Radar detector options

[bavareze]

I'm thinking about installing a radar detector on my 2005 BMW R1200RT.  I figured I should install it out of sight, in the left fairing, just above the aux power outlet.  Ideally I would find a machine that has a remote indicator that can be discreetly positioned right above my instrument panel.

 

Would that work?  What model detectors work well and do they come equipped with remote indicator?

 

Never had one of those before, but I think I want to try it.

 

[Red]

I used to have a radar detector back in the day.  I sold it with my 96RT.  It saved my arse many times.  Since then motorist speed detection technology has improved. 

Most state police on hi ways and free ways are using LIDAR.  It's laser, not radar.  Lasers don't cast a wide signal, it's a beam.  So, no device can detect it's use as its energy is not wafting about to be detected by nearby motorists. 

As far as I can tell the only defense against LIDAR is a jammer.  Even then there is a protocol you have to follow in rapid order after you get a signal.  Get it wrong or too slow and you could be pulled over and inspected for a jamming devise.  I think most cities still use radar.  So, if you want some protection in towns, radar may still be of some value.  Out on the highway, you need jammer.  IMO  I'm sure others with more tech background can elaborate and elucidate better than I.

[MikeB60]

My experience with laser is not the same as @Red  especially in the southeast. I run a Valentine 1 on the bikes and a Escort 360 in the four wheel vehicles. I travel quite a bit for work as well and tend to drive whenever possible. I can't remember the last time I had a laser alert. They have to be stationary to use laser and Waze is a decent countermeasure against a stationary police vehicle. On the bike I use Valentines V1 connection app and get alerts on my phone which is connected via Bluetooth to my Sena.  

[9Mary7]

You will usually only find LIDAR use in larger metro areas. All I've been seeing on the open roads is stationary Radar....YMMV

[Skywagon]

@9Mary7  I'm sure it has been a few decades since you stopped someone for speeding....but if you did and saw a radar detector....would you cut them any slack or give them a ticket for exactly what they were doing?  Some dude on a BMW goes flying by in triple digits in an 80mph zone....yep we have those up to 85mph on certain freeways and toll roads.  Triple digits in Texas usually gets you a night or weekend in the cross bar motel.

 

My local pd runs a lot of stationary radar on residential streets.  Speed limit is 25mph in almost the entire city.  I got to talk to the Chief at an open house one day.  I asked him the question.  His response.  We cut people some slack and sometimes don't ticket at all if the person just slipped up, but if we see a radar detector running....they get what they get because they planned to break the laws.

[Red]

6 hours ago, 9Mary7 said:

You will usually only find LIDAR use in larger metro areas. All I've been seeing on the open roads is stationary Radar....YMMV

I'm pretty sure all Oregon state police vehicles that do traffic duty are equipped or can install when needed LIDAR.  For a while LIDAR was illegal in CA but I think that has changed.

[Rougarou]

Here's a sweet deal since you're looking

 

https://slickdeals.net/f/17049115-escort-max-360-mkii-radar-detector-449-95?p=166904986#post166904986

 

 

[9Mary7]

8 hours ago, Red said:

I'm pretty sure all Oregon state police vehicles that do traffic duty are equipped or can install when needed LIDAR.  For a while LIDAR was illegal in CA but I think that has changed.

We used LIDAR (in So. Cal) starting around 2002....I'm not aware of any prohibition. Laser jammers are prohibited, IIRC.

13 hours ago, Skywagon said:

@9Mary7  I'm sure it has been a few decades since you stopped someone for speeding....but if you did and saw a radar detector....would you cut them any slack or give them a ticket for exactly what they were doing?  Some dude on a BMW goes flying by in triple digits in an 80mph zone....yep we have those up to 85mph on certain freeways and toll roads.  Triple digits in Texas usually gets you a night or weekend in the cross bar motel.

