Help , E Z pass mounting on R1200RT

[mosrrt]

Want to see what everyone's using to mount their EZ pass. I want it to be clean and removeable .
Mike

[BklynPete]

Want to see what everyone's using to mount their EZ pass. I want it to be clean and removeable .
Mike

they have carriers that have suction cups that can be mounted on the lower part of your windshield. i've seen them in car washes and carparts stores. i used the plastic velcro that comes with the easy pass on my 1100rt. i just popped it off when not needed. there were times when i had to stop and get it out of my saddle bags when i needed to use the easy pass but either forgot to put it on, or wasn't thinking of going over a bridge that day. so i now have a neat flag on one side and velcro on the back of the flag and i leave it on my 1200rt windshield all the time. if you do a search for easy pass, there will be a site that sells these neat mounts.

[cjack]

they have carriers that have suction cups that can be mounted on the lower part of your windshield. i've seen them in car washes and carparts stores. i used the plastic velcro that comes with the easy pass on my 1100rt. i just popped it off when not needed. there were times when i had to stop and get it out of my saddle bags when i needed to use the easy pass but either forgot to put it on, or wasn't thinking of going over a bridge that day. so i now have a neat flag on one side and velcro on the back of the flag and i leave it on my 1200rt windshield all the time. if you do a search for easy pass, there will be a site that sells these neat mounts.

Is this the same for IPass in Illinois...same technology? I was thinking of just putting in into the map pocket on my K12S. Would that work?

[RebeccaV]

I just put mine in the clear map case of my tank bag or in the sleeve pocket of my Darien jacket (sold seperately). The EZ pass sensors read the pass more consistently when it is in the mapcase though.

[cjack]

I just put mine in the clear map case of my tank bag or in the sleeve pocket of my Darien jacket (sold seperately). The EZ pass sensors read the pass more consistently when it is in the mapcase though.

OK, that's what we'll do.
I bought these Ipass things just for going up north to various rallies on the motorcycles and was hoping it would be much easier than messing with change, etc. at the toll booth with my right foot on a grease spot. It looks now like they are going to an almost automatic setup, charging double toll if you use cash.
I passed thru the wrong toll place going to the Dells rally last fall...so we're all set now for this year...heh.

[jacco]

I just put mine in the clear map case of my tank bag or in the sleeve pocket of my Darien jacket (sold seperately). The EZ pass sensors read the pass more consistently when it is in the mapcase though.

I can confirm that I guess. I bought the very same sleeve pocket especially for my ez-pass, and it has a near-perfect track record of failing 2 out of 3 times so far...

EDIT: So I'm actually curious what this thread will yield. Ideally I'd like some way to mount it to my windshield in such a way that it can be removed easily. I have not yet tried my tank bag, but I don't usually take it on daytrips.

[RebeccaV]

OK, that's what we'll do.
I bought these Ipass things just for going up north to various rallies on the motorcycles and was hoping it would be much easier than messing with change, etc.
You're going to love the I-Pass. Just make sure to zip the pocket that you keep it in (DAMHIK)! ;) Also, the I-Pass transponsers work in the EZ-Pass states and vice versa, which is wonderful, but whereas you can go through any lane with your I-Pass that is not necessarily the case for EZ-Pass booths (again - DAMHIK :banghead )...

[cjack]

I can confirm that I guess. I bought the very same sleeve pocket especially for my ez-pass, and it has a near-perfect track record of failing 2 out of 3 times so far...

EDIT: So I'm actually curious what this thread will yield. Ideally I'd like some way to mount it to my windshield in such a way that it can be removed easily. I have not yet tried my tank bag, but I don't usually take it on daytrips.

Do these things work in an upper coat pocket?

[cjack]

You're going to love the I-Pass. Just make sure to zip the pocket that you keep it in (DAMHIK)! ;) Also, the I-Pass transponsers work in the EZ-Pass states and vice versa, which is wonderful, but whereas you can go through any lane with your I-Pass that is not necessarily the case for EZ-Pass booths (again - DAMHIK :banghead )...

I'm looking forward to it...and using it on the way East this Summer...zoommm...right thru just like the Honda Civics with the guys in suits...

I just remembered to make a reservation for the Chula Vista, Wis Dells Rally. Our rallying is so metro these days...toll gizmos, resort motels, no chiggers...

