I read the article about the XT500 enthusiastically because I’ve always had a soft spot for these big two-valve single engines, both in XT and SR forms.
On the matter of starting, I found the ‘little window’ in the end of the camshaft all but useless and seldom worked well.
The following was much more reliable: Bring the piston up on the compression until it resists; just pull in the decompressor lever enough to allow the piston over TDC; then, when the exhaust cam makes the decompressor lever go slack, raise the kick-start again to the top – a leisurely swing should get it moving.
Read more of is Letter and other Letters, Opinion, News and Features in the September 2019 issue of CBG –on sale now!
