Radar detector

It wasn't my fault, Mr. Trooper. A bird hit my arm. Really.

Too many tickets, and need info on a radar detector that works.

I'll be following this thread. I have the ubiquitous Escort 8500 x50, which works ok, but it's getting long in tooth. What's the latest and greatest?

BayouTK said:

It wasn't my fault, Mr. Trooper. A bird hit my arm. Really.Too many tickets, and need info on a radar detector that works.

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Escort 9500 ix is pricey, but worth it. Can't count how many times this thing has "saved" me.

I'll be following also because slowing down just doesn't seem right.

A radar detector alone isn't going to make you ticket proof. You need to be aware of your surroundings (as you should anyway) and look for changes in traffic patterns. Don't be afraid to check you rear view mirrors. LIDAR speed enforcement normally requires a very obvious group of cars and the shooter, easy to spot except in Maine. In Maine the police stand on an overpass bridge and shoots your rear license plate as you emerge from under the bridge. If the speed enforcement officer operates his equipment the way he should you are getting a ticket and your radar detector is going to be useless. Usually I'm aware of the officer before my radar detector alerts me.

Let me get this out of the way right now. Get a Valentine detector it has [angel harps] ARROWS [/angel harps] no other detector can possible be good without arrows

Or get an Escort Redline. These are the two best going right now. Both the Valentine and the Redline can be had with options that make them even better. FWIW, I am running a Redline and I find that its performance is not stunningly better than the X50. I do like my Redline and use it in both my car and on my FJR. I would recommend the Redline but it comes at a serious cost.

On a motorcycle you have an advantage in that the low reflectance of the bike reduces the radar gun's effective distance significantly. The police tend to hit the radar trigger at car distances but the motorcycle won't return a strong signal (roughly 50% difference judging from speed signs). Your radar detector will go off and give you sufficient time to 'check your speed'.

Some companies like Adaptive Technology make motorcycle specific radar detectors but they don't have the same capability as the Valentine and Redline (with a nod to the later generation TPX 2.0 that is improved). If you are spending $$$ to improve your chances of NOT getting a ticket, why would you buy a detector that doesn't offer maximum capability?

As Ray mentions, there is always the very inexpensive and diabolically clever way to evade tickets by obeying the speed limit.

Edit to add: I wouldn't be surprised if this topic hasn't come up before in the last 10 years. I suspect that typing RADAR in the search box would bring up more than one thread that would have lots of information all ready and waiting for someone to read.

Festar has an https://www.adaptivtechnologies.com/gear/tpx-radar-detector which saved us from "Performance Awards" over the past three weeks innumerable times.

I don't know about Valentine, used to run a Passport eons ago, but i'm going to get me one of these Adaptive units which are waterproof and made for bikes.

One thing i did notice, I could hear his audible alert through his intercom headset, was that many many cars have crappy detectors that give multiple false alarms.

PROPAGANDA:

Now Bluetooth compatible with purchase of TPX™ Bluetooth Transmitter. Tested and verified to be compatible with Cardo Scala Rider, Chatterbox, Interphone, J&M, Schuberth, and Sena systems.

Thanks to a complete electronics overhaul, the TPX™ Version 2.0 now has blistering performance! Independent tests prove that the TPX™ 2.0 now ranks among the top performing detectors on the market. Along with this leap in performance, Version 2.0 also includes better false-alert-reduction logic, additional band lockout modes, and a more robust and versatile cable connection.

With the TPX™ System, there’s no more trying to make automotive radar detectors work with your bike. No more missed alerts. No more hours of wiring jobs. No more fear of rain. No more fear of theft. No more microscopic buttons. No more money, energy, sanity and precious riding hours wasted trying to make automotive radar detectors work with your bike. The all new TPX™ Radar and Laser Detection System 2.0 has all the features you need with proven, top-notch performance.

Radar Roy's website gives good reviews on radar detectors and jammers. He is a rider and also tests motorcycle radar detectors.

G.

My X50 alerts to all the stupid speed monitors along most major sections of highway here in Ohio that let the news channels know where the traffic back-ups are. It makes it almost useless around major cities, unless I'm missing a way to negate those alerts.

As bigjohn's PROPAGANDA points out, falsing is a big deal and something and is a prime feature to check on each detector being considered.

My Red Line will let me block specific signals and the newer Redline has a GPS feature that will let you block falsing in specific locations.

One more comment re: Passport 9500ix and their newest model the Passport Max is that these models have a GPS receiver that greatly reduces false alerts, along routes that you ride 3 times or more. It does this by "remembering" the exact signal and the location. If the same signal is at the same location three times the receiver determines it's not a "threat", but is instead a garage door opener, or a motion detector, etc. The GPS receiver in these units is NOT for navigation.

