hey mate, welcome to the KDX 250......beware!!!
the 250 is a grate bike,
I would also suggest piston and rings, as well as crank seals and main bearings while you are in there. i had the same problem u described with starting, had to crash start it or feed it fuel, with new crank seals it starts first kick every time!
2 strokes are so easy to work on, a rebuild is easier then routine maintanince on a 4 stroke
there is heaps of mods for ur bike, cut the silencer after the bend and move the end up. then u can loose the rear sub frame for the gaurd, a KX250 pipe gives more power and saves a heap of weight over the stock one. just a few.
and if u think it is an animal now, wait til u have a new top end in it!!!