 

My local pd runs a lot of stationary radar on residential streets.  Speed limit is 25mph in almost the entire city.  I got to talk to the Chief at an open house one day.  I asked him the question.  His response.  We cut people some slack and sometimes don't ticket at all if the person just slipped up, but if we see a radar detector running....they get what they get because they planned to break the laws.

Last T-stop was in early 2011.......

Yes, a radar detector would guarantee a cite for the reason your Chief stated. We could usually tell who was using one due to the "reactionary gap" between our activation of the Instant-On function and the front end dive of the violator vehicle when he hit the brakes.....Good Times.

For those of you who may be "sensitive" to this issue,  "Don't hate the player, hate the game"

[roadscholar]

I stopped using them 30 years ago for exactly that reason, with instant on they can tell and figure you're a professional/habitual speeder, ticket every time. 

 

15 over and above seems to be the ticket zone around here, I try to keep it close to that and just ease off if I see one then pretend like they aren't there so they think I’m just some oblivious geezer not worth the effort. Depends on what you're driving tho and not so easy in a red Porsche doing 20-30 over so you have to be smooth but even that doesn't always work. It’s a cat and mouse game, you just have to figure out how to out smart the cat. I think your odds increase in inclement weather because there's a good chance they don't want to stand out in the rain to give you a ticket, on the other hand if it happens it def won't be a warning : )

[TEWKS]

I guess this would work, until it doesn’t. 

 

 

[9Mary7]

2 hours ago, roadscholar said:

I stopped using them 30 years ago for exactly that reason, with instant on they can tell and figure you're a professional/habitual speeder, ticket every time. 

 

15 over and above seems to be the ticket zone around here, I try to keep it close to that and just ease off if I see one then pretend like they aren't there so they think I’m just some oblivious geezer not worth the effort. Depends on what you're driving tho and not so easy in a red Porsche doing 20-30 over so you have to be smooth but even that doesn't always work. It’s a cat and mouse game, you just have to figure out how to out smart the cat. I think you're odds increase in inclement weather because there's a good chance they don't want to stand out in the rain to give you a ticket, on the other hand if it happens it def won't be a warning : )

This^^^^^^^right here,

[Skywagon]

My radar detector is the speed limit sign. About the only time I speed is when passing someone going too slow on a 2 lane. With highway speeds in Texas, really no need. Each year I think I drive slower. On my way to the coast limit is 85. I set the cruise on 70 and get in the far right lane. 

[Rougarou]

A little bit sweeter

 

https://slickdeals.net/f/17106058-escort-radar-max-360-mkii-431-95?p=167429482#post167429482

 

 

[bavareze]

On 11/23/2023 at 9:53 PM, Skywagon said:

@9Mary7  I'm sure it has been a few decades since you stopped someone for speeding....but if you did and saw a radar detector....would you cut them any slack or give them a ticket for exactly what they were doing?  Some dude on a BMW goes flying by in triple digits in an 80mph zone....yep we have those up to 85mph on certain freeways and toll roads.  Triple digits in Texas usually gets you a night or weekend in the cross bar motel.

 

My local pd runs a lot of stationary radar on residential streets.  Speed limit is 25mph in almost the entire city.  I got to talk to the Chief at an open house one day.  I asked him the question.  His response.  We cut people some slack and sometimes don't ticket at all if the person just slipped up, but if we see a radar detector running....they get what they get because they planned to break the laws.

 

 

I was thinking about the same thing, that's why I want a discreet installation.  Maybe flash a strobe or something.  But keep the recognizable machine tucked a way in such a way that's still able to detect.  I guess this is also vehicle dependent. 

 

19 hours ago, Skywagon said:

My radar detector is the speed limit sign. About the only time I speed is when passing someone going too slow on a 2 lane. With highway speeds in Texas, really no need. Each year I think I drive slower. On my way to the coast limit is 85. I set the cruise on 70 and get in the far right lane. 

