Anybody use EZ-Pass?

[adouglas]

Got an EZ-Pass in my car but haven't bothered with the bike because I don't go through tolls all that much. When I do, though, it's a PITA.

I'd rather not have to buy or McGyver a mount for the stupid thing and there's no way I'd want to permanently attach it.

Has anyone here just put it under their rear seat cowl? Perfect place for it, and I can't imagine the plastic would block the signal.

They're adamant that you MUST mount it up under the windshield. I think this is BS.

Anyone got direct experience?

[cuong-nutz]

Well I know here in Texas or at least Houston, they have an optional motorcycle "tag" which looks like a large garage door opener that you can shove under your seat. No issues. If it doesn't work, they'll see that you already have one when they review the camera photos.

[Alex]

I run a FastTrak tag by just putting it in the top pocket of my tankbag, and it works fine. Sometimes it doesn't read (rarely), but it's not a big deal as they track the vehicle by the rear plate anyway in those cases.

I bought an iPass tag from Illinois earlier this year when I was doing that cross-country rally, which is compatible with the EZ-Pass system. I ran it in the tankbag as well, but the performance was slightly flaky in different states. It seemed to work about half the time, and some of the times it failed it was at a toll gate that had a moving arm, so it wasn't possible to just run through it and hope the cameras sorted it out. I wasn't able to determine whether it was due to the proximity of the FastTrack transponder right next to it, or how the iPass was oriented in the tankbag. The shape of it made it much harder to make sure that it was facing up, so that could have been a part of the issue. Once I left the states that use EZ-Pass compatible systems, I have no way to test this further.

All that said, these things work off of short range radio waves. Putting them behind some plastic and rubber beneath the rear seat shouldn't keep them from working properly, as long as they are oriented as expected.

[Racer x]

I drove through an ez pass thing with out a pass. It was raining and at night. Philadelphia turnpike. Plus I had just spent twelve hours on the dyno. Sniffing gas fumes. Cost me 35 bucks. :-(

[allanoue]

My ez-Pass fits snug between my windscreen and the fairings with the velcro or whatever 3m calls it now on, but not stuck on, just to make it a bit thicker.

[Panda]

I have an ezpass mounted under my dash on my 250 and on the tank on my 600. I have zero problems with my 250 but I have all sorts of problems with my 600.

I don't put it in the tail because a lot of the tolls around NY have a gate. If you don't register the gate won't lift so there is no option to just drive through. In those cases you have to take the ezpass out and put it right next to the sensor and hit a button. Toll workers typically have to do it for you. I'll do it sometimes myself if nobody is close by but I've gotten yelled at for doing so.

[tfkrocks]

For Fastrak, if you have a license plate registered with your account, then they'll just charge you when they take a picture and match the number with your account. I never carry a transponder with me on the bike in the off chance the camera doesn't get me.

However, I've had the transponder in a backpack before and it worked. As long as it's not a material that blocks signals, there shouldn't be a problem.

[red5]

No. I will use only MultiPass.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

I never carry a transponder with me on the bike in the off chance the camera doesn't get me.

Keep in mind that FastTrak rules require you to have the transponder with the vehicle. What this means is that if the CHP was doing those occasional toll plaza busts, if it doesn't say "valid fastrak" in that digital screen as you drive through, and they pull you over, you'll get a ticket if you can't produce a transponder. Even if you have a valid account and that vehicle is connected to that account.

The likelihood of this happening is extremely low, but it does trip people up occasionally when it does occur, and it's always a surprise on the forums.

[tfkrocks]

I know, but I don't really like to take the transponder out of the car so it just stays in the car all the time.

[Panda]

Do you pay different rates motorcycle versus car out west?

[Alex]

Same rates as HOV vehicles. That used to be free at certain times on some of the bridges, but now i think it's just a reduced rate. (I don't commute on the bike, so am unclear about the commute hour toll savings since the changes awhile back).

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by red5

No. I will use only MultiPass.

That's funny, you don't look like Leeloo.



The tolls I need to pass through are in NYC so yeah, the gate thing matters.

No room on the GSXR to stuff it on top of the dash. And I REALLY don't want to mount the freakin' thing, even semi-permanently.

[dfox]

I've only needed mine once. usually it just stays in my car.

i kept mine in my jacket pocket. I pulled it out when the signs said the tolls were in a mile or so... I just threw it between the windscreen and the gauges, it stayed put. Got through the tolls, put it back in the pocket once I was back to cruising speeds.

[eddiekay]

just stuff it between shield and instru cluster...if youre insecure...a dab of water based caulk will hold it and cleans off when removed...if you're a tree hugger...use molasses syrup...holds like a weld and washes out with warm water

[adouglas]

(Fishes molasses out of pantry, heads to garage)

Wife: Hang on there, Sparky. Just what the H*LL do you think you're doing?

Basic issue is that unlike the Ninjette, the GSXR has zero space between the windshield and the cluster. Anything I'd put on the windshield would block the gauges.