[The_Veg]

Since nobody's posted a picture of these passes, I can only guess from context that they are a flat plastic item, and in fact may be exactly the same item used here by the North Texas Tollway Authority- a little bigger than a business card and about 1/4" thick, made by a local company called Amtech. No idea if an NTTA tag works in y'all's neighbourhoods, but the places around TexSux where it works constantly expands.
If this is the case, here are my musings on the subject. On my old K100RT I stuck the velcro to the backside of the windscreen and experienced no problems. At the time I owned that bike, I lived in an apartment complex that used identical tags to open the gates. The position of the reader was much lower and faced more head-on, instead of the nearly downward-vertical aiming of the toll-plaza readers. For the gate reader I found that the breast-pocket of my jacket worked well, as did sticking it under the gountlet of my glove.
Nowadays I ride an R100R with an S-fairing. At first I stuck the velcro to a hidden spot on the underside of the fairing's dashboard, but when I replaced the dash with one that had not been trimmed back, this location became unsuitable. Right under the windscreen looked like the best location, but both the screen and the top of the dash are too sharply curved for velcro-mounting. The solution was to simply wedge the tag good and tight between the dash and screen (even at the widest gap between the two, it's tight). It has never shaken loose, and it's wedged tightly enough to prevent a quick grab by a dishonest person. Flawless performance too. This location however will become unsuitable when I finally get a new windscreen that I won't want to be so carelsss with. I haven't started thinking about that yet.

[mosrrt]

Thanks I will try the tank bag map pocket.
Mike

[cjack]

Since nobody's posted a picture of these passes, I can only guess from context that they are a flat plastic item, and in fact may be exactly the same item used here by the North Texas Tollway Authority- a little bigger than a business card and about 1/4" thick, made by a local company called Amtech. No idea if an NTTA tag works in y'all's neighbourhoods, but the places around TexSux where it works constantly expands.
If this is the case, here are my musings on the subject. On my old K100RT I stuck the velcro to the backside of the windscreen and experienced no problems. At the time I owned that bike, I lived in an apartment complex that used identical tags to open the gates. The position of the reader was much lower and faced more head-on, instead of the nearly downward-vertical aiming of the toll-plaza readers. For the gate reader I found that the breast-pocket of my jacket worked well, as did sticking it under the gountlet of my glove.
Nowadays I ride an R100R with an S-fairing. At first I stuck the velcro to a hidden spot on the underside of the fairing's dashboard, but when I replaced the dash with one that had not been trimmed back, this location became unsuitable. Right under the windscreen looked like the best location, but both the screen and the top of the dash are too sharply curved for velcro-mounting. The solution was to simply wedge the tag good and tight between the dash and screen (even at the widest gap between the two, it's tight). It has never shaken loose, and it's wedged tightly enough to prevent a quick grab by a dishonest person. Flawless performance too. This location however will become unsuitable when I finally get a new windscreen that I won't want to be so carelsss with. I haven't started thinking about that yet.
The IPass is a little bigger than that and all it says on it (besides the FCC permit) is Mark IV. For some reason, it has two up-arrows on the front. Probably so you end up mounting the active part at the bottom edge far enough away from the metal on the windshield edge.
I'm gonna do the tank bag map case thing like BG.

[j-budimlya]

I keep mine in the inside zipper pocket of the tank bag...works fine....

[RTRandy]

I too run Toll Tags ( as the Veg described for Texas) , but here's the part I don't get:

Here in Texas you can have one on each vehicle at no extra charge and in fact, you can't go pulling it off one of your cars and sticking it in your other car since it's linked to the described car and the licence plate. You simply obtain an extra one for each vehicle you own and Velcro it on to stay put, so I'm not getting the part where it needs to be pulled on and off.

Car dealers have a big problem when they give out a loaner car and the customer pulls their tags from their own car and stick it in the loaner car.
The toll booths read the licence and sends the dealer a fine. The dealers now warn customers from doing that and state they will pass on the fine.

I mounted my Toll Tag on the black surface behind the windshield on my RT. Looks somewhat funcky out in plain view, but I rely on the toll road to get me out of Dallas on a weekend ride.