 

An experienced driver that routinely attends performance driving events, using a well maintained vehicle, will get to feel their car limits better than someone less proficient and less confident. He should be able to adjust the speed to maintain a satisfactory safety buffer even if meeting the criteria to be issued a speeding ticket.   .Furthermore not all vehicles are designed with same goals in mind.  There are vehicles optimized for good handling at higher speeds while others are built to carry more, last longer, look prettier etc.  The posted speed limit is a "one size fits all" measure because of the perceived threat of higher speed.  However, the one country in the world with no blanket speed limits has a lower accident rate than the average.  

 

Besides that, it's not the speed that's causing accidents, it's usually loss of control. Speed is just an aggravating factor.

 

[Lowndes]

Don't forget the road. The design, or lack of design, has a lot to do with the posted speed limit. Things like minimum horizontal curve radius, and minimum vertical curve length, sight distances, superelevation, road surface and condition, access points, business, residential, or rural property, etc, i.e., a Farrari might not do its full potential on a "Ken Road".   

 

 

[bavareze]

My decision to buy an antiradar is supported by my relatively vast riding experience.  In addition to sporadic track events (good to judge closing rates, trajectory management,  improving reaction times, overcoming the panic etc) , I improved my road conditions apprising skills riding over 100k miles, in 37 countries on 4 continents.  My safety margin seems adequate so far,  without any significant damages to report. A quick trip to India or Vietnam is very useful to train your vigilance.  I wrote funny rant on this topic some time ago:

 

http://westsiderentacar.com/b66ama/?p=4147

 

I wish I was better at trail braking and aggressively leaning in sweepers, as well as supermoto/dirtbike style drifting.  But that's why I'm limiting myself to touring bikes on public roads.  Plus, my desire for speed decreases with age, so I think I'm past the critical time frame.  My main uncertainty with speeding is that other traffic participants occasionally become scared, concerned or even enraged by ridiculously high speeds of others, and may act spontaneously upon their feelings.  And I don't like to make others feel in jeopardy.

[bavareze]

2 hours ago, Lowndes said:

Don't forget the road. The design, or lack of design, has a lot to do with the posted speed limit. Things like minimum horizontal curve radius, and minimum vertical curve length, sight distances, superelevation, road surface and condition, access points, business, residential, or rural property, etc, i.e., a Farrari might not do its full potential on a "Ken Road".   

 

 

My decision to buy an antiradar is supported by my relatively vast riding experience.  In addition to sporadic track events (good to judge closing rates, trajectory management,  improving reaction times, overcoming the panic etc) , I improved my road conditions apprising skills riding over 100k miles, in 37 countries on 4 continents.  My safety margin seems adequate so far,  without any significant damages to report. A quick trip to India or Vietnam is very useful to train your vigilance.  I wrote funny rant on this topic some time ago:

 

http://westsiderentacar.com/b66ama/?p=4147

 

I wish I was better at trail braking and aggressively leaning in sweepers, as well as supermoto/dirtbike style drifting.  But that's why I'm limiting myself to touring bikes on public roads.  Plus, my desire for speed decreases with age, so I think I'm past the critical time frame.  My main uncertainty with speeding is that other traffic participants occasionally become scared, concerned or even enraged by ridiculously high speeds of others, and may act spontaneously upon their feelings.  And I don't like to make others feel in jeopardy.

[Red]

On 11/24/2023 at 5:49 PM, Rougarou said:

A little bit sweeter

 

https://slickdeals.net/f/17106058-escort-radar-max-360-mkii-431-95?p=167429482#post167429482

 

 

you will note that it is a radar detector and not a lidar detector.  Even if it does detect lidar, once you detect you have been zapped, you may as well just pull to the side of the road and wait for the LE.

[gmcjetpilot]

I have an eacort Red Line on my FARKLE shelf behind my wind screen on 2004 R1150RT. It does LIDAR Lasar but in this position Laser detection from behind may be limited, front OK. RADAR detection K Ka is amazing.

 

Ka goes off time to time.  It has saved me. It's nice to know Cop is around.

