Red light changer ??????
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Author Topic: Red light changer ??????  (Read 1001 times)
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JOE KICKASS
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« on: February 08, 2010, 05:21:11 PM »

 With the groung clearance of the KLR I was wondering if it had any problems at a traffic light that is triggered by the vehicle. I see the red ligh changer on a lot of dual-sport sights. Is it needed?? Hmmmmm...
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in2dabluz
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« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2010, 05:47:50 PM »

Save your $$,  the KLR is not heavy enough and the itsy bitsy magnet they send you is only good for the refrig door.
 Use your brain to outsmart the long waiting..
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« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2010, 06:57:44 PM »

Save your $$,  the KLR is not heavy enough and the itsy bitsy magnet they send you is only good for the refrig door.
 Use your brain to outsmart the long waiting..

+1 on what in2dabluz said the lights in my town suck. some times i will pull up a little farther so the car behind me will set it off. if its a light i know will not change for me i will some times pullover and let a car go first or i have been known to treat them just like a stop sign....... Ha Ha! naughty Ha Ha!
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Rico
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« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2010, 07:14:27 PM »

They're basically big upside down metal detectors. For the best results, carry a little bit of extra speed coming into the area, and try to line up directly over one of the loop's long edges. If it's the kind with the side-by-side  loops, shoot for the center one.

Sometimes, they're stubborn... in that case, I usually wait a little while and just go when it's clear. It's legal to do so in NC, but I'm a little fuzzy on the specifics.
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« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2010, 07:18:03 PM »

I have a on-ramp meter light that usually does not detect the KLR. If I am immediately behind a cage, it sometimes changes but most often it does not.

I just come to a complete stop, put a foot on the ground (to demonstrate that I did stop) and then go again.
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« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2010, 07:28:56 PM »

I think that in NC its 3 mins and then go....
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emjayw
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« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2010, 07:59:26 AM »

All if not most of the newer lights in my town (Mansfield, TX) do not work for the KLR.  I've waited through several changes before just to see if they would detect me, but no longer.  If I'm alone at a light, I pull up and stop, then go as soon as it's clear.  I dare the local cops to ticket me!  3 min. in NC?  Another good reason to stay clear of that state!  poke  (nothin' but rednecks and people who can only turn left, from what I hear)
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« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2010, 09:21:02 AM »

I'm lucky... in the Big City nearest where I live, last summer they did a major renovation of the traffic lights (all 7 of them) and put in the cameras instead of the metal detectors... now they all respond to the KLR just fine when I go there...
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steve
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« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2010, 09:24:46 AM »

you guys in TX can make Left turns or Red?  That ought to cause some traffic problems.  poke

sre

(nothin' but rednecks and people who can only turn left, from what I hear)
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« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2010, 10:10:12 AM »

Sometimes mass is your friend.

There's a traffic light that I need to trigger every day to turn left from a 2 lane road onto a divided 4 lane.  The KLR trips it every time, without fail.  Happy!

The KLX, never.  here's the violin music...

Ron
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« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2010, 12:11:03 PM »

I've had luck triggering signals by putting my kickstand down right next to the inside if the loop. One more reason to get rid of that kill switch. Now listen up...
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gunny
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« Reply #11 on: February 09, 2010, 05:49:34 PM »

I have a light that no matter what I do, and that includes a heavy rare earth magnet strapped to the frame, that light wont trip. I sat there one day through three cycles, over on the bridge was a trooper running radar, I really had to go left, going through town wasn't really a good option, well he drives over an asks if there was a problem. When I told him the light wouldn't change he told me thatif it doesn't trip after three cycles, make sure it's clear and just go. He watched me run through the red light.  thumb
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« Reply #12 on: February 09, 2010, 07:07:14 PM »

the light at the entrance to my housing tract never works for bikes,  i'd say 3 out of 5 days i don't have cars to trigger it, so i run it after i stop.  have'nt been pulled over yet!
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« Reply #13 on: February 09, 2010, 09:29:16 PM »

