Radar

[Jackrat]

OK, so who has any real life experiance with Radar Detectors.
Don,t bother repeating what ya, mates,brothers,cousins,mums,dad told ya,cause thats crap.And if ya, trying to sell one,keep that to ya, self to,cause thats even more crap.Who has one and how well does it work in real life,IE Camera vans,sneaky coppers hiding behind a tree,ect.
Don,t bother with the mistical cop who knows how to use an eagle properly,I want to know how they really work.Will they pick up the cop trailing you for some distance ?? And how much real time do you have to react.
Thanks.

[Marmoot]

Escort8500 for almost a year now.

Saved me about 8-10 times already from "10-20kph over" situations.
In a straight plain, detections ranged to about 2.2km (as tested in a stretch of road in Hamilton and some parts of S.Island).
Gives about 6-10 seconds warning for mobile (van) speed cameras in the Auckland Mway; saved me twice from "speeding due to innatention" (careless driving?).

Still doesn't give much confident if you think about the instant-on cops (I don't brake that good) and laser (They'll get your speed right when they squeeze that trigger), hence I don't mainly use it for speeding. Only for awareness (hey hey I dont need to stare to my speedo) and perfect for confident overtaking maneuvres in open roads.

If I want to speed, I'll go to the backroads where there's no traffic and unplug the damn detector. If I get caught, I guess I deserve it.

[wkid_one]

Generally very good. As per Marmoot - I run the 8500. Generally gives you plenty of warning of the cops running the Ka radar. If they are on instant on or stationary using the laser you are fecked - jammer is the only thing that will give you any hope here.

IN saying that - the majority of cops are too fecken lazy to run in instant on mode - most just run with the radar on - seldom do I pass a cop and not have the detector go if when they are carrying a unit. They work to the law of averages - most people don't have detectors.

Cameras they will generally give you about 100-150m from a mobile (not Fixed - as these use the ripple strip NOT Ka) - depending on how cunning the cop has set the van up.....if they tuck it in - you will obviously get less distance warning.

8500 is pretty good - to the point whereby you can get a Ka hit and think it is a false - only to catch up with the cop who is 4-5 cars ahead of you. This is common in the hills and valleys in the central north island - where a cop will crest a hill and broadcast the Ka signal unimpeded for miles. Bel Valentine is the same.

I agree with Mar - given the focus of the cops using Laser in the 'hot spots' - the radar is useless. It is good on the open road if you intend to cruise at say 120-125kph as you have enuf time to brake, but not for out and out hooning.

I am running a jammer at the moment in the work car - and this tends to work better than the detector for confidence. Hard wired in under the front grill - with an on/off toggle switch under the steering wheel and a speaker in the dash - seems to do the trick. Much more preferrable than the detector imho.

The other option is to travel everywhere faster than the Ka units register?? But I think that would raise a cops suspicions.

[k14]

Yeah, i've had a Bel 985 for about 6 months now. Has saved me and my mates numerous amounts of times.

Just the same as wkid and marmoot. If the cop isn't lazy and does pulses the radar then you are screwed, same for laser. But it is good for the speed cameras and cops on the side of the road.

But it is costly, if you want to get one dont go cheap cause with radars you get what you pay for. If you arent going to get either the Valentine 1 the Escort Passport 8500 or a Bel 985/990 then you are wasting your time. All of those have a similar level of performance, they just have a few different features from each other.

[Jackrat]

Thanks for your replys fella,s.
They were just what I was looking for.Now another question.
Are jammers legal,and do they give a warning when they are at work,Does the cop know he has been jammed??
Thanks again.

[wkid_one]

They do give a warning similar to a detector.

Technically they are illegal if you read the Land Transport Act as running with equipment that interferes with the Police speed detection equipment is illegal.

Section 55. Tampering with vehicle surveillance equipment--- (1) A person
commits an offence if the person---
(a) Tampers with approved vehicle surveillance equipment; or
(b) Interferes with---
(i) Approved vehicle surveillance equipment; or
(ii) The operation of approved vehicle surveillance equipment.

They key phrase here is 55.1.b.ii - interferes with operation of approved vehicle surveillance equipment. By the letter of the law - this makes jammers illegal as it effective prevents the equipment from taking a reading of your speed - whereas detectors only alert you to the presence of something operating on the Ka band. However- I haven't heard of anyone being convicted for using one - yet!

And yes - if the cop is any good - he will know he is being jammed.

[spudchucka]

For the price you pay for these things I just don't recon they are worth it. I would rather spend the $900 + bucks on my bike.

Drive with common sense and your eyes open and you just won't get caught speeding. I haven't had a speeding ticket for roughly 20 years, (showing my age).

Besides this I can tell you that one of the favourite items for thieves to steal from cars is a Radar Detector. Why put yourself at risk by having one.

As I've said before if the cop is using the speed detection equipment correctly, your detector will not save you. Best defence is to drive with your eyes open.

[wkid_one]

I disagree Spud (funny that).

Your detector only has to save you a handful of times to pay itself back in fines - not to mention the demerit points.

Also - you are working on the assumption that the cops run their units 'properly'. With many one cop HWP vehicles - they are often too lazy to do this. Those driving with detectors/jammers make up the minority on the road - therefore the law of averages suggests the effort involved in doing this doesn't outweight the benefits.

Also - with everything else to concentrate on on the road (idiot drivers etc) - I'd rather have something with much greater and precise vision (detector) looking for the cops for me - one less thing to worry about.

As for having it stolen from your car? Surely people are smart enough not to leave it in plain sight?

As for not having speeding tickets - I went 14 years without one - and got 2 in 2 weeks - both of which would have been avoided if I had the detector on the bike. And both were for extremely slow speeds for the conditions (<130)

You take you chances with your eyes - I'll rely on running my jammer and detector.

[Jackrat]

Hey spud,maybe you didn,t read my original post,The first part of it was aimed at you. :shutup:

[andy1]

Get a Valentine1! for sure the best. had one for awhile now and they rock. :yes:

i recommend no one listen to Mr grandma Spudchucka, either u drive like my grandma or you have eyes like superman.

[What?]

Get a Valentine1! for sure the best. had one for awhile now and they rock. :yes:
To be a nit-picking mongrel (one of my talents...), they are rated a very close second behind the Passport 8500 in every review I've found on this web thingy.

A detector can still save you from instant-on as well, provided that you are not the target. You might just get forewarning as the cop ahead checks on other vehicles.

My detector saved me lots of times. Unfortunately it is now obsolete, so I need a new one. I intend to buy from the USA as it is incredibly less expensive than here. And to anyone who thinks the American market is different to here, where do you think the cops radar gear is made? And do you really believe that they get special spec's for NZ? :no: :no: :no:

[Coldkiwi]

they don't need to cost $900. you can get (read, I have) the 8500 off the net in this country for just over $600 all inclusive. thats about two decent speeding tickets by my reckoning.

well worth it... I've had about 1km+ warning on a mobile van down by matamata.. i could barely see the van when the detector went nuts!

[mangell6]

ColdKiwi

$600 is only ONE speeding ticket.

Blackbird has a radar detector and has 'assisted' him on numerous occasions, and JackRat I can provide the email where he told me, quite a good laugh really. :)

[Marmoot]

I'd put my money on Valentine1, sacrifice a (very) little bit of detection range to those flashy arrows. Those arrows indicate where the signal comes from, thus enable you more to judge if it is a false alarm or not.
Too bad Val1 is too pricey for me.

As for the "not getting ticket", things have changed so much lately. 4 years ago you can cruise 130-140 all the way from Auckland to Hamilton anytime of day of the week of the year without even the 1% chance of getting caught. Today, if you do that and not get caught, you are quite lucky. And, maybe next year if you cruise at the speed limit and not get caught you would be considered very very lucky. Roadside taxation got to its brutal times in less than the last 3 years.

I'm not worried about speeding. I'm very worried about inattentive speed creep, and for me staring down the speedo 90% of the time is just unsafe. (especially in a car, since your foot is much less sensitive than your wrist).

[XRNR]

I'm not worried about speeding. I'm very worried about inattentive speed creep, and for me staring down the speedo 90% of the time is just unsafe. (especially in a car, since your foot is much less sensitive than your wrist).

Aint that the truth!


(Doesn't fit Jackrats eligibility of a valid post but others may be interested.)

www.radartest.com
http://www.radar-detectors.com/products/motorcycle-radar-detectors/default.asp

[Motu]

As much as I despise them - the cruise control in my car is pretty cool...set to 100kph,problem solved.

[spudchucka]

Hey spud,maybe you didn,t read my original post,The first part of it was aimed at you. :shutup:

Which bit exactly did you intend for me?

This bit: OK, so who has any real life experiance with Radar Detectors.

Not much really, however I've seen a lot of mystified owners of radar detectors wondering why they got caught and cursing the day they bought the damn thing.

Or this bit?: Don,t bother repeating what ya, mates,brothers,cousins,mums,dad told ya,cause thats crap.And if ya, trying to sell one,keep that to ya, self to,cause thats even more crap.Who has one and how well does it work in real life,IE Camera vans,sneaky coppers hiding behind a tree,ect.

I only ever speak from my own experiences and I'm not trying to sell anything.

Have a happy new year :sunny:

[spudchucka]

I disagree Spud (funny that).

Hey wicked,

I'm not trying to start an arguement but,

you are working on the assumption that the cops run their units 'properly'. With many one cop HWP vehicles - they are often too lazy to do this.

How can you qualify a statement like this, have you any experience on the other side of the red & blue flashing lights?

I have to dissagree most Highway cops take their job very seriously and are totally professional. The poor old general duties cop on the other hand is racing around refereeing domestics etc and will usually just leave the radar on constantly and chance it to luck.

As for having it stolen from your car? Surely people are smart enough not to leave it in plain sight?

Without a word of a lie there are a lot of very dumb people who own radar detectors and constantly loose them to thieves.

Go figure!!!!

Have a great new years. :)

[Timber020]

Hey wicked,


you are working on the assumption that the cops run their units 'properly'. With many one cop HWP vehicles - they are often too lazy to do this.

How can you qualify a statement like this, have you any experience on the other side of the red & blue flashing lights?

I have to dissagree most Highway cops take their job very seriously and are totally professional. The poor old general duties cop on the other hand is racing around refereeing domestics etc and will usually just leave the radar on constantly and chance it to luck.

I have operated police radar equipment on patrol and been on patrol with a few different officers, most are on/off users, they seldom leave them on but do use them frequently enough for a detector get gather enough radar "splash" and warn the drivers. Its actually good news that cops are trying to bust more people on the road, well good news for detector users, more "on" use, more splash, more warning for those with detectors. The officers I knew would wait until they saw a car doing a reasonable rate of knots, I think they are not so hesitant on the trigger any more.

Gots to gets me a detector!

[k14]

Yeah, definately worth the money in my opinion.

If you are getting one for your bike, get a Passport 8500. They have a headphone jack so you can hear the beeping when you are cruising. I can sometimes hear the beep when the volume is turned up to full on my Bel 985 at around 100kph if there isnt any wind and no other traffic around. But it isnt the best. I am going to try and wire in a headphone plug sometime.

I picked mine up on trademe for $540 earlier this year. I saw it is a car audio shop a few weeks later for $1300 :shit: so just keep looking on trademe for a bargain. Here's one http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/listings/0001-0877-1236-/auction-7903550.htm

There are probably a few others aswell.

[Jackrat]

Ok so I guess the over all opinion of the better ones is good.
I did realise that there was a lot of difference between the cheap ones and the costly ones,but as has been pointed out they must pay for themselfs.
I just came back from a short ride out to Pukekawa-mercer-home in Waiuku.
I tryed out Motu,s favorite corner on the approach hill to pukekawa 110 in 100 out,There are a couple of good bumps half way round that got the XS moving about a bit :eek5:,A moden bike would love it but.
When I got down to Mercer I sat and watched a cop ping four cars in about twenty minites,He was heading toward Huntly then coming back again on the tail of a car within minites,then he would head off an do it all again.He must just love that 80Km area,an I guess none of them cars had jammers or detectors.Interesting to watch but. :rolleyes: :D
Have a good new year all.

[XRNR]

I have operated police radar equipment on patrol and been on patrol with a few different officers...

Gots to gets me a detector!

I make the assumption that you like a few other people I have noticed on this site appear to be Mr Plod in sheep's clothing, forgive me if I am wrong.

Riding a GSXR (not really a commuter bike) and a statement like Gots to gets me a detector!, it would appear that you encroach into the certain death zone of "above the legal speed limit".

How do you reconcile "I have operated police radar equipment on patrol"? with your own apparent willingness to speed?

[merv]

I have operated police radar equipment on patrol and been on patrol with a few different officers, most are on/off users, they seldom leave them on but do use them frequently enough for a detector get gather enough radar "splash" and warn the drivers. Its actually good news that cops are trying to bust more people on the road, well good news for detector users, more "on" use, more splash, more warning for those with detectors. The officers I knew would wait until they saw a car doing a reasonable rate of knots, I think they are not so hesitant on the trigger any more.

Gots to gets me a detector!

So are you a cop or have you been a cop? If so, what gets me is the fact that you say "Gots to get me a detector" presumably meaning that you too think the speed limit laws and policing of them is an ass and they are inappropriate for our country. I've known other cops that ride big bikes and speed regularly and I don't understand how they can hold down their jobs and still sleep at night thinking they have done the right thing. One guy operated a speed camera car too yet rode his Suzuki 1100 at 180+ a lot of the time. How can anyone's conscience let them lead such a hypocritical life?

I think its high time the cops concentrated on obviously dangerous driving and stopped worrying about petty speeding. Like doing 120km/hr on the Wellington motorway in quiet times is dangerous - yeah right. Do we really need speed limits at all on the open road that's the question? Long straight wide roads are much safer at a high speed than skinny little winding roads but we are told they are safe at the same speed. I don't think so. How do we get some sensibility into this issue?

Its the same walking for that matter, walk down Lambton Quay in a quiet time you can walk fast, try that at lunch hour on a work day and you are having to weave in and out of the crowds. If you start bumping into people or get close to it, that's dangerous walking. Well surely its the same on the road? When its not congested and the conditions are right you should not have to go as slow.

[Coldkiwi]

I
Riding a GSXR (not really a commuter bike) and a statement like Gots to gets me a detector!, it would appear that you encroach into the certain death zone of "above the legal speed limit".


I also
a)own a gsxr
b)own a detector
c)commute 22km's to work with both quite happily.. nay, I get immense satisfaction from it twice a day. :devil2:

they're well useful commuting tools but like you point out... don't exactly discourage this 'death zone' riding.... by which I can only hope you mean death of legal riding by demerit points.

as for any cops who speed off duty (I don't know for sure about anyone here so don't take it personally if it doesn't apply) and then proceed to pick up guys doing 120 on a empty motorway... maybe you should get into politics where hypocrisy and a holier-than-thou attitude are essential for trampling others out of your way.

[XRNR]

Timber020: Okay I did get 3500 us dollars worth of speeding tickets in 2 days but I don't think that was a biggie as I was never even slightly likely to pay them...

I got pulled up on my 750 a while back, no license, no rego, false plate, no wof. Luckily I have so many classes on my license and look the part no cops ever notice that 12345 doesn't include a bike class...

I was once again not reg'd, wof'd and had a funny plate on ...

I learned alot, I am in the process of getting my full license. As for registering my bike, im still thinking about it...

Oh & also the bit, practicing racing in the hood trying to swat the birds (feathered).

Hopefully Timber020 will come clean and say its only his friends that are the lunch room monitors, not really him!

I feel similar to you Merv & plenty of others on this site. I used to respect the force but have had the errors of my ways corrected by my peers when suggested I analyse all my personal encounters with them. I have contributed a lot to the Constable On Patrol's salary over time. For what are termed MINOR traffic offences (speeding).

When thinking they would provide a reciprocal service. e.g. assistance with vehicle accidents or crimes committed, they proved more hassle than it was worth. I no longer expect anything from them but trouble.

I wonder if this a new way to reduce crime (stats), be unpleasant to the people who you have pledged to serve, so they no longer come to you for help.

What does spudchucka have to say about that?

[Marmoot]

About Timber020 (if he is a cop), I suppose there comes the difference of "personally living the role" and "just doing a job". I mean, if I were a cop, I would inevitably speed because I am normal but I would also book people up for 120 because it is in my job desc. Can't argue about that. The cops aren't the one setting the law. the MPs that YOU SELECTED are the ones. Maybe it's just the downside of democracy, eh? :blah: Besides, I heard that cops can't exercise roadside discretion for speeding offence anymore (e.g. giving warning only, etc)..... :( And with the "performance-measure" system in place, I am sure it is a hell lot more difficult for them compared to 3 years ago.
Well, I just think that 100kph limit is too low in some parts. And they should ticket slow-drivers more often, not just the fast drivers. If we get $450 for driving 40k above limit, the same should apply for 40k below limit. Afterall, The Most Referred Infalible Andy Knackstedt said once that speed limit is there to minimize speed difference between cars.

About radar, Jackrat, I suggest buying the best your money can afford. That doesn't mean forcing it (borrowing money, etc), but if you have it to spare, buy the upper class such as escort8500, Valentine1, or Bel985/995. The lower ones (Unidens, Stalker, etc) gives significantly lower detection range and that could mean 2-3 seconds at the very least. It is quite marvelous how those seconds mean when you're braking.

For Bel985, I talked to Glen (Boyd Honda, Hamilton) and he got the importer (I think in Christchurch) put an earphone jack in it for free when he bought it. He just said to them he is using it for bikes. Doesn't apply for purchases from US through Internet though, but you can try anyway.

[spudchucka]

Oh & also the bit, practicing racing in the hood trying to swat the birds (feathered).

Hopefully Timber020 will come clean and say its only his friends that are the lunch room monitors, not really him!

I feel similar to you Merv & plenty of others on this site. I used to respect the force but have had the errors of my ways corrected by my peers when suggested I analyse all my personal encounters with them. I have contributed a lot to the Constable On Patrol's salary over time. For what are termed MINOR traffic offences (speeding).

When thinking they would provide a reciprocal service. e.g. assistance with vehicle accidents or crimes committed, they proved more hassle than it was worth. I no longer expect anything from them but trouble.

I wonder if this a new way to reduce crime (stats), be unpleasant to the people who you have pledged to serve, so they no longer come to you for help.

What does spudchucka have to say about that?

Sounds like the original thread has gone and this has turned into a "whinge about the cops" thread. :whocares:

[Jackrat]

Sounds like the original thread has gone and this has turned into a "whinge about the cops" thread. :whocares:
Yeah it normaly does,even if you ask for it not to,but then you were the first to step over the line anyway :rolleyes:

[Timber020]

I havent ever been a cop and am not a cop, (I wish my job was that safe)I happen to have done patrolling with cops at a time that I was looking at joining the police (hey I know in the long run I cant beat them so.....). I spent a week or so with cops on various types of duty.It was very informative and very interesting. I still have friends who are in the force and have a few very good sources of info further up in the management structure.

Gotta say I met a few cops who were pretty much arrogant scum or complete idiots. There was a senior officer who when drunk as a skunk would drive home as he said "I just put the car in "D" for drunk". Or the system that allowed good rugby players to get placement years ahead of those in the normal waiting list as the local police rugby team wanted better players....etc etc etc. Some of the people I know who have got into the police were some of the most mentally screwed up, ignorant, alcohol dependant, racist, self esteem nightmares you have ever met. But there are some damn good ones there to.
In alot of cases, those who can do, those who cant, police.

Useless piece of info for you on the radar, the air cond fans on certain model commodores messes with the radar unit really bad, with the fan on I clocked a stop sign doing near the speed limit! I dont know why it does it but the police couldnt run the air cond and operate the radar at the same time, at least with the ones I rode in. OH some of the jammer units actually help the cops get a better fix on you as well as set off everyone elses radar detectors!

I will admit, on a bike I break most of the laws out there, alot more so since my insight into the police. I have done some damn stupid things but out of the saddle im a law abiding citizen. :Police:

[Timber020]

Check this cool toy out!
http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/listings/0001-0026-1258-/auction-7958854.htm

[wkid_one]

I believe this thread was more about if radar detectors are any good and which one JR should look at - we seem to have digressed (again).

[Marmoot]

While we're on it, unlubed (dry) chain can cause falsing as well. As metal friction causes noise (pretty big issue in remote-control helicopter toys), if the frequency is high enough it can cause small electromagnetic-like signal. This can happen if you're travelling at (ahem....) above legal speed limit.
It happened to me a few times. Once I was riding up Hikuai way when the detector registered Ka signal for more than 10 minutes. No other detectors in our group got the signal at all, only me. My chain was dry at the time.

In RC Helicopter, this kind of interference can cause signal distortion and loss of control. It only needs a single unfastened metal screws or unlubed joint in the rotor to make this happen.

That's one more good reason to lube your chain.

[What?]

they don't need to cost $900. you can get (read, I have) the 8500 off the net in this country for just over $600 all inclusive
Try www.motorcycleradar.com

Works out (at .645 exchange rate) at $710 NZ for the 8500 including a screamer and mount (handlebar - stem mount is cheaper) and including postage. That is effectively alot cheaper than $600 here.

[wkid_one]

Try www.motorcycleradar.com

Works out (at .645 exchange rate) at $710 NZ for the 8500 including a screamer and mount (handlebar - stem mount is cheaper) and including postage. That is effectively alot cheaper than $600 here.

You don't need the screamer as the 8500 is already wired for audio out, meaning it is a piece of piss to wire for a helmet

[What?]

True - unless you don't want / like having a wire running to your lid. I hear the screamer is aptly named, too...
btw - what sort of audio device did you use and how did you fit it into your lid? Earphones do not appeal to me at all, but I am personally not averse to a bit of wire.

[wkid_one]

Talk to CK - he did his the same as mine. Small mono speaker from Jaycar did the trick

[XRNR]

My Thanks to what & Jackrat, $29USD courier costs and the current low USD.

I have found this thread most usefull, (even with the little deviations). (Glad to hear timber020 you are not Mr Plod, A guy like you would really P*** Me Off if you were handing out traffic tickets!).

I hope the Escort 8500 lives up to my expectations. Just got to find the room on the old XR's handle bars. :shifty:

13jan, :D Yay, got it today. Came into the country on the 9th though!

[wkid_one]

Hey wicked,

I'm not trying to start an arguement but,

you are working on the assumption that the cops run their units 'properly'. With many one cop HWP vehicles - they are often too lazy to do this.

How can you qualify a statement like this, have you any experience on the other side of the red & blue flashing lights?

I have to dissagree most Highway cops take their job very seriously and are totally professional. The poor old general duties cop on the other hand is racing around refereeing domestics etc and will usually just leave the radar on constantly and chance it to luck.



Spud - my comments are based purely on the fact of the number of HWP cars I pass that that detector goes mental on. This is good enuf for me. I have literally NEVER passed a HWP car that isn't blasting me with Ka way before I see him. Maybe they are professional etc...however I bloody well know they are coming when I am running the detector. I tend to follow what my experience shows me. I will physically applaud the first HWP car who surprises me. It sounds like your 'experience' is somewhat brain washed by the whole cop 'we are holier than thou' campaign of righteousness.

Try running a radar detector and actually SEEING and EXPERIENCING what they are actually doing - versus what one is told they are doing. You'd be surprised how many of your professional and serious HWP Officers are not running the units properly.

I have driven all over the lower north island - and have only been caught short by police operating laser....never by radar. Luck - maybe. But it certainly discounts your argument.

[wkid_one]

My Thanks to what & Jackrat, $29USD courier costs and the current low USD.

I have found this thread most usefull, (even with the little deviations). (Glad to hear timber020 you are not Mr Plod, A guy like you would really P*** Me Off if you were handing out traffic tickets!).

I hope the Escort 8500 lives up to my expectations. Just got to find the room on the old XR's handle bars. :shifty:

XRNR - you'll love it. Best investment I made.......other than the jammer that is.

Other option is hard mounting it in the front of the fairing ahead of the instrument cluster - most bikes have shit loads of room in here. Gr8 option unless you plan on running in a car as well. You then just run a speak wire with socket to the cluster so you can plug your helmet in.

Also - it means no shagging around when you stop for a coffee having to disconnect it so some degenerate doesn't help themselves to it.

[spudchucka]

Spud - my comments are based purely on the fact of the number of HWP cars I pass that that detector goes mental on. This is good enuf for me. I have literally NEVER passed a HWP car that isn't blasting me with Ka way before I see him. Maybe they are professional etc...however I bloody well know they are coming when I am running the detector. I tend to follow what my experience shows me. I will physically applaud the first HWP car who surprises me. It sounds like your 'experience' is somewhat brain washed by the whole cop 'we are holier than thou' campaign of righteousness.

Try running a radar detector and actually SEEING and EXPERIENCING what they are actually doing - versus what one is told they are doing. You'd be surprised how many of your professional and serious HWP Officers are not running the units properly.

I have driven all over the lower north island - and have only been caught short by police operating laser....never by radar. Luck - maybe. But it certainly discounts your argument.

Fair enough, all any one can do is base their opinions on their experience. I'll stick to using the common sense, eyes open method that has served me well for a long time. All it takes is a little discrection on the riders part as to where and when to let the bike stretch it's legs. $600 - $900, whatever, I'd still rather keep the cash in my pocket.

By the way, I might be a techno phobe but brain washed I aint.

[wkid_one]

Common sense is wonderful - however the opportunities to 'stretch the legs' of the bike are fast becoming fewer and fewer. Especially if you consider how fast the bikes can stretch their legs - with many sports bikes more than capable of sub 4 sec 0-100s and cruising speeds of easily 140-170kph.

Fuck common sense - I will use technology to its best advantage. Why bother guessing when something can take the guess work out of it. My detector (and jammer) have MORE than paid for themselves - and what I can't quantify is the 'de-stressing' value of them. No longer do I have to concentrate on the horizon - I can just enjoy the trip.

[XRNR]

Common sense is wonderful - however ...

It probably works quite well around Manawatu (common sense), but around Auckland & other big centres that have oodles of spare cops floating around. It won't work for long.
Also I don't have the advantage of having a Police ID sitting next to my drivers licence (or fireman's one, firefight!).

[SPman]

Having used the 'common sense" and "intuition" method for the last 30 odd years, I've come to the conclusion that, over the last couple of years, things are getting out of hand, ticket issuing wise.
Now, with the limit being lowered (and who's to say they won't lower it to 30k over....or less, in the future) it looks like a detector is looming hard on the horizon.So, like JR, when I fork out me dollars, I want one that works...well!
Thanks for the info guys.

[Marmoot]

Common sense don't really work well with speed-creep. I have a leadfoot, slow brain and tired eyes so I'd rather not stare into the speedo to much. They hypnotize you they do..... :wacko:

I also heard speed-staring induced drowsiness is not a defence option in the event of crash.

anyway, back to detector topic for jackrat, try Trademe. There are some good deals for Valentine1 or escort8500 there. Also, Paralel Imported Ltd (Albany) sells Escort8500 for $600 (or $650?) brand new. Pretty well worth it.

[XRNR]

There are some good deals for Valentine1 or escort8500 there. Also, Paralel Imported Ltd (Albany) sells Escort8500 for $600 (or $650?) brand new. Pretty well worth it.

I will have to check them out & see what other stuff they have.

Parallel Imported Ltd
7/59 Paul Matthews Rd Albany Auckland
0-9-442 2090

[Lou Girardin]

I will have to check them out & see what other stuff they have.

Parallel Imported Ltd
7/59 Paul Matthews Rd Albany Auckland
0-9-442 2090
I'd get in quick, moves are afoot to restrict their source. Be aware that you may have warranty issues, the NZ importer will not touch them and I doubt that Parallel Imported have servicing facilities. It'll be OK if they have a full replacement warranty though.
Lou

[SPman]

Slightly :Offtopic: but... in the Lamborghini showrooms today and this Murcielago had 2 suspicious sensors in the front....salesman said they were for the radar jammer! :sly:

[Lou Girardin]

2 sensors either side of the No. plate = Laser jammer!
Lou

[XRNR]

My Thanks to what & Jackrat, $29USD courier costs and the current low USD...

Just got the bill for this:
http://www.motorcycleradar.com/products_pg2_4.htm#PKG1

Shipped to NZ = $NZD 627.65. Not bad I thought, course no warrenty tho!

[Marmoot]

Radars, Car stereos and digital cameras.

I picked up a JVC 2-din head unit for half of Driving Sounds' price.
Nikon Coolpix5700 was $1600 when in Queen St it was still $3200.

Third World price, basically.
But more and more Grey Importers around nowadays, so it pays to be more careful.
As for Escorts, I think they're the first "official" grey importer.

[Jackrat]

Slightly :Offtopic: but... in the Lamboghini showrooms today and this Murcielago had 2 suspicious sensors in the front....salesman said they were for the radar jammer! :sly:
Love the head lamps on that thing,Wouldn't they be nice on me bike :cool:

[XRNR]

I was going faster before he zapped me...

...my detector didn't go off...

I would've thought I would've got some signal on the escort because a bike is a pretty small target...

ColdKiwi's post. (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=22075&postcount=96)

And the words of Mr Spudchucka come back to haunt...


...As I've said before if the cop is using the speed detection equipment correctly, your detector will not save you. Best defence is to drive with your eyes open.

Mr, Spud's post ! (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=19723&postcount=7)

[warren35]

To be a nit-picking mongrel (one of my talents...), they are rated a very close second behind the Passport 8500 in every review I've found on this web thingy.

A detector can still save you from instant-on as well, provided that you are not the target. You might just get forewarning as the cop ahead checks on other vehicles.

My detector saved me lots of times. Unfortunately it is now obsolete, so I need a new one. I intend to buy from the USA as it is incredibly less expensive than here. And to anyone who thinks the American market is different to here, where do you think the cops radar gear is made? And do you really believe that they get special spec's for NZ? :no: :no: :no:
Howdy bud.Im new to this site so i dont know if this is the correct place to ask a question but here goes. I have just bought a 8500 locally that was brought in from the U S A. Then read that they arent compatable with our local radars to their full potencial.I can have it modified to suit for $299 but is it worth it. Is there any where i can learn more on this.cheers Warren35 :eek:

[What?]

Interesting question.
Consider that our gaurdians use radar gear made in the USA. Consider also that the NZ market for such devices is small. Tiny, even. So why would we get gear that is different to what is sold to yankee coppers? Would they even make different spec gear?
According to those who import privately, or parallel to "official" importers, there is no difference at all. The "official" importers, on the other hand, say that US sourced detectors are not so good here and need to be modified.
Draw your own conclusions, but I would guess that they took your $299 and just did a bit of programming which you could have done yourself.
Also, even if that extra expense was actually necessary, it is still cheaper to buy ex USA than from, say, radar direct.

Anybody out there KNOW any different??

[Lou Girardin]

Your 8500 will work fine in NZ. The so-called NZ mods are usually to turn off X band. (We don't use it). Some US detectors are biased to K band, but the difference in detection range on Ka band is only about 50 meters.
Lou

[discountbay]

Hi, interesting discussion. I sell high end radar detectors on trademe and often have people talking about NZ modification. It simply is turning off X and K band. Cheers

[denill]

Slightly off subject - but this highlights that it is hard to keep up with technology. :argh: :argh:

Read this little gem in an Aussie paper. They are now trialing cameras in Oz that operate on elapsed time over a set distance. Did not say what the length of the distance was. A few meters or a few Ks???

I have operated a Bel 855sti for a few years now. It is abit outdated I 'spose and no tickets to date. I don't use it around town (It's not like me to be sanctimonious - I reckon you need to be stupid to speed in a built up area as if you don't hurt yourself you will end up hurting some innocent.) but when I head for the open road it is in the WRX or on the ST!!!!!!!!!!

I feel naked and vulnerable without it as it tells me what the thieving plod is doing or not doing.

BillW

[MD]

After ripping around the Sth island last weekend with 2 bikes up front using Valentines l'm convinced to buy one. They gave our group heaps of warning, no false alarms. These guys had a small red warning light fitted in their helmet triggered by a beam i.e. no wires to helmet. Shit hot investment and like a few have said here, allows you to enjoy the ride and watch the road, not the speedo. :ride: There may be times it doesn't help but from what I saw most of the time it does.
So, who knows the best place to buy a Valentine or P/P 8500 with bike fittings?
MD

[dangerous]

These guys had a small red warning light fitted in their helmet triggered by a beam i.e. no wires to helmet. So, who knows the best place to buy a Valentine or P/P 8500 with bike fittings?
MD
Is this what you are talking about http://www.radardirect.co.nz/index3.html and http://www.radardirect.co.nz/index3.html the H.A.R.D system?
I use both and wouldent be without them. I brought it all from radar direct... they sure as hell wernt cheap, but then again neither is lossing ya licence.

[MD]

Thanks Dangerous. I checked out Radardirect. Valentine with the extras +gst cost $1900. More than I can afford at the moment.
Still waiting to hear back from Discountbay.
MD

[geoffm]

After ripping around the Sth island last weekend with 2 bikes up front using Valentines l'm convinced to buy one. They gave our group heaps of warning, no false alarms. These guys had a small red warning light fitted in their helmet triggered by a beam i.e. no wires to helmet. Shit hot investment and like a few have said here, allows you to enjoy the ride and watch the road, not the speedo. :ride: There may be times it doesn't help but from what I saw most of the time it does.
So, who knows the best place to buy a Valentine or P/P 8500 with bike fittings?
MD

That flashie light thing is the HARD system. I have one on my Val. Since it has just died again (3rd time in 9 months) I am NOT IMPRESSED. A good idea ruined by execution. Buy an Escort 8500 X50 and a $10 earphone instead.
Geoff

[sAsLEX]

yeah i had an x50 the only thing to note is that it is a mono plug outlet so your sony buds wont work, you just need as you said a 10$ mono phone??

[AMPS]

Get the Valentine audio adapter and run a piezo speaker in your helmet = foolproof.
Lou

[denill]

Get the Valentine audio adapter and run a piezo speaker in your helmet = foolproof.
Lou

Hey Lou. What's a "piezo speaker" ???
And - where do you get 'em ??

BillW

[MD]

Hey Lou. What's a "piezo speaker" ???
And - where do you get 'em ??

BillW
What he asked Lou. I've received my V1 today but have no bracket to mount it on the bike or any helmet speaker. Shit, I can't see where you plug a wire in to run a wire to a helmet, unless its that tiny hole on the side but that does't look like a plug/socket?

[AMPS]

Hey Lou. What's a "piezo speaker" ???
And - where do you get 'em ??

BillW

Piezo speakers are tiny button sized units used for buzzers, beepers etc.
Jaycar Electronics.
Lou

[AMPS]

What he asked Lou. I've received my V1 today but have no bracket to mount it on the bike or any helmet speaker. Shit, I can't see where you plug a wire in to run a wire to a helmet, unless its that tiny hole on the side but that does't look like a plug/socket?

You either need the audio adaptor which has a earphone plug, or you need to be a bit of an electronics whiz and make up a power adaptor with a speaker take off as my brother did. he may be able to make one for you if you get stuck.
Radar direct supply mounts for them.
Lou

[marty]

Get the Valentine audio adapter and run a piezo speaker in your helmet = foolproof.
Lou
obviously worked for you then lou

[AMPS]

obviously worked for you then lou

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahah ahah
stop it my ribs hurt.
Lou

[MD]

1. Thanks Lou for the tips. I'm getting the HARD and mounts from discountbay to rig the bike up.
2. For those looking for a radar locator (that's the pc word Valentine use rather then "detector", it's not so sinister) I can vouch for Discountbay. Ryan couriered it out overnight to me securely packaged and genuine new product in original sealed packaging. I've had a few chats with him and he has been helpful and will have the accessories for me soon and at the best prices.
ps- I'm using it in the car and kicking myself for not buying one years ago. Would have paid for itself by now*. It's like getting heated grips. Once you try them you would never be without them.
* for the record I rarely 'speed' in the car but have been caught too often by unintentional speed creep (112kph tickets stink !) and I've had shit luck driving for hours within the limit, then overtaking a slow car or truck and "PING" shortly followed by KA-CHING $$$. You can contact Ryan on KB or email discountbay@ihug.co.nz
MD

[Marmoot]

I've had shit luck driving for hours within the limit, then overtaking a slow car or truck and "PING" shortly followed by KA-CHING $$$.

oh yeah....... 2 out of 3 for me..... :angry2:

[sAsLEX]

KA-CHING $$$.

how ironic KA that is!

[R00T]

Many times I spent flying along in the car on empty roads with my now 7 year old Uniden $250 jobbie, it would blip, blip again, then start to go mad, I would back down from the license deleting speeds to just below the limit and a car would come into view, Falcon, look at its dash and there is a 'mufti' box of tricks, saved $500. Same for mobile cameras but a lot less warning, same for dibble sporting a lazer but with ZERO warning, Now repeat at least 60 times.

Though I doubt my Uniden would be loud enough to be useful on the bike it has proven itself a very good investment.

