Zergman, I had a '91 Suzuki DS650 and it kicked easier than this one, plus never backfired on me, though I bought it new and owned it for 3 years so it wasn't to that "aged" point where things act up. I regret selling it to this day!!
In 1990 quite a bit changed on the Xt's bikes(now looking how to add electric). The carbs are different to a point, then totally change in '95-'96ish, after 1990, non here the states as far as can tell had kick, that is also the cutoff year for used parts on ebay, very few parts after '89, I think that says that once the electric comes out, most people keep them going rather than scrapping them.
I'm quite sure it is firing early, and that's the backfire. I spun the motor over by electric drill yesterday on the stator nut and it was sparking like crazy, so spark+gas+air = running, unless timing is bad. No adjustment for timing though and $125-$200 for a used cdi that "may" work, or another $125+ for the used pulse pickup and stator, which is the other likely culprit.

I'm trying to picture how Walkabout started his, by standing on the right, I'd have to kick with my left, and then a backfire would likely put my knee into my chin. Right now to kick mine, I have to push down on that kick lever like I'm tring to drive it 2 feet into the ground, it's that speed that it takes to fire it up, slower results in these backfires usually.

I was hoping to do some traveling up north this summer, possibly into Canada, but I need a bike that I can rely on, my '83 Honda isn't a long distance runner anymore, though reliable, just getting worn out.