Placing Radar Detectors On The Bike

[WBoyter]

Having suffered yet *another* ticket this past Fri night, I've made up my mind to start using radar detection again. Prolly going to the V1 unit, but where is the best place to place the unit? Lower profile would prolly be better, but honestly, I haven't had the LEO scrutinize the bike that much, other than to ask "exactly what is that?"

 

On another note, this is the third ticket I've gotten on this machine in the last three months - each one for fewer than 10 miles over the speed limit, out in the middle of nowhere, and in a sparsely travelled area. The first was on the day I bought it: 76 in a 70 zone, three cars pulled me over. I had noticed that one had been following me for several miles, but never crossed my mind that he would pull me over. This past Fri it was for 75 in a 65 - at 1:30 in the morning in the middle of nowhere on a FM road. Both times I was rolling on cruise control.

[ChrisE]

Am I missing something, what bike?

[smiller]

I would place it on an RCU shelf or somesuch... as high as possible. The radar directional arrows work perfectly this way, and laser detection works, well, as well as radar detection is going to work. I consider mounting in a tank bag to be suboptimal... maybe not too much of a loss to lose laser detection capabilities, but you definitely want the directional arrows to work properly.

[WBoyter]

R12RT

[Brimoon]

I use an Escort 8500 in my tankbag. It's connected to a Legal Speeding wireless signaling device which flashes in my helmet when the detector senses a bogy. This setup seems to work quite well, but I suppose it would even be better if the detector was mounted higher and in the open.

 

Plus side:

No earphone wires to helmet.

One less farkle to have to look at and think about while riding.

No need to hide the detector when stopping for lunch, etc.

CanBus system turns the detector off shortly after engine shutdown.

 

Minus side:

May limit detection of weak signals.

Can't see the LED readout on the detector.

No laser detection.

 

Brian

R1200RT

[WBoyter]

What about a Ram mount? I see one mentioned over at Cycle Gadgets, and I've used a Ram on my Honda cruiser to hold a camera. I think that I want to keep it out in the open in order to get the max protection.

[JamesB]

It seems that mounting the detector inside the fairing, hard wiring it so it comes on with the key, then using Brian's suggestion of the "Legal Speeding wireless signaling device" would be a very good combination. I doubt that mounting it behind the opaque plastic would make it significantly less sensitive than on a mount behind the windscreen.

 

I have an Audi A6 with a detector mounted behind the front grill (obviously, not very high). 6 small warning LED's barely show through the dash. It has worked very well for years.

 

It seems that there are so many situations where a detector won't help--getting the absolute best possible detection has limited benefit. This combo should be hassle-free, on all the time and would not attract attention.

[Bugs]

Several posters on this topic seem to be concerned about the radar detector being easily seen. I'm showing my ignorance by asking this question, but why do you care whether it can be seen or not? Is it a question of asthetics or do you simply live in one of the few states where these devices are illegal?

[skinny]

The theory is that if the cop is un-decided on whether or not to issue a ticket, the presence of a radar detector will influence his decision. I was asked during my last ticket episode "what is that thing on your handle bars?"... referring to my Garmin GPS, but ignored the radar detector 6" away. Maybe she (yes there are female DPS in Texas) was irritated by my navigation device....Go figure

[WBoyter]

Well, to date it has not made one iota's difference whether I had a radar detector or not: each time I've gotten a ticket anyway. I think it's primarily due to the bike itself. My riding/driving style hasn't changed, nor has my speed, but I've average one ticket a month since getting the bike and all are for 10mph over or less in highway conditions. I'm starting to think that the LEO mentality is that they're catching up for all the times I haven't be cited.

[Murf]

Skinny, the reason she didn't like it was bcuz she thought you were just another guy finding a way out of stopping and asking for directions

[Murf]

You're not wearing a monogrammed jacket with something on it like "BAD COP, NO DOUGHNUT" or something promoting anti-Bush-isms (especially in Texas) are you? I have to agree with you on the frequency of your encounters..seems nuts. But what I can't understand is the petty-ass speed difference you are getting nailed at....Being one of "those" ..I wouldn't have stopped sipping my big-gulp for that.....You need to put the detector where it will do the most good...worry about "offending" people second.

[BEEMRBUM]

my V-1 is on a RCU shelf ( 1150rt) attached with heavy-duty velcro. When parked, it is easily removed. I usually ride behind someone who is moving well, and watch for the signals to light up. I have gotten signals as much as 1 1/2 miles, before I saw the trooper.There was an article in the paper recently that mentioned the crackdown, on the 10+mph safety margin. Sometimes there is a false sense of security with the V-1. I do ride slower without the unit on. Good luck, and slow down.

[WBoyter]

No, I'm not acting the provocateur.

In fact, the first ticket that I got(on the first day I had the bike, I swear to god when I pulled the helmet off they all looked suprised to see this middle-aged guy standing there. Especially with my astronaut suit on. Another unmarked SUV pulled up, and while one guy was writing me up, two others were asking me about the bike, how it was made, etc. I'm always extremely courteous and professional in my LEO dealings, so there's no smart-ass comments about it. I don't know if it's because the bike stands out, or they're just not cutting me any slack, or they're curious, or bored, or what.

