I must be a sadist, I love kickstart bikes

I'm in Australia at the moment, travelling on an old XR600. It's completely rooted at the moment, but am about to blow a load of money on it (done this a few times already) resurrecting it. Over here all XRs come with a bizarre electrical system:
Ignition is like normal, direct off its own coil(s) on the stator.
Head and tail lamps are normal, direct AC off the stator. (lighting coil)
But there's also a DC circuit that runs the indicators/brakelamp/horn. No battery, but a capacitor instead so they still work at idle. This a different set of windings on the stator as far as I understand it.

This is standard on XR400/600/650R and I think 250 as well. Probably slightly heavier than the plain enduro setup that most markets got, but totally practical for trail/dualsport use. Some guys claim to power their GPS from the DC circuit, and/or fit a tiny battery so they charge a phone etc with the engine off.

I love my XR, but one of the many things I will be doing this rebuild, is improve its waterproofness so it doesn't get drowned going through the deeper creeks and rivers. Only managed about 12k km out of this piston because of that Not a problem with the design of the bike, just a problem with this one being 23 years old and knackered!

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Just reread your post mollydog, about kickstarting after laying the bike on its side. My xr600 hates that as well. Occasionally it'll go after a dozen kicks or so. But sometimes doesn't want to go at all.

My method:
Turn fuel off, hold throttle wide open, hold in decomp lever and kick about 20 times. Fuel back on, kick as normal and should go first kick.

I don't think it's the bikes, it's the shitty carbs that all XRs came with. Think the 400/600/650R are all basically the same horrible round slide carb. I've just bought an FCR cheap from a fellah on ADVrider. Once I do my engine rebuild this thing is going rip seriously Next step will be to track down a front end of a CRF or modern CR, then I'm going to enter the Finke Desert Race on it. Massive waste of money, and great way to hurt myself? Definitely! Fun? Bloody oath! Came off and broke my hand last month, jumping from a small rock step - Only thing that bothered me was having to tone down the riding for a bit! I love it all! Something to do with being young and free I think, that and having got married (to the girl I met on the mongolia trip), and realising how easy it is to get sucked into the monotony of normal life....

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Well, you married a beautiful, fun, sweet, adventurous and educated girl ... it was probably not too hard after all!

I mean, besides having your hairstyle messed up seriously....

Have fun on your desert race!