help selecting best motorcycle radar detector

[CJRIDE]

I want to buy a friend a radar detector for their birthday. It should be a reasonable good device but I don't want to spend a fortune on it. I called this site boyradardectors.com but the person I spoke to seemed like they could sell off the web site but when know specifics was not much help. They had a page on which they listed detectors for motorcycles but the difference it prices made me wonder if the less expensive ones were any good.

some were cordless but I figured it's easy enough to take one off the mount. What I didn't understand is how they could recommend one that wasn't vibration or waterproof. One other interesting thing is that when compared them to the Adaptiv, it looked like they had more features

Adaptiv TPX Motorcycle Laser / Radar Detection System for $299

Whistler XTR-445 Cordless Radar Detector $99

Whistler Pro 78 SE Radar Detector $169

anyone who had some experience or suggestions I welcome your reply

 

[moot]

You might as well have started an oil thread. There are almost as many opinions on radar detectors as on oil. However, of the units you mentioned, I would trend toward the Adaptive unit. That being said I would not bother with any of those you mentioned since in my opinion the best out there is the Valentine 1 by far. Most LEOs are now using Ka band and the Adaptive Unit sensitivity to Ka is way less than Valentine.

I run a V1 with an LED alert from Marc Parnes (www.marcparnes.com). The lights are VERY bright and will get your attention. (see the image)

Also take a look at the Legal Speeding website (www.legalspeeding.com) Among other things they sell a water proof box for the Valentine. I bought one but do not use it. If the rain is hard enough to get the V1 wet, I use a sandwich bag over it (or just take it off and store it during a hard rain)

Unfortunately with the V1 and the LED lights and the water proof box, you will be up around $600.

 

[tommcgee]

Valentine V1 drove me absolutely buggy with the false alerts. The thing never shuts up unless you're in a very rural area. It's yesterday's tech.

Escort 9500ix is my top choice, along with the smart cord.

 

[lkchris]

I recommend the battery-powered Escort, the Solo. Transfers between bike and car REALLY easily. No tangle of wires.

You for sure want one with an earphone jack ... then you can connect a Senna SR10 and Bluetooth the warning to your helmet wirelessly.

 

[amiles]

Why worry about a waterproof container?

Do you find it wise to exceed the speed limit in the rain?

Store it in a protected place til the sun comes out.

 

[roborider]

Soon you'll hear the best RD is obeying the speed limit, and, your eyes.

I use a Bell that shows voltage on the display during idle times that I like. It might not be the most sensitive but it has worked for me many times. My buddy has a Valentine, can't say he gets more notice than I do when we ride together.

Mine is a Beltronix RX 65. Probably don't make then anymore, but I like it.

 

[Darryl Cainey]

Just a reminder.

When you find a good radar detector, if you plan to come to Canada.

Leave it at home, they are illegal in Canada!

There is a very heavy fine and they confiscate it even if it's not plugged in.

They have radar detector detectors!

 

[hexkopf]

Just a reminder.

When you find a good radar detector, if you plan to come to Canada.

Leave it at home, they are illegal in Canada!

There is a very heavy fine and they confiscate it even if it's not plugged in.

They have radar detector detectors!

Virginia too.

 

[dwestly]

I've had the Adaptix with the LED visual alert mounted up on my last several bikes. Works well, waterproof (never had leakage and I've ridden in at least a few pouring rainstorms for several hours at a time), has saved my bacon a few times. Tip: Make sure the LED alert is mounted somewhere in or very near the center of your line of sight.

 

[tommcgee]

Mine is a Beltronix RX 65. Probably don't make then anymore, but I like it.

Beltronics seems to be part of Escort these days. My Escort also displays battery voltage, but I have it tucked in the tank bag and can't see the display.

 

[PittsDriver]

Tests seem to show that the best detectors are undetectable by the detector-detectors in use by LEOs. There are tests on the web you can reference for this data.

I live in Maryland and ride often in the District and Virginia so I haven't bought any counter-measures yet but I probably will. I'll just get the most covert option available - probably with the laser shifters front and rear. It's all a game and these games like in war, it's usually the guys that spend the most that win. A full covert radar/laser/jammer system pushes $2,000 installed. That pays for a lot of tickets and insurance premiums and even an attorney from time to time. So you have to put some value on the game of beating The Man.

 

[akbeemer]

LEOs that ride say they do not work much anymore given the latest detector tech. I have no first hand knowledge one way or another, but I have faith in the LEO riders I know. Many will attest to their detector saving them I'm sure, and I'm certain they believe it. I, however, choose to believe the LEOs. Last ticket I got was in 1984.... I was following a friend with a radar detector.

