Gas Mileage

[jestercinti]

**Begin Tangent**

Sorry, probably confusing without a proper transition...You mentioned a lot of stop lights in your area.

In Ohio, I get stopped by stoplights a lot and they won't seem to turn green.  I then bought some strong magnets used to trip those wires in the road by the stoplight for "sensing" when a car is there.  Since bikes do not have a lot of metal compared to a car, mounting a strong magnet to the center stand will tell the traffic signal that you are there, thus reducing the amount of time you are waiting for lights in your area.

Neodymium Magnets are stronger than regular magnets and work well in the above case.

**Tangent over**

Neat idea, where did ya get the magnets from and how were they mounted to the center stand?

Do a google search for Neodymium magnets.  Look for small bar type ones.  The ones that are marketed for bikes are 3x the cost of just bulk magnets.  I got a second set at Ace Hardware.  Look for the package that says "Super Stong" or "Extra Strong".  Try not to get the ones that are ceramic...they are brittle and will come off.  Neodymium I think are 100% metal.

Try this seller:  Magnets for less...http://www.magnet4less.com/index.php?cPath=5&osCsid=0f85213d4a4f7930b7eb3b65311d8f89

Get the bar magnets...2 of them and zip-tie them to the swing arm bracket.  The thought is when you stop at the light, the magnet will "trip" the sensor.  I have YET to sit at lights since these were installed.  Again, Ohio is full of red light sensors and they will not trip with the low metal content of the GS.

One word of caution...if you have children like I do, DO NOT let them near the magnets.  Severe internal damage can and will happen if ingested.

[RossLH]

Magnets....the only reason to use magnets is that they fasten themselves to metal. Other than simply being metal, their magnetic field has no effect on inductance sensors. You're simply adding metal.

[iclrag]

Magnets....the only reason to use magnets is that they fasten themselves to metal. Other than simply being metal, their magnetic field has no effect on inductance sensors. You're simply adding metal.

Magnets pull on magnets, the circle you see at a red light is a magnetic strip (only the edge of it, not the whole circle) so magnets will infact be quite helpful (i know somebody who carried a pellet gun and shot the lights out in his town since they were weight senitive **note** that is illegal and you WILL get fined).  anyways, if you park along the side strip of the circle it will sense the bike, being over the center does no good, many people add magnets that allow them to park in the center, or if there is sensor error.

on another note, if you call the city (tell them you sat over 45 min at a light) they will increase the power of the magnets and fix that problem!

[RossLH]

It is not a magnetic strip, it is an inductive loop. Its a wire. The city does not magically change the strength of a magnet, they simply recalibrate the sensor that detects a change in inductance. The magnetic field put off by a couple small magnets is not nearly strong enough to affect the inductance of an underground loop. The sensor is simply detecting more metal. The same could be achieved by kicking out the side stand and leaning the bike down.

[mister]

Done that plenty of times - side stand down right on top of the loop. Works a treat. 

Michael

[Formori]

RossLH

Begin Tangent:

The inductive field sensor (the wire antenna) is just sensing the local electromagnetic disturbance and has to be calibrated correctly to pick up bikes or other small traffic when they're in range. If you can see where the antenna is buried you can put metal right next to it (like the kick-stand) and trip the sensor that way.

Adding a relatively large (think 1"x2"x1/2") neodymium magnet will also affect the antenna, especially the large loop ones, and trip the sensor for you, since it's just detecting electromagnetic change polarity doesn't matter.

I've seen traffic lights calibrated so badly that a bicycle on the wire will set it off, or a smart-car at a light won't, it all depends on local conditions and the sensor's placement.

End Tangent

I'm getting a set of magnets shortly for a couple of stubborn lights around me, and as for the original topic, I get around 310kms per tank before reserve (192 mi) and I've got an '05 with the bigger tank. I've also noticed I can't get that range if I don't fill up on the center stand!