Here goes, I use full choke when cold, stamp the FECK out of it, give it to my mate, let him stamp the living FECK out of it, laugh at him when he skins his shin on the footpeg, then I fold the foot peg back half choke half throttle, remember than the kill switch is marked back to front (run is off and visa versa), lean on the kicker and sling leg over the bike and disapear in a cloud of unburnt fuel, dust and gravel.
The other one is a little easier, FULL choke, little throttle, press button

My former MT500 from cold

Full choke
No throttle
Jump up and down on kickstarter, minimum 4 kicks if lucky, 20 if unlucky - but always started

Un modified, amal carb

Sadly, sold it in the end, only reason for sale was the constant kicking was aggravating a knee injury, now got MT350 with electric boot, luxury !

Interesting that (some) people put it on the centre stand to start it. I find I have to start it from cold by (me) being off the bike, and (it) balanced off the side stand, on its wheels

From warm, I kick it over from the saddle, and it will go 1st or 2nd kick ..

(Standard MT500, Mikuni Carb, standard exhaust)

Cheers,

Paul.

stock us mt500...early in the season i started with one kick from sitting over the winter, full choke no throttle....second time 2 kicks full choke no throttle.....didnt know till now window shows tdc!....anyway sprag totally gone so no magic button.....last couple of starts i kick till i want to pass out then it runs till i get on the seat whether i get on right away or wait 5 mins....like i have a kill switch under the seat........then back off 3 more kicks and we are ready.................when hot will fire with just a 1/4 kick!, i have come to totally hate this bike

1st Full choke no throttle feel for TDC using kickstart and decompression lever,if this fails half choke and 1/4 throttle and this seems to work on my 2nd bike Lucifer. Haven't had time to set up my carb on Beelzibub yet but hopefully it should be the same. If these methods fail the I just kick feck out the sods, shout and swear at them till they do start ,
this normally happens with a full set of leathers and waterproofs on in the middle of winter and sweating like a pig

Hi , petrol on choke on full look at kick start and press orange button if that's any help

Full choke small amount of throttle lighty turn it over until it goes tight (TDC) then give it one hell of an almighty kick normally goes second time. works for both Mikuni and amal