[Ben Peeples]

I just rode across Texas on I-20, El Paso to Shreveport. I-20 was saturated. I believe that I saw 15 LEO either writing tickets or running radar on just one day. My V-1 lives in the tank bag with a remote display velcroed to the top of the bag. I know that I give up the laser, but the stealth factor is worth it. Both the # of bogies and the direction of encounter is very meaningful to me. Ben.

[JamesB]

I just rode across Texas ... My V-1 lives in the tank bag with a remote display velcroed to the top of the bag. ... Both the # of bogies and the direction of encounter is very meaningful to me. Ben.

 

Do you ever find that you don't see the remote display on the tank bag for a while? (i.e., that it has been signaling but your attention has been on the road/elsewhere and so you didn't see it for a bit)

[Ben Peeples]

Yes. I even moved it to the top rim of the Windshield. No joy. I now have it piped into my helmet via autocom. B.

[smiller]

Yes. I even moved it to the top rim of the Windshield. No joy. I now have it piped into my helmet via autocom. B.

I have found that even placing the unit in your line of sight isn't enough to always ensure an instant notification (which is very important if you want maximum protection) and the only thing that really works well is an audible signal. An audible indication will allow you to react in under a second, which sometimes can make the difference between 'life and death.'

[trptdaddy]

What part of town have you been stopped in? The only time I've been stopped in Dallas was on Bush freeway on my Valkyrie, racing a Gold Wing (we deserved it). I have a battery powered Escort/Passport (didnt have it on that bike) that I put on RCU shelf with earbuds for the sound.

 

Is your helmet radical or sold color?

 

David

[R4ND0M_AX3]

Is your helmet radical or sold color?

Hmmm.. I hadn't thought about the perceived differences to a LEO a solid vs. 'racey' helmet would create.

 

Something to think about..

[dmevid]

I have a Ram mount on the right handlebar. The plate is a magnet, so you just stick the radar detector on the plate and it does not move at all...I use a BEL or a Escort Solo S2. I plug a bluebooth adapter in the headphone of the radar detector, and then use a bluetooth headset..no wires! I keep my cellphone in the tank bag and if the phone rings, I can answer it also while driving...

[Brimoon]

...... I plug a bluebooth adapter in the headphone of the radar detector, and then use a bluetooth headset..no wires! I keep my cellphone in the tank bag and if the phone rings, I can answer it also while driving...

Very cool! I would like to have a similar setup for my GPS. Bluetooth headsets are readily available, but I haven't been able to find a bluetooth adapter that that plugs into a headphone jack on something like a GPS or radar detector. I tried Radio Shack, but they couldn't help. Where does one find a bluetooth adapter like this? Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

Brian

[sideways]

Yes, please post info on the bluetooth adapters. The interactions of headset wires, helmet chinstrap, and my camelbak hose (at night) on a recent high mileage slab trip were, as they say in the Lone Star State, "enough to make you slap your gramma!"

 

About Texas LEOs. What IS up with them? I'm an escapee myself, but I have family all over Texas, and frequently drive around the state. On my last trip (in a rented Ford Taurus!), I was pulled over on 287 between Dallas and Wichita Falls by the highway patrol for going THREE mph over the speed limit. Late at night, very little traffic. When the lights came on behind me, I drove on for about a mile expecting the officer to pull around to catch whoever he was after. Fortunately, he only gave me a warning after I very politely told him that I hadn't pulled over immediately because I just couldn't believe I was his subject.

Do they really think they're protecting the public with this kind of BS? Taking a bite out of crime are they?

And the small town cops? Don't get me started. Apparently, in the small towns, giving tickets to passers-by is a major source of local revenue. Once after I'd been given a ticket from a cop in a DQ and grain elevator metropolis, I got a threatening letter from the local judge. The three or four paragraph letter had about half a dozen spelling and grammatical errors. I corrected the mistakes with a red pen and sent it back with my check.

Don't get me wrong - I admire and respect good police officers and good police work, but these Texas yahoos take the cake.

[R4ND0M_AX3]

The posted speed limit is the maximum speed for a clear sunny day. The speed limit goes down as conditions get worse. You may have been more than 3 over the limit at the time.

[sideways]

In some places, including in Texas, there are signs posting day and night limits. This was not one of those locations. It was a beautiful, warm night with dry roads. If the limit is not posted, how would you know what it is?

Even the officer told me that he had pulled me over for doing "68 in a 65" or whatever it was. It was amazing. Having driven in most of the lower 48 and Hawaii, for the last thirty years, I've never experienced anything like the speed ticketing zeal that is rampant in Texas. Now that I think about it, though, the folk singer Greg Brown has a song about local Iowa cops in small towns doing much the same thing.

[sideways]

P.S.

Please pardon my hijack. I shouldn't have gotten going on the cop conversation. It doesn't belong in the Hexhead section in the first place.

Let's return to the regularly scheduled radar detector location thread.

If anyone wants to continue discussing cops and speed limits, etc., no doubt we should take it to the "other stuff" section.

[R4ND0M_AX3]

Ok, sorry for the distraction.

I've been thinking about placing the V1 I use in the car on my ST. I saw a photo (here I beleive) of an ST with the detector stuck to the top of the clutch fluid resovoir. While not hidden too well it does seem like an ideal location. A V1 mounted there would have better line of site for LIDAR and may get a better reading of rear RADAR.

 

I just don't know how it was mounted. velcro maybe. Dunno.