Just a wondering if anyone has installed this alarm system on any of their bikes. I don't believe I would need it in the small town that I live in Illinois, but when I make long haul trips to Memphis, Chicago etc... I would prefer to have a peace of mind that the bike is secured by a good alarm system. Any comments on this setup or any other type of alarm system is greatly appreciated!!
Thank you!
Cunch
:beer:
Cunch, Feb 20 2005, 03:40 AM
Just a wondering if anyone has installed this [i500] alarm system on any of their bikes.
Installed in and operated since summer of 2002 the SCORPIO I500 by ARITRONIX (www.aritronix.com) on my VFR800FI/ABS 2002. It's a great alarm!
1. Get the VFR-specific wiring harness (US$19) and the electrical install is a snap. No cutting of the factory wiring harness/loom. Easily reversed. Friend bought competitor's kit and needed to splice in seven connections and is NOT reversible.
2. Space under the VFR's skin is very very tight. The I500 & I300 are very very small and fit nicely; other alarms DO NOT FIT. It's about the thickness of a deck of playing cards and only and little larger rectagonally.
3. The sensor for shock and tilt is the same sensor technology used for car airbag deployment. I park in an underground and other alarms went off when other cars passed by and vibrated the floor the bike was sitting on (false positive). I have never had a false positive with the I500.
4.The microwave proximity detector is outstanding at keeping people from playing with your bike or its luggage. When you set the alarm, it takes a five (5) second map of the space around the bike. If that learned space image changes -- some approaches, a car parallel parking violates the space, the I500 starts chirping & barking. If the violation persists, then it goes into full on alarm mode with lights, siren and key fob pager notification. If it is a car parking next to what was free space, it goes through an alarm cycle and then re-learns the space and just gets used to the now STATIONARY car being next to it.
5. The two-way paging with the key fob lets you know what's happening when you cannot see your bike. It tells you which sensor was tripped -- perimeter, shock, tilt, electrical or motion. The signal carries 2 km in the clear. It works from level -1 of my underground to my condo on the 5th floor, though it *does* seem to require a fairly fresh battery in the fob to do so.
6. It draws very very very little power. I have left the alarm armed ALL winter (Novemeber to April) and it did NOT drain the battery. Previous alarm sucked it dry in 21 days.
If you don't need/want the two-way paging with the fob, then buy the i300; it's in all respects the same great alarm, but is lights & siren only -- no two-way paging notification. The i300 is outstanding value for money. The i500 w/two-way fob is premium priced and is only a good value if two-way is truly needed or wanted.
I did modify the i500. Depending on where you chose to mount the unit, the wire rattail type antenna can be buried under & around some RF hostile metal & electrics that negatively impact the transmitter's & fob's performance and effectiveness.
I cut the antenna wire, put an crimp-on SMA antenna connecter on it, ran a length of coax to a very small stubby but gain-providing antenna* that pokes its head out from under the fairing** as well as creating a ground plane. This mod soooo amplified the range that the i500 now works from the -4 level underground parking to my 5th floor condo. (*tuned for 433.92 MHz. **On the license plate light assembly.)
The siren is load but could always be louder but this is as much a function of mounting location as anything.
--S.
Great writeup Scott!! Thanks. I've been trying to decide on an alarm and I was looking at the scorpio. I think you just talked me into it.
:beer:
S2SCOTT,
I am interested in hearing more about the antenna mod. What parts did you use? How did you wire it? Do you have any pictures? I have been looking at this alarm for my 2004.
S2SCOTT
Nice write up! I have been thinking about this alarm for a while but I could not find any write up/test about. It sounds to me you are very satisfied with it. On their website they want $300 for it. Do you know any place where it is sold for cheaper?
I too want to know about the antenna mod. I used to have the previous version of the alarm, and its signal reached far into my workplace. This newer one however, seems to die down as soon as I inside the building.
I too have thought about getting this alarm. I hesitated to order it since I wasn't sure where I was going to place the unit. Where did you guys mount it?
So far I think this is the cheapest place to get it since it's on sale. But I've never ordered anything from them.
SR-i500 $258.57
SR-i500S $306.67
SR-i500SE $324.87
SolomotopartsWhat do you guys think of this deal?
Thank you Snafu!
Saw a couple on Ebay... All between $275.00 -- $350 determined by the options you choose.
Cunch
:thumbsup:
"Ground control to Major Tom..."
S2SCOTT, paging S2SCOTT. :goofy:
Antenna mod? I'm not worried about pics or a detailed schematic of how you did that mod, but a parts list and vendor name would be nice. I can handle the rest. :thumbsup:
Hi... :D
I have installed my SR I500SE with no difficulty at all. The only thing now is that I am getting false alarms "shock and tilt". I was told by Avi at Aritronix that I need to adjust my sensitivity level on which I did but my I still continue to get them.
