Radar detector recommendations?

[Brett]

I have done a quick search and can't find a thread that has tackled the topic of radar detectors. I am after something that can be used on both the bike and in the car. I know the Valentine 1 used to be the bee's knees, however what would people recommend these days, why and how much do they cost?

[caspernz]

Adaptiv TPX v2.0 is the go. Try searching if you like, but it's the only bike radar around. Works fine with car kit. Yes I've got one. Pricey but worth it. Radar Direct stocks this bit of kit.

[Brett]

Adaptiv TPX v2.0 is the go. Try searching if you like, but it's the only bike radar around. Works fine with car kit. Yes I've got one. Pricey but worth it. Radar Direct stocks this bit of kit.

Will check it out, cheers.

[Gremlin]

The TPX is the only one designed with bikers in mind.

I use a Bel STI, the Magnum is a newer release, and throw it in a pelican case, so it's OK in the rain as well.

V1, STI, and an XR or something, all thereabouts at the top of the food chain.

[SMOKEU]

I've got a Beltronics RX65 Pro and I'm very happy with it. Picks up "hazards" over 2km away with clear line of sight. Can't complain for $140.

[EJK]

Will check it out, cheers.

A few months ago I had an Escort Solo S3. Cost me around $400 NZD incl shipping (Amazon.com).

Wireless, battery operated, Ka/K/x/Laser. Detects shit within 1-2km depending on the strength of radar (not TOO far). Weighs about 200-300 grams. Portable as an iPhone.

Saved my license heaps of times.

Have a look. It's OKAY. The benefit of portability outweighs the downside. I wish I hadn't sold mine. :(

http://www.amazon.com/Escort-Solo-Cordless-Radar-Detector/dp/B004S22KFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392632136&sr=8-1&keywords=escort+solo+s3

P.S. Did I mention it's got 3.5mm audio socket so you can connect to your headphones? Good stuff aye?

[Gremlin]

Best detection I've had from the STI is 9-10km. Very often get warnings before the source is visible.

[Brett]

Best detection I've had from the STI is 9-10km. Very often get warnings before the source is visible.

That would be a pain around town though, lots and lots of false alarms presumably. (Although, I would also assume that it has the equivalent of Highway /City mode sensitivity like my Uniden does. (Which is shit FYI.)

[Gremlin]

That would be a pain around town though, lots and lots of false alarms presumably. (Although, I would also assume that it has the equivalent of Highway /City mode sensitivity like my Uniden does. (Which is shit FYI.)
Yep, has modes, including automatic, where you let it figure it out. I never use it around town and always have it in Highway mode (the most sensitive). I live with the false alerts, and this is my second STI, and been using them for several years, so I sorta "know" what's up.

I should probably put the disclaimer that I don't use it so I can speed, but rather use it to know whether the odds are better than average that it's safe to overtake, and also when to keep a closer eye on my speedo. If you use it differently, your experience may vary.

[thepom]

Radar direct still recommend the valentine one over anything out there even the neq ones...

[Brett]

I should probably put the disclaimer that I don't use it so I can speed, but rather use it to know whether the odds are better than average that it's safe to overtake, and also when to keep a closer eye on my speedo. If you use it differently, your experience may vary.

This is largely the reason I want one too. Sick of trying to "safely" overtake at 110kph. Rather do the deal and get back on my side of the road. It take a while to overtake a truck and trailer unit when the speed differential is only 5 or 10kph. Unfortunately, some speed enforcement personnel would still disagree with this.

[nosebleed]

Bel STi

Works on both the car and the bike. Sucker mount on the windscreen of the car, and Techmount Stem mount on the bike.
I leave it on highway setting and treat the falseys as a peace of mind "comms check" to verify its on and receiving.

[buggerit]

Is anyone using a bluetooth dongle with their detector?

[Ntoxcated]

Is anyone using a bluetooth dongle with their detector?

I was using a cheapish one (sorry, can't remember the brand offhand) that paired OK with my Interphone F4. One small downside was that it used the A2DP channel so pairing my phone as well limited it to headset mode (calls only - no music). The other thing to point out is that in this particular model there was a half-second delay. I don't know if this was because it was cheap or whether others will suffer the same. Not a major, but you can slow down quite a bit in half a second.

edit: Actually, that's bollocks - I just crunched some numbers and came up with about 10kph for .5s at -0.6G - and not likely to brake that hard just 'cos it cheeps.

[Flip]

I have a belltronics XR 950. Brillant 10/10, it has detected rozza up to 12 km away. I have never had an warning that I did not believe was a rozza operating some where. The days of false alarms caused by door openers are long gone.

