Best bike radar detector and most effective mount?

[SpaceKing]

Hey guys, I just decided I need a radar detector and I would be interested in feedback about what you own, your experience, and your mount. I am leaning toward a Passport Escort 8500. Anyone have experience with this? What about laser jammers? I am not sure they are being used here in BC but I just don't want another $400 ticket, and they will get you eventually, in my experience, as the speed laws here in Canada are ridiculous.

cheers and thanks in advance

beno

[270]

Ha!

 

Just replied to your other post!

 

First, my usual disclaimer "I completely respect the job of the law enforcement officers in this country. I'm glad that there are people who choose to answer the calling and accept the challenge in order to maintain order and a safe society." I absolutely mean that. My feelings on speed traps have nothing to do with my respect for the LEO.

 

Now, speeding tickets are absolutely designed for revenue. They hide, wait for you to ride/drive by their ambush at an "unsafe" speed and "wammmmo!!!!" you're tagged with a hefty fine. If safety was the mission, then why the fu*k did they let you fly by in the first place? Why not post a big a$$'d sign saying "speed check ahead due to an unusually dangerous area, you've been warned. Slow down" Then nail the dumbsh*ts that speed anyway? Why not? Because there's no money in it.

 

Oh yea, the original question....

 

I like this if weather isn't an issue:

 

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/RAM/ram.asp?prod=RAM-PP3

 

And this one if it is:

 

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/RAM/ram.asp?prod=LS-RDC

 

And, for my last rant, yet still part of the standard disclaimer:

 

"Don't waste any bandwidth defending the position for a need for speed enforcement or to tell me that I'm only crying cause I got a ticket for breaking the law or if I simply didn't speed, I wouldn't have a problem. Your day is coming..."

 

Hope that helps.

[flyingreg]

First "jammers" are illegal even in BC, so no advice there. The 8500 is a fantastic unit. I have used one for about 60K miles and it does what it was intended to do.

 

The mount for you will depend on where you intend to mount the detector. I velcro mine to my shelf and this has worked quite well for the same 60K miles. YMMV of course.

[Tank]

Because weather is a problem for me (rain) i use Legal Speeding's plastic box to house my V-1 mounted on a Gadgetguys mount.... its big and a pain but it works period, so no hassles with moisture, and living is easy

[Dances_With_Wiener_Dogs]

V1 for me and even in a heavy drizzle I've had no problems with rain damaging the unit. When I've felt the need I use the disposable saran-wrap covers for moisture. Effective, packs small, cheap. Yeah, okay, I know they are pink in color...

[russell_bynum]

There's the V1, and then there's everything else.

 

Period.

 

I've had mine for 5 years and it has had the crap beat out of it multiple times. It came off the RCU shelf on my RT at high speed, it has been rained on, The Tuono landed on it when I crashed in June, and it was run over by a 1-ton dually pickup towing a big horse trailer. Through all of that, it just keeps going. No matter what I put it through, every single time I give it 12v, I'm rewarded with that familiar "beep brap beep brap doo dee doo dee" sound.

 

Works good, too. The direction indicators and the bogey counters are not just gimmicks. They really work and allow you to better understand and prioritize threats. When I ride other people's bikes with other detectors that don't have those features, I miss them.

[Whip]

Good test and comparison..

 

http://www.laserveil.com/en/ultimate-radar-detector-review-05/abridged/the-drive/

 

 

 

Good DB

 

http://www.radardetector.net/

 

 

 

I started using an Escort S2 Solo

 

http://www.radarbusters.com/products/escort/solo_2-ratings.asp

 

I love the fact that I don't need a power cord and I can move it from car to bike without and wires..

 

 

 

Whip

[Mike O]

Seems the top 3 (Escort, Valentine, Beltronics) always come out close in performance, and there is considerable debate over value and which tests better. I do find Russell's endorsement on durability a positive one. I've looked at a V1 and if it can withstand being driven over by a truck, that's quite impressive.

 

...I started using an Escort S2 Solo

 

http://www.radarbusters.com/products/escort/solo_2-ratings.asp

 

I love the fact that I don't need a power cord and I can move it from car to bike without and wires..

 

Whip

 

In your experience, how long do the batteries last? I too, whould like a solution that easily moves between bike and car. Also, can you tell me, do you have it wired into autocom?