IMHO, any higher end detector will do the job. More importantly is that you must have a way to know immediately when it goes off. That requires some sort of communications system or a remote light that is placed in your line of sight. Some of the lower priced detectors do not have an audio output jack, and that jack is needed for either the audio or light, so that is the minimum requirement.

I use an Escort X50 on my bike, and a Beltronics Vector something or other in my car. They both work fine. Neither is waterproof, so I keep the one on the bike protected from the rain. They save me several times a week.

I've got the best of three worlds. An Escort Redline, that thing will detect a gun 8 miles out in a straight line. It'll detect a gun through a mountain as you're coming around the bend. I attached a marcparnes led light to the audio out jack and have it bolted to the top of the windshield. It will slap you in the face in broad daylight. Then, I have the ticket defense team on speed dial. I lost count on how many tickets I've gotten over the years and have called them every time. My record is clean as a whistle and that rates $129 per year motorcycle insurance for this bike in Florida. YMMV.

Phil - turn off the x-band - should take care of those signals you're talking about. 0Face schooled me on that at the Ramble.

on-topic content - I run an Escort 8500 x50. Mine lives exclusively on the FJR; it's a hard life. It has served me well - helping some, and other times not so much.

PhilJet09 said:

My X50 alerts to all the stupid speed monitors along most major sections of highway here in Ohio that let the news channels know where the traffic back-ups are. It makes it almost useless around major cities, unless I'm missing a way to negate those alerts.

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majicmaker said:

I've got the best of three worlds. An Escort Redline, that thing will detect a gun 8 miles out in a straight line. It'll detect a gun through a mountain as you're coming around the bend. I attached a marcparnes led light to the audio out jack and have it bolted to the top of the windshield. It will slap you in the face in broad daylight. Then, I have the ticket defense team on speed dial. I lost count on how many tickets I've gotten over the years and have called them every time. My record is clean as a whistle and that rates $129 per year motorcycle insurance for this bike in Florida. YMMV.

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What is this ticket defense team you speak of?

Veil Guy has a blog currently reviewing the V1 which is quite informative. If you plan using your Rd in a jurisdiction where they are illegal then you should go Redline. If not ... I'd probably go V1.

Of course you can't rely on them to protect you from laser but that's another story

gung-ho rookie bears [ and especially she bears] around here use instant on..in which case all rd's are useless.. your only chance is that someone is ahead of you...Most phuzz are too lazy to use instant on tho and my X50 has saved my arse many times..can't beat it for the price..I can easily hear the alert and carry a ziplock bag for rain..

lnewlf said:

gung-ho rookie bears [ and especially she bears] around here use instant on..in which case all rd's are useless....Most phuzz are too lazy to use instant on tho and my X50 has saved my arse many times..can't beat it for the price..I can easily hear the alert and carry a ziplock bag for rain..

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Earlier in this thread it was mentioned:

If the speed enforcement officer operates his equipment the way he should you are getting a ticket and your radar detector is going to be useless.

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PhilJet09 said:

majicmaker said:

I've got the best of three worlds. An Escort Redline, that thing will detect a gun 8 miles out in a straight line. It'll detect a gun through a mountain as you're coming around the bend. I attached a marcparnes led light to the audio out jack and have it bolted to the top of the windshield. It will slap you in the face in broad daylight. Then, I have the ticket defense team on speed dial. I lost count on how many tickets I've gotten over the years and have called them every time. My record is clean as a whistle and that rates $129 per year motorcycle insurance for this bike in Florida. YMMV.

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What is this ticket defense team you speak of?

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That's their nickname. It's actually The Ticket Clinic. 1-800-CITATION. www.theticketclinic.com. It's a nation wide law firm. Getting people out of a ticket is what they do. They know all the legal tricks that are available to get it dismissed. You pay $70 and they take it from there. They will delay and delay and delay some more until the cop that gave you the ticket doesn't show up. (That's just one of the tricks, they have many more). That's when they come in and the judge has to dismiss it. You don't really save any money because the judge usually makes the court cost the exact amount of the initial fine. What you do get is a sparkling clean driving record with no points on it ever. They guarantee no points.
My Redline has more than paid for itself since I got it and The Ticket Clinic has taken care of the instant on stuff that will bite you every once in a while. Now,... Having said all of that, Don't Speed!! It's against the law and a very, very bad thing to do!

Just bought a new V1 for the KTM. The new models have two new trick features. First they have an adapter that plugs into a standard OBD port, powers the unit, and allows you to mute alarms below a set speed limit. For example, set to 35mph and the unit won't make noise until you exceed that speed, super useful for riding in the city. I love this for my car, since I have only one 12v outlet free.

Second feature is a bluetooth module that lets you use an iOS or Android device to view the radar alerts, and better, select specific bands to scan. Turn off xband and scan a narrow range of kband for example, useful for local trips.

Personally love the display of the V1, since one quick glance tells me where and how many signals.