 

All the rationale not to have radar detection due to "instant on" radar, and LIDAR blaaa blaa is irreverent. LIDAR is not as common as Radar. LIDAR is line of sight and requires aiming it at vehicle. Cops are lazy and paint traffic with radar. Even instant on can be picked up by others not being targeted by Cop.

 

YES in extream case where YOU are the only vehicle, cop is hiding, and paints you with radar or LIDAR before you can react you are caught. This senerio is not a reason  to not have radar detector.

 

I agree with slow down don't speed. However the times I want to open it up I pick place where I have a good chance no Cops are. I like a radar detector to back that up.

 

A Uniden detector is not much money, performance is amazing, long range, GPS tracking to cancel known false alarms, red light camera database.... With that said WAZE App on phone is very helpful not only for speed traps but debris in road alerts. WAZE is a crowd source App where others report info. It also tracks your speed and other WAZE users. So you can see traffic backups, as well as users reporting traffic and accidents.

 

WAZE is not a 100% substitute for on board radar detector because others may not have reported a speed trap yet.

 

There is no 100% assurance but Radar detection is my two cars and motorcycle. Cheap insurance. I don't gratuitously speed; but helps when near speed traps where speeds change abruptly from say 65 to 45 or 35 with Cop waiting on back side of hill. RADAR DETECT helps speed awareness. You miss the speed change and you get a big ticket. If a radar detector alerts you, look at GPS and slam brakes on before Cop sees you, the radar detector paid for itself.

[bavareze]

4 hours ago, gmcjetpilot said:

I have an eacort Red Line on my FARKLE shelf behind my wind screen on 2004 R1150RT. It does LIDAR Lasar but in this position Laser detection from behind may be limited, front OK. RADAR detection K Ka is amazing.

 

Ka goes off time to time.  It has saved me. It's nice to know Cop is around.

 

All the rationale not to have radar detection due to "instant on" radar, and LIDAR blaaa blaa is irreverent. LIDAR is not as common as Radar. LIDAR is line of sight and requires aiming it at vehicle. Cops are lazy and paint traffic with radar. Even instant on can be picked up by others not being targeted by Cop.

 

YES in extream case where YOU are the only vehicle, cop is hiding, and paints you with radar or LIDAR before you can react you are caught. This senerio is not a reason  to not have radar detector.

 

I agree with slow down don't speed. However the times I want to open it up I pick place where I have a good chance no Cops are. I like a radar detector to back that up.

 

A Uniden detector is not much money, performance is amazing, long range, GPS tracking to cancel known false alarms, red light camera database.... With that said WAZE App on phone is very helpful not only for speed traps but debris in road alerts. WAZE is a crowd source App where others report info. It also tracks your speed and other WAZE users. So you can see traffic backups, as well as users reporting traffic and accidents.

 

WAZE is not a 100% substitute for on board radar detector because others may not have reported a speed trap yet.

 

There is no 100% assurance but Radar detection is my two cars and motorcycle. Cheap insurance. I don't gratuitously speed; but helps when near speed traps where speeds change abruptly from say 65 to 45 or 35 with Cop waiting on back side of hill. RADAR DETECT helps speed awareness. You miss the speed change and you get a big ticket. If a radar detector alerts you, look at GPS and slam brakes on before Cop sees you, the radar detector paid for itself.

what model uniden?  can it be mounted out of sight, with just an annunciator visible in plain sight?  

 

I was actually thinking of a Valentine V1 or so.  Are these comparable?

 

thanks

[gmcjetpilot]

2 hours ago, bavareze said:

what model uniden?  can it be mounted out of sight, with just an annunciator visible in plain sight?  

 

I was actually thinking of a Valentine V1 or so.  Are these comparable?

 

thanks

Valentine has been a good brand but very expensive. You can same or better performance for much less. I recommend Uniden R3 $299 but yiu csn get them for $209, best value. It's not a dedicated motorcycle unit. It does not hsve remote indication. I have water proof box I made but don't use the box anymore.  If it rains I typically stop, or I csn disconnect it snd store it. See pics. Mine is mounted on "glareshield". Yoi can figure out a place. 

