Mike, the Harley was exactly the same as you describe. You had to retard the spark and set the throttle just right and kick it through. If it didn't catch after two or three tries, you had to turn the ignition off, close the throttle, put the spark back, and kick it through twice to clean it out. Then try again. Fortunately, unlike a car, if it backfired, it didn't kick your leg back up.

Lowell, just a statue of the leg will do. Sort of like the Joe Louis fist.