I too hate the exhaust plug.
On one ride my flywheel nut came loose and allowed the flywheel to shear the key. No big deal, I got a new key and put everything back together.
Next ride was out at the dunes. Bike wouldn't start. I hadn't tried to start it since fixing the flywheel key, I just loaded up and went. It would try, maybe run 1 second, then cough, die, kick back. Everything seemed like a timing issue.
So, over the course of the next hour or more I did the following at the campsite
- Pulled the flywheel to check the timing, any stator damage I might have not noticed before, etc.
- Pulled the carb and cleaned it
- Checked spark
- Changed the plug anyway
- Pulled the carb again, and the reeds to check them
- Pulled the flywheel yet again
- Changed the plug yet again
At this point I was ready to pack it up and head 5+ hours back home. One of the many people there helping / teasing suddenly started laughing his arse off. I looked up and saw him pointing at the back of my bike. Lo and behold, the muffler plug was in. Pulled it and the ol 220 fired right up.