Concealed radar/laser detector

[FJR919]

I've been looking into building a concealed radar/laser detector with laser scrambling and wonder if anyone's tried it. One big issue is the available space in the Gen II's front cowl for the radar receiver. If anyone has taken it apart is there room in there for a 3.75x3.15x1.75 module? Ideally it would sit above the headlight reflectors but the windshild motor system may interfere. The Passport SRX looks like a nice system, but the control head is not weather resistant like the motorcycle specific Whistler Cruisader. Any thoughts or experience would be appreciated.

 

[madmike2]

Yep....been done on a Canuckian bike that was at WFO in Park City. IIRC, it was placed over the left side above the outside of the top corner of the headlamp assembly.

 

[FJR919]

Yep....been done on a Canuckian bike that was at WFO in Park City. IIRC, it was placed over the left side above the outside of the top corner of the headlamp assembly.

I was hoping to put the radar receiver within the front cowl since plastic is transparent to radar. The laser receiver/scrambler would go under the cowl as that can't be concealed in order to see and scramble the laser light. Having a radar detector sitting out in the open would greatly increase your chances of getting a speeding ticket if you get pulled over I would think.

 

[flapsup]

Saw the Canadian guys' bike at SFO a couple years ago and it distresses me that I can't remember his name. He had cut a small hole in the fairing just above the left headlight so the laser receiver could see and mounted a bright LED on the handlebar or windshield.

 

[Badcat]

I crammed mine into the glove box. Close to power. I have the audio feed out to my Starcom unit. No laser detection in the box and the range is reduced but it works ok. I don't rely on it for ticket avoidance but more of an reminder.

 

[motochick]

Why do you guys have to conceal it?

I set something up on my SV1000 that I want to implement on the FJR via RamMount and velcro plate. Bright amber LED's alert me.

-jen

 

[SPORT]

Many states forbid the use of Radar detector/scramblers. So, if you live in a state, or plan to cross a state, that radar detectors are illegal, you too may consider concealing it.

 

[2WheelTiger]

....plus, there is probably a tendency for officers to write tickets (instead of warnings) to those using detectors.

"Dude, you were still speeding and you've got a detector? You must not have been paying attention!"

Just a guess. I'm not a LEO, but I slept in a Holiday Inn once.

 

[madmike2]

Saw the Canadian guys' bike at SFO a couple years ago and it distresses me that I can't remember his name. He had cut a small hole in the fairing just above the left headlight so the laser receiver could see and mounted a bright LED on the handlebar or windshield.

I just thought of who it was.....

Colin24 is the Canadian owner who concealed his detector. It is a very nice and clean job. IIRC, he has a plexiglass window in the front of the fairing.

Why do you guys have to conceal it?
I set something up on my SV1000 that I want to implement on the FJR via RamMount and velcro plate. Bright amber LED's alert me.

-jen

Yeah, Jen, we're fortunate the they are legal here. Mine is also "out in the open". If I lived in a state or territory where they were not...things would obviously be different. THAT is the reason behind the question posed here....

 

[motochick]

....plus, there is probably a tendency for officers to write tickets (instead of warnings) to those using detectors.
"Dude, you were still speeding and you've got a detector? You must not have been paying attention!"

Just a guess. I'm not a LEO, but I slept in a Holiday Inn once.

Not that I make a point of getting speeding tickets, but I had some bad luck a couple of years ago and got two within a short period of time (hey I had a red 1000cc rocket). Neither cop was CHP just local cops. Despite apologizing, winking and :kiss2: batting my eyelashes, they both seemed indifferent and one claimed that the LIDAR system gave him no option to change or remove the ticket. The information went straight to a central computer for processing. Don't know if that's the way of the future, all automated, but I needed protection from possible blips of the throttle to avoid danger.

Anyways with all the extra fairing room in the FJR, I like the idea of getting it out of visibility (also to avoid theft).

-jen

 

[FJR919]

....plus, there is probably a tendency for officers to write tickets (instead of warnings) to those using detectors.
"Dude, you were still speeding and you've got a detector? You must not have been paying attention!"

Just a guess. I'm not a LEO, but I slept in a Holiday Inn once.

Not that I make a point of getting speeding tickets, but I had some bad luck a couple of years ago and got two within a short period of time (hey I had a red 1000cc rocket). Neither cop was CHP just local cops. Despite apologizing, winking and :kiss2: batting my eyelashes, they both seemed indifferent and one claimed that the LIDAR system gave him no option to change or remove the ticket. The information went straight to a central computer for processing. Don't know if that's the way of the future, all automated, but I needed protection from possible blips of the throttle to avoid danger.

Anyways with all the extra fairing room in the FJR, I like the idea of getting it out of visibility (also to avoid theft).

-jen

The LIDAR is why I am considering the laser scrambler as part of this project. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a lot of space in a Gen II fairing (at least compared to a Gen I) and that's why I was hoping someone may have torn into the fairing area above the headlights to see if there is any room in there,

 

[HotRodZilla]

Just so you know; if your are buying and deploying a device on the hope it will actually "scramble" RADAR or LASER, you are in for a big surprise. Because of my previous position in my job, I was one of many that tested every "scrambler" we could get our hands on. NOT ONE of them worked. Most well equipped departments are using Kustom RADAR equipment and LTI LASER. The only departments using anything cheap that has a remote chance of being scrambled are the ones not getting traffic safety grants. Most departments get them and get good equipment to go with them. Use a detector and slow down when it goes off.

