[Proulx06]

I'm seeing these anywhere from $15-$20. Is there any reason I should pay that? Are they anything more than just magnets with 3m tape on em?

I would like to get something as my work commute has me sitting at a couple of lights, but if I can get a bigass magnet for $1.50 I'd rather that...

FWIW, these are the ones I've found...

http://www.betterbikeparts.com/produ...roducts_id=826

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products...sp?Item=GLTRIG

[oreo_n2]

i had bought one of those signal tripper magnets on one of my bikes in the past... and more often than not... it wasn't very effective.

[richw]

I don't know

You can look at Mc Master Carr for magnets with mounts. Ceramic magnets are very sensitive and break with little impact.

I wait if the light goes through a cycle and I don't go

I look and go anyway only tested it once and cop said OK and let me go

I consider it their problem not mine but do not know what a judge would say

[OreoGitorio]

Originally posted by richw
I wait if the light goes through a cycle and I don't go

I look and go anyway only tested it once and cop said OK and let me go

I consider it their problem not mine but do not know what a judge would say

I do believe that if a light goes through a full cycle and you do'nt get green you can consider it inoperational and you may go when it is safe.... but that's just hearsay, i haven't seen the law myself, but it sounds pretty reasonable.. you're not gonna sit there all fuckin day & wait forever for a car to come up behind you.

[g®eg]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
I do believe that if a light goes through a full cycle and you do'nt get green you can consider it inoperational and you may go when it is safe.... but that's just hearsay, i haven't seen the law myself, but it sounds pretty reasonable.. you're not gonna sit there all fuckin day & wait forever for a car to come up behind you.

that's just hearsay.... in MA at least. Some southern states allow this.

the sensor sense the mass of metal (like a magnetic anomaly detector finds submarines). Bikes just don't have much metal. I guess that's where the magnet comes in, but like Oreo says, they aren't all that effective. Best bet is to stop on the line in the road where the sensor wire is buried, or hope for a car to come along & help you out. Finally, you could make a right turn, and then get turned around at some point, or "seek an alternate route" to work.

there is also this bit of knowledge from Ohio:

... the next time that you pull up to a signal, look for a rectangle that is cut into the pavement. That is the actuator, commonly called a "loop detector". We cut a slot into the pavement, put a couple strands of wire in that slot, then fill up the slot with a filler material. A low voltage current is run through that wire, creating an electromagnetic field. When a vehicle with sufficient steel mass stops over that rectangle, it disrupts the field. The unit on the pole detects this disruption and triggers the system to change the signal from red to green.

The problem for motorcycles is that they don't have enough metal mass to affect the field. We are able to adjust the sensitivity, however, if its turned low enough for motorcycles, then it will also pick up the opposing traffic in the next lane.

So here's the tip: next time you pull up to one of these types of signals, stop your bike on the corner of the loop detector. That is where the field is the most sensitive and most likely to pick up the metal mass of the bike. You want the center of the bike, say, beneath the motor, completely on the longitudinal segment of the loop detector. Having the front wheel on one of the approach corners would expose only the small amount of metal from the front wheel, not the best scenario. I think the "sweet spot" would be somewhere on that line, near the corners, with the complete length of the bike on the line.

[skiierx]

I believe most cops will accept your reasoning if you sit for a light cycle or 2 and the light does not turn. But it is illegal to run a red light period. The judge will tell you that as well

Jamie

[OreoGitorio]

Originally posted by skiierx
I believe most cops will accept your reasoning if you sit for a light cycle or 2 and the light does not turn. But it is illegal to run a red light period. The judge will tell you that as well

Jamie

true... but the reasoning behind running it is that if it doesn't go green for you after a cycle or two you can deem the light inoperable. i dunno... we'll have to find a cop or look up the laws.


Greg, good tip, makes sense

[richw]

MY presents over the sensor prevented the massive car from going to the sensor and tripping it. There was a line of 5 cars behind me.

If this matter is ajudicated make sure you use the above line.

The Cop who let me go says he only stopped me because a

Busy body "Suckit Mom" in her SUV pointed and honked at the Cop so he wanted to appear to be doin his duty.

Must have been a member of

Community
United
Nonapproved
Travel
Society

He ran me and when I was clean have a nice day. Note He said he too was a sport biker.

[taylor]

when i did the MSF course (in Mass), the instructor did say that if a light won't change for you to slowly pull ahead making it clear that you are looking for oncoming traffic and drive through the light.

[babo]

If you cut your engine and restart it , the induction from starter motor may actuate the light. Works for me....

I have one of those magnets tied to the bottom of my center stand. It's worthless.

If you find that you get stuck at the same lights over and over, you can call the DPW and ask them to fix the sensors.

Or just pull out your gat, aim at the light, and screw on out of there

[SVRACER01]

id hate to admit it but.... iagree with pete. if the light cycles you CAN argue that it is inoperational and the DMV book tells you to treat it like a stop sign and "proceed with caution"

also if you are sitting at one of these lights, ive found that thumbing the starter button and spinning the starter motor a couple of times will get it to work. its not like a car (at least mine isnt) it doesnt make that horrific grinding noise when you hit it

[g®eg]

Originally posted by richw
MY presents over the sensor prevented the massive car from going to the sensor and tripping it. There was a line of 5 cars behind me.

was it Christmas time? or were you on your way to a wedding shower? why would you leave presents in the road?

[rbrsddn]

Because he's "Gifted"?

[OreoGitorio]

Originally posted by rbrsddn
Because he's "Gifted"?

oooohhhhhh... ba dum CHING

[bump909]

please, it's too early for the puns.

[Stoneman]

As mentioned, I've found that shutting the bike down with the kill switch and restarting helps...

I've had a cop behind me when I was caught in such a situation and the stop/start engine thing didn't work. After the second cycle of lights, I turned around and shrugged. He just kinda nodded and pointed in a '...yeah I know, just go...' type gesture...

the DMV book tells you to treat it like a stop sign and "proceed with caution"

I do believe I've read this somewhere too...

[JeffL]

I believe there was a little discussion about the magnets, and the whole cycling of the lights at the BBQ, I know ZX-12R (Bill) and WOTeugene both had some input on it, maybe someone could point them to this thread.

[SVRACER01]

you dont have to shut the bike off, you can hit the starter button with the engine running.

[ChrisNoF4i]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
we'll have to find a cop or look up the laws.

FTP

[dhuze]

stop lights are for sissy's