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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