Kiwichick,
Unless you are Jonah Lomu's sister, the compression stroke is the part of the stoke where you can stand on the kickstart lever without it going round any further.
Where you need the engine to be, is just past this point. Get off the kickstart and pull the decomnpressor lever in. Now operate the kickstart just a little to get over the hump.
With regards to starting on the bike on the centre stand, I never do anything else. UK bikes have an ignition cut-out switch built into the side stand as a safety device.
With regards to Iniana's right foot / left foot comment, I always start my bikes with my left peg as I have an injury to my right hip that doesn't need the excercise.
Watching for the ameter needle to flick won't work with many electronic ignitions.
The lean burn engine decompressor is not so much a decompressor as a valve lifter. You have to jiggle the kickstart to get past compression or just kick through it.
With regards to the traffic light stalling problem, I think that the green light sucks all of the energy from the ignition. It must be that because that's exactly when it dies!
On a seious note, If you fail to respect the staring proceedure, be warned. The 500 has the capability of doing you some real damage. IndianaBuleteer broke 4 bones in his foot!
I have heard the kickstart lever refered to as an "anti-theft device" before now.
"If you can start it, you can have it"
It looks impressive when you have an audience and got through the prceedure and it thumps into life on the first kick.
For me, however, nothing beats the electric boot.
REgards
TT