I have read if your battery is weak the bike will be difficult to start. Is this true?

I had an old pretty much done battery and even though the lights would come on the bike wouldn't start.
If I charged it it would then work.

I believe the starter uses more power than the rest.

New battery sorted it all out.

Yes but I`m talking about a bike with a kickstart.

Some. It depends on what the bike is and on the general electrical set up.

Pretty sure it shouldn't effect the starting as if I remember the XT250 I had was only a 6 volt battery but you really need a good battery in circuit or you may have problems with bulb blowing.

I am pretty sure that early XT250's had magneto/cdi ignition. The battery only had an effect on brake light, tail light, horn, and indicators. Headlight runs direct from the alternater and only work when the engine is running. The battery has no effect on ignition.

Depends what year. I know the 1980s models had CDi that is a separate self generating system not requiring a battery.

1980/1983 does not make any difference. Drove one 15 years with a battery as dry as a nuns ............ :-)

Once running - kick starter - all lights would work. Never used the gay horn anyway in all that time.