Kick starter doesn't seem right.....

I bought a 97 KX250. The guy I bought it from hadn't ridden it in over 5 years but said that it would always start on the first or second kick. I know it has a fresh topend with Wiseco piston. I took it home, changed the plug, new airfilter, tightened bolts, adjusted chain, etc. When I kick start it it just doesnt feel right. It take 5-10 kicks to start but when you kick it it doesn't feel like it is engaging soon enough. Alomst like there isn't much resistance on the kick starter. I haven't ridden since I was a kid but I remember there being quite a bit of resistance when you kick a bike over. I just can't seem to get a "good" kick on it. Any ideas?
The bike is crazy fast once you get it running and will pull the front wheel up in all 5 gears. I actually looped it in my driveway just screwing around.
Thanks,
Aaron

Its just a pita. I was messing with it a little last night. It seems like if you move the starter enough to get the piston at the right spot it works ok. Maybe this is a trick I dont know.