Ok, so let me let you guys in on a little geekness.

Most stop lightsensors work as an a dual set of inductors.You'll probably find the attached little sketch a familiar sight of a top down view of a traffic stop (at least for us in the USA). The two polygons represent the two inductors, right and left, whicharestips of wire layed into the surface of the asphalt. A circuit within the traffic light box (hell if I know what it's called) constantly monitors the inductance of the two polygons. When a vehicle rollsinto BOTHinductors, the inductance changes inBOTH inductorstelling the circuit that a vehicle is waiting. They probably designed it to use both inductors, just in case of things like debris, stray animals, or pedestrians etc don't unecessarily trigger the light to change if they incidentally entereither of the inductors.

The problem with motorcycles is that they usually only stop withinone of the inductors (since most of usstop outside of the oil line). Since the circuit requires the inductance to change within BOTH inductors, this doesn't successfully tell the light to change. So in order for the motorcyclist to get the light to trigger, they will either need to be within both inductors at the same time (for example, stopping at an angle to the intersection which probably isn't recommended), or increasing the motorcycle's effective field--which theoretically a large magnet would do if you're centered on the inductors.

It all depends on the rider triggering both inductors at the same time. Sorry to say, but they just didn't design the sensors with motorcycles in mind.

 

LOL, good subject. I sat at a light today for 10 minutes even with a car behind me. Finally it changed, but man was I tempted to go. Too many vehicles were waiting at that point and one of them could have been a cop. I say don't run it. If I had to, I would move over, make a right, then do a U turn on the street you wanted to be on.

Many cities set the lights to change at given intervals even with no sensor and I would call the city about that light if it is local. I never knew that some laws allow cycles to go, so I would check into that. It would be nice knowing and I could have easily done that today.

 

I hate those things... one of the guys on here informed that if you spin the starter it'll give off a magnetic field that's strong enough to flip the light... I don't think I can remember a time where that didn't work.

 

This works for you? That would be great!

 

yeah it works for me... I've only had to do it a couple times but it seems to work

 

there is 1 light in my city on the out skirt that will not work for my bike (or my buddies). I know from experience it won't change unless a car comes behind me, so i usually stop and then proceed through when it's safe. I'll ahve to try pulling up diagnal and hitting the starter, worth a shot.

 

i wait one cycle of the light then go. Never had a problem. Most the ones around my town have switched to overhead motion sensors. Look like cameras on top of the lights. I think it's cheaper in the long run. I have installed those loops in the road before it's a pain in the ***. That and everytime they repave the road they have to adjust the sensors.

 

i wait one cycle of the light then go. Never had a problem. Most the ones around my town have switched to overhead motion sensors. Look like cameras on top of the lights. I think it's cheaper in the long run. I have installed those loops in the road before it's a pain in the ***. That and everytime they repave the road they have to adjust the sensors.

 

I just bump my starter

 

I had this happen o me yester day, I sat at the light for five min. no green, way too much traffic to run the light (not that I would). A cop pulls up behind me but stops before his squad was over the sensor, we sit for five more min, nothing. I look back and try to wave him foward up to the sensor and he just stays there smiling with a short chuckle. I put my kickstand down pic my feet up and rest on the tank, five more min and the light finally turns green. Yup thats 15 min. Sucked.