Kick it like a Harley? I dont think I could have ever thought of a better wording than that. I also heard on here someone say that you cant use a "leg kick" like you can a 250 or a 125. Its a "full body kick" to start the 500. I personally think that the key to starting the big5 is getting it to TDC before you kick. I learned this on a friends CR500 a couple years before I even bought my KX. I was the only one that could start the CR without wearing myself out just because I knew how to find TDC even though I was more of the less experienced rider at the time. It was kind of cool at the time having someone who could ride circles around me have to ask me to start the bike for them. Move the kicker through rotation slowly, you can feel the kicker gain resistence, then release and get easier. The point where the resistence stops, releases, and becomes easier is TDC. Get it right to the point where the resistence gives way, then let the kick lever come all the way back up to the top of its stroke, then give it a "full body kick". Put everything you have into it, your full body weight too, and take the time to find TDC EVERY TIME you kick it over or you're wasting your time. Hopefully this helps some of you out.