81 Kz550 LTD compression

Hello everyone
Just a quick question this time. I finally put my 81 550LTD back together. The engine will only start fully choked. I touched the exhaust headers after turning it over a few times. (The bike won't stay on for more than 5 seconds). Only one of the four headers was warm. Would an engine with bad compression start with the choke on or is a compression problem something that would prevent the motorcycle from starting at all?
Thanks
Nick

If you think the compression is in question, then you should test it. I would try and start the bike a few times to get at least some heat in it. Then take compression readings, with the throttle held wide open. If low add a bit of oil to the cylinder an re-test.
Could be fine on compression and have other issues. What did you do to your bike? You say you just put it back together.
Did it run fine before? Or why was it apart, and what apart?

Thanks for the reply. I bought the bike a few weeks ago from a guy who had taken the carbs off to be cleaned and converted the airbox to pods. I put the carbs and pod filters on with a new battery.the last time the bike ranwas 2010. Im not sure compression is the issue but ive checkd the spark fuel and air and they are all functioning properly. The bike will turn on fully choked and will rev up to 6000 rpm and then i shut it off to prevent damage. Just trying to troubleshoot what might be wrong.

The change from AirBox to Pod's is Most Likely you problem. Do you have the AirBox? If so re-install it. If not you will need to re-jet the carbs to run with Pod's. Hows your carb skills?
You can find a couple of weeks reading by typing in "Pod's" in the search box.

No the previous owner threw away the factory airbox for some reason. Thanks I'll try to find a used one on ebay to reattach.