Detectors still useful?

**tamarillo** · 26th October 2010, 15:21

Looking at detector BUT some stuff suggests that NOTHING detects latest method they have of leaving camera on HOLD and then zapping you when they see you. Most cops around here are on clear empty roads and I rather think this is what they do so don't want to waste money. What is latest news on them?

**boman** · 26th October 2010, 15:40

I have an Beltronics STI. I have yet to have the Detector pick up a cop that I have not already seen. But it has picked up a laser, but I never saw the cop at all.

**marty** · 26th October 2010, 15:58

search 'low-powered radar'. the new vans have very low output k-band radars - you will pick them up from around 100m if you are lucky. the days of high powered Ka fixed cameras are gone-burger.

**steve_t** · 26th October 2010, 16:02

I also have a Bel STI and it picks up police car Ka band radar detectors from MILES away!! The new super low powered van cameras don't get picked up until you're right on top of them though

I'm pretty tempted to turn off K band detection as the vans are relatively easy to spot if you have your wits about you (even though they are now being hidden in sneaky areas). Laser, if you get hit with an actual cop using a laser, you're done anyway. Weirdly enough there's a few areas that will consistently trigger a laser alert but not cos there's a cop there.
The cops using instant-on will be able to ping you cos the detector will only detect a radar if there's a signal to detect.
If you get a RD, it's not a licence to switch your eyes and brain off

**Stormer** · 26th October 2010, 17:03

Unless you are one of the mind numbed sheeple masses that obey the posted speed limit to the last decimal point, I would consider a good detector to be mandatory for relaxed riding pleasure!

**carbonhed** · 26th October 2010, 18:05

A detector isn't a "get out of jail free" card. "Instant on" is a problem so you can't just barrel on down an empty highway and expect to be safe. You have to use your brain. Ideally you want a "rabbit' about half a click up the road who'll flush out the cop and then you'll have plenty of time to "check" your speed

There's still plenty of cops who use constant on though and in moderate traffic, even if they do use "Instant on" they're shooting often enough that you get plenty of warning.

Laser is like IO but you can get scatter if they target someone else and even if they do shoot you they may not get a lock instantly giving you half a chance.

The new camera vans don't really bother me because you can see them usually and they operate in areas that I don't speed much anyway.

A detector means you'll never again blunder across some fat arsed, doughnut munching, numbnuts running constant on next to a speed limit change or at the end of a passing lane... and that's a good thing

I've used V1's, STi's and X50's. At present I've got an STi and it has tremendous range but for a bike I reckon an X50, which is quite a bit cheaper, is perfectly adequate.

**sinned** · 26th October 2010, 18:33

Originally Posted by tamarillo

Looking at detector BUT some stuff suggests that NOTHING detects latest method they have of leaving camera on HOLD and then zapping you when they see you. Most cops around here are on clear empty roads and I rather think this is what they do so don't want to waste money. What is latest news on them?

A good detector (STI) is not a waste of my money but might be for you. It all depends on how lucky you feel, how fast you ride, how much you ride, where you ride - I could go on. If you can't afford a detector you probably also can't afford a ticket. Sure if you speed all the time or don't carefully choose where you speed you will get pinged with or without a detector. They do save some tickets.

I followed a cop a week ago from Waioru to Taihape and he/she was using instant on to check most vehicles - it was light traffic. Checked my speed to on one straight even though I was about 800 meters behind. If you had been speeding on that road you would have got pinged with or without a detector. Basic rule is never speed on on a clear road, especially approaching the brow of a hill. But if there is traffic in front of you with a detector it is usually okay to quickly close the gap on the vehicle in front as that provides a barrier.

**SMOKEU** · 26th October 2010, 18:34

Originally Posted by boman

I have an Beltronics STI. I have yet to have the Detector pick up a cop that I have not already seen. But it has picked up a laser, but I never saw the cop at all.

Either I call bullshit or the detector is phucked, or it's mounted in the wrong place. A mate of mine has the same model one and it picks up the fuzz from up to several kms away.

**Damantis** · 26th October 2010, 19:00

I only use a cheapo cobra detector and it has saved me plenty of tickets. It was one of the cheapest I could find that has a headphone jack. Your eyes are definitely the best detector though. A well set up speed trap wont emit any signal till the cops decide to clock you, so fast, blind corners and brows of hills can be risky. Only way they can clock you in heavy traffic is with laser, tho you may detect scatter if they are tagging drivers ahead before you. Aot of getting away with a bit of extra speed comes down to doing it where its hard for the popo to hide or do a U turn ( Median barriers etc. )

**TimeOut** · 27th October 2010, 05:16

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Either I call bullshit or the detector is phucked, or it's mounted in the wrong place. A mate of mine has the same model one and it picks up the fuzz from up to several kms away.

Agreed I've picked a cop up 12km away (STi), he'd left his radar on while dealing with a customer.
Even when they are using instant on you can get up to 6 warnings

**DMNTD:Me** · 27th October 2010, 05:25

Originally Posted by TimeOut

Agreed I've picked a cop up 12km away (STi), he'd left his radar on while dealing with a customer.
Even when they are using instant on you can get up to 6 warnings

Willing to bet your license on that?

**SMOKEU** · 27th October 2010, 07:44

Originally Posted by Dumpty

Willing to bet your license on that?

Certainly.

**DMNTD:Me** · 27th October 2010, 17:55

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Certainly.

Well you may as well post your license into the cops now man,serious.
'Instant on' is used more often than not these days therefore despite what was posted, you will inevitably lose the 'battle'.
Despite what some believe/post...cops are generally very smart people and know their jobs well.
I own a high end radar detector and if I believed it was fool proof then I would no longer have a license, or job.

**SMOKEU** · 27th October 2010, 17:57

Originally Posted by Dumpty

Well you may as well post your license into the cops now man,serious.
'Instant on' is used more often than not these days therefore despite what was posted, you will inevitably lose the 'battle'.
Despite what some believe/post...cops are generally very smart people and know their jobs well.
I own a high end radar detector and if I believed it was fool proof then I would no longer have a license, or job.

6 years of driving, 3 years of riding and I have never received an infringement notice for exceeding any speed limits. I only got a radar detector this year, and I don't exactly nanna it all the time.

**DMNTD:Me** · 27th October 2010, 18:00

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

6 years of driving, 3 years of riding and I have never received an infringement notice for exceeding any speed limits. I only got a radar detector this year, and I don't exactly nanna it all the time.

Oh I am a nana but sweet as, just sharing my (vast) experience is all.