So yesterday I finally made it out to my dads farm (where my newly purchased 87 Zilla is stored) for the first time since it was purchased take it for a spin. After hearing the horror stories from my dad and brother about starting the beast (which they eventually ha to pull start it cold and found out the kill switch was off) I was certain I could start it. I asked my dad and brother if the kill switch was off or on run and they assured me it was on run. Now this is the funny part of this story before I get to my question (since its so simple and dumb figured I'd add some entertainment factor to my thread). I kicked this damn bike for 30 plus minutes with boots on until the crown of my foot was numb multiple times (later to find out I blistered my foots crown and busted the blister). I was so tired after this I finally agreed to stubbornly give up and pull start the bike. Around the circle track field it still wouldn't pull start. So given the small straights and mud we decided to pull it down the road still no start. I finally said screw it and turned the kill switch to the opposite position for kicks and sure enough first numb footed kick it fired right up. Now to my question, the dirt build up on the Mikuni carb is so much that I cannot tell which position on the choke is on or off (I've had the bike for about month now and this is the first time I've had time to go mess with it, flu, work and other obligations). So is the choke "paddle/lever" in the up position on or off? I know pretty dumb question but his is my first dealings with a Zilla and my first dealings with a two stroke in almost a decade so my brain isn't fresh on material and I paid no attention to what the guy I bought it from switched it to to start vs run.

So choke lever pushed down toward the ground and the plunger on the other side of the carb pulled up then right?

if it is the switch choke down is on up is off, it is the knob you pull, up is on down is off.
just look at the plunger, down is off and up is choke on.
simple way to start a zilla
have bike in off position, fuel on choke on, kick bike over 3 to 5 times.
cycle motor over with kicker till you pass hard spot when you kick it, there is a 2nd
hard spot, thats where you want to kick it over at, as soon as kicker gets hard then just push
right down through it, bike will fire up.