Pulled the forks apart and reshuffled the compression shim stack in an effort to make the forks more compliant over roots and doll-head rocks. Also checked the compression – not that I thought anything was wrong, but just out of curiosity – and it was w-a-y down. Pulled the cylinder/piston and started measuring. Piston and rings are both shot, cylinder is worn pretty heavily but can probably take an oversize piston. Parts on order…
Can’t believe it ran as well as it did, but maybe this’ll explain the hard starting.
-B