Radar Detectors, Anyone?

[Greg]

I had a couple of conversations with law enforcement over the past year. The kind of conversation wher the officer is standing beside my car asking me if I knew how fast I was going..... So I got a radar detector for the car and it has saved me from repeating that conversation several times over the past couple of months. With my FJR arriving 'any day now' I am thinking about how to add a radar detector to it. (My first Farckle?)

I read on another site about someone who mounted a Valentine radar detector inside the top of his tank bag. Claimed that it coud detect radar through the fabric. Has anyone tried this? Does it work?

Anyone recommend other radar detectors besides the $$$$ Valentine?

I guess the requirement is for a jack to plug into an earphone.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[Rogue]

I've got this one Cobra 9700 I get a lot of X-Band false alerts but other than that I like it.

I have it mounted on one of these

on my left bar.

 

[bigdolma]

Valentine 1 is the ONLY way to go..saved me many times...

If you get the Super Radar Detector 8000 from the Home Depot, a polaroid picture of the cop comees out of it with a spark on his grin!

Spend the cash and the V1.

BigD

 

[Bounce]

V1 mounted on the ECM Dash from FJR Goodies (https://www.fjrgoodies.com) here.

 

[dougc]

V1 mounted on an FJRGoodies shelf here as well. Many would recommend other models but I find the directional arrow and bogey counter to be invaluable.

 

[Stu64]

Passport 8500 X50 here,works great,tested to have the best range even over Valentine.

 

[dougc]

True enough, but is it coming from behind you, to the front, or the side?

 

[slapnpop]

And what about us guys with bushnell Kband civilian radar guns mounted under the nose fairing with a remote trigger?

h34r: h34r: h34r: h34r: h34r:

 

[Bike Effects]

I have used my V1 on my hard saddlebag, and in the side pouch of my RKA rear seat bag as shown in this photo. It works great in both places. I have both the Valentine audio adapter and the remote display. It has all paid for itself several times over.

 

[Overfly]

Valentine 1 on the FJR Goodies ECM shelf. V1 is the only way to go, super sensitive, direction indicator (very important) and a counter (how many).

 

[HIGHLANDER]

I just returned from a 10 road trip in the Southwest. My riding partner has the latest Passport, but my V1 kicked off 200 / 300 yards before his Passport lit up. Didn't really want to break the news to him that his latest farkle was slow, but time and time again the V1 went off before his brake lights lit up.

I agree the V1 works in the tank bag,I run mine in the map pocket with no problems, if it can detect laser through the plastic windshield, then it should work fine through the plastic map pocket.

Here's my setup with the remotes atop the reservoirs.

 

[comleader]

One point of note regarding laser detection - laser is a beam, radar is a wave. Both work on reflected time differential. The only hope you have of detecting laser is the residual refelction after the laser has hit some other driver. If it hits you, IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE! Laser is typically pointed at highly relective surfaces (like a license plate) and must be operated from a fixed position (because it is a beam of light). Radar, on the other hand, is a wave front that diverges very quickly once turned on (even pulse radar). This gives great visibility at very long distances due to the large width of the wave as it disperses and allows many drivers to react in time. Radar does not come from the side, that is typically some other microwave device (door openers, etc.) It must come from the front or rear of a moving vehicle in order to calculate the time differential. I won't even go into Lidar, because it is in limited use and the agents of social control have had so much succes generating income from the less sophisticated forms of detection.

 

[ionbeam]

This year I actually got 2 real laser warnings from scattered laser! Shocked the shi.. uhh, stuff out of me! Both times were in the rain. Rain is good sometimes :blink: Other than that all the laser alert does is give you a chance to start locating your driver's license and registration for the inevitable.

 

[SkooterG]

One point of note regarding laser detection - laser is a beam, radar is a wave.  Both work on reflected time differential.

Not quite true. Radar (as in law enforcement speed measuring radar) works using the doppler shift principal (Think train whistle). Otherwise, good info.

Passport 8500X50 is the ONLY wat to go!!!!!

