Installing garage opener remote

[guitardadrocks]

I have been thinking about how to attach a garage opener remote to my Mean Streak so that when I pull out of the garage or returning from a ride, I can easily reach the buttons. I didn't want to have additional thing to carry in my pocket or key chain so carrying a pocket remote in a traditional way is out of question.

Out of curiousity I opened up one of the extra remote controls we have to check it out. The garege opener unit we have is a Genie and its remote control unit is a small 2 inches x 3.5 inches thing. Looking at the way the buttons sticks out through teh face place or top half of the remote, I thought maybe I can mount the remote's bottom half or back plate behind the bike's side panel, and let the buttons protrude through the side panel as if it was the top half of the remote.

I choose the right side panel where fuse panel mounted, thinking that it would be better than the left side / lockable panel, where it may be opened more often.

To locate a good spot for the remote, I duck taped it in various spots behind the right panel, and tried closing the panel back to the bike to see if it would shut in place ok with the testing remote in place.

Once I found a spacious enough spot, then it's time to draw the holes (to be cut) where the buttons would come through on the panel. First I placed a piece of typing paper over the original remote's top half, and rubbed a pencil over the edges of the holes where the buttons originally come through. Then I taped the print to the side of the bike's side panel, and trace over the marks of the holes with the tip of a razor, cutting through the paper onto the side panel.

Next I cut out the buttons' holes by patiently and slowly cut over and over the traced lines.

Next, I drilled a small screw hole on the side panel and screw it to the remote's back plate or bottom half. I dropped some heavy duty glue around the edges of the remote so that when dried, the remote will stick to the side panel.

To hold the remote's battery in place I wrapped some good old duct tape around the battery and the remote's back plate.

Then when the glue settled I reattached the bike's side panel back, and tested my new invention. It works!

While the are numerous ways to mount the garage opener remote control behind the bike's side panel, I hope this will at least give you an idea, and your creativity can take over.


Here are some pictures of the process to give you an idea.

[guitardadrocks]

more pics attached

[Joram]

Great ideal and it looks cool too.

But what if it gets wet?

[RichLockyer]

That looks nice and it's pretty clean.

I actually have two on the bike now.
On both, I removed the factory switches, and replaced them with thin wires leading to separate pushbuttons.

My original one is on the left side cover, with a button on the back (water has never been a problem). The new one is mounted inside the fairing, with a button on the bottom of the fairing's upper lip... can't even see the button unless you know where to look.

[Joram]

got any pics of the handy work Rich?

[fljohnboy]

I bought a small keychain remote that I was going to attach to the bike somehow. The remote is so small, smaller then a FOB, I just leave it with the bike key and carry in pocket. The remote is 2"x1.5"

[07Ninja250]

I bought one of the small Craftsman remotes, sealed the case and velcro'd it to the inside of my front fairing. It's a short reach just below the handlebars to open the door while cruising down the alley. Works SO much better than trying to wrangle it out of my pocket and the fairing protects it from water.

[rbentnail]

What a great idea g-dad. Good job!

[guitardadrocks]

Originally Posted by Joram

Great ideal and it looks cool too.

But what if it gets wet?

The buttons have overlapping rubber skirts that are larger than the holes, and the location is hidden below the top part of the panel (serving like an awning ) so I am hoping would be OK <g>. I baby my bike so much that it hasn't been in the rains yet but that may change Come to think of it, I can also go back and seal around the skirts / holes. Since the buttons only need to make contact in the middle, sealing the skirts would still allow them to move up/down.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Joram

got any pics of the handy work Rich?

Nothing that would show anything.
The one in the fairing is buried under the speakers... would be a pain to shoot, and it's just a circuit board with a battery on it epoxied to the fairing. The only thing visible is the tip of the button... which is about 1/8"x1/8" and I don't even think it would show in a photo.

The one in the side cover is the bigger one... 9v battery still in the case, other than removing the buttons, I just velcro'd it to the inside of the side cover.

[CowboyBob]

Seal around the buttons with clear silicone....flexible and not very visible.