you said its hard to kick? as in turn over. if it were me id inspect all moving parts now, start with easiest to access to more difficult. stator cover, to pulling head off, then clutch cover.
could have smoke the pick up coil and its stuck to the fly wheel had that happen before with a tight gap
when i was younger my first banshee made a loud pop too and then wouldnt run right, blew the rings out of the one side.