For example today, got home, parked bike in the garage (centerstand) no pets, no wife, no kids NO NOTHING and suddenly the false alarm "shock". Unless I have ghosts, I don't know what could have triggered.
I placed mine by the battery on the middle support flat facing down. It fits just perfect.
By the way, for those who installed it already which wire did you use for the ignition kill? I used the red one that already has a connector on which I just did a male and female on the hijack module and voila worked like a charm.
Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.
Have a great Easter!!! :wheel:
I too would get those false "shocks" every now and then. Very wierd as the pager would go off, but the bike is quiet. No lights or siren. :huh:
I just ordered my unit with sensor and power backup.
I have a similar unit for my Road King, same manufacturer, not quite as sophisticated as the SR-I500.
I just checked the ebay price. Not as good as the Solomotoparts site.
hotredjohn, Mar 25 2005, 08:29 AMI just ordered my unit with sensor and power backup.
I have a similar unit for my Road King, same manufacturer, not quite as sophisticated as the SR-I500.
i would never put a sensor on my unit....but my wife thinks a power back up sure would be nice :unsure:
Aritronix replaced my unit twice. Now I don't get the ghost alarms anymore. Actually, I should say, I went through two head end units and three remotes.
Yes, it's a bit twicthy.
Occasionally, I'll have it squak at me twice (beep! beep!) as I'm going down the road. I suspect it's a bad ground.
The Aritronix unit has been a bit of a disappointment. I have the ignition kill box but I haven't hooked it up since I don't have 100% confidence in the system.
What other choices do we have in an Alarm system? :(
VFR_FLA, Mar 25 2005, 11:57 AMWhat other choices do we have in an Alarm system? :(
global tracki work with the distributor for west florida.
Hm, this GlobalTrack sounds interesting but expensive... Any ideas how much initially, and monthly?
bsd43, Mar 25 2005, 01:35 PMHm, this GlobalTrack sounds interesting but expensive... Any ideas how much initially, and monthly?
if anyone is interested i can get more info. i believe initial is around 350? i think a anual or bi-anual fee of 70? Tim has one on his Big Dog and i have to tell you it is sweet. you can track your bike on a computer. if it moves more than a few feet the bike calls you on the phone # you select. it doesnt have an audible alarm as far as i know , but as tim stated to me, who ever moves it wont need to worry about the police....they will be the ones calling
Hello again,,,,
With regards to the false alarms it continued eventhough I turned off the shock/tilt sensor.
I spoke with Tal at Aritronix and they will be sending me another unit overnight (at my cost since I wanted it tomorrow AM).
Now my buddy has had the worst of lucks, first was the ignition kill/hijack, then MCM and last but not least the remote control.
I had this same alarm on my FZ6 and no problems so I guess it might be a bad batch.
Well I will keep you posted on the coming MCM and the latest and greatest results.
Happy Easter to all!!!
:wheel: :P
S2SCOTT, Feb 26 2005, 05:29 AMInstalled in and operated since summer of 2002 the SCORPIO I500 by ARITRONIX (www.aritronix.com) on my VFR800FI/ABS 2002. It's a great alarm!
1. Get the VFR-specific wiring harness (US$19) and the electrical install is a snap. No cutting of the factory wiring harness/loom. Easily reversed. Friend bought competitor's kit and needed to splice in seven connections and is NOT reversible.
2. Space under the VFR's skin is very very tight. The I500 & I300 are very very small and fit nicely; other alarms DO NOT FIT. It's about the thickness of a deck of playing cards and only and little larger rectagonally.
3. The sensor for shock and tilt is the same sensor technology used for car airbag deployment. I park in an underground and other alarms went off when other cars passed by and vibrated the floor the bike was sitting on (false positive). I have never had a false positive with the I500.
4.The microwave proximity detector is outstanding at keeping people from playing with your bike or its luggage. When you set the alarm, it takes a five (5) second map of the space around the bike. If that learned space image changes -- some approaches, a car parallel parking violates the space, the I500 starts chirping & barking. If the violation persists, then it goes into full on alarm mode with lights, siren and key fob pager notification. If it is a car parking next to what was free space, it goes through an alarm cycle and then re-learns the space and just gets used to the now STATIONARY car being next to it.
5. The two-way paging with the key fob lets you know what's happening when you cannot see your bike. It tells you which sensor was tripped -- perimeter, shock, tilt, electrical or motion. The signal carries 2 km in the clear. It works from level -1 of my underground to my condo on the 5th floor, though it *does* seem to require a fairly fresh battery in the fob to do so.
