Measurements of instantaneous coefficients of friction and associated motions during start-up at a planar contact are presented for four different lubrication conditions. The various patterns of transient behavior are discussed. Difficulties in interpreting static friction coefficients during rapidly applied tangential loads are described in relation to the motion data. It is shown that a molybdenum disulphide grease yields a friction characteristic that is quite different from either dry or boundary lubricated conditions in the presence of liquid lubricants. Transition distances from a static or maximum initial friction to kinetic conditions are examined and found to be considerably longer than had been previously found for concentrated contacts. Some suggestions regarding future studies of unsteady friction behavior are made.