My BIL used to own a single cylinder 500 cc OSSA moto X bike that was a ***** to kick start... if it kicked back half way through the kick, it would almost throw you off the bike ! It had a comp. release too, but didn't work that great. It was crazy fast and strong!!!
When I was seven, my dad had an old hand me down lawn boy two stroke mower..had to hand wind the rope around the top to pull start it..
That thing ran like a top ! Don't remember if it had any kind of throttle..I think it just ran wide ass open...
I do remember the old Ossas,,they also made good competition winning trials bikes,,,yeah gees,500cc 2 stroke dirt bikes always intimidating,,,guys into club road racing down here, would convert cr 500 mx hondas for road racing,,lowered suspension,smaller front wheel with twin discs and they were quick and nimble in the corners
Looks like we were both brought up with our Dad's handme downs as kids, ,,our beginnings of life with engines lol,I was around 10 with a 4 stroke Briggs and Strat,mounted on a wood crate,,my dad was a watchmaker from Trieste/Italy,,had a 1935 BSA 500 side valve ex army,, a Matchless beforehand and others,so he learned how to keep them going