intermittent starter problem

[Tumu Rock]

I borrowed my bro-in-law's Concourse when visiting family in CO once. took it over Vail pass by accident. It wasn't too bad until I encountered some cattle on the road. Had to sit and watch for a while until they decided to vacate the right-of-way.... da Vermonster --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote:

> > I did take my Concourse up a heavy > graveled corrugated road for 15 miles to a hot springs in the Pinto > Canyon area north of Big Bend National Park once with another > Concourse rider. Wouldn't do the River Road inside the park however. > I don't like picking up 600 pound bikes or having to fix the > expensive plastic. > > > On Jul 17, 2008, at 5:36 PM, Dave Svoboda wrote: > > > I've taken my Concours "Audrey" dual-sporting, countless times. It's > > not as good as a KLR in the dirt.

[Dave Svoboda]

Okay, first of all, it's Concours, not Concourse. A Concours is a classic vehicle show. A concourse is an airport hallway. Which one makes more sense? And Concours is pronounced "Con-coor", with no S. Ask any classic car enthusiast. You of course are welcome to spell and pronounce it any wrong way you care to. I've taken Audrey down many a beautiful gravel road, found through the book "Backcountry Byways". I've also visited many California ghost-towns. I've taken the old girl down many forest roads in the Sierras and also up Nate Harrison Grade to the top of Palomar Mountain. I've taken it down the long road to Echo Park in Dinosaur National Monument, and through Titus Canyon in Death Valley (two up, and dropped it a couple times in the deep sand--only time I've ever dropped her offroad. I only broke a footpeg bracket and a bag mount.) There are few greater feelings than passing an XR250 on a huge touring bike with full luggage, on a road much more appropriate for the little bike. Audrey's still in one piece, at about 102K miles, now. She's a 90, bought new. The Concours is a good, tough bike. - Dave Svoboda, Sandy Eggo At 06:59 AM 7/18/2008, Tumu Rock wrote:

>I borrowed my bro-in-law's Concourse when visiting family in CO once. >took it over Vail pass by accident. It wasn't too bad until I >encountered some cattle on the road. Had to sit and watch for a while >until they decided to vacate the right-of-way.... > >da Vermonster > >--- In >DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, >"roncriswell@..." >wrote: > > > > I did take my Concourse up a heavy > > graveled corrugated road for 15 miles to a hot springs in the Pinto > > Canyon area north of Big Bend National Park once with another > > Concourse rider. Wouldn't do the River Road inside the park however. > > I don't like picking up 600 pound bikes or having to fix the > > expensive plastic. > > > > > > On Jul 17, 2008, at 5:36 PM, Dave Svoboda wrote: > > > > > I've taken my Concours "Audrey" dual-sporting, countless times. It's > > > not as good as a KLR in the dirt.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[oldrider25]

In my case, the problem was a faulty ignition switch. The problem went from intermittent to "oh shit! I'm stuck in my work parking lot!" It cost me about $100 for the part. Replacement was a cinch. I could not remedy the problem with contact cleaner. Now, I have two keys: 1 for the ignition and one for the fuel cap and helmet lock. It didn't dawn on me to swap in the old lock cylinder into the new switch assy until I already had everything buttoned up. D'OH! If this is the problem with your bike, learn from my mistake! John

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Joe Tittiger" wrote: > > For the past few days the first time I tit the starter button, I get > nothing. Fortunately after hit is a few times it spins ober strong and > fires right up. > > My gut says the starter switch is going bad,(I have by passed and > soldered both the the starter safety on the kick stand and the neutral) > > Any ideas on trouble shooting an intermittent? To replace the starter > switch do I replace the whole unit on the handle bar of can the switch > be had separately? > > Much Thanks, > Joe >

[oldrider25]

Ah, memories of my beloved '86 Concours I repainted Italian racing green... Memories of baking in the summer; sweating over gravel roads; and beating the pants of a hot rodded '68 Camaro at 11pm on Hawthorne Bl. when my wife was riding pillion (relax you safety Nazis: It was stoplight to stoplight without turns for giggles and grins. FYI, the bike did wheelie, albeit only a couple inches.). I remember trying to back it out of a parking stall that had a slight grade to it and thinking, "there's a car waiting for this spot and I can't even move the bike 1 inch backwards..." I remember everyone on the COG list telling of their great fuel economy and I was only getting in the low- to mid-30s. I remember syncing my carbs and having the dog knock over my carb stix (I'm mad as a hatter!). And then there was the valve lash adjustment. Boy, that's a lot of valves. But, all was good when my wife and I would venture off to wine country in Los Olivos and ride the twisties while inhaling the sweet scent of wildflowers. I also have good memories of cruising at 100 mph down the 101 from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles at 3am. Ditto on the 405 from Torrance to Lake Forest amid a trio of Euro sedans (a couple Beemer 7 Series and a Benz) at 6am on a Sunday morning. John

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Dave Svoboda wrote: > > Okay, first of all, it's Concours, not Concourse. A Concours is a classic > vehicle show. A concourse is an airport hallway. Which one makes > more sense? > > And Concours is pronounced "Con-coor", with no S. Ask any classic car > enthusiast. You of course are welcome to spell and pronounce it any wrong > way you care to. > > I've taken Audrey down many a beautiful gravel road, found through the book > "Backcountry Byways". I've also visited many California > ghost-towns. I've taken the old > girl down many forest roads in the Sierras and also up Nate Harrison > Grade to the top > of Palomar Mountain. I've taken it down the long road to Echo Park in Dinosaur > National Monument, and through Titus Canyon in Death Valley (two up, > and dropped > it a couple times in the deep sand--only time I've ever dropped her > offroad. I only > broke a footpeg bracket and a bag mount.) > > There are few greater feelings than passing an XR250 on a huge > touring bike with full > luggage, on a road much more appropriate for the little bike. > > Audrey's still in one piece, at about 102K miles, now. She's a 90, > bought new. The > Concours is a good, tough bike. > > - Dave Svoboda, Sandy Eggo > > At 06:59 AM 7/18/2008, Tumu Rock wrote: > > >I borrowed my bro-in-law's Concourse when visiting family in CO once. > >took it over Vail pass by accident. It wasn't too bad until I > >encountered some cattle on the road. Had to sit and watch for a while > >until they decided to vacate the right-of-way.... > > > >da Vermonster > > > >--- In > >DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, > >"roncriswell@" > >wrote: > > > > > > I did take my Concourse up a heavy > > > graveled corrugated road for 15 miles to a hot springs in the Pinto > > > Canyon area north of Big Bend National Park once with another > > > Concourse rider. Wouldn't do the River Road inside the park however. > > > I don't like picking up 600 pound bikes or having to fix the > > > expensive plastic. > > > > > > > > > On Jul 17, 2008, at 5:36 PM, Dave Svoboda wrote: > > > > > > > I've taken my Concours "Audrey" dual-sporting, countless times. It's > > > > not as good as a KLR in the dirt. > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >