Came across a weird one on Sunday. Was on a ride with about 50 bikes and went to the top of MT Stuart in Townsville. Had a look at the view from the lookout the headed off.
Two bikes would not start (a softail and a dyna) both were fitted with the push button fob alarm system. We couldn't disable the alarms as we were a bit rusty on how to do it. So after a bit of mucking around we decided to roll down the hill with the alarms screaming to see if the bikes could be started further down the hill. Well about 2km down and they were both able to be started.
Now on the top of MT Stuart there are all kinds of transmission antennas (TV, Radio, phone, etc,etc) so our guess was that by chance these two bikes' security systems must have closley matched the frequency from one of the towers. At a later stop with both bikes near each other, one rider could get the others bike to make a beep using his own fob, but not turn off the alarm completly.
Thought this might help others on other lookout locations if they can't start their bike.
Hi Greg... not seen the problem with the newer systems on 07/08 bikes but at some locations in Perth have seen intermittant operation of the 06 system when near towers. HD state that placing the unit next to a mobile phone may also cause problems. Black art of electronics for ya..... I remember back in the 70's when I taxi with an illegal 250W VHF transceiver hit his 'fare accept' button outside the reserve bank and opened their security doors
the wonders of modern wirless appliences!!! If only I could find who sets off my door bell at 2am on a sunday morning.
There is a problem when ever you park your bike that has an alarm fitted in range of H/F out let, eg television station ,radio station and shops at large shopping centres, chemist being the main problem .
The H/Fsignal interacts with the signal from the fob key to the bike and iit is a pain in the ass.
This happend to me near a television station, not knowing about the H/F signal I naturally thought that the fob key battery was flat, changed that still the problem, and once the alam gets past a certain amount of interuptions it dont stop, eventually I disarmed the alarm and headed for home.
Once home no problem, so now I watch where I park, and it is very embarrasing to have the alam screeming when people are about and walking past.
I still think the alarm is good to have it stops the small time burgler
This is one of the reasons I sold my '07 model bike and went to a '04 model. No alarm and no EFI.
I believe that any local Harley dealer can disable the alarm, but it may affect your insurance coverage.
