Staring procedure kick start bikes

Since the bike is a beast to kickstart I'd like to get some tips here. My bike is a 600 with kickstart only and the kick starter actuated decomp mechanism. I have kick started it a couple of times but I've yet to find a solid procedure.

Most places I've read states:

"Work the kick start lever until the piston is at TDC, then release the kick start lever all the way up and kick down all the way through."

When people say that, do the mean TDC at ignition point or TDC at one crank revolution after?

If it is TDC at ignition point it means that the first revolution of the crank really only takes the engine through the work stroke and the excavation stroke before starting induction and compression. I'd say about two revolutions on the crank is about all you can get with one powerful kick.

But if the TDC people mention is at the end of the excavation stroke, the decomp holds the exhaust valves slightly open through the induction and compression strokes which would mean less favourable gas mixture and compression.

Or maybe I should just grow some more strength in my left leg instead of thinking too much...

Kick it till it gets hard ...kick just a tiny bit more ...decomp leaver on ...decomp leaver off ...leaver up and kick it ...to be fair I couldn't kick it at first (husaberg 650)

It's difficult all the 450 I had where just kick and forget but this bike is actually hard-core

I can't remember if I got this technique from this site or not, but it works well for my 1990 FE501. When I first bought it, starting wasn't terribly difficult but over time it got harder and harder. Eventually there were days that it took me so long to start that by the time it did, I was too tired to ride. Anyway, here is what I do now:

No choke, decomp lever in, full throttle - Move the kicker over 5 times. Don't kick it, just push it full-throw.

Release the decomp lever, choke, no throttle - Make sure the kicker comes all the way up to activate the auto-decomp. Kick like you're trying to break the kicker (I did once, $25 KTM replacement). No throttle during the kick or immediately after. Mine fires right up (2-3 kicks usually) and I can turn the choke off instantly and it will hold idle.

I do not find top dead center, although that may be helpful. It probably doesn't hurt that I'm 6'4", 265. A little easier for me to kick the big 'uns.

Note - Mine has had problems in the past with the float/needle sticking when I park it and turn the fuel off. My guess was that this was causing my hard starts due to fuel starvation. So now when I park it, I turn the fuel off, do a couple hot laps in the yard, and let it run til it quits.

I am by no means a mechanic, so this system might go against some other tried and true methods, but it's working for me. I will also note that I think I got really lucky with this bike. I have had it for 14 years and have only had it opened up once when the timing chain broke. New chain and new valves and I was back in business. Outside of that I have only added fuel and oil and it's never let me down. I don't race, seasonal trail/hill riding only and I baby it for the most part. But I still feel it must have been a good day in the Berg plant that day.

Best of luck finding a procedure that works for yours. I know how frustrating it is fight these monsters.

Adjust the Valves

Thanks for the input so far. Valves are adjusted and recently lapped in and holds absolutely tight when testing with liquid. 0.10 mm feeler gauge goes in freely between the rocker and the valve and I can pry in a 0.15 mm with difficuly so valve clearances should be according to spec.

I got this off utube this younger dude said it works for him every time. It also starts for me every time. Even after winter first start on first kick. I was floored. 1-ign off, slowly kick from top to bottom fuel open,2- repeat. This sucks fuel in. 3- slowly move to tdc by pressing kickstarter untill it gives you fair amount of resistance and so it doesn't want to go any further. 4-Release kicker and press decomp lever. 5 firmly and smoothly kick all the way down. Now it runs. Every time. So far.