 

Mike O

[JerryMather]

What Russell said.

[SageRider]

What Russell said.

ditto!

[Whip]

Seems the top 3 (Escort, Valentine, Beltronics) always come out close in performance, and there is considerable debate over value and which tests better. I do find Russell's endorsement on durability a positive one. I've looked at a V1 and if it can withstand being driven over by a truck, that's quite impressive.

 

...I started using an Escort S2 Solo

 

http://www.radarbusters.com/products/escort/solo_2-ratings.asp

 

I love the fact that I don't need a power cord and I can move it from car to bike without and wires..

 

Whip

 

In your experience, how long do the batteries last? I too, whould like a solution that easily moves between bike and car. Also, can you tell me, do you have it wired into autocom?

 

Mike O

 

 

Yes, it wires into the autocom just like the other Escort....Two AA batteries last about three days......

 

Quote from tester.

 

"Battery life is fine. I use rechargeable NiMH batteries in my S2 and I find that I need to recharge them about every 2-3 months. The S2 warns you when the batteries get low anyways."

[Davis]

There's a big difference between 2-3 days and 2-3 months. Much more than the difference between alkaline and NiMH batteries. Makes you wonder about the validity of the rest of the test

[smiller]

This is one of those few easy decisions when it comes to consumer electronics. Get the V1, end of story. Mount it up where the directional arrows and laser pickups can do some good and you'll have the best protection money can buy in terms of hardware. The rest of the ticket avoidance procedure will be up to you...

[EffBee]

If you buy the 8500, you'll be happy with it. It's a good unit.

 

If you EVER try a V-1, you'll sell the 8500.

[johnt650]

V1 in the legal speeding box and mounted on the RCU shelf. I traveled for a living and came up through the original Escort, Passport and before that a few others; nothing compares to the V1 and I have two. The one I use most frequently has been upgraded to the most recent spec.

[stager]

I'm with Johnt.....V1 in the Legal Speeding Box on an RCU shelf.....let it rain...it works great!

[Bernie]

How did you mount the box on the RCU shelf?

Can the unit be removed.

[russell_bynum]

I do find Russell's endorsement on durability a positive one. I've looked at a V1 and if it can withstand being driven over by a truck, that's quite impressive.

 

Of course, YMMV, but I had loaded the RT onto the trailer, removed the electronics, and accidentally left the V1 on the saddle. I drove to the local gas station to gas up the bikes and the truck, then came home. About 45 minutes later, I realized that I didn't have the V1. I few minutes of retracing my steps told me I probably left it on the bike. I set out on foot down the street with a flashlight. At the end of our street is a major road. I got to the intersection and spotted a black hockey-puck looking object in the right wheel track. Just as I was about to run out and grab it, a Ford F350 dually towing a big tandem axle horse trailer came by and ran over it with the the front and rear wheels of the truck, and I believe the trailer wheels also got it, but I'm not sure. Given the traffic on that road and the unit's position in the lane, I think that the probability of that truck/trailer being the only thing that ran over it is pretty much 0.

 

The unit was scratched and a bit banged-up, but when I plugged it in, it powered right up and worked fine.

 

It has been in rain heavy enough to cause it to short out and stop working. As soon as it dries, it starts working again.

 

It came off the RCU shelf of the RT at speed and I watched in horror as it tumbled down the road behind me.

 

In all cases, it has continued to function perfectly.

 

As I mentioned, the directional arrows and bogey counters are excellent tools. It is very common for police to work in pairs, and you'll be able to tell that not only are there 2 LEO's, but you've just passed the first one and you're coming up on the second one.

 

Or you'll get one LEO on the freeway near one of those "Your speed is" signs. Not only will you see that there's a K-band bogey and a Ka-band bogey, but you'll know that you just passed the K-band one and you're approaching the other one.

 

Or...you're getting a single Ka hit that is getting weaker. Is it a LEO ahead of you going faster or a LEO behind you going slower? You would react to each of those situations very differently. With the directional arrows, you don't have to guess.

 

I've used the 8500 and Fernando's right...it is a really good unit. But it isn't a V1.

[JB-BMW]

What Russell said.

Me too. Three bikes, no dualies yet Just works.

