if you got one of those magnets it needs to be as low on the bike as possible. the kickstand on the line works every time so far.

 

No not all are tripped by the electrical coil on a motor. Some are just a magnetic pickup sort of like a upside down metal detector. I have tested this out so many times and have come to the conclusion that no matter how much I revved the motor it just wouldn't trip the sensor, but the first time I flipped the kickstand down it worked, and I thought it was just a coincidence. So I went around the block a half dozen times, and every time I just sat there it did nothing, every time I revved the engine.....nothing. But every time I stopped there and flipped the kickstand I saw the light change....EVERYTIME!! I should have gotten a grant to study it further, don't laugh money has been wasted on worse

 

Here is a funny article, some truth some not so true, but all interesting non the less.

Every motorcyclist has pulled up to a red traffic light and waited and waited to get the bike to trip a sensor to activate a left-turn traffic light or a green traffic light. Often they just do not trip and the rider has to come up with an answer to a question that a motorist never has to ask: How do I get the light to change?
The average underground traffic sensor used to work by the weight of your vehicle. Most newer sensors use magnetic conductivity to monitor when there is a large mass of metal on the road. Some newer cities have also been using laser spotters installed on the lights themselves.

The following tips on how to get your motorcycle to trip a traffic light are taken from discussions in the Motorcycles and Harley-Davidson forums. There are many solutions. Pick the one that is legal in your area and works for your bike.



Get off your bike and push the "walk" button if it is safe.


Sometimes you may just have to look both ways and run the light, but with video cameras at intersections now to catch red light runners, you run the risk of a fat ticket in the mail. In some places it's OK to "proceed with caution" after 15 minutes, in some places after 2 cycles. You need to find out what the law is in your area. Also carrying a copy of the law with you can be beneficial.



If you fail to trigger the switch, wait at least one more cycle and then proceed when it is safe.



Sometimes it helps to kill the motorcycle and restart it just to get the magnetic fields going over the tripping device. Put yourself right over the detector if you can still see the grooves in the pavement. Give the bike a couple of good revs.



Turn right and then do a "U" turn when you can.



Threaten legal action. Start by calling the street department and complaining. Every week re-check the light. If you get no action, send them a nice professional letter threatening them with a lawsuit for any damage or injury you might suffer if you are involved in an accident because you had to run this defective light. Often, they will immediately dispatch a crew to fix the faulty sensor.



As you approach the intersection, there are lines cut into the pavement where the sensor was put in. The sensor pad is octagonal or square. Put the most metal over the intersection of two sides. Cover two intersections if you can. The center of the engine would be a good place.



Some lights trigger because of weight. They don't use "scales", but an electronic device called a strain gauge. It puts out an electrical signal proportional to the force applied to the device.



What usually works is to stop your ride on top of either the right or left side edge of the sensor cut outs. Sometimes there are two sets of sensors so the light can stay green long enough for traffic to go through. If traffic permits, stop on the back sensor as this will sometimes change the light faster.



Another trick is to put out your kickstand. The loops in the road are simply metal detectors like they use at the airport. So if you can get the kickstand out, there is more of a metal area to detect. Don't forget to retract your kickstand when the light finally changes.



Rig your bike with an electro-magnet under the frame. This is wired into the brake lamp circuit and induces enough of a field to trip most lights.



Consider the purchase of a device that will trip the light for you. One such product is the GreenLight Trigger.TM



A possible new trend is the introduction of special motorcycle boxes that show you where to stop your bike to trip the light. The front-most "box" has a couple of additional diagonal lines, with an icon of a bike painted in the box.



Roll forwards and back in an effort to trip the sensors.



If you are waiting for a left-turn signal light to change, you can always proceed through the intersection on green and make three successive right-hand turns. This only works with regular city blocks. One diagonal road messes up the works.




Some states may have sensors in the lights that can detect flashing lights of police cars and ambulances, and will quickly change the light to accommodate police, paramedics, or fire fighters. You might try flashing your lights if the situation allows on the off chance that it might work.

 

I wonder if steel toe sliders would be enough metal to trip the lights.

 

well i rode my bike to work tonight so in about an hr. i will find out if the kick stand idea works here

 

Update on getting the light to change. Since my bike is still in the shop and not to be picked up until Tuesday, I have been riding my wife's 2006 Yamaha XT 225 around, and yesterday I went to the post office to check the mail. I went for the stoplight, (the only one in town), and I went to put the kickstand down and the light changed before I could get it all the way down, but unlike my bike, her bike kills the engine when the kick stand is put down while the engine is in gear. Our bikes will let you put the kickstand down while in gear and running, but if you start to let out the clutch it kills the engine. Needless to say I was embarrassed to have to re-start the bike and get out of there. So it seems that the Yamaha has gone in a different safety direction. So now I know that if I get stuck at a light on her bike, I should hit neutral then drop the kickstand, then flip it back up and get the bike in gear all in one fluid motion or else I will be holding up traffic. I'm just wondering if I should tweak the stand switch for her so she doesn't have to go through all of that?

 

well i got my really big piece of crap from ebay today.. the supposable red light changer is a Freaking Magnet and 2 zipties. have tried the kick stand a few times but shortly after i put it down on the white pad a car pulls up behind me. so i'm thinking maybe thats what putting your kickstand down in missouri does it don't change the light it just makes a car pull up beside you. LOL

 

I see you are in KC MO. I'm in Springfield, a couple hours south.

 

yea i've been there a few times i actually have an army buddy that lives in springfield.. and i'm actually from Blue Springs which is about 20 miles east of KC. So what kinda bike you got ?

 

finally goto to try out the whole kickstand idea tonight.. ABSOLUTLY nothing happened.. a car stop on the other side their light changed mine did nada.. so i guess i'm gonna call the city and see if they can make it a lil more sensitive