K I just rebuilt my little 2000 RM80 and it was a B*%#$ to start. I broke in the piston by taking 2 easy 20 min rides and a little 3 ride to make sure. I let the bike cool between rides but after the 4th time i tried to go more than half throtel but it would just start bogging. Then i took it for a longer ride, well my freind did and after about a half hour we shut it off. It didnt start back up again and we even tried bumb startin it. When we came close to starting it would just backfire. Idk I might need a new spark plug so i'll try one but the plug sparks. Have any other suggestions why this might be happining?
Spark, compression and fuel? The hard to start and your backfire sounds like its flooded. Replace the float valve and seat to start with. Was the plug wet?
The float valve and seat on some models, are subject to replacement once a year. They can look fine, until you have problems on the bottom end and flooding. Floats do go bad, leak and have fuel in them, but they do not go out of adjustment by itself. Poorly assembling the float bowl can screw up the float height, check that also.