Total Motorcycle Community Forums

goodcruisin wrote:here in seattle, we got 'em. they suck, and yes, i bought one of those strips, and yes it works at least 90% of the time.
ive got more of a magnet i strap underneith. of coures it was sold as a "earth magnet", propably to deter you from finding out any ol magnet would do.
havent tried any ol magnet yet............. someday.
but i have noticed lights that didnt used to change, change!

Earth magnets are just natural magnetic material vs man made. They have a stronger field, and are less likely to lose their magnetism from vibration making them perfect for the application. I used the magnets out of a broken computer hard drive since they are earth magnets, and they work for me... at no extra cost

Chris8187 wrote:One good thing about living in northeast. Always got those timed lights, so no need for those gadgets.

Don't know about that. I'm from Jersey too and I've sat through many a light because it didn't know I was there.
I give it one round, and when I think it's safe, I blow the light.

sparky wrote:I used the magnets out of a broken computer hard drive since they are earth magnets, and they work for me... at no extra cost

Those things are really strong. How many did you use? How did you attach it to the bike?

Magnets won't have any more affect on light sensors than any other metal will. These things are tuned RF circuits that sense vehicles when the metal in them detunes the circuit. Any metal will do--it doesn't have to be a magnet.

I've read mixed reviews about this whole concept. If it doesn't work, I don't know why some people say it does for them and how they can keep selling the thing. Also, how can a little strip of just any metal attached to my steel frame bike make any difference at all?

Unfortunately, there are numerous lights around here that I can't trigger. There is usually traffic behind me after a cycle or two, but I got stuck one night and had to turn right on a divided highway, drive a mile and do a U-turn. Arg...

Try stopping your bike directly over the cutouts in the road where the sensor loops are buried. This works 99% of the time for me even when I'm riding my bicycle, which has far less metal than my motorcycle.

I've tried that... left, middle and right cutout, the kickstand, the starter... nothing works for me.

I'll try this and see if it works.

NC DOT Motorcycle Detection Problems

I've tried that... left, middle and right cutout, the kickstand, the starter... nothing works for me.

Call the local people who maintain the roads and ask them to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors.