Radar detector + tinted screen

[TimeOut]

Yeah this is true. Once I wasn't carrying it, next time it wasn't plugged in, next time it was K band speed camera - little or no warning. There is also instant-on but thats pretty rare to see used.

90% of Ka band detects give you LOTS of warning. I don't use it as a mechanism to speed. I just find it fun to have, and it serves as a reminder to watch my speed.

Steve

The cops down here use instant on at least 90% of the time, the only early warning you get is if there's traffic up ahead.

Even then they quite often won't ping the first vechicle, I've been tenth in a line and was the first the cop pinged.

[CookMySock]

The cops down here use instant on at least 90% of the time, the only early warning you get is if there's traffic up ahead.

Even then they quite often won't ping the first vechicle, I've been tenth in a line and was the first the cop pinged.

Dunno whats going on with that. I've seen instant-on used at me twice in the last two years. Mostly they drive around here painting the sky with the thing.

My rules are, if you can't afford it - don't speed, and if there is any other traffic around - don't speed.

Steve

[roogazza]

Was out on my new(ish) cbr yesterday which came with a detector, came up to a blind crest when it went off so hit the brakes hard few secs later mr plod came over hill, he still got me doing +19, but at least was just a ticket, and he commented that those things dont work as he flicks his rader on/0ff, oh yeah Ive got a tinted screen.

The policeman must have got a lock on you ? When you get down to it, it's a matter of who's first, you with the picks or him with his finger on the button ! That's the game we play. G.

[CookMySock]

The policeman must have got a lock on you ? When you get down to it, it's a matter of who's first, you with the picks or him with his finger on the button ! That's the game we play. G.

Well if the police radar operator cannot see you by eye, then it is unlikely the radar unit can either. It is theoretically possible for the radar to get somewhat of a signal around a corner or over a rise (reflection, refraction), but a "lock" I wouldn't think so, and I don't like their chances of arguing the maths and science of that in court.

Reflecting or refracting a signal normally knocks 20dB off it at least. Knocking 20dB off the reflected signal after the same has already been done to its' outbound leg makes it utterly microscopic and will almost certainly push it well below what the radar unit is used to seeing, and probably below its' thermal noise floor. While the operator might get some indicative tone over a rise, I doubt the unit will lock it on the display, and if it did, I doubt whether a judge will want to hear it.

Steve

[CHAPLIN]

I guess I just wasnt quick enough to react, not used to the detector, managed to scrub off a lot of velocity.Yes I asked to see the reading, so took it on the chin, I havnt had a ticket in over 5yrs, then I buy this CBR and wammy!

[imdying]

Is it worth mounting my radar detector on my CBR seeing that the windscreen has a fairly dark tint, or am I better off buying a new windscreen for it?

Fella I rode with yesterday had one with a tinted screen, it managed to pick up an officer on a side road (had stopped somebody else) about 600 metres away, so yup, works fine

[SVboy]

Mine works fine thru a clear screen and has sooooo paid for itself!! You cant beat eyesight but detectors are a great help.

[CookMySock]

I guess I just wasnt quick enough to react, not used to the detector

Yes, it took me along time to get used to it. Now my response is instant - speed check followed by brake. I turn everything off except Ka band - I'm only interested in the stalkers, and then react instantly to any sound from it regardless.

Steve

[mulletman]

That is surprising.

Your detector will see him over the hill, but possibly not particularly well. If you had your speed fully legal by the time you saw him, then it's nearly infeasible that he pinged you with his radar.

Did he show you his display?

Steve

Like everyone here says tinted screens are fine, it picks up signals from behind as well no probs (Bell RX65),

They dont have to show you there display, they just need to sight it, a mate got caught recently and cop refused to show alledged speed.

Cops are definately using instant on as 'normal' rather than driving around with it on, been 'lucky' a few times this year, for sure marked cars are fairly easy to see, its the muftis thats getting a lot, eg Blue Toyota Camry, Black,Green and a Red Commies that ive seen this year, esp Ch Ch to Coast or to Kaikoura. Oh and a black holden crewcab around Methven way.

[woodyracer]

Fella I rode with yesterday had one with a tinted screen, it managed to pick up an officer on a side road (had stopped somebody else) about 600 metres away, so yup, works fine

i smell bullshit.......we all know you just sit at home and go on KB....all these rides you talk of are just make-believe.....

[ckai]

+1

My understanding is Radar microwaves will pass through plastic or fibreglass easily and you to probably.
As long as there's nothing metal between it and the radar gun it should pick it up just fine.

Pic of my old Busa with detector stuck behind tinted screen. Don't use one on the GS .... yet

If a cop is using a laser you are screwed with or without a detector.

I have the detector inside a tank bag and it works fine. Of course it won't detect laser.

So just to clarify, I could, say, mount my detector under the fairing so it can't be seen at all and it will still be all good?

If I could bring myself to have a tank bag (I'm shallow) that would be an easy fix but I could maybe rig up something inside a fairing or something but the detector not having a clear sight. This would make things a lot easier.

[imdying]

I guess anything in the way will have some effect on the ability of waves to get to the detector... just how much your plastic or fibre glass fairings cut the range of the device, you'll have to test that for yourself. Plastic can't be too bad, they make the body of the unit from it.

[Balrog]

So just to clarify, I could, say, mount my detector under the fairing so it can't be seen at all and it will still be all good?

If I could bring myself to have a tank bag (I'm shallow) that would be an easy fix but I could maybe rig up something inside a fairing or something but the detector not having a clear sight. This would make things a lot easier.

You probably could, but you want to be able to pick up getting zapped from behind so you don't want any metal behind it either.
+ unless you are running a HARD system, you need to be able to see and mostly hear the detector going off. Not to mention you need easy access to it so you can remove it when you park up.

I just used the suction cups to hold it to the windscreen. When they are on properly its quite hard to remove. Never came off in two years of using.

As to visible or not, they aren't illegal yet so ok to have one.... but if you did get caught speeding its not going to help your cause.
But these days, you'll get the ticket 99.9% of the time anyway if you've been snapped.

either way, I'd always make it easy to take on and off. You do that quite a lot if you park away from home.

[sinned]

I guess anything in the way will have some effect on the ability of waves to get to the detector... just how much your plastic or fibre glass fairings cut the range of the device, you'll have to test that for yourself. Plastic can't be too bad, they make the body of the unit from it.

Firstly it is unlikely plastic will attenuate the signal, but metal will depending on whether or not it forms a shield (ie an RF shield). Without all the gear it is difficult to test properly. However there is a way to test your set up: Find one of those X band pole mounted speed readouts on a straight section of road and go back up the road until the detector is just triggering, that is where you can test the installation of the detector. Try the detector out in the open and test the vertical angle it needs to be set to trigger and test the triggering where you want to locate it on or in the bike. Then you will know if the signal is attenuated by the fairing, screen of whatever else is in the way. BTW - in an earlier life I used to know about this shit - now the less I have to do with calculations of 'permeability of free space' etc the better.

[Stormer]

You`re better off with a detector than without...unless you`re one of those absolute law abiding type (clones) who will NEVER EVER exceed the posted speed limit.
In that case, the radar waves may even bounce off your flouro vest and will save you from the ticket and the dreaded demerits.