Years ago when I had my Shadow, a not changing light got me a ticket and not for the reason you think.  I was on my way to work for a midnight shift so there wasn't much traffic when I got to the light.  Well as luck would have it it wouldn't change.  I waited trough two cycles(3-4 minutes) and was going to go when a car approached fro my right so I waited for that car.  While I'm sitting there watching this car go through the intesection another car comes speeding up behind me and I think to myself oh good he'll trigger the light for me.  Well it was the PD and he lights me up before the signal even changes.  So I go throught the intesection and pull over and the PD pulls in behind me.  He asks me for my license and registration and returns to his car.  He comes back 10 minutes later and hands me a speeding ticket for 20mph over then proceeds to lecture me about being careful.  At that point I had to get to work and had no time to argue with him, not that that would have done any good.
So long story short, had the light worked properly I never would have been sitting there for the cop to mistakenly pull me over. Or had I gone when I was first inclined to I wouldn't have gotten that ticket either.  God I was pissed!  Here I was doing the right thing and got a dammed ticket anyways!  Arrrrg!
Okay rant over  Happy!
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Sabih0nd0
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« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2010, 09:13:23 AM »

On my commute there is a left turn lane sensor on a main road that picks me up only about 1/3 of the time.  There are no sensor loop lines visible, and I have tried positioning my bike all sorts of ways and I still get the same results.  I have run the red light before after sitting through two cycles and seeing literally a dozen cars stack up behind me.

I will try the kick stand trick to see if it works, but I won't like being at the stop light in neutral, and I do not want to disable my kickstand engine kill switch.  If the kickstand trick doesn't work I may try the magnet for $20.
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« Reply #15 on: February 10, 2010, 03:51:26 PM »

... and hands me a speeding ticket for 20mph over...had the light worked properly I never would have been sitting there for the cop to mistakenly pull me over.

Correction. If the light worked, he would have never caught up.  That's funny !
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« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2010, 04:38:56 PM »

On my commute there is a left turn lane sensor on a main road that picks me up only about 1/3 of the time.  There are no sensor loop lines visible, and I have tried positioning my bike all sorts of ways and I still get the same results.  I have run the red light before after sitting through two cycles and seeing literally a dozen cars stack up behind me.

I will try the kick stand trick to see if it works, but I won't like being at the stop light in neutral, and I do not want to disable my kickstand engine kill switch.  If the kickstand trick doesn't work I may try the magnet for $20.
Look up hear the light for a motion sensor.  There's one at an off ramp that I have to stop about a full car length short of the stop line or it won't see me.
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« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2010, 04:45:44 PM »

... and hands me a speeding ticket for 20mph over...had the light worked properly I never would have been sitting there for the cop to mistakenly pull me over.

Correction. If the light worked, he would have never caught up.  That's funny !
Exactly!   naughty  Had I been speeding in the first place I wouldn't have been so mad.  Who speeds to work when you've left early??
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gunny
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« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2010, 07:35:17 PM »

one important thing to consider, there are "companies" on the web that sell a red light changer, it's an electronic device that police and fire use in some locations to change ALL the lights at an intersection. They are extremely illegal to even have in your possesion. I've read reports of people doing jail time for using them due to the safety implications. Don't be tempted to buy one.
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« Reply #19 on: February 10, 2010, 08:01:11 PM »

In Missouri they passed a new law this year that motorcycles can go through the red light if it cycles three times.  As long as traffic is clear that is.  FYI most stop lights have sensors that detect wig wag flashing lights and will cycle through faster.  They are made that way to assist emergency vehicles through traffic.  If you want to immitate the wig wag you just flash your headlight from dim to bright several times as your approaching the red light.  It will cycle through faster.  It won't work if you are already waiting at the intersection.
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« Reply #20 on: February 12, 2010, 07:17:14 PM »

I was having redlight issues at the stop light around here so I checked out the purpose made stoplight magnets, but decided to make my own - bigger and stronger. I paid about $6 at harbor freight for a large welders groundwire magnet. Drilled 1 small hole in the forward horizontal part of the stock engine bash guard and mounted the magnet with a short SS bolt. So far, the same redlights have been no problem.
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« Reply #21 on: February 12, 2010, 10:05:58 PM »

motorcycles can go through the red light if it cycles three times.

I wonder why three times ? I would say two max. The first one, maybe you got there too late to catch it, the second one, something is wrong.

Three just seems like the lawmakers had something against bikers  Arrrrg!
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« Reply #22 on: February 13, 2010, 12:14:21 AM »

Sometimes, I don't even wait for it to cycle. I get one light in particular, where I'm on a 2 lane on a minor road, trying to cross a 4-lane highway. The light won't cycle so I just give it a minute or two and go when clear.
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« Reply #23 on: February 13, 2010, 09:44:51 PM »

I've had luck triggering signals by putting my kickstand down right next to the inside if the loop. One more reason to get rid of that kill switch. Now listen up...

That works here to. Kick stand down and fat azz on the seat trips it.  Awesome
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