Ducati Monster Forum

Hello all,

I have very little experience or knowledge of radar detectors and was wondering if any DMFers out there could enlighten me.

-What manufacturer makes a reliable detector?
-ease of use?
-installation issues, if any?
-how efficient are they?

I've checked the net and it seems that every manufacturer is saying theirs is best because...blah...blah...blah...
So I'm looking for some real-world FHE on the subject.
Thanks in advance! [moto]

Ive had a few before and still have one now and sometimes they worked sometimes they didn't.  I don't know if it was because they were cheaper ones or what but there has been many times I have come across the police and the radar did nothing but leave me with a few dirty tickets.  Canadian speeding tickets too, very costly. :(

It's the damn Canadian speeding tickets I'm trying to avoid. I don't condone speeding excessively. I certainly don't do it.  It seems the RCMP like to hide around bends on our mountain roads and are trying to nail us riders. Last week they started a crackdown on riders. Great, the real riding season just started and Big Brother is already watching.

I know what you mean although it's not the RC's around here they don't seem to care about much, but the city police.  Last season I heard that the police were goin around pulling people over taking names, pics of their bikes and helmets in case someone reports them they know who there after.  Most guys just told them to get make the beast with two backsed however I was pulled over on my buell and the officer told me he just wanted to see who it was riding the bike plus he heard me "rappin of my exhaust" he says [evil]

Where are you located that has this kind of activity? Seems like a pretty Fascist community.

Escort

Put it in the top of your tank bag.  It will work through the bag and the wind screen.

Google   "Radar Roy"

Estevan Saskatchewan, about 11000 people, small city.  And the police cars here are hopped up chargers and magnums and when they first got these cars two officers were caught racing them and then fired.

Valentine One has never failed me

I have the Beltronics Rx7 Pro.  It has a phone jack in it, so it's easy to just use earphones (or a single earphone).  I think that the performance of the Beltronics, Escort and Valentine are up to par with each other.  Those seem to be the best ones, but I *think* the Beltronics is the only one with a built in phone jack; at least it was 2 years ago when I bought it.

I keep mine inside the tank bag.  This way it's hidden from the elements.  Only draw back is it will not sense laser, but if you get hit with laser, it's too late already anyways.  The laser warning on radar detectors is basically just to let you know you have a ticket waiting for you  [roll].

I have the radar detector plugged into a switched supply in the fuse box, using its own fuse.  Radar detector turns off when I turn the bike off.

This setup has worked great for me.  Good Luck!

I use the Escort line. I have a 7500 on my Mean Streak, an 8500 x50 on the S4RS and a Solo in my RX7. Do a search of the forum and you will find other threads about them and one where I posted a pic of the mounting location and the mount I used. All of these models have saved me a bunch of times. As always, if you are the first one in line and they are using KA or Laser (both are instant on) you are gonna get nailed unless they have "hit" someone else first where you can get the "splash" off of them.

Better check with your locale first and see if a detector is legal, some places don't allow it.

Thanks for all the help, people! Lots of good tips. Detectors are legal here in BC, so I'm going shopping this weekend.   [thumbsup]

If you depend on the radar detector you will get tickets.  Following a "rabbit" (fast vehicle in front of you) at a distance, paying attention to speed of other vehicles and looking for hiding spots is still necessary.  If you are all alone and the LEO hits you with instant on, you are nailed.

figure out where they hide and dump a few boxes of roofing nails there when they are absent

worked on the NJ turnpike, so i heard

Definitely! On my ride home last night my fellow rider and I were following a "rabbit" that had a detector on. It made for a quick trip. Turns out there were no LEOs in sight anyway.

mounting is up to you how, although from what I have seen the ram-mounts seem to work best and hard wiring to your bike is a breeze.  Just remember most detectors are NOT waterproof, cases to protect them are out there sorry I got no links.

(http://www.speedsound.com/images/products/Escort%20Passport%208500.jpg)

+

(http://www.legalspeeding.com/images/HARD_pics/Slide1.JPG)
http://www.legalspeeding.com/HARD.htm
or
(http://client3.landersweb.com/images/products/product15_1.jpg)
http://www.sportvue.com/store/product.php?pid=15
or
(http://www.speedcheetah.com/Vizalert/overview_images.jpg)
http://www.speedcheetah.com/scshop/section.php?xSec=80

Thanks for the links, Pakhan. That H.A.R.D. system looks very cool.  [thumbsup]

The only time I have received tickets is when I didn't have a radar detector...

I use the Valentine-1 with the HARD system.
Works great against radar, but laser is tough to beat.

X2 The V1 is the best on the market

The only time I recieved a ticket is when I had a radar

You should try using a radar detector. They work better.   [cheeky]

I've been told that laser's have trouble picking up moto-cycles because there is no large flat surface to bounce off. Anyone ever been tagged by laser. I have - but it was in my cage.  :-\

The locals recently ran a "speed enforcement" using laser. It was up in Santa Rosa on a freeway. Because of the need for precise aim required with laser, they had to use a stationary officer to tag em and others to pull em over. Not many depts use laser because it is so picky about reflective surfaces and aim etc. I have had a couple laser hits on my detector (escort 8500 x50) but no cop cars around.  ???