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Sitting at the RED light

  • Thread starter Thread starter Splittie
  • Start date Start date
S

Splittie

Guest
OK, I finally have my bike up and running.\\:D/
Heres the deal, I rode it to work yesterday, and on the way home I get stuck at a red turn light FOREVER. It took someone coming up to the light for the red light to change for them and I just went straight.
My question is: Who has used one of those devices that says 'never get stuck at a red light again' ?
Let me know your experiences and thoughts.
 
There's a post about this in the tips sections. What most around this board do is tap the starter button while the bike is running and a magnet field is triggered from the starter motor. Apparently it will trigger the light sensor. I've never tried it because the lights around me seem to be dialed in right.
 
andrewclaycomb said:
What most around this board do is tap the starter button while the bike is running and a magnet field is triggered from the starter motor.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't this chew up the teeth on your starter?
Thanks for the info. I will see if I can find the post.
 
Splittie said:
Wouldn't this chew up the teeth on your starter?
Thanks for the info. I will see if I can find the post.
Click to expand...

No, the starter gear teeth are always engaged on a GS -- there's a one-way clutch in the rotor. Hitting the starter button won't really have any effect at all on the engine.

It won't have any effect on the red light, either, but it won't hurt anything. Maybe it'll give you something to do while you wait for a car to come up behind you.

I don't think there's one properly adjusted light sensor in the whole state of Indiana.
 
Turning it off & re-starting has appeared to work on a couple of occasions for me here in LA....

There's a very unofficial rule that if you've sat for two full cycles of the lights you can treat it like a stop sign & go when it's safe.... (at least that's what they told me at the MSF course...)

Dan :)
 
salty_monk said:
Turning it off & re-starting has appeared to work on a couple of occasions for me here in LA....

There's a very unofficial rule that if you've sat for two full cycles of the lights you can treat it like a stop sign & go when it's safe.... (at least that's what they told me at the MSF course...)

Dan :)
Click to expand...
actually, there's a very official rule that you can treat a malfunctioning red light as a stop sign in CA. if it isn't detecting you, it's clearly malfunctioning. how long you have to wait isn't in the code anywhere though.
 
salty_monk said:
There's a very unofficial rule that if you've sat for two full cycles of the lights you can treat it like a stop sign & go when it's safe.... (at least that's what they told me at the MSF course...)

Dan :)
Click to expand...

Wow, that's extremely patient. I won't wait a full cycle if it is clear that the light isn't sensing me...

actually, there's a very official rule that you can treat a malfunctioning red light as a stop sign in CA. if it isn't detecting you, it's clearly malfunctioning. how long you have to wait isn't in the code anywhere though.
Click to expand...

I never thought about that when I went through them. Good catch, I will keep that in mind if I ever get tagged for not waiting.:-D


Mark
 
Old biker's tale?

Old biker's tale?

Hi Mr. Splittie,

I've actually had pretty good luck doing to following (but it doesn't work all the time).

If I can see where it's buried under the road, I pull directly over the circumference or edge of the sensor. Then I'll use my left foot to lower my center stand until it touches the road and hold it there a few seconds or tap it a few times. This has worked about 75% of the time for me. Then again, maybe the center stand has nothing to do with it, but it makes me feel like I'm doing something. Give it a try, it can't hurt.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
I have not tried one of the commercial magnets, but I did try a very strong magnet on the bottom of my Kawasaki. Can't say that it helped much.

Other suggestions mentioned above also have merit. First, stop along the wire, if you can see it. Rumor has it that the corners of the box formed by the wire are the most sensitive. Placing the side stand or center stand down on the wire might help, too. I have also tried killing the engine and re-starting it to maximize the magnetic disturbance. With my Wing, I can also engage reverse, which uses the starter motor. None of these is guaranteed to work.

Best thing to do, especially if it is at a light that you encounter frequently, is to go to the police station or city engineer's office and ask who is responsible for ensuring that the lights work properly. Around here, it is an independent company, not the city. I have found out that you can call that company directly to report a non-functioning light.

While you are at the police station, ask them what the ruling is concerning how long to wait at a light that appears to not sense your motorcycle. As a legal, licensed vehicle, your bike should not be discriminated against at the traffic controls.

.
 
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