Overview of Options
If you want to install a garage door opener onto your motorcycle, you have a few options. I personally think there are two type of ways to do this. You can integrate a remote into the wiring and switches you already own or make an independent system. Mo-Door makes an aftermarket remote that follows this independent method. The one downside to the Mo-Door Motorcycle Garage Door Remote (on Amazon) is that it costs ~$80.
I really like the idea of keeping the system separate from the motorcycle’s electrical system, but I wanted to do it at half the price and mount the button to my handlebars. So I DIY’d my own version that has worked very well for me.
The garage door remote I came up with only needed a few tools to create and (in theory) you can use any garage remote, so it can work on any type of door. You just need to solder two wires to the remote and attach a handlebar mounted button. Below I will list everything I needed and how I made it.
What you Need
Here is a list of tools and supplies you will need to complete this project. Note: I only count the cost of the material towards the $40. But in this case, the tools needed are common and inexpensive. You do not need to use the exact same tools as I did, but I will link them below.
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Tools
- Wire Cutters / Strippers
- Soldering Iron
- Electrical Solder (Not Plumbing Solder)
- Heat Shrink Tubing and/or Electrical Tape
- Zip-Ties
- Helping Hands
Materials
- Spare Garage Door Opener (~$20)
- JST Connectors (~$9)
- Motorcycle Momentary Switch (~$8)
How to do It.
Step 1 – Program the New Remote
Program the new garage door opener to work with your garage door. This could be different for some people, but the ones I’ve seen just have a red or purple learn button on the motor unit.
If you have this type of opener, all you have to do is push that button on the motor unit, then press the open button on the new remote. If that doesn’t work for you, consult the instructions for your opener for pairing instructions.
Step 2 – Locate the Button Connection Points
Once the opener is working as it should, we now have to break it open to get access to the main circuit board. From there, you can use a paper clip (or any piece of metal) to short the soldered leads of the button to find out which two (2) activate your door.
The best way I have found to do this is by looking at the leads right under the main button. In the remotes I have messed with, there was usually four (4) possible points. I just start testing out pairs to see which one activated my garage door.
When you figure out which two leads activate your garage door, make a mark with a marker, or just make a mental note because we will be coming back to this in a later step.
Step 3 – Prepare Button and Connectors for Soldering
A quick note about the button you use. If you do not use the button I linked above. You need to make sure it is a momentary switch and not an On-Off switch. If you use an On-Off switch the garage door opener will not work correctly. It would be like holding the button down and never releasing it. The momentary switch only makes a connection while the button is being pressed. (the switch built into the garage remote is a momentary switch)
To get the wires read for soldering, all we need to do is cut off the connector that came with out button. Then strip the wires for the connectors and the button wires. We also want to cut our heat shrink tubing down to the correct size if you are using it. Electrical tape will also work.
Step 4 – Solder and Heat Shrink
Solder the male connector to the wires of the button. Make sure you have your heat shrink tubing on the wires before you actually solder the connections together. After the connection cools, slide the heat shrink tubing around the exposed wires and use heat to shrink the tubing around the connection.
For the opener, tin the wires of the female cables and solder them onto the two connection points we located in Step 2. Make sure you do not put to much solder onto the board to avoid shorts.
Step 5 – Testing
To test this modification, all you have to do is press the button (before connecting the new button) and make sure your door still opens and closes. Then connect the wires from the button, press the handlebar button, and see if your garage door responds. If it does then all we have to do is assemble it.
Drill out a small hole on the side of your remote’s casing to allow the wires to stick out the side. Tie a small not in the wires and tuck that knot inside the case. This will help prevent the wires from being pulled off the board.
Then when the remote is fully assembled, test all the functions again to make sure nothing got knocked loose in re-assembly.
Step 6 – Install onto the Motorcycle
This part is will be different for most people. But the basic of running the wires and hiding the remote are the same. The first thing you want to do is mount the button to your handlebars in a place you can reach it without taking your hand off the grip.
I found the best place is on the left side (clutch side) of the bars. This way I didn’t have to move my braking hand away to activate the button. Plus my left and is better at using controls on that side. Since the lights, blinkers, and horn are usually on that side.
I then followed the factory wiring and zip-tied the new button’s wires to those. I then fished the new wires into my headlight housing. I removed my headlight and tucked the remote into the housing and connected the wires. I then reinstalled my headlight. If you cannot put it into your headlight, find a place out of the way where it cannot get wet.
Once I had everything re-assembled, I tested all the motorcycle functions and the newly installed garage door opener. If everything stills works you are all done!
Conclusion
This mod is very simple to install and does not require you to modify the factory wiring. It is also simple to change out the remotes if you ever move and need to install a new remote. It will also save time by having the ability to control your garage door while you are on the motorcycle. You no longer have to get off the motorcycle to open the door or put in a code.
If you are curious what type of gear I use and maintain, you can check it out on my Bikes & Gear page.