Briefly jumping back to the Police Officer side of this subject, The Police have to cater for the lowest possible common denominator of fucktard on the roads, they have to pressume (given that a lot of drivers advertise the fact) that every road user has little to no experience, no idea of their surroundings, road conditions, potential hazards, and cannot control a vehicle (let alone at high speeds). Thier job is to ping people that are breaking the laws, these laws have been set out to help muppets to drive, just look at all the speed indicator signs we have on corners.
Given that though I do feel that any officer pinging someone on an empty open road in excellent conditions is simply a tosser wanting a quick fix.

[warren35]

Well for the last year or so i have had my warrant over my number plate and its saved my arse many times from speed cameras.I once had an escort 8500 to put on the bike but while i was looking into buying the mounting brackets i found out that there are hugh possibilities of buying one that isnt up to scratch and the only way to find out was to have it microwave tested .This cost a fair bit so in the end i sold it and obscured my plate.I know im in for a good fine if im caught but ive saved shit loads so far.Iwas tailing a dude on an R 6 a few day ago heading to Auckland from Te kuiti and i noticed his plate must of been on a spring or cable as it was faceing up.Now thats on to it.

[R00T]

Similar in the UK, folks were fitting the plate on a hinge, springload it and attach it to a second handlebar mounted choke cable, spot a camera and flip it up...

[Krusti]

I will have to check them out & see what other stuff they have.

Parallel Imported Ltd
7/59 Paul Matthews Rd Albany Auckland
0-9-442 2090

Got me a passport 8500 X50 through a guy on Trade Me, awesome! $585

Coming down from Wellsford other day it went off, thought there must be a mufti car in line coming toward me then patrol car came round bend!

:2thumbsup

[Will]

I was heading home the other day, feeling a bit under the weather. Could have been alcohol related but not sure as I am no doctor. Anyway, I was driving a sportsy cage and only doing 100 ks. Yep, I said I was a bit under the weather. Headed north, up through National Park (more cops on the Desert Road). I came round a corner onto a lovely straight, just as an on on-coming car did exactly the same at the other end of said straight. As we drew closer together, my 8500 Escort detector went ballistic. Only the 2 of us on this road. You will probably want to know that it was a brighter blue Falcon. If I had been speeding, I would have probably been able to "loose" some ks but it may have still been not enough to avoid a ticket.
So the moral of the story is if you don't have a hangover, look out for blue cars in the National Park area.
Good Luck out there.

[**R1**]

I had a Bel...(had) wrked bloody well saved me a heap of times well worth the money, cant compare to anything else as it was all i had. just make sure after you wash your bike and put it back on its fastned properly that is why i had and dont still have...dam thing flew off at the first intersection i wheelied away from expensive wheelie that one better than getting caught tho ;)

[grantm]

I have had a Bel 980 for three yeras and while it is half the price of a Valentine
it has about 90% of the capability. A great unit, it has saved me plemty of times, but like any radar detector they are pactically useless aginst instant on and laser. and laser is my latest interest ( A jammer is a must to work against laser guns....BUT )
It may be of interest to you all that I am in the middle of a court case aginst a false laser reading, and from that incident we may have a devised a product that can be manufactured to produce "false" laser readings, and the device could not be considered to interfere with the equipment as outlined in a post above. This all came about because the "thing" concerned ,( and I am being deliberately vague here due to the commercial sensitivity,) produced a genuinely erronious laser reading on my ute...It pisses one off the be booked for doing 80kph in a 50 kph area when one was not going any more than 55-60k....
As we all know, laser takes its reading from the fastest moving object -ie metal, in its beam ...hence if a device is mfr'd to "travel" at say 150kph , and it provides that reading to the gun, and can be explained away, there will be a sound defence against the laser providing a true reading.
Some further testing is required, but I will advise if we have a viable way of negating laser readings in some circumstances....

:Oi:

[spudchucka]

I have had a Bel 980 for three yeras and while it is half the price of a Valentine
it has about 90% of the capability. A great unit, it has saved me plemty of times, but like any radar detector they are pactically useless aginst instant on and laser. and laser is my latest interest ( A jammer is a must to work against laser guns....BUT )
It may be of interest to you all that I am in the middle of a court case aginst a false laser reading, and from that incident we may have a devised a product that can be manufactured to produce "false" laser readings, and the device could not be considered to interfere with the equipment as outlined in a post above. This all came about because the "thing" concerned ,( and I am being deliberately vague here due to the commercial sensitivity,) produced a genuinely erronious laser reading on my ute...It pisses one off the be booked for doing 80kph in a 50 kph area when one was not going any more than 55-60k....
As we all know, laser takes its reading from the fastest moving object -ie metal, in its beam ...hence if a device is mfr'd to "travel" at say 150kph , and it provides that reading to the gun, and can be explained away, there will be a sound defence against the laser providing a true reading.
Some further testing is required, but I will advise if we have a viable way of negating laser readings in some circumstances....

:Oi:
A VTR100 can't go that fast anyway, what do you need all that fancy shit for?

Why don't you just plaster the front of your bike / car with old CD's like the boy racers do? That screws up the laser doesn't it?

[Krusti]

A VTR100 can't go that fast anyway, what do you need all that fancy shit for?

Why don't you just plaster the front of your bike / car with old CD's like the boy racers do? That screws up the laser doesn't it?

Oh Cool, which one tho, I have so many.Country music would ruin it best? This is the best advice i have read so far. :killingme