Well this could be problematic....

mahnoy

mahnoy

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Hey guys, last fall I moved to a condo with underground parking. Today was my first day taking the bike out and as I was approaching the garage door, I realized it didn't trigger the door to open! It eventually opened when a car was coming from the other side (either that or it eventually triggered when I got really close to the door????)

For those who keep their bike in a condo, do you have this problem? What do you do?

I'm going back out there in an hour, any insight before that would be really helpful!

Thanks
 
My friends condo it was a light beam that triggered it, so my bike had no issues (great practice for stopping on steep hills and not stalling it!).

-Jamie M.
 
For me it was a beam to open the door, but you needed a clicker to get back in. Now I just open it both ways with a standard garage door opener.
 
Gasp! You guys just made me think of something.... I'm going to try to get out from the side of the garage door instead of directly in front of it! Something must trigger the door to open for the cars that are coming from the side and hopefully it's a beam. Fingers crossed that it will work, or else I'm screwed lol.
 
mahnoy said:
Gasp! You guys just made me think of something.... I'm going to try to get out from the side of the garage door instead of directly in front of it! Something must trigger the door to open for the cars that are coming from the side and hopefully it's a beam. Fingers crossed that it will work, or else I'm screwed lol.
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I've seen condos with loop wires buried in the floor, to detect metal objects (like cars), doesn't work well for bike, hopefully it's not one of those :(

-Jamie M.
 
If you have a car try going really slowly to figure out where the beam is/loop is.

If it's a buried induction circuit maybe try riding diagonally, I bet there's a sweet spot. Your rim should trigger it in this case.

Or just ask the manager tomorrow.
 
I've never had that issue where i live... I think it just detects if theres an object infront of it, and it opens (IR? shrugs.)
 
KarGo said:
What is a beam/ loop you guys are taking about? In my condo I have to use an access card to enter and exit the parking.
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I only swipe to enter, but to get out the car triggers the garage door to open.

I see a couple bikes in the garage, so those guys have to get out of there somehow....

I'm leaving now, I'll let you guys know how it goes!
 
KarGo said:
What is a beam/ loop you guys are taking about? In my condo I have to use an access card to enter and exit the parking.
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thats the way most newer places are wired,keeps the thieves out and not let them out if they get in.
 
I have this exact problem, and it is just a pain.

My condo garage door opens with a weight trigger. My bike just will not trigger the damn thing, no matter how I try to ride up to the door - left, right, centre, fully across, nothing works.

I require a traditional opener to get in, but it doesn't open the door from the inside. I end up having to shout into the intercom by the door for security to open it up (they're not fans of that :P). Many other bikers in my building, but I've yet to see their bikes move - I don't know how they get by.
 
If it's an inductiion loop (wire burried in the ground just like at the traffic lights) you can get two magnets and attach them to the bottom of your bike. Supposedly it works, google it.
 
mahnoy said:
Hey guys, last fall I moved to a condo with underground parking. Today was my first day taking the bike out and as I was approaching the garage door, I realized it didn't trigger the door to open! It eventually opened when a car was coming from the other side (either that or it eventually triggered when I got really close to the door????)

For those who keep their bike in a condo, do you have this problem? What do you do?

I'm going back out there in an hour, any insight before that would be really helpful!

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you think thats a problem wait until you go downstairs one day and your bike is missing.
 
mahnoy said:
Hey guys, last fall I moved to a condo with underground parking. Today was my first day taking the bike out and as I was approaching the garage door, I realized it didn't trigger the door to open! It eventually opened when a car was coming from the other side (either that or it eventually triggered when I got really close to the door????)

For those who keep their bike in a condo, do you have this problem? What do you do?

I'm going back out there in an hour, any insight before that would be really helpful!

Thanks
Click to expand...

Depends what the sensor is that detects a vehicle. If it's one of those pressure hoses lying across the floor (like I have to exit my garage) then I had to take a run at it and cross the tube while braking hard to trigger it. The condo board may also be able to adjust the sensitivity if you point out the problem. If it's some kind of detector buried under ground (like I have for my main gate) then it will have to be adjusted by management.

How do you enter the parking? If it's the same door to go in and out you can just use the remote on the way out (that's what I ended up doing). I stick the remote to my top triple with 2-sided tape, plus some tie-wrap around the keychain slot as a backup in case the tape comes loose. Works fine.
 
malim said:
If it's an inductiion loop (wire burried in the ground just like at the traffic lights) you can get two magnets and attach them to the bottom of your bike. Supposedly it works, google it.
Click to expand...

I used to install traffic "loops" so know a bit about them. Your best shot will be in the centre of what looks like a pad. In any set-up I've done/seen there is twice as much traffic cable here than anywhere else in the loop. All the loop does is create an EMF field and the computer just monitors what it is normally at. As soon as something like a car (or hopefully a bike) gets overtop of it, it causes the field to distort - the computer picks up on this and does whatever it is supposed to do - change the traffic signal, open a door.... I am not sure that magnets would work unless they are rather large and heavy. But if it says they will on the internet than it has to be true ;)
 
Paul1000RR said:
If you think thats a problem wait until you go downstairs one day and your bike is missing.
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I actually spoke to security about where the cameras are and if it captures all the vehicles that goe in and out. If someone were to take my bike we should see it.... The guy takes his job pretty seriously so I trust that my bike is in good hands (he gave be a hard time about not booking an elevator when I sold a piece of furniture and threatened to charge me for any damages. And I thought we were friends...) I did insure my bike for fire and theft just in case...
 
I have a garage door company so i know a bit about this.

There are no "weight sensors" as everyone calls them. The most common are:
- Loop detectors which are literally a loop of wire in the ground and sense metallic objects passing over.
- Photo eyes which shoot an infrared beam either to a receiver or to a reflector and back.
- Motion sensors. Just sense motion and open the door.
- Drive over hose. Simply a hose with a pressure switch. You can get a better switch to sense a lower pressure if needed.

You should be able to see the loop that is cut into the ground by the door. The loop detector should be able to be adjusted for smaller motorcycles. The only problem is if the loop was cut too small it will never work properly.

The air switch may not be sensitive enough and if you stomp on it with your foot it should open or it should be adjusted.

If you talk to your building manager and they want some advice they can contact me.

DorTek Building Services
(416) 655-9541
 
I had the same issue with my condo.

Resolved by spending some time with the garage door. I believe it's an infrared sensor. If i angle my bike to be perpendicular to the sensor it will open the door. Coming head on to the door never works.

Getting the clicker out of my pocket on the way out was always annoying. Unfortunately, I still need the clicker on the way in.
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