[RebeccaV]

I too run Toll Tags ( as the Veg described for Texas) , but here's the part I don't get:

Here in Texas you can have one on each vehicle at no extra charge and in fact, you can't go pulling it off one of your cars and sticking it in your other car since it's linked to the described car and the licence plate.
With I-Pass you create an account and can have several vehicles/license plates including motorcycles on one account. So I just move mine back and forth between the car and the bike(s).

IIRC it is different with EZ-Pass but it depends on which state you order it from.

[Belquar]

My EZ pass will not work in the pocket of my First Gear Voyager or Meshtex Jacket. Quite annoying. Since just about every ride consists of tolls for me here in Jersey I use mine all the time. I just keep it in my left chest pocket. Grab it and hold it up as I coast through the toll. Stuff it back in the pocket and press on. There have been times in the winter with thicker gloves on that I haven't been able to wrangle it out. I usually preposition it in the pocket so it is easy to grab before I go.

I have used the suction cup thing. Use it in one of my cars. Used it on the bike, but don't feel comfortable leaving it on when I am not on the bike plus it would vibrate at speed and leave a small mark on the windscreen. I am curious about these map cases on the arm though.

I also would just rather beat the toll. Not that kind of guy though. Those times where I have not been able to get the pass out have not resulted in any of those penalties you hear people talk about. I routinely go through at about 30mph and have never gotten a speed penalty either. Posted 15mph.
So I continue to just wave my pass. Cough up my dough to pay the lazy turd who picks up trash along the road always looking for ways to make each job take as long as possible so as to delay having to "work." :violin

[jacco]

I also would just rather beat the toll. Not that kind of guy though. Those times where I have not been able to get the pass out have not resulted in any of those penalties you hear people talk about.

I didn't get a penalty. They take a pic and since my license plate is in their database they manually charge it to my ez-pass account. But I'd rather have it read the thing properly.

Here we need a separate transponder for each vehicle. But I'd like to be able to take mine off the bike since I don't need it often and it might get stolen.

[Belquar]

they say we have to have one for each vehicle here too. I have discovered that it doesnt matter. My folks live in fairfax. Before they got ezpass I would let them borrow mine for the run up and back to visit. Never a problem.

Interesting point about ezpass booths....Here in Jersey...for express ezpass where you don't have to slow down they build massive structures over the road. On the greenway in Virginia the same white posts that we have in our slow booths work at 55mph. Go figure. Great Jersey minds at work spending our money. Build a multimillion dollar structure over a major artery or just calibrate the existing infrastructure for higher speed. STUPIDITY IN ACTION!!!!!! This will be our first season at the shore with the express in place. We shall see if it alleviates our traffic problem.

[The_Veg]

Randy, if the tag looks goofy try painting it. I know a local guy who painted the tolltag on his GS silver to blend in with its mounting spot. You can still tell it's there, but it doesn't clash and as far as I know the paint does not interfere with signal.

Funny about different vehicle use, etc. Ours are kinda goofy the way the system works. Yes, I have one account, but I have to have a separate tag per vehicle (and I had three back when I also drove a company truck!), and the thing about matching the toll tag to the license plate is a fairly recent development. You used to be able to use any tag in any vehicle- the idea being that a toll was paid if a vehicle passed through the plaza. I'm guessing the rigorous way of current enforcement is probably the result of overzealous beauracracy trying to eliminate all fudge-factors or something. This is bad though because they try to encourage us to use the tags instead of paying cash so that traffic flows more, and they even give a discount for using the tags. Why muck that up with different-vehicle problems???
And then there's the public criticism of the high rate of misreads. One woman was on the news a couple of weeks ago about the fact that she maintains her account in good standing and has still been summoned to toll-court six times due to misreads.
Finally I heard a funny story lately about a guy on a custom-chopper attempting to defraud the toll authority. His bike was one of those choppers with the seat just an inch or two above the rear wheel, and had one of license plate mounts right next to the rear axle. So he reaches his left hand down to cover his plate as he goes through the toll plaza...and is seen doing so by a state trooper. BUSTED.

[cjack]

snip
license plate mounts right next to the rear axle. So he reaches his left hand down to cover his plate as he goes through the toll plaza...and is seen doing so by a state trooper. BUSTED.

He should buy one of those cloudy license plate "protective covers" like they do in the Chicago area. You can't read the plate thru it.

