i have used one on the track bikes, have a few here that you just screw into the spare plug hole, guess you can use them to start bikes , but mostly used it on speedway style tracks with big lon corners, that you want to wash of speed BUT NOT BRAKE, or you can hold it pinned but pull the decomp on so it only cuts the power out till you release it again. it works by just blowing the compression off and gives you some engine braking effect.
the valve will need to be closed at all times WHEN NOT IN USE or you have little or NO compression. same effects as if you just removed the spark plug.