6. It draws very very very little power. I have left the alarm armed ALL winter (Novemeber to April) and it did NOT drain the battery. Previous alarm sucked it dry in 21 days.
If you don't need/want the two-way paging with the fob, then buy the i300; it's in all respects the same great alarm, but is lights & siren only -- no two-way paging notification. The i300 is outstanding value for money. The i500 w/two-way fob is premium priced and is only a good value if two-way is truly needed or wanted.
I did modify the i500. Depending on where you chose to mount the unit, the wire rattail type antenna can be buried under & around some RF hostile metal & electrics that negatively impact the transmitter's & fob's performance and effectiveness.
I cut the antenna wire, put an crimp-on SMA antenna connecter on it, ran a length of coax to a very small stubby but gain-providing antenna* that pokes its head out from under the fairing** as well as creating a ground plane. This mod soooo amplified the range that the i500 now works from the -4 level underground parking to my 5th floor condo. (*tuned for 433.92 MHz. **On the license plate light assembly.)
The siren is load but could always be louder but this is as much a function of mounting location as anything.
--S.
:D
S2Scott-> " cut the antenna wire, put an crimp-on SMA antenna connecter on it, ran a length of coax to a very small stubby but gain-providing antenna* that pokes its head out from under the fairing** as well as creating a ground plane. This mod soooo amplified the range that the i500 now works from the -4 level underground parking to my 5th floor condo. (*tuned for 433.92 MHz. **On the license plate light assembly.) "
I've hand my SR-i500 for a little over a year now and loved it on last years coast-to-coast-and-back ride.
Scott thanks for the advise on your antenna wire. I'll be making that modification sometime tomorrow.
Thanks again for the great info on he modification.
Ron - Southern, NH - USA
2001 Interceptor VFR800Fi - "Land Rocket" ™
(aka) "Rural Assault Vehicle" ™
Ok let's see... <_<
After having replaced my MCM (Main Control Module aka alarm brain), remote control and ignition kill/hijack module (burned some wiring) I could say that my alarm is working (for now). :pissed:
Initially I connected my ign kill close to the battery where there is a red cable with a connector - I just did a male a female to each end of the ign kill switch wiring and it worked until the unit starting smoking by the wiring - very scary experience.
Now does anyone of you have installed this alarm and where did you install or better said what wires did you cut for the ignition kill?
I am somewhat scheptical of connecting the ign kill but I hate to pay for something that doesn't work to its full potential.
Any words of wisdom?
In advance thank you.
Hey everyone. I found the site via my web stats. Thanks for the linkage Snafu.
I'm here for questions. BTW, the SE models are out until 18th on a manufacturer level. The S and the base models are good to go.
Thanks,
Daniel
I've received a few "where did you put it" private messages...here's my private reply.
---
Sorry for the reply delay, but I was a way for a bit.
Two key success mounting factors for the i500/i300 are getting the shock/tilt TO the i500/i300 sensor and getting the alarm siren OUT to the world.
The 500/300 is NOT fussy, but it�s better if it is mounted securely to the solid FRAME and not the plastic fairings. A shock wave to the front of the bike travels very nicely through the central frame to the very rear of the bike and visa versa.
To the extent that the siren�s attention draw is a deterrent vs. the i500�s key fob alerting you, getting the sound out as loudly as can be means NOT burying too deeply inside the frame and fairings.
The two objectives may compete.
There are two places that I found work well.
1. Perhaps the best is to remove the LEFT (or RIGHT) side fairing and mount the i500/300 on the diagonal slopping frame (engine mount stressed member). The sound leaks out quite well from here. Its position results in BOTH an X- and Y-AXIS TILT displacement giving it EXCELLENT TILT sensitivity to both tilted up (or tipped over). It the frame is contiguous metal from front to rear so SHOCK vibration is transmitted very nicely (kick the front or rear tire and the 500 is paging you). It�s also fairly central for power connection. The 500/300 has separate-from-the-main-alarm (discrete) microwave PROXIMITY sensor; its ideal position is just behind the tank under the seat, across from the BATTERY. In this central position, the discrete PROXIMITY sensor protects tank bags, rear luggage, cargo on the rear of the seat under a cargo net, helmets on the helmet lock hooks and VERY NICELY barks at cars that park too close. The wire length of the PROXIMITY senor reaches nicely from the PROXIMITY sensor placement to the main 500/300 unit placement.