 

The one pictured is my Escort Red Dot. Had it now 10 years. I use it in car as well. It was top radar for years but no longer top tech lacking all the latest bells and whistles. However it has always had a very sensitive Ra detection thst can track several transmitters at one time.... I keep my R3 in one of my cars.  You can get a decent Radar detector for $80 to $150 without all the features.  I keep the Red Dot because it works well for both Ra and LIDAR alerts.

 

Some Radar detectors  have  blue tooth to hear alert in your ear if you have BT headset/intercom. There is dedicated motorcycle Radar detectors. Have no experience with dedicated motorcycle radsr detectors but Google. I see some riders use Adaptiv Technologies TPX... they mount handle bar In plan view.  I think the car ones have more bang for buck and are more sensitive. YouTube channels have good reviews of Radar detectors in all price ranges. 

[9Mary7]

14 hours ago, gmcjetpilot said:

Cops are lazy and paint traffic with radar

[Skywagon]

Don’t want to move you off the detector thread, but most of the cops I know work long hours and even extra jobs. Their whole day is always high stress. They are continually required to attend training. Are there some with less enthusiasm… sure… just like any profession, but the military, LEO’s, and firefighters will always have my respect. When they go to work today, they might not come home with the responsibility of keeping me safe. That’s a big deal in my book. 

[TSConver]

52 minutes ago, Skywagon said:

Don’t want to move you off the detector thread, but most of the cops I know work long hours and even extra jobs. Their whole day is always high stress. They are continually required to attend training. Are there some with less enthusiasm… sure… just like any profession, but the military, LEO’s, and firefighters will always have my respect. When they go to work today, they might not come home with the responsibility of keeping me safe. That’s a big deal in my book. 

 

I also give them my utmost respect.  But an interesting thought is that they are not required to keep you safe.  The SCOTUS even said so.  They are there to enforce laws but have no obligation to keep people safe.

[Skywagon]

35 minutes ago, TSConver said:

They are there to enforce laws but have no obligation to keep people safe.

Maybe not in some communities....but check the mission statement from the PD in my hood.

 

Department Information | Bellaire, TX - Official Website (bellairetx.gov)

[TSConver]

40 minutes ago, Skywagon said:

Maybe not in some communities....but check the mission statement from the PD in my hood.

 

Department Information | Bellaire, TX - Official Website (bellairetx.gov)

 

I agree some put it in but it is not required

 

The U.S. Supreme Court has also ruled that police have no specific obligation to protect. In its 1989 decision in DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services, the justices ruled that a social services department had no duty to protect a young boy from his abusive father.

[Rougarou]

This'll roll into FT in a minute.

 

They are required to enforce the laws, which do protect.  Are they a personal bodyguard, nope, but if they see you getting your ass beat, they are required to enforce the law of assault and stop the action to the ability that they can.   

 

The police are not precogs and can't go on "anticipated" harm or "will prior incidents cause future harm" but seeing a current unlawful action requires or should require them to enforce it.  @9Mary7whatchoosay?  

[Skywagon]

I'll start a new thread in FT as this is an interesting topic.

[9Mary7]

3 hours ago, Rougarou said:

This'll roll into FT in a minute.

 

They are required to enforce the laws, which do protect.  Are they a personal bodyguard, nope, but if they see you getting your ass beat, they are required to enforce the law of assault and stop the action to the ability that they can.   

 

The police are not precogs and can't go on "anticipated" harm or "will prior incidents cause future harm" but seeing a current unlawful action requires or should require them to enforce it.  @9Mary7whatchoosay?  

Yes....action must be taken when a crime is observed. Not anyone's personal bodyguard but will intervene if practicable to the best of their ability within the guidelines set forth by the political subdivision they contract with.....

Happy to have put in my time and not have to deal with the current climate.   Radar detectors, go ahead if you want but the knowledge of Radar's limitations and how speed radar systems work has enabled me to (so far) not need one.