the same way he might pull-start a lawnmower, the man yanks the rear wheel – hard.

And to many a viewer's surprise, it actually worked!

Unfortunately after 9,000 shares on Facebook the video has been removed. Probably for good safety reasons!

However, here at startrescue.co.uk we do not recommend using this method to start a motorcycle. It is much safer and easier to call out your motorcycle breakdown recovery service.