I kick start my '09 G5 Military about 90% of the time and have NEVER had issues like those mentioned. In fact, I'm amazed at the ease of kicking it over. It's actually a little too easy. However, after it was properly broke in, it always starts on the first kick. I only had one bike that started easier in a kicker, and that was my 78 KZ 750...which was lucky because the starter sucked.