automatic gates and motorcycles
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,373
Likes: 5
From: Central Texas
A buddy of mine works for a company that designs and markets traffic lights and the sensors. He says that if your bike doesn't set off the (under asphalt type) sensor, that its the fault of whoever installed it. Usually due to it being too deep. I asked him recently about the "trigger" devices for bikes, and he said that they were a complete scam. That it is physically impossible for them to have any effect on the in-street type triggers.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
A buddy of mine works for a company that designs and markets traffic lights and the sensors. He says that if your bike doesn't set off the (under asphalt type) sensor, that its the fault of whoever installed it. Usually due to it being too deep. I asked him recently about the "trigger" devices for bikes, and he said that they were a complete scam. That it is physically impossible for them to have any effect on the in-street type triggers.
I saw the parts counter guys telling a guy that they were a scam; they just stock them because people want them and buy them. The guy bought it anyway. Go figger......
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 501
Likes: 8
From: Central Florida
Question for the forum:
I commute to DC on my Fat Boy Lo and currently I have no issues entering a parking garage requiring keycard access (as long as I go to a specific entrance). However, the current garage is closing and next week I am being moved to another parking garage that also requires keycard access. I'm worried that my bike won't trigger the magnetic loop (I think that is what it is called) in the new garage. The garage hasn't been too helpful other than saying it depends on "how much metal you have on your bike." Have any of you had any issues with automatic gates and what have you done to fix the issue of a non-responding gate?
Thanks.
I commute to DC on my Fat Boy Lo and currently I have no issues entering a parking garage requiring keycard access (as long as I go to a specific entrance). However, the current garage is closing and next week I am being moved to another parking garage that also requires keycard access. I'm worried that my bike won't trigger the magnetic loop (I think that is what it is called) in the new garage. The garage hasn't been too helpful other than saying it depends on "how much metal you have on your bike." Have any of you had any issues with automatic gates and what have you done to fix the issue of a non-responding gate?
Thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 17
From:
I think it can depend on the bike, and what type of sensor the gate uses. On an old Zuki intruder I used to have, I run my entry card and have drop it in gear quick, and duck to not get hit by the bar. On my zuki m50 that I just sold, I didn't have that problem in the same parking garage, the bar would stay up until I passed. Although, I always rushed through it just in case. I did test it once and waited, and the bar did go down in about 10 seconds. The old intruder had more metal on the bike then the M50. I'm hoping to get a bmw soon and I will have to see if I have to duck. BTW, since neither bike had a place to drop the the card into quickly, and fumbling to get it into my pocket would take too much time, I'd swipe it, put the card in my mouth and drop into gear.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 0
From: Great Falls, Va.
I tried to get into the hourly parking garage at DCA (Reagan National) on Sunday, but the machine would not spit out the ticket. Loops in the ground just would not recognize my bike.
Stage I
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: india
Automatic Swing Gate Systems can be installed as a single or pair of gates. Single Swing Gate Systems are best suited for a gate opening up to 2.8mtrs wide. Once the gate opening is above 2.8mtrs wide we recommend a pair of gates to ensure secure locking of the motors when closed and trouble free operation. Automatic Swing Gates are best suited to sites where the driveway is level on the inside of the property for the gates to swing into the open position. Automatic swing gates are also ideal for gravel driveways as they do not require any components to be mounted to the driveway surface.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK
automatic swing gate systems can be installed as a single or pair of gates. Single swing gate systems are best suited for a gate opening up to 2.8mtrs wide. Once the gate opening is above 2.8mtrs wide we recommend a pair of gates to ensure secure locking of the motors when closed and trouble free operation. Automatic swing gates are best suited to sites where the driveway is level on the inside of the property for the gates to swing into the open position. Automatic swing gates are also ideal for gravel driveways as they do not require any components to be mounted to the driveway surface.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
I had a couple of traffic lights that I couldn't trigger. Went to Northern Tool and bought a package of magnets, round about the size of a dime, stuck four on the frame under the bike and haven't had a problem since.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 981
Likes: 353
From: Wisconsin
A buddy of mine works for a company that designs and markets traffic lights and the sensors. He says that if your bike doesn't set off the (under asphalt type) sensor, that its the fault of whoever installed it. Usually due to it being too deep. I asked him recently about the "trigger" devices for bikes, and he said that they were a complete scam. That it is physically impossible for them to have any effect on the in-street type triggers.
One is the loop type system which uses a loop of wire and operates at a tuned frequency, same thing as the metal detectors used for looking for gold and other stuff on beaches, just has a larger loop. When a large enough mass of metal is near, the loop will shift the frequency to signal presence. at some traffic lights you can see the rectangular cutout for the loop. Best positioning, IME, is being right on top of the wire with front wheel over the corner of the loop.
The other type of sensing system is "loopless" and uses a 3-axis sensor to detect small changes in the earth's magnetic field. an object with enough metal will cause slight distortions in the magnetic field and will allow the sensor to detect. Usually these sesnors are located in the middle of the lane and can't be located easily.
I designed loop type presence detectors for a company that makes rail yard equipment. Did a lot of testing as well. Don't know how a magnet could trip a loop type sensor since it's based on frequency. However, it's conceivable a strong magnet could trip the loopless type.
Last edited by 02fx4dude; Aug 24, 2012 at 09:09 AM.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
+1 JB weld it to the underside of the frame. Don't glue it to the oil pan or it will attract any metal in the oil to a single spot in the pan and then release it all in the oil when removed.