How to kick start a honda xl 500 motorbike

Question

What is the procedure for starting these bikes? It is in fully working order, i just need to know technique etc

Answer 1

Slowly press on the kick start lever.

When the lever gets to hard to move, the piston is getting to the top of the compression stroke.

Pull in the compression release lever to allow you to push the kick start enough for the piston to just pass TopDeadCenter (the piston is now ready to move on it's down stroke).

Let go of the compression release lever and let the kick start lever return to the top.

Kick it like your life depended on it.

Try different techniques -

Open the throttle a tincy bit and hold it there when kicking.

Roll the throttle open when the kick start is going down.

Pull the compression release lever a tincy bit and hold it, so you can continuously keep kicking it.

Stand on the footpegs and lean against a wall or tree - you'll have better leverage to kick it with more force.

Try different combinations (mix 1 or 2 together) of the above procedures.

Answer 2

Bayareart1 hit it on the head.  

Answer 3

turn on gas, pull out choke, pull decompression lever, kick it 3 or 4 times, release decompression lever, and kick the h**l out of it, It should start