flatlandor
Active member
Ok, so I wanted a radar detector for my new FJR but I also have several cop friends and know that if they pull you over and see you have a detector, there's not much doubt you're gettin' a ticket instead of a warning. So... stealth is the key.
So I bought an Escort Smart Detector. I mounted the receiver unit under the cowling. See here: (ignore the bugs)
Here's a shot further away. It's virtually invisible.
Then, I mounted the control unit on the left side handlebar. It is VERY small. I figure if I get pulled over I will just turn the handlebars to the left. Standing where a cop would stand on the left side, it would never be noticed. I plan to remove the "passport" writing on it, just haven't yet. I may take it off completely as I found out later that you don't even have to use it if you establish a bluetooth connection with your iPhone, but more about that in a minute. Here's a shot of the unit installed on the handlebar and my Ram iPhone holder. The Escort Live bluetooth app is running on the iPhone and the Smart Radar control piece is on the left on the handlebar.
For those interested, here's how I mounted my iPhone. I got a RAM 1" ball with a threaded post on it and then drilled and tapped my MV handlebar riser. Works like a charm:
Now, to make all this come together quite wonderfully, I have a uClear bluetooth headset installed in my helmet. It can stream music, take phone calls, and intercom with the wifey on the back. With the Escort live app running, I can still do all that but when an alert happens, it cuts out the music or the phone call and gives me the alert. This way, I can plug in the iPhone, pull up the Escort app and then I don't have to jack with it at all while riding and can stay focused on the road.
The readout on the iPhone tells me, using GPS, what the speed limit at the time and my current speed. It even has music control if you want to use it. (My uClear can move forward and back through a playlist and I can do that without having to look away from the road, so I do it that was instead of using the iPhone)
Here's a close-up of the iPhone app:
In terms of radar detection accuracy, it seems pretty good. I have a Valentine 1 in my car and I notice with this unit set on "Auto" I'm getting fewer false alarms with this unit than my Valentine 1. May just be the settings. I went to all the places that I know cops sit and found one and the detector went off in plenty of time.
So all in all, the system works pretty good. It's almost completely invisible. Using the iPhone with it, I don't even need the little control piece on the handlebar so I may take it off. I'm going to live with it for awhile though and see how it goes.
Now, the one HUGE downside... It ain't waterproof. So I'm going to have to really avoid the rain, which is something I normally do anyway.
By the way, I got it on Amazon. Was cheaper than direct from the Escort web site. Here's the URL:
https://www.amazon.com/Escort-0100014-1-SmartRadar-iPhone-Version/dp/B008LXRA7E/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373421620&sr=1-18
So I bought an Escort Smart Detector. I mounted the receiver unit under the cowling. See here: (ignore the bugs)
Here's a shot further away. It's virtually invisible.
Then, I mounted the control unit on the left side handlebar. It is VERY small. I figure if I get pulled over I will just turn the handlebars to the left. Standing where a cop would stand on the left side, it would never be noticed. I plan to remove the "passport" writing on it, just haven't yet. I may take it off completely as I found out later that you don't even have to use it if you establish a bluetooth connection with your iPhone, but more about that in a minute. Here's a shot of the unit installed on the handlebar and my Ram iPhone holder. The Escort Live bluetooth app is running on the iPhone and the Smart Radar control piece is on the left on the handlebar.
For those interested, here's how I mounted my iPhone. I got a RAM 1" ball with a threaded post on it and then drilled and tapped my MV handlebar riser. Works like a charm:
Now, to make all this come together quite wonderfully, I have a uClear bluetooth headset installed in my helmet. It can stream music, take phone calls, and intercom with the wifey on the back. With the Escort live app running, I can still do all that but when an alert happens, it cuts out the music or the phone call and gives me the alert. This way, I can plug in the iPhone, pull up the Escort app and then I don't have to jack with it at all while riding and can stay focused on the road.
The readout on the iPhone tells me, using GPS, what the speed limit at the time and my current speed. It even has music control if you want to use it. (My uClear can move forward and back through a playlist and I can do that without having to look away from the road, so I do it that was instead of using the iPhone)
Here's a close-up of the iPhone app:
In terms of radar detection accuracy, it seems pretty good. I have a Valentine 1 in my car and I notice with this unit set on "Auto" I'm getting fewer false alarms with this unit than my Valentine 1. May just be the settings. I went to all the places that I know cops sit and found one and the detector went off in plenty of time.
So all in all, the system works pretty good. It's almost completely invisible. Using the iPhone with it, I don't even need the little control piece on the handlebar so I may take it off. I'm going to live with it for awhile though and see how it goes.
Now, the one HUGE downside... It ain't waterproof. So I'm going to have to really avoid the rain, which is something I normally do anyway.
By the way, I got it on Amazon. Was cheaper than direct from the Escort web site. Here's the URL:
https://www.amazon.com/Escort-0100014-1-SmartRadar-iPhone-Version/dp/B008LXRA7E/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373421620&sr=1-18
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