[Jerry Johnston]

I agree with everything Russel said except - don't push your luck with getting it wet. I ride with a freind who had to send his in for repair after the third time it got wet. (Maybe he didn't wiat long enough for it to dry out) I have one of the three V1's I own in the radio box on my RT and feel a V1 in the box is worth more than a 8500 providing you have the remote.

[johnt650]

I drilled the shelf to mount the base and use the 3M lock material when I add the V1. The top fastens with nylon screws but the top fits the base so well only one or two screws are necessary. I found out the hard way that at least one of the screws is needed.

[David]

Seems the top 3 (Escort, Valentine, Beltronics) always come out close in performance, and there is considerable debate over value and which tests better.

 

I've done real world testing of the V-1 on the windshield next to the 8500 and S2. Did all sorts of driving for 500+ miles to see how they would compare.

 

Sent both the 8500 and S2 back. The latter was especially worthless.

[SpaceKing]

Ok, it's nearly unanimous. I will spend the extra bucks and get the V1. What about positioning on the RT? Up high and in the middle just like in cars? I guess you can only go so high before it gets in your field of vision.

Any other accesories I should buy with it? I looked at the sites that someone here recommended - I would welcome feedback on what is the most effective and practical combination of accesories.

[stager]

I using 3M DuoLock to hold the box on the shelf and to secure the V1 inside of the box. I've mounted the Valentine power adapter underneath the RCU shelf...so taking it off is simply a matter of unplugging the power and pulling the box off.

[russell_bynum]

I ran my V1 on an RCU shelf on the dash of my RT. It worked well, but it is exposed to the elements, and you have to remove it when you park in unsecured locations.

 

The enclosure from LegalSpeeding would probably fix the "exposed to the elements" part, but I'm not sure about security.

 

I attached it with 3M Dual-Lock (the heavy-duty velcro stuff), and wound up replacing the Dual Lock about every 3 years because it would get worn and lose effectiveness.

 

You will need the V1 "remote Audio" adapter to get audio out of the V1 and into your AutoCom/Earplug speakers/etc.

[Mike O]

Just curious (since I don't run radar det. on my bike at the moment - only in the car)...

 

With the Radar Detector (regardless of brand) mounted forward near or under the wind screen, is radar from behind still detected (I would think it would be far less effective if not unaffective simply because of its limited mounting options.)

 

Your experience?

 

Mike O

[russell_bynum]

Just curious (since I don't run radar det. on my bike at the moment - only in the car)...

 

With the Radar Detector (regardless of brand) mounted forward near or under the wind screen, is radar from behind still detected (I would think it would be far less effective if not unaffective simply because of its limited mounting options.)

 

Your experience?

 

Mike O

 

It definitely still picks up radar from the rear. It will not pick up Laser from the rear since that needs a clear line of sight.

 

I can't comment on if the unit is less effective up on the shelf vs. somewhere that gives it an unobstructed view to the rear because I haven't tried that. I suppose you could put it on EMP brackets over the mirrors...that would give it a pretty clean view ahead and to the rear.

[DavidEBSmith]

Well - assuming the detector is one that detects radar/laser from the rear - cheap ones might not. Your body will absorb a little radar and reduce the rear sensitivity of the detector a bit, but probably not enough to make a significant difference in actual usage. Your body will block laser, but getting zapped with laser from the rear is pretty unlikely - you would almost certainly have had to pass the stationary LEO on the side of the road with the LIDAR, whereas with radar, a car with moving-mode radar can sneak up behind you.

 

BTW, there's one radar detector test site that ranks 360 degree detection as only a so-so feature, down there in usefulness with a built-in compass and below "tutorial mode". This is stupid. (And you have to wonder if the guy has a consulting relationship with a company that makes a detector with "tutorial mode".) It's absolutely vital to have rear detection, and incredibly useful to have the detector tell you whether the radar is fore or aft, as the V1 does.

[Mike O]

David,

 

That makes sense...radar must 'paint' a wider swath than I thought. I hadn't considered the laser line-of-sight. BTW, my radar detector (a cheap cobra) claims to do rear detection, but I know it doesn't work very effectively in the car (quite frankly I think it was an after thought rather than being designed in from the get-go).

 

Thanks...

 

Mike O