The ONE problem with this location is the VFR-specific wiring harness tie in needs to reach the rear BRAKE light connector. This tie in servers two functions � i) it monitors for electrical system tampering -- hot wire attempt, low bike battery, etc, and ii) to flash the left and right turn signals for status and alarm mode. I had to fashion an extension cord. Not a problem if you know how to splice, solder and weather seal (heat shrink) some wire. A problem if you do not.
2. At the rear end of the bike, under the seat and FORWARD of the brake light is the end of the frame�s RECTANGULAR �spine.� It�s about three (3) inches wide and two (2) deep and is hollow and painted glossy black. Just forward of the brake light ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THIS SPINE (not the up facing toward the seat, but the down facing toward the wheel well), there is a GAP between the UNDER SIDE of the SPINE and the top of the wheel well. The 500/300 fits in this gap, though sliding it in there takes some nibble fingers.
Again, being on the FRAME, its SHOCK sensing is excellent. Being on the center of the X-axis of the bike, though, it isn�t quite as TILT sensitive as #1, but it does work. Being deeper under the seat and on the UNDER SIDE of the spine does dampen the siren�s loudness a bit. Also, it does CONSUME some of the tiny amount of [potential] storage space available under the seat.
On the plus side, ALL the wiring lengths fit without extension wiring. The PROXIMITY sensor mounts the same as #1 above.
3. As I said, the 500/300 is NOT too fussy. But getting it ON THE FRAME does enhance the SHOCK sensitivity. TILT sensitivity is improved by getting it towards the outside edges of the bike, resulting in X- and Y-AXIS displacements. Though I haven�t looked, there *may* (should) be a another good (third) mounting location UNDER THE REAR FAIRING FORWARD of the AMBER turn signal � where the HARD LUGGAGE side mounts attach to the SPINE and UNDER the plastic of the rear fairing. It looked easier the do #1 when I did it, then to wrestle off the rear fairing. The service manual rear fairing removal procedure read/looked a bit too daunting for the purpose given the availability of alternatives. (Let me know if you try this one.)
I did not install the immobilizer option so I did not have to wire this in. Where placement #1 makes getting to the rear brake light tie in a challenge, option #2 or #3 may present a similar length/reach problem getting to the fuel injector/ignition circuit for the immobilizer.
Interceptore-Fatale, Apr 5 2005, 10:56 AMOk let's see... <_<
I am somewhat scheptical of connecting the ign kill but I hate to pay for something that doesn't work to its full potential.
Any words of wisdom?
I didn't install the immobilizer option; however, if I were to do so, then I would use it to kill the FULL INJECTOR circuit rather then the more typical IGNITION KILL. The fuel injector kill results fuel starvation and, therefore, a somewhat less SUDDEN engine kill then a spark plug/ignition kill. The fuel injector electrical circuit is comparatively easier to tap into.
It�s an opinion.
DownAndOutNYC, Mar 17 2005, 07:35 AM"Ground control to Major Tom..."
S2SCOTT, paging S2SCOTT. :goofy:
Antenna mod? I'm not worried about pics or a detailed schematic of how you did that mod, but a parts list and vendor name would be nice. I can handle the rest. :thumbsup:
Sorry, guys, I've been a wat for a bit.
I'll try and writre this one up shortly.
--Scott.
S2SCOTT, Apr 6 2005, 11:36 AMSorry, guys, I've been a wat for a bit.
I'll try and writre this one up shortly.
--Scott.
I've actually already found a short stubby antenna that sould fit the build. I plan on drilling a hole in the rear tail cowl (good heavens! drilling stock plastic! :P ) and installing it there as the Givi top mount sould "hide" it enough to not have to worry about a take off, as well as getting it abit higher and away from any metal.
The one part I dont understand is about the ground plane. What size/shape did you use for your antenna? How is it attached? My knowledge of antennas ends at the start of ground planes. Other then knowing to look up formulas to calculate antenna lengths for a given frequency and some basic antenna designs, I dont know much else. But I'm more then willing to learn just to increase the range, and because I love technical stuff involving electrons flowing. :thumbsup:
S2SCOTT, Apr 6 2005, 07:30 AMI didn't install the immobilizer option; however, if I were to do so, then I would use it to kill the FULL INJECTOR circuit rather then the more typical IGNITION KILL. The fuel injector kill results fuel starvation and, therefore, a somewhat less SUDDEN engine kill then a spark plug/ignition kill. The fuel injector electrical circuit is comparatively easier to tap into.
It�s an opinion.
T :P hank you for your word of wisdom, any wire/place you may point me into?
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
By the way, I have installed the brain by the tailigth under the black frame where there is a space in between the plastic and the metal frame and it seems to work the best.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Rali....
End of thread · 30 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 13 Apr 2005