 

[v65]

Many states forbid the use of Radar detector/scramblers. So, if you live in a state, or plan to cross a state, that radar detectors are illegal, you too may consider concealing it.

That would be real fun to get pulled over with a concealed detector in one of those states: "Sir, you are going to have to remove that".

 

[ionbeam]

Many states forbid the use of Radar detector/scramblers. So, if you live in a state, or plan to cross a state, that radar detectors are illegal, you too may consider concealing it.

That would be real fun to get pulled over with a concealed detector in one of those states: "Sir, you are going to have to remove that".

I vaguely remember this topic being discussed at least once or twice before, I wonder what I would find if I did a search...

In the US radar detectors are only banned in the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia, Washington D.C. Assume that they are banned almost everyplace in Canada.

Out of sight is not out of mind. Police have and use radar detector - detectors (RDDs) and they work really, really well, some able to sense radar detectors more than a mile away. There are some combination of radar detectors and RDDs that have limited detection range and other combinations that would allow RDD readings close to 2 miles away but these are not the average situation.

Scramblers are illegal in several states.

IMO, the only reason to hide a detector is in case you get pulled over, at this time it would be - ahem, discrete to have the RD out of sight. Strategically placed coats and helmets make great invisibility cloaks.

 

[v65]

Many states forbid the use of Radar detector/scramblers. So, if you live in a state, or plan to cross a state, that radar detectors are illegal, you too may consider concealing it.

That would be real fun to get pulled over with a concealed detector in one of those states: "Sir, you are going to have to remove that".

I vaguely remember this topic being discussed at least once or twice before, I wonder what I would find if I did a search...

In the US radar detectors are only banned in the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia, Washington D.C. Assume that they are banned almost everyplace in Canada.

Out of sight is not out of mind. Police have and use radar detector - detectors (RDDs) and they work really, really well, some able to sense radar detectors more than a mile away. There are some combination of radar detectors and RDDs that have limited detection range and other combinations that would allow RDD readings close to 2 miles away but these are not the average situation.

Scramblers are illegal in several states.

IMO, the only reason to hide a detector is in case you get pulled over, at this time it would be - ahem, discrete to have the RD out of sight. Strategically placed coats and helmets make great invisibility cloaks.

I've heard that before, but when I cross the PA/NY border coming into NY there is a nice big sign that says radar detector use prohibited. My limited experience has been that it really doesn't matter what the law is, it's how the particular officer pulling you over interprets the law that will be important.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Many states forbid the use of Radar detector/scramblers. So, if you live in a state, or plan to cross a state, that radar detectors are illegal, you too may consider concealing it.

That would be real fun to get pulled over with a concealed detector in one of those states: "Sir, you are going to have to remove that".

Ion and SPORT are correct and I wish it ended as nicely as "Gee officer, I'll just turn it off and put it away." I got pulled for speeding in Virginia a number of years ago and happened to have a detector, which was/is legal in my home State of Maryland. I'd had it on in Maryland and this was just into Virginia on the DC beltway, where we cross State lines regularly. As I remember, it wasn't much of a speed bust, something like 62 in a 55.

To start, the detector was confiscated. The officer was hard-core and flat-out said that because of the detector, I had shown intention of violating the speed limit and he would give absolutely no leniency. On top of the speed citation, he cited me for violation of the law about running a detector in Virginia, and then walked around the car asking me to show him my lights worked, checking for mechanical violations. I've forgotten how much I ended up paying but it was substantial. THEN my insurance company got this off the all-knowing computer and I got hit with a stiff increase in premium. My agent said it was because it wasn't a minor speed citation, it was classified as a multiple citation stop.

Years later and working with a number of agencies, I can also vouch for Ion's comment that the police have the ability to detect radar detectors. The technology is out there and it works quite nicely whether the detector is hidden or not.

If you're in a State where you can use the detector, there is room in the fairing, just not where has been discussed. Look at the top leading edge of the side fairing, where the turn signal is. The down-sides are that it will need a remote control and higher is always better for long range. But it will be hidden, close enough to the headlight that the LEO is aiming the laser at, and a small cut-out will be inconspicuous especially if covered with a lightly smoked plastic window.

 

[Bike Effects]

Since I don't carry a passenger, I use a rear seat bag that has pouches on either side. My Escort is in the left side pouch. It is out of view but still works fine. If it rains, I have a rain cover for the bag.

 

[SkooterG]

Oy vay!!!

Yes, some LEOs might ticket if they see a RD, but most won't. And yes, there is an excellent chance they will know you have it anyways.

I have mine wide out in the open. On those unfortunate instances when I get stopped, I put my gloves over it. It's never been an issue. Especially since I have never ridden in Virginia or D.C..

 

[FJRocket]

I took the cover off of my passport, put it in a heavy zip lock bag, folded it, taped it, and velcroed it under the headlights in my '06. I'm a firm believer that LIDAR gives a ton of false replies and the real ones just let you know that you ARE getting a citation, so I don't care that my Passport can't "see". But it "hears" radar just fine.

I have the 8500 plumbed into a HARD unit in my helmet. It's quite stealthy. Except for at night when that red light flickering inside my face shield probably tips off the LEOs. Bet that looks kinda cool from the LEO/observer view point.

Anyway, had my unit between my headlights and that flat area of tupperware for a couple years now. It works VERY well. The only problem I have it that I have to take the seat off to turn it off, if I go to one of those states or provinces that don't allow them.

Even though there is a good chance that LEOs know you are using it, out of sight, out of mind is a good thing. I don't have to unplug the ******* and take it on and off the bike all the time. It's worth the effort to hide it for this reason alone!