I mount the detector right behind the screen on the road king and I hear it up to 120kph. Which is as fast as I ever go.

I have had this detector for a while, my next one I buy will have blue tooth so it can talk to my helm.

[Akzle]

I don't use it so I can speed,

. .

[Flip]

My harley is not the only vehicle I own and its certanly not the fastest.

[SMOKEU]

What do you lot use for your alert system? I've found these http://www.marcparnes.com/Visual_Alert.htm and they look pretty good.


My harley is not the only vehicle I own and its certanly not the fastest.

Is that a Lotus or something in the corner?

[BoristheBiter]

Yep, has modes, including automatic, where you let it figure it out. I never use it around town and always have it in Highway mode (the most sensitive). I live with the false alerts, and this is my second STI, and been using them for several years, so I sorta "know" what's up.

I should probably put the disclaimer that I don't use it so I can speed, but rather use it to know whether the odds are better than average that it's safe to overtake, and also when to keep a closer eye on my speedo. If you use it differently, your experience may vary.

I too have the STI and i do use it so i can speed and it has saved my licence numerous times both on the bike and in the car.
On the bike i use the HARD system (the light in the helmet) and it works fantastically until night when it just blinds you.

I haven't used any others so can't compare but the STi has been money well spent.

[boman]

I too have the STI and i do use it so i can speed and it has saved my licence numerous times both on the bike and in the car.
On the bike i use the HARD system (the light in the helmet) and it works fantastically until night when it just blinds you.

I haven't used any others so can't compare but the STi has been money well spent.

Same here. Radar Direct sold it too me. If the light flashes, there is usually something around.

[BoristheBiter]

Same here. Radar Direct sold it too me. If the light flashes, there is usually something around.

Yep and Radar Direct sold me the whole thing including wiring harness and mount for the bike.

They're not cheap, but cheaper than no licence.

[boman]

Yep and Radar Direct sold me the whole thing including wiring harness and mount for the bike.

They're not cheap, but cheaper than no licence.

As it has been said, I don't really flaunt the law.

But it is handy for overtaking those who cannot drive around corners, and treat the straights, and overtaking lanes as a drag strip.

[pritch]

Mine is an Escort, good quality but not particularly bike suitable. If the weather is showery I fit a zip lock plastic bag over it. If it's raining I don't need a detector.

I have helmets with speaker, and with the H.A.R.D system. The latter is not as sensitive as the speaker. One KBer uses a Valentine 1 with a piece of plastic pipe running from the speaker on the unit to by his ear under the helmet.

There used to be a site run by an ex cop in the USA which gave good info about what worked and what didn't. Google can be your friend.

I don't have trouble with false warnings, the band that does that is the band the camera cars use. I have turned that off, their radar is weak and aimed across the road rather than along it, so you get very little warning anyway.

And there really are other detector threads on KB.

[roogazza]

This is largely the reason I want one too. Sick of trying to "safely" overtake at 110kph. Rather do the deal and get back on my side of the road. It take a while to overtake a truck and trailer unit when the speed differential is only 5 or 10kph. Unfortunately, some speed enforcement personnel would still disagree with this.
Agree, but you get fuckwits in every job.
I am on my second V1, have had it for years after a son perloined the first one. Still up to the job.
Funny but, no longer use it on the bike, it stays in the Falcooon.
I just use what is on my shoulders which has 50 years of data to call on.
Pick your spot and use that data.

ps Pritch ! you still have a 'Hard system' at your age ????

[BoristheBiter]

I don't have trouble with false warnings, the band that does that is the band the camera cars use. I have turned that off, their radar is weak and aimed across the road rather than along it, so you get very little warning anyway.

And there really are other detector threads on KB.

We were riding back from Paeroa a couple of years ago most of those in front got a ticket from a camera van, my detector went off and i slowed down, didn't get a ticket
It does work with the new vans too but most are so easy to spot.

[pritch]

I just use what is on my shoulders which has 50 years of data to call on.
Pick your spot and use that data.

ps Pritch ! you still have a 'Hard system' at your age ????

The fifty year thing helps but the times I've been most impressed by the detector is when it has picked up a signal from a source that would have been invisible until too late.

[pritch]

We were riding back from Paeroa a couple of years ago most of those in front got a ticket from a camera van, my detector went off and i slowed down, didn't get a ticket
It does work with the new vans too but most are so easy to spot.

I wasn't saying it didn't work on camera cars. It just doesn't work as well, it can't. And since that band is the one with all the spurious crap, I turned it off.

If I was going away on a trip for several days I'd turn that band back on, if I thought about it at the right time. So far though I haven't managed that.