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radar detector?

rogermansfield

beemerfield
Anybody have any recomendations on a radar detector?. I'm mounting a new fairing and might just wire one up at the same time. Last one I had was 25 yrs ago.
 
Anybody have any recomendations on a radar detector?. I'm mounting a new fairing and might just wire one up at the same time. Last one I had was 25 yrs ago.

The one and only: Valentine One. The ability of this device to inform you about multiple radar sources, evaluate their threat level, and tell you the source direction is amazing. In my personal experience it has saved me it's price many, many times over. http://www.valentineone.com/
 
Do you guys assume that every time your V-1 goes off you've been saved a ticket? Just curious.

I've had a V-1 for 10 years (or more, not sure when I first got one) and in that time there was ONE case where I know it saved me (and the riders that were following me) a ticket. There have been maybe 4-6 other times in that period where maybe it made a difference, maybe not. But the vast majority of the time it goes off it means there is a shopping center near by. :laugh

But I'm on a GS. Maybe it just doesn't go fast enough to get any attention from the highway patrol, anyway. :stick
Well, mostly no attention. I did get one ticket on the GS but he didn't need or use radar to nail me.

// marc
 
Hands down... Valentine 1. They really stand behind their product and the arrows pointing in the direction of the signal is really, really handy.
 
If I was gonna buy a new one today, two to look at are the Escort 9500ci and the Beltronics STi-R. They cost two to three times what the Valentine and older Escorts cost. They also do much more to keep you from being a laser target because the Valentine and Escort are essentially useless when it comes to laser. I've heard the Escort give a laser squawk a couple of times in the past 10 years. Never heard one from the Valentine.
 
Just curious; are radar detectors legal in all US states? Unfortunately they are illegal in all Canadian provinces, with a hefty fine and confiscation if you are caught with one.
 
Just curious; are radar detectors legal in all US states? Unfortunately they are illegal in all Canadian provinces, with a hefty fine and confiscation if you are caught with one.

Legal in all I know about...just frowned upon when you are talking to the local LEO standing next to it at times:brow

I remember the HUGE signs in Canada as we crossed in to Manitoba...
 
From radarbusters.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The use of a radar detector in a passenger vehicle is legal in all states with the exception of Virginia, Washington DC. and on military bases.

Radar detectors are illegal in all commercial vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds

In Canada, the only three provinces that allow their use are Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
 
detectors

The issue for me with these car / truck detectors is getting the signal into your helmet speakers. Wires are a hassle, and the wireless transmitter systems require batteries, which have a limited life.

I have tried the diode warning indicators, but am not sure that you see them every time the detector gets a signal.

I wonder if the new bike specific detector with wireless, is any good? Don't have the name* of it here at work.

P.S. * Found it; it's the Adaptiv.
 
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Just curious; are radar detectors legal in all US states? Unfortunately they are illegal in all Canadian provinces, with a hefty fine and confiscation if you are caught with one.

Not in Virginia. All other states they are legal as far as I know.
 
Do you guys assume that every time your V-1 goes off you've been saved a ticket? Just curious.

I've had a V-1 for 10 years (or more, not sure when I first got one) and in that time there was ONE case where I know it saved me (and the riders that were following me) a ticket. There have been maybe 4-6 other times in that period where maybe it made a difference, maybe not. But the vast majority of the time it goes off it means there is a shopping center near by. :laugh

But I'm on a GS. Maybe it just doesn't go fast enough to get any attention from the highway patrol, anyway. :stick
Well, mostly no attention. I did get one ticket on the GS but he didn't need or use radar to nail me.

// marc


The only times I count that I've been saved is when the V-1 warns me, I change my behavior, and then see a LEO who could/would have stopped me. I live in the west where there are a lot of open roads which allow me to ride my K1200RS in the manor for which it was designed. :evil In five years with the V-1 on that bike I've received only one ticket, ant that was from a police airplane. But, later that same day my V-1 saved me from two other tickets. :brow
 
I've been using an Escort 8500 for a few years. had to return to Escort out or warranty after about 3 eyars of use. $85 to make it all good, iincluding new software upgrades.
it has paid for itself many times over- in fact, one week long trip to the Wisc National and it had paid for itself x2, guaranteed.
i use the H.A.R.D in-helmet led display. wireless remote, small led light that goes off like gangbusters. tehn look at the unit to determine nature of the "threat". position it wherever you want within your helmet- a bit pricey, but a real nice system.
8500 doesn't do much for laser- it jsut tells you that you just earned a go-fast award, not much else. i think only a laser-deflector system like the K-40 can do anything with that.
 
radar detector

On a related matter, has anyone installed a laser jammer on their bike?

Some of the members of a car board that I belong to have reported that the Blinders are effective. They're pricey little devils though.

It seems that there's more and more laser useage by enforcement, all the time.
 
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I have three Escort 8500s - one for the truck, one for the car, and one on the bike.

Collectively they've saved me thousands in tickets and higher insurance rates. I can "see" speed traps miles in advance. My only vulnerability is when a cop cage/bike comes up from behind or law enforcement is using an aircraft to time vehicles through the trap.

I have no idea what the Valentine offers above and beyond the Escort. I'm perfectly satisfied with the performance of the Escorts, and see no reason to not recommend them to my fellow riders.
 
The issue for me with these car / truck detectors is getting the signal into your helmet speakers. Wires are a hassle, and the wireless transmitter systems require batteries, which have a limited life.

I have tried the diode warning indicators, but am not sure that you see them every time the detector gets a signal.

I wonder if the new bike specific detector with wireless, is any good? Don't have the name* of it here at work.

P.S. * Found it; it's the Adaptiv.

I have a co-worker who got his Adaptiv about six months ago. He had a devil of a time getting it to work on his Triumph Daytona. I'll have to ask if he's satisfied with the performance to date, but I do know he had to return the unit to the company for a replacement unit twice before he got one that worked.
 
Escort

...see no reason not to recommend [Escort]...OfficerImpersonator

I've had an Escort X50 for a number of years, and agree that it works very well. But I find that I need to know where the signal is coming from, so I can react accordingly.

For that reason, I think my next unit will be a Valentine.
 
I've had an Escort X50 for a number of years, and agree that it works very well. But I find that I need to know where the signal is coming from, so I can react accordingly.

For that reason, I think my next unit will be a Valentine.

I have no experience with - and thus nothing against - the Valentine unit. I'm just letting readers know that there are slightly less expensive alternatives to the Valentine that work perfectly well.

There seems to be a false consensus among riders that the Valentine is the only radar detector that works on a bike, and I don't think that's an accurate presumption - especially with the m/c specific Adaptiv now on the market.
 
I used my Beltronics ( Bel ) for many years with great success. Last summer I used it for the trip to Gillette and back. I did notice however it refused to pick up the Highway Patrol here in South Carolina. It covers X,K,Ka, and Lazer. I checked with a friend whose Son in Law is a State Trooper. Here's what I was told... South Carolina has a totaly new Radar system that you can't detect with currant Radar Detectors. I'd like to hear from others, that may know about this new System in S.C.
 
Escort v Valentine

...alternatives...that work perfectly well. OfficerImpersonator

Agreed. I had my Escort X50 on two RS's, and it worked just fine.

I'm not replacing mine, but since we have a few cars in the household, I'm thinking of getting a second detector, so there is less switching around.
 
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