Your issue sounds electrical in nature. I don't believe it's supposed to start in any gear position except neutral, at least with the electric start....
So, I have a 85 big red I haven't gotten it started in a week or so and when it did start it only would start in 1st gear with the kickstart, but it...
Started her up today and right off the bat engine got really hot and I had real low power, popping out of exhaust, sometime I can throttle through it...
Thanks gents. Been missing the scene on here. I deleted my FB account permanently back in Jan of 21 and lost touch with a lot of three wheeler buds....