Hooking up an automatic garage door opener to the bike.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Any thoughts? It's a pain using the one now-ideally I could start bike, door would open automatically, drive away, door closes. Returning would work the opposite. The current automatic door opener is huge and unwieldy.

Suggestions? Can this be done?

[El Matador]

Any thoughts? It's a pain using the one now-ideally I could start bike, door would open automatically, drive away, door closes. Returning would work the opposite. The current automatic door opener is huge and unwieldy.

Suggestions? Can this be done?

It has been done. There was someone that had it so that it actuated with his high beam/passing button.

It was on TOB though. I'll try to find it.

[erkishhorde]

Na, we revived that thread here. Lemme search.

Got it:
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=16164.0

[DucHead]

Finding a remote that works off 12V and isn't one foot long seems impossible.  The Autoswitch seems like a good way to go for only $30.

[caboteria]

Here's an interesting approach:
BMW F800S Garage Door Opener

[alligator]

That's awesome!  I want one, but I bet the maintenance and troubleshooting almost makes it not worth it.  Plus, I hear multiple openers like that are incompatible with each other.

[Ivan]

I bought a very small remote at Home Despot, it is made by Genie.  The circuit card inside is little bit larger than the size of a quarter, and it runs on a 12V battery. I removed the circuit board from the plastic case, and tossed the 12V battery.  I then soldered the switch that actuates the opener so it was permanently on.  Next, connect the battery + terminal to the Flash to Pass switch, and ground the (-) terminal of the remote to any convenient ground point on the bike.  Finally, pot the circuit board in RTV (also available at Home Despot) so that it is protected from the elements, and use a tie-wrap to secure the remote to your wire harness somewhere that is out of the way.  I've done this mod on two of my bikes, and its always been reliable.

Just be sure to test the remote to make sure that it is compatible with you opener before you start tearing into it.

-> Edited to add:  Looks like I did the same thing that CharlieF described in the other thread that was linked above.

[billg69gmc]

I bought my remotes from:
http://www.onlinedoorremotes.com/
Reasonable prices. I also hunted down micro momentary switches and have them temporarily mounted.
I buried the two remotes (one for a gate, one for a garage) behind the side panels. I'm sure you can mount the buttons most anywhere. It's mainly coming up with a mounting bracket.

My initial search was for a one piece top plate for the handle bar clamp, but since they are all "dog bones", there is no spare space to drill/mount the micro switch. It was easier with clip ons, since the handle bar bolt holes free up that whole center area for any sort of mini box/plate that can hold the switches.

As far as batteries go, I'm using the units going on 2 years, so I see no need to wire into my bike.

[Newcatista]

I can't imagine why you would want to go thru all the trouble to attach it to the bike when you can pick up a key fob type and have it on your key ring. Mine sits perfectly in the cup area so I can easily operate it. What brand of garage door opener(GDO) do you have? Genie, Craftsman, Overhead Door, and Chamberlain all make them. Also, most GDOs are programmable to learn any opener as well, like the Homelink system in cars.

[DucHead]

I can't imagine why you would want to go thru all the trouble to attach it to the bike when you can pick up a key fob type and have it on your key ring. Mine sits perfectly in the cup area so I can easily operate it. What brand of garage door opener(GDO) do you have? Genie, Craftsman, Overhead Door, and Chamberlain all make them. Also, most GDOs are programmable to learn any opener as well, like the Homelink system in cars.

What's a "cup area?"  Neither of my bike have cup holders, nor will they. 

Key fob GDOs leave scratches, can be ruined by rain, and sometimes you have to fumble for them. 

Currently, I have my opener velcro-ed to the top of my gauges, but I'd like to just tap the brake or flash the high beams to open the garage door. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

I can't imagine why you would want to go thru all the trouble to attach it to the bike when you can pick up a key fob type and have it on your key ring. Mine sits perfectly in the cup area so I can easily operate it. What brand of garage door opener(GDO) do you have? Genie, Craftsman, Overhead Door, and Chamberlain all make them. Also, most GDOs are programmable to learn any opener as well, like the Homelink system in cars.

Because my wife is terribly short, the hill is terribly steep, and if the control was somewhere far easier to reach, it would make her happy. Hence the trouble.

[ducpainter]

Because my wife is terribly short, the hill is terribly steep, and if the control was somewhere far easier to reach, it would make her happy. Hence the trouble.

Wow...

you're a friggen prince.

[Charlief]

I have had my setup since my original post on TOB.

No problems at all....  and its a god send when its raining...  a flash of the hi beam switch and door opens.

[Howie]

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=23486.0

[somegirl]

you're a friggen prince.