 

[kbasa]

Valentine V1 drove me absolutely buggy with the false alerts. The thing never shuts up unless you're in a very rural area. It's yesterday's tech.

Escort 9500ix is my top choice, along with the smart cord.

You should it back for a software update. It's free.

V1 is my device of choice and it's served me well.

 

[Olsensan]

I have the Escort 9500ix and the smart cord. I really love this thing and it learns to shut up by storing locations where these goofy "you are going this fast" things are on the highways. I also swap it to my truck and other bike. Seriously look into this unit and the data base is updated weekly as to locations of speed traps, cameras and even roving LEO's are. The Valentine also seems to provide great satisfaction to many users here but I think the Escort offers much more. Your choice.

One good thing about using these, which I value is being notified and literally shaken aware of construction zones which no matter what, I will slow down for, for the workers safety. If you choose to exceed the speed limit, do it safely and have fun. I have to say this but on the open highway, 55 mph seems to be maddeningly slow, I am so bored and my brain wants to melt from the slowness of the ride. Great for those who are slow of mind or 95+ yo but I just can't/won't do that.

 

[tommcgee]

You should it back for a software update. It's free.

What!? No downloading firmware? The V1 is long gone, Dave. As a military radar guy going back to the 60's, I ran them side by side in the cage for 6 months. No contest. V1 is old tech. No GPS, no database of speed cams, red light cams, known speed trap locations, the ability to mark your own locations, and the ability to be networked with other Escort smartcord users. When their detector goes off, so does yours and it tells you how far away in feet and what band the threat is on. If you see a cop on the side of the road with lidar, you press the button on the cord and your alert also goes out to the cloud. The smartcord needs a bluetooth connection to an android or apple phone.

 

[mpmarty]

Just a reminder.

When you find a good radar detector, if you plan to come to Canada.

Leave it at home, they are illegal in Canada!

There is a very heavy fine and they confiscate it even if it's not plugged in.

They have radar detector detectors!

That's why I keep my radar detector and pistol in the United States where I'm given some freedoms still. I keep my dollars here too and refuse to buy anything made or imported from our friendly neighbors to the north.

 

[widebmw]

That's why I keep my radar detector and pistol in the United States where I'm given some freedoms still. I keep my dollars here too and refuse to buy anything made or imported from our friendly neighbors to the north.

Canada reigns as the United States' leading oil supplier, exporting some 707,316,000 barrels of oil per year (1,938,000 barrels per day) ÔÇö a whopping 99 percent of its annual oil exports, according to the EIA

 

[RoadRdr]

I have an Escort 8500 that was hardwired through the Autocom on my ST1100 and has served me well but it is time for the new 9500ix. I really don't rely on the radar detector for speeding as much as an audible reminder when I'm entering a town. The false alarms always remind me to check my speed. Some areas have easy to miss low speed limits when you aren't familiar with an area. I like to believe I'm reasonable at matching my speed for the surroundings but sometimes an extra reminder doesn't hurt.

I have the 8500 in the car but it is unplugged and under the seat. I have discovered that the laser detection is virtually useless. If my laser detector goes off it just means pull over if I had been exceeding the limit (more than 9). My braking skills are not faster than the speed of light.

I am most intrigued by the 9500ix warning of the red light cameras. I don't run stop lights. Anyone on a motorcycle who does is foolish. But the camera installation companies usually get a piece of the pie for the fines they generate. It is fairly well documented that they reduce the yellow light time. A experienced motorist who has become accustomed to timing the yellow lights is now fair game. This abuse of revenue generation is now causing more crashes at intersections since drivers are abruptly stopping which catches the driver behind them off guard.

 

[akbeemer]

That's why I keep my radar detector and pistol in the United States where I'm given some freedoms still. I keep my dollars here too and refuse to buy anything made or imported from our friendly neighbors to the north.

For Heaven's sake, let's not PO the Canadians. They have some of the most fantastic motorcycling country there is. And pleasent border agents too. See you in Nakusp next week.

 

[CJRIDE]

radar detector selection

thanks for all the comments and please keep them coming. the detector is not for me but a friend who like speed. i got a ticket while riding with them in ohio for 88mph. we were detected from the air and they had the leos up ahead waiting for us.

for my part i try to stay withing 9 mph of the speed limit but there are times i want to fly and my bike doesn't even stain.