FRoM THE WoRKSHoP

Open Sesame!

By Steve Herpich, Member #4294

After a great day on the bike, you get home tired and happy, and before you can relax with the drink of your choice you have to find the garage remote. Off with the gloves, pat all your pockets, can’t find it. Down goes the side stand, off the bike you get to locate it. If this is your experience, I have the solution for you. During COVID lockdown a couple of years ago I was looking for something to do, and I came up with this little project. I have mounted on my handlebars a small pushbutton which operates the garage door, so I no longer have to carry the remote.

It is quite a simple project. Your remote will have to be the type that is powered by a 12Volt battery. Step 1: Remove the cover from the remote, and remove the 12V battery.

Step 2: Locate the button that operates the door, and solder a bridge wire across the button terminals

Step 3: Solder wires to the positive and negative terminals of the battery connections.

Step 4: Modify the remote cover so as you can route the cables to the outside world. Step 5: Find a 12V power supply on the bike. On the GS I chose to use the AUX plug at the front of the bike. You could supply direct from the battery, in which case I would put an inline fuse in the positive wire.

Step 6: Find a suitable location to mount a pushbutton on the handlebars. On the GS I used the bottom bolt that secures the RHS mirror.

Step 7: Connect the bits together as shown. Step 8: Hide all the wiring. On the GS it was easy to hide the remote between the fairing and the frame. I wrapped the remote with tape to protect it. If your remote is not of the 12Volt variety, you will need to connect the handlebar pushbutton across the remote button, and leave the battery in the remote. It means you will have to change the battery occasionally. Please contact me if you have any questions. Email : steve.herpich@bigpond.com