Doncha just love statements like those? Passport and V1 are both great detectors and you can't lose with with either. Passport is cheaper, V1 has more frills. Those with a V1 will claim they can't live without those frills, but I have been doing just fine for years without them.

Here's my passport mounted with a RAM ball and power plate:

Greg

 

[Geezer]

I understand that many people have their favorite detector and I appreciate that.

Do you all depend on the display lights to get your attention?

Do you turn the volume up so you can hear it directly or do you use a headset or earphone?

 

[radman]

I ran Escorts for years, from the very first to the last just before Valentine fired up. Gave up on them for two reasons. One was false hits, the other was that false sense of security that had evolved, to the point where I would pass a cop sitting on the side of the road while not paying any attention due to the detector not having gone off. Once I did that going the double nickel (and getting away with it for Christs sake), I sold my latest version and have gone without. Amazingly enough, I got more tickets with (2), than without... B)

 

[Mr Bill]

8500 supervelcro'd to the front brake reservoir and wired to a screamer (I can't find the link - guy that makes it in the town next to me must be outsourcing sales- its in the Riderwearhouse Store). Has saved me many times and told me I was busted!

Laser and instant on have to rely on seeing you so you should be able to see them too. This does not work to our advantage at night.

I thought traffic cops melted in the rain so I put my detector away. I really don't speed in the rain anyhow, especially after my hydroplane experience on I-81 in Scranton

 

[ionbeam]

Do you all depend on the display lights to get your attention?

I have the remote for my 8500 mounted up high where I can see the light. With my windshield down I can reliably hear the detector up to 35 mph, it has an obnoxious noise setting which helps a lot. With the windshield up (a ahamaY) I can reliably hear the detector up to 50 mph.

Do you turn the volume up so you can hear it directly or do you use a headset or earphone?

Putting around town and commuting I just use the light and the obnoxious noise setting. Guess I am getting old, even though I almost never travel the speed limit I am usually close enough to just prevent a ticket. On Boy's Day Out I either patch the headset or go with an earphone. On BDO a verbal warning is not an option, a written warning is highly unlikely, a ticket would be unusual, where is my bail card is most probable.

 

[Ghost_Rider]

I used the Passport 8500X50 with the LED block on top of it like Highlander has (in pic above) for a 9 day trip. Overall it was OK, but nothing compaired to my V1 with the HARD system.

The V1 seams to get better range, and gives me WAY more input as to what, where, and how many signals I'm getting so I know if I should be worried or not. The LED block is ok most of the time, but if your not looking forward (checking out the sights, looking at maps, ect.) , have direct sun in your face or from behind you, or its just plain bright out, you can either be late on seeing the alert, or not see it at all. And sometimes just that 1/2 second can make all the difference.

The HARD puts a small LED light in your helmet and there is no missing when your radar is going off. Its very adjustable and can be used during the day or at night.

IMO after using the Passport 8500X50 and LED block, I think the V1 and HARD system is the best you can get, and it works amazingly. I picked up a KA from over 6.5 miles away in AZ. I've seen laser from almost a mile away, and out of the over legit 30 radar hits and one lazer I had last week (3400 miles in 5.5 days) I didnt get pulled over once.

As for Laser there are a few things I've learned. One is, its hard for cops to get a good lazer signal on a bike. They either shoot for your headlight, or your helmet. While they do have sights on the gun, it can still take a bit before they get a good "lock" on you. If you see the hit, you have a second or more to scrub speed before they get a good lock, so yes, detectors DO HELP AGENST LASER! Also, as I stated before, I've picked up laser hits from over a mile away. Even though its not as easy to detect as radar, I do get plenty of warning most of the time before the leo targets me.

I knew getting a radar was a good thing, but until this last trip, I had NO IDEA what I was missing out on. And again, IMO the V1 is FAR FAR better then any of the other detectors mainly becuse of the rear detection (yes this saved me once) and all the indecators (shows where the signal is coming from and how many).

Oh, and I found a brake cover with RAM ball on it and use a 1" arm with magnet mount. It works great!

No mater what one you get... just get one. It will pay for itself very quickly.