Leo, strange, you know, when I bought it everyone kept telling me how very bad these machines are, you have to believe me when I say that every spring, I roll it out of the garage, usually May, a few kicks to break the clutch plates with the gas tap on, slowly kick it to TDC, choke on, and no more than 2 kicks and it fires right up, no matter if its been sitting 2 weeks or 5 months. OK now, I must add that its got the updated factory electronic ignition that I've NEVER touched in 27 years of owning it, its got 11,000 miles on it. And yes, when it fires, it is a sweet sounding machine. Its not a bike to get on and ride 250 miles, the seat and the ergos and the small fuel tank all prevent that, so no, I don't ride it all that much, every few weeks or so.