[Rotten]

I have a ZTechnik mount [URL=http://shop.ztechnik.com/cgi-bin/ztech/results?search_model=bm-046] on my 1150RT and I use black plastic tape to cover the EZpass. It is hard to spot and also removes easily. I did the chest pocket bit for awhile but toll booth readings were spotty.

[SheRidesABeemer]

I opted for the "just slap it on" method, after unsuccessful attempts to put it in less obvious places. It's in the same place on both bikes. It's mounted on Velcro, it works fine. Doesn't seem to mind the rain.

What you do have to be wary of is your EZ Pass bill. For some reason the system does not tie your tag with your vehicle type. :dunno It attempts to determine your class by taking some sort of size measurement. And maybe it's because we don't have much metal, but each and every bill I've received has an error on it. I have been billed at class 2 & 3 (always the bike, never the car). I have to call the lack-of-customer service people to explain that between 8:30AM and 2:15 PM I did not turn into a tractor trailer truck and then back. They debate this fact at each phone call, it is annoying. :fight

http://home.comcast.net/~sheridesabeemer/ezpass.jpg

[119507]

The current issue of Backroads magazine has a feature on all the EZ Pass holders they could find. Turns out there are cheap ones that work well. I have had mixed success keeping mine in my pocket, doesn't always work and I don't trust suction cups in the open air.

[Grumpole]

Mine is inside the upper right front outer zip-up pocket of my Darien jacket. I velcroed it so that it sits right below my collar bone. It has never once failed to connect. As it sits there all the time I never think about whether I have it or not.

[FredRydr]

I lost the link to the page that says how many times a day Homeland Security uploads the E-Z Pass database to their mainframe. Does anyone have that handy?

Fred

[BradfordBenn]

It doesn't matter if you have EZ Pass or not, they can still read your license plate.

Don't worry about my civil libriteries I wasn't using them anyway. :bolt

[PAULBACH]

EZ pass also has a waterproof external tag available. It is designed to go on top of a car's license plate. It is "permanently" attached. Again the problem is where to attach the device.

[bmdubyou]

I HATE what theyve done in the Chicago area now. Ive just gotten used to having my pennies all counted out and ready to toss in the basket (when I'm driving the cage)! Then they started posting signs and telling you not to change lanes and all of a sudden you're in the left lane, traffic everywhere and there's NO toll booth in those lanes now. I dont know how many Ive blown. They keep changing the lanes and its SUCH a hassle. I need to get an IPASS...I dont get up to the city that much but its such a hassle now. The Ipass is about the greatest thing for bikers since heated gripes! LoL WHere can you get them around here??

[The_Veg]

Don't feel bad mcclimans84rt, it could be worse! My brother and I were driving through the Chicago area last October (for the record: I live in TexSux, he in Alabama) and we were in line for a toll and due to the big truck in front of us blocking the view of the signs, we didn't know until we were up to the plaza that we were in the exact-change-only lane. We didn't have enough coins. Cars backed up behind us. My brother gets out to dig in the bag in the trunk to see if he has more change. The guy behind us figures out what's happening and offers change. How embarrassing, but worse, it shows the weaknesses of poor design.
I'm not claiming that my local toll system is the smartest in the world, but on the North Texas Tollway Authority roads the cash lanes all have dollar-changing machines just in case (necassary since the booths are not manned after a certain hour), and if all else fails, there are no physical barriers to forward progress. OK so your last resort is to drive through without paying, and MAYBE they'll mail you a ticket (they've been tougher about it lately though), but at least traffic keeps flowing and you don't cause a big cluster-f*ck on the freeway.

[SheRidesABeemer]

I lost the link to the page that says how many times a day Homeland Security uploads the E-Z Pass database to their mainframe. Does anyone have that handy?

Fred

They can have mine, they will only bring me in cause they think I'm insane. "Please explain why you were in your car at 8:15, bike #1 at noon and yet another bike at 3:15" ? :groovy

[jacco]

"Please explain why you were in your car at 8:15

Yes, I'd love to know that. Why were you in your car??? :rolleyes

[Stuff2C]

If you stay close enough to the guy in front of you they'll charge him for the extra axle.

Avoid this maneuver in the rain :nono

[Belquar]

Here in Jersey for the exact change booth if you don't have the money, there is an envelope that you are supposed to take and mail in your 25 or 35 cents. HAHA Spend 39 to pay a toll. No one does it.

