Radar detector: front & back? Where do you mount yours?

[jorxster]

Hi fellow riders!
Was talking to a mate over the weekend- he doesn't have a bike atm (used to ride in Germany), but we got talking about radar detectors and I'm definitely interested; I would like to know when being scanned by radar/laser!

Anyway he said I'd want an attachment or something to put behind me as well- to detect both ways. That got me thinking, what are some good places to mount a radar detector? On the handlebars with a second attachment wired to the back of the bike? (~next to license plate?) How would you detect from in front and behind?

Also, do you guys have recommendations of detectors that work great on a bike? I'd probably get the H.A.R.D. system or some sort of heads-up LED as I wear hearing-aids normally.

Cheers,
Jordan

[Jantar]

You don't need one behind, just forward looking. As the police rely on a reflected signal to get a reading, then your forward facing detector will also pick up any signal from behind that is reflected off other traffic, roadside signs, fences, gates etc.

I use an Escort 9500i. I also have a Bel Sti and I used to use an Escort X50. I find the Escort 9500i with built in GPS is the best for the bike. It still needs to made waterproof, an easy task. It has similar circuitry and software to the Bel, and is also fully shielded against leakage, making it undetectable. Only the 9500i and the Bel STi have this feature. It is more sensitive than the previous escort or the V1, and has detected a cop at over 6 km. I suspect that it is slower to lock on to a signal than the V1, but I haven't seen any side by side tests to confirm this.

[steve_t]

Firstly, welcome Jorxster!
Secondly, the search function is your friend

To get you started, have a read thru these:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/130259-Detectors-still-useful
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/129064-Best-radar-detector-Reviews-and-recommendations-please
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/118910-Adaptiv-TPX-radar-detector
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/123630-Radar-GPS-mount-on-tank-or-a-stem-mount
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/122384-Radar-detectors.-Who-uses-them-what-brands-price-etc
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/111587-For-those-who-use-radar-detectors
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/111173-Bike-radar-detector
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/105954-Which-radar-detector
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/105533-Radar-detectors-what-s-best
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/104840-Radar-detectors.-Which-one
:sunny::sunny:

[Mully]

Swoop has a thingy mounted under his headlight and above his front tyre, on the bottom of the fairing....

Looks very trick.

[slofox]

Here ya go...


223778 223779

[jorxster]

Thanks Jantar for your experience; steve_t, thanks for those links! Biggest reason I posted was because I was wondering about having a detector in front *AND* behind.

Actually, how do you recommend water-proofing these units? Wouldn't a plastic bag or shower cap blow off too easy? (although I suppose that behind the windscreen it would probably be alright)

Cheers, I'll definitely be looking at the escort or STI.

[stormerUK]

Hi J,
I use a BEL Vectra Europa 966R which is 100% wateproof and the antenna is mounted in the fairing wheel arch of my Blackbird. The laser pickup is small and stuck to the screen inside with the small warning LED is dash mounted. I do not use a laser rear pickup as I see no point as any vehicles being driven well behind me I just back off the throttle.:yes: England and Wales legal but completely illegal in Scotland, France and Belgium....but that shouldn't bother you too much...:yes:

[mokomoa]

Hi fellow riders!
Was talking to a mate over the weekend- he doesn't have a bike atm (used to ride in Germany), but we got talking about radar detectors and I'm definitely interested; I would like to know when being scanned by radar/laser!

Anyway he said I'd want an attachment or something to put behind me as well- to detect both ways. That got me thinking, what are some good places to mount a radar detector? On the handlebars with a second attachment wired to the back of the bike? (~next to license plate?) How would you detect from in front and behind?

Also, do you guys have recommendations of detectors that work great on a bike? I'd probably get the H.A.R.D. system or some sort of heads-up LED as I wear hearing-aids normally.

