Today I rolled out that mule type kicking XT600 from the shed. I asked a neighbor to help me push it down the road for an old fashion "bump start". I wasn't about to try kicking it again after two near foot breaking ordeals with kick backs. My neighbor, a 6 foot 2 inch plumber by trade showed up wearing jeans and a over worn pair of work boots. The kind where the soles were almost worn thru. I checked the gas in the tank it seemed almost empty. I filled her half way and we pushed it out towards the roadway to push start. He said why not we try kick starting first? I warned him of its nasty bite. I told him if he wanted to try, no throttle. I watched closely as I grintend my teeth in anticipation of the vicious kick back. I watched him closely find TDC with the kicker in text book fashion. He started to kick, but not super strong. He gave it several half strength kicks. I kept cringing waiting for that ankle breaking kick back. It never came!! The bike finally started on the 6th or 7th kick!! Wow!! He rode it up and down the street and then I took a ride. It seemed to run oknow at lower rims but once we got on it hard it back fired a few times and some black smoke came out of the super Trapp exhaust. It seemed to break up whIle on heavy acceleration. Maybe the stock jetting I had the carbs rebuild with wasn't in tune with aftermarket exhaust or maybe a bad spark plug? Anyway he started it back up several times after it warmed on first kick every time. I haven't found the nerve to try kick starting it yet but I will in a few days.