[BradfordBenn]

I was in Orlando for bizness and came across an exact change lane with a change maker.

Really

It was on 417 on the east side of the airport/town. There is a change machine for $1, $5, and $10 bills in the exact change lane. If I had my camera I would have snapped a photo.

[bmdubyou]

Don't feel bad mcclimans84rt, it could be worse! My brother and I were driving through the Chicago area last October (for the record: I live in TexSux, he in Alabama) and we were in line for a toll and due to the big truck in front of us blocking the view of the signs, we didn't know until we were up to the plaza that we were in the exact-change-only lane. We didn't have enough coins. Cars backed up behind us. My brother gets out to dig in the bag in the trunk to see if he has more change. The guy behind us figures out what's happening and offers change. How embarrassing, but worse, it shows the weaknesses of poor design.
I'm not claiming that my local toll system is the smartest in the world, but on the North Texas Tollway Authority roads the cash lanes all have dollar-changing machines just in case (necassary since the booths are not manned after a certain hour), and if all else fails, there are no physical barriers to forward progress. OK so your last resort is to drive through without paying, and MAYBE they'll mail you a ticket (they've been tougher about it lately though), but at least traffic keeps flowing and you don't cause a big cluster-f*ck on the freeway.

LoL...well, I dont feel too bad yet! I suppose they'll catch up with me sooner or later huh! So, perhaps the right thing to do would be to find out where to pay up! But sometimes these idiots are just dumb....(are there smart ones?) They post these "no lane changing" signs BEFORE the signs for the toll plaza. NOw THERES some REAL smart idiots for ya!

[Stuff2C]

I was in Orlando for bizness and came across an exact change lane with a change maker.

Really

It was on 417 on the east side of the airport/town. There is a change machine for $1, $5, and $10 bills in the exact change lane. If I had my camera I would have snapped a photo.

:idea Next time I'm out on that end of town I'll get one for you.

We aim to please in O-lando :)

Don't look for it anytime soon though...I Hate Toll Roads!

[Rotten]

In New Jersey we sorta think toll booths are a bad idea so we are removing them in one direction only!

As Will Rogers said " Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for".

BTW has anyone tried the clear spray for license plates that reflects light back to the camera and results in a white out?

[JOSH]

try:
www.jjcyclepass.com or
www.motoringgadgets.com or
www.ezclip.com

josh

[jacco]

try:
www.jjcyclepass.com or
www.motoringgadgets.com or
www.ezclip.com

josh

Very nice! Thanks Josh! :thumb

[Emoto]

I've run an EZ Pass for years on 3 different bikes and 2 different trucks. The blocky velcro that comes with them is perfectly adequate to hold the units in place, even on very bumpy roads taken at high speed.

I mount mine low center on the inside of the windscreen. If you are having trouble getting yours to "read" at a toll both, try making sure you are directly under the big square pickup. This will mean being more centered in the lane (watch out for spooge).

The only time they will come after you for swapping tags around is if you use one from a different class of vehicle. For example, some places give motorcycles a discount, so if you use a moto tag on your car, they will consider that a violation.

[bmdubyou]

In New Jersey we sorta think toll booths are a bad idea so we are removing them in one direction only!

As Will Rogers said " Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for".

BTW has anyone tried the clear spray for license plates that reflects light back to the camera and results in a white out?


Oh what a great idea...do they have that paint available at the tool booths?

[jacco]

Very nice! Thanks Josh! :thumb

I cheaped out for now. Because this thread made me aware of this issue again I sent an email to ezpassmd. They're sending me some more of that super-velcro stuff for free. (The very same stuff that I managed to pry off when I originally got the tag). If my laminar lip can hang on with four 0.5 inch velcro dots I don't think that I much risk loosing the ez-pass the 10-20 times per year that I use it. If it fails to work I'll invest in one of those RAM-mount thingies that Josh pointed out...

PS Last weekend I managed to cross the bay bridge at Annapolis and the tag was actually properly read in the aerostich sleeve pocket, increasing the successrate to 50%...

[Emoto]

NY EZ Pass will send out the super velcro for free too.

As I have a new Givi windshield for the GS, I will be using the velcro again. This time, I may make some sort of small lanyard to put around the EZ Pass unit for some extra security. Maybe even just a leather shoelace.