Cheers,
Jordan
X50 mounted under the screen, picks up front and rear signals.
Jammer mounted under fr headlight, and at rear under taillights.
Screamer up front so you can hear whats goin on.
Hope this helps

[thepom]

I have the valentine and it has a backward facing detector too,it signal if the po po are behind front or side how many and how close by the signal strength.It has been the best purchase after hot grips! I also have the HARD system and would not recommend it.It eats batteries and is often unreliable .I have had it replaced and is still not good. I would look at another system and see the guy at radar direct as they have been more than helpful......

Mine is mounted on my right handlebar just under the fairing and has no water issues....

[Idubbs]

I have the valentine and it has a backward facing detector too,it signal if the po po are behind front or side how many and how close by the signal strength.It has been the best purchase after hot grips! I also have the HARD system and would not recommend it.It eats batteries and is often unreliable .I have had it replaced and is still not good. I would look at another system and see the guy at radar direct as they have been more than helpful......

Mine is mounted on my right handlebar just under the fairing and has no water issues....

Same.... Valentine V1, Ram Mounts or mounted in a tank bag sitting high. You can buy a clear plastic cover case to waterproof. As mentioned the V1 will detect front, back or sideways...... however might look a bit dorky with radar detector perched on top of my helmet:facepalm:

[pritch]

The Escort X50 has a little black plastic thingy (technical term) on the top toward the left front. IIRC that's part of the rear facing antenna. I don't know the technicalities but it seems to work.

There is another brand where you have to mount aerials front and rear, but I'd expect Bel, Valentine, and Escort to have this covered.

[Coldrider]

First when I started my hobby of metal detecting, I do not know that there is a device called gold metal detector (http://www.detectorall.com/categories/Gold-Metal-Detectors/) that can help me to have easier access to the gold metal and helps me sava time, then one of my friends told me about this device, I am so curious and want to find a good equippment to help me so I search the internet and find the one that I am satisfied with and by now everything goes on well and I have find some gold coins by using such kind of gold metal detector.not only are you a dredge, but a gold dredge at that, i think you have joined the wrong forum.

[Padmei]

WTF?

Buy detoctor of gold me from good rates for friendly perosns. i use to pay for tings like motorbikes:confused:

[SMOKEU]

Being an old skool bike, my SRAD has a horizontal bar for the windscreen over the handlebars. 15mm in diameter, so I fitted a RD mounting bracket to it. I use wrap around earphones to hear it. It works pretty well.

[rastuscat]

We mount ours on the front and rear shelves.

Brand is Stalker.

It detects speeds of vehicles travelling toward and away, in both front and rear modes.

The ones stopped for any reason at all are less likely to gain the benefit of discretion, if the detector is visible. E.g. someone gets stopped for some minor, nit picking offence for which a warning normally happens. Except there's a detector. So there's a ticket. Kind of makes up for the ones they have avoided by using it.

Ho hum.

[SMOKEU]

The ones stopped for any reason at all are less likely to gain the benefit of discretion, if the detector is visible. E.g. someone gets stopped for some minor, nit picking offence for which a warning normally happens. Except there's a detector. So there's a ticket. Kind of makes up for the ones they have avoided by using it.


That's discrimination.

[nzmikey]

We mount ours on the front and rear shelves.

Brand is Stalker.

It detects speeds of vehicles travelling toward and away, in both front and rear modes.

The ones stopped for any reason at all are less likely to gain the benefit of discretion, if the detector is visible. E.g. someone gets stopped for some minor, nit picking offence for which a warning normally happens. Except there's a detector. So there's a ticket. Kind of makes up for the ones they have avoided by using it.

Ho hum.

Hold up ... SO you are all nice like & then spot the RD & it turns into a Naaa fuck it, he as a detector he can afford a ticket :wacko:

[Bassmatt]

That's discrimination.

I think the term officially enorsed by the New Zealand Police is " Discretion".

[imdying]

That's discrimination.No, it's called discretion :laugh:

[St_Gabriel]

We mount ours on the front and rear shelves.

Brand is Stalker.

It detects speeds of vehicles travelling toward and away, in both front and rear modes.

The ones stopped for any reason at all are less likely to gain the benefit of discretion, if the detector is visible. E.g. someone gets stopped for some minor, nit picking offence for which a warning normally happens. Except there's a detector. So there's a ticket. Kind of makes up for the ones they have avoided by using it.

