traffic lights...

Not quite sure if I believe it or not, but someone has made up one
of those ever-so-American "how to" videos suggesting that if you
bung a couple of neodymium magnets on the bottom of your bike, it
will improve your hit-rate at triggering inductive loops at traffic
lights...

<http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-trigger-green-traffic-lights-78256/>

Fine in theory. Not so sure about practice. Riding over the edge of
a loop and thumbing the starter works for me.


GB

 

and thumbing the start does what?

mh

 

Creates a more intense magnetic field than the bike sitting stationary
I would have thought.

I've never tried it. Have put the sidestand down a couple of times and
gone and pushed the pedestrian button. If it was quiet I just usually
gave up and ran the light.

 

Throws up a bit of a magnetic field about the starter I expect.
That or functions as a pretty good placebo!


GB

 

Errm, that'll work if you're actually energising the starter motor (ie
making it spin) don't bike starters have lockouts ?

JL
(never been game to hit the starter on a running engine since I wrecked
the starter in one of dad's cars at age 5 starting it for him - how was
I supposed to know you let go of the key after it fired, he didn't TELL
me that bit !!!!)

 

Tempted to try it out and see, that is putting a couple of neodymium magnets
on the frame somewhere undertheneath of the bike

Happen to have half a dozen in the shed so it can't do much harm.....maybe?
what about a system change to any electronic parts.........computer system
etc.?

With a couple of strong magnets......................can only try I guess.

 

It'd probably give you better grip whilst riding over tram tracks too
- just like Scalextric Magnatraction!


BTH

 

I'm still trying to figure out a lot of the sordid details of modern,
electronic-y bikes, but it seems, on the Triumph, the starter button is
just a switch which "talks" to the ECU.

If the engine isn't running, it decides to try and start the engine
(assuming the clutch in switch is also set) but, if the engine is
running, the starter button acts as an input to the lap timer logic instead.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Too much effort! Just lay the bike on its side on the detector loop,
the idea is to get the metal mass as close to the road as possible.

It used to work for my pushie in our previous building, which had a
detector-loop-equipped roller door).

Interestingly, if you park your car in one of those "first half hour
for free" places with the boom gate and the ticket box, and you
habitually carry a laptop computer with you, you never need to
actually *pay* for parking. A laptop computer placed on the ground
over the detector loop will activate the "gimme a ticket" button at
the entry boom gate, at which point you go directly to your car and
leave without the necessity of paying.


BTH
(Works in some long-stay airport carparks too)

 

Not only that, if anything falls off the front wheel, he might catch it
without having to stop [1]. Luxury!


[1] Providing of course the magnets are placed under the centre of the bike

 

Exactly what is needed in Melbourne, but not so much in Civic Square

 

Too much effort! Just lay the bike on its side on the detector loop,
the idea is to get the metal mass as close to the road as possible.

It used to work for my pushie in our previous building, which had a
detector-loop-equipped roller door).

Interestingly, if you park your car in one of those "first half hour
for free" places with the boom gate and the ticket box, and you
habitually carry a laptop computer with you, you never need to
actually *pay* for parking. A laptop computer placed on the ground
over the detector loop will activate the "gimme a ticket" button at
the entry boom gate, at which point you go directly to your car and
leave without the necessity of paying.


BTH
(Works in some long-stay airport carparks too)

The most devious ideas and methods or getting something for nothing always
seem to come from Canberra.

Wonder why ??

 

On my bikes (sample of two), nothing bad happens. On the YZF, the
starter spins but doesn't even attempt to engage the drive, so you
don't get the disturbing clatter-clatter that you get with some
cars.


GB

 

I doubt a bunch of magnets would upset the computer. Just keep them
away from the CRT!

Best magnets: from inside an old hard disk drive, the older the
better. Like everything, the HDD manufacturers are getting better
at doing more with less, so while disks do still have nice neodymium
magnets inside, new ones usually only have one magnet that's not
nearly as big (and scary) as the pair you'll usually find in older
drives.

Also: <http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.1105> (Though
none of those are anywhere near as big as you'll get out of an old
hard disl)


GB

 

Mine does. The starter button has a different function when the engine
is running. Operates the lap timer ofr something.

Theo
Don't do laps.

 

Do not use the magnets!!!! They will interfere with your aurora and create
mayhem with your bodily functions. You will end up talking shit and blowing
wind
Your testicles will swell and your eyeballs will shrink. Sounds will
intensify and you'll become blinded by the light, the green light that is,
the red will seem almost black. Very dangerous stuff these magnets. I
learned all this whilst I was abducted by aliens using only the magnetic
power of their unaus

Capt A. L.

 

Sounds pretty trippy! I'm using a neodymium magnet to trigger the
pushbike speedometer on my CT90, must be why I enjoy riding it so
much... ;-)


BTH

 

Shit mate it wasn't clatter clatter it was a screeching noise of metal
being shredded - I'll never forget it !!

JL
Scarred for life !

 

You crafty bastard! Love it.

N/

 

Just get a bike made of steel not plastic... no magnets required. I've
never had to run a light or stand down and push the ped button on the
Deuce !!!