Ho hum.

So what you're saying is that if you have a radar detector, don't bother being nice or polite because you're getting the ticket regardless? :laugh:

[Flip]

Here is mine.....

[pritch]

if the detector is visible. E.g. someone gets stopped for some minor, nit picking offence for which a warning normally happens. Except there's a detector. So there's a ticket. Kind of makes up for the ones they have avoided by using it.


Funny, I was present when a similar conversation took place. The case was put the people with detectors get tickets when others would not.
Generally, of course that's bollocks. The cops don't usually get to talk to people with detectors - unless there's gremlins in the works.

On a different but related topic. I don't believe all the crap salesmen tell me when they are trying to sell me something. The :Police:, however, seem to suck it all up like a sponge... I guess it's not their money?

[nzmikey]

This is what I want but I cant afford .....
http://www.radars.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=211

SO the next best thing is EYES :rolleyes:

[Jantar]

.... The case was put the people with detectors get tickets when others would not.
Generally, of course that's bollocks. The cops don't usually get to talk to people with detectors - unless there's gremlins in the works.....

Anyone who believes Radar detectors prevent tickets is seriously misinformed. Radar detectors do assist in avoiding tickets, only when there is other traffic around. Anytime that you are the only vehicle in the area, the radar dectector is only useful in telling you that the cop has already locked onto your speed.

I have found that when riding with a radar detector fitted I tend to ride slower than when I don't have one as I am more aware of speed and other traffic, and that is where the radar detector helps avoid tickets.

[steve_t]

Anyone who believes Radar detectors prevent tickets is seriously misinformed. Radar detectors do assist in avoiding tickets, only when there is other traffic around. Anytime that you are the only vehicle in the area, the radar dectector is only useful in telling you that the cop has already locked onto your speed.

I have found that when riding with a radar detector fitted I tend to ride slower than when I don't have one as I am more aware of speed and other traffic, and that is where the radar detector helps avoid tickets.

People who think having a radar detector is a licence to speed are idiots. What about Instant On? What about Laser? If you're dumb enough to get caught speeding while using a radar detector, you definitely deserve that ticket.

[imdying]

People who think having a radar detector is a licence to speed are idiots. What about Instant On? What about Laser? If you're dumb enough to get caught speeding while using a radar detector, you definitely deserve that ticket.When you upgrade to a big boys bike you'll find that it's more of a get the fuck out of Compton detector. It goes off, you go WOT :laugh: (yeah yeah, I'm taking the mick)

[scumdog]

Hold up ... SO you are all nice like & then spot the RD & it turns into a Naaa fuck it, he as a detector he can afford a ticket :wacko:

Yup, - it's in the rules!!:laugh:

[scumdog]

That's discrimination.


Nope, just part of the game sonny, part of the game...<_<

[pritch]

Anytime that you are the only vehicle in the area, the radar dectector is only useful in telling you that the cop has already locked onto your speed.


I don't know how well your detector works, but that absolutely does not apply to mine.

Perhaps you should invest in a better detector? :whistle:

[Jantar]

I don't know how well your detector works, but that absolutely does not apply to mine.

Perhaps you should invest in a better detector? :whistle:
Maybe you are right. What detector is it you use that tells you a cop has radar even when it's on standby in instant on mode?

[pritch]

Maybe you are right. What detector is it you use that tells you a cop has radar even when it's on standby in instant on mode?

The local constabulary don't seem to bother much with instant on, and on every occasion I have encountered it I was actually doing less than 100kph at the time.

If there is other traffic around you will generaly get warning that there is a radar operating.

My main concern is that when overtaking my speed can become what might be officially considered excessive. ( But it is called the wrong side of the road for a reason.) In that situation I should have adequate visibility, or I'm doing it wrong.

The detector is still well worth having.

[Jantar]

....detector is still well worth having.
Agreed, Just don't rely on it saving your arse on all occassions.

[Dave-]

if you're travelling at FTL speeds you wont need to mount one behind you due to the warp in the space time continuum.