Which Radar Detector for Motorbikes?

**Jantar** · 13th June 2005, 22:09

The time has come to equip the black Beast with a radar detector. I thought I had a pretty good idea of what would be most suitable, but then I start hearing about water damage, units needing fixing etc.

So how about some advice on type and methods of mounting.

**FEINT** · 13th June 2005, 23:26

I bought my Bel from the USA and it cost me less than what it would here. You might want to consider.

Read the reviews on the Bels, Valentine and Passport. Then you can decide. That is what is important.

**dangerous** · 14th June 2005, 06:49

I cant remember how my mate had his mounted on his GS I'll have to ask, but I make a mount comming of the mirror mount bolts.

I have the escort which is neck n neck with the V1 but the escort is ment to be more m/c friendly..... but who knows I've been nicked with it and saved by it, wouldent want to be with out it either.

ps: if its wet i take it off dont think I'd risk any detector in the rain and besides in the wet you wont catch me exceeding the limit anyway.

**Gixxer 4 ever** · 14th June 2005, 07:40

As above. I take it off in the wet. You can buy a box to put them in to keep them dry but they are about $155.00 plus GST see them here http://www.buyradar.co.nz/cart/motorbike.htm. Bottom of the page.
I purchased my X 50 from TradeMe. Trader name is Cartertonryan. Sells new detectors and has a great support system. They are about $120.00 less than shop pricing. Has a full warranty etc.

**Lou Girardin** · 14th June 2005, 08:10

If you can stretch to it, go V1 with the audio adaptor. No other detector indicates where the cop is, this feature saves a lot of stress. Contact Pixie for mounts and protective holder.

**RiderInBlack** · 14th June 2005, 09:04

Would a detector "see" through perpex (sp?). Used to do a lot of underwater photography. Homemade waterpoof (to over 100'/30m) housings are not to hard to make out of perpex. If the clear perpex does not effect the detector's effency, then this would be the cheap ideal way to go.

**pete376403** · 14th June 2005, 09:25

Perspex / polycarbonate / glass are all radar transparent (otherwise there would be an awful lot of disappointed car drivers)
One of out party on the recent Brass trip had an Escort mounted in a plastic box, with the H.A.R.D helmet mounted indicator. Something I'll probably get myself, seeing as the margins are getting smaller and the penalties are getting so expensive.

**Biff** · 14th June 2005, 10:13

I don't think there is a 'best' radar detector for a bike. Pretty much any one will do. Just make sure it has a jack socket for an ear phone or a H.A.R.D system as owned by Dangerous (http://www.radardirect.co.nz/index2.html). If it doesn't have one then you'll probably need to solder an ear piece directly onto the speaker cables inside the unit.

I bought a stand for my bike, designed to hold radar detectors/mobile phones etc. You can get them from radar direct or direct from the manufacturer, whose name I can;t remember. but have a look here and you'll know what I'm talking about: http://www.radarbusters.com/products...adar-mount.asp

My advice - buy the best unit that you can afford. In general cheaper ones not only give off more false alarms, but also provide you with less warning of upcoming hazards as their range isn't as good as a Bel of a Valentine for example.

As for whether radars can 'see' through perspex - yes they can. However I did read in another forum I frequent (yup I'm a forum tart) that some people claim that the range of their detector appears to drop when using then on their bike as oppossed to using them in their respective cages. I don't know why this would happen, unless there's an excessive amount of carbon or iron oxide in the perspex, which I doubt.

**pritch** · 14th June 2005, 10:16

Originally Posted by Jantar

So how about some advice on type and methods of mounting.

I've been thinking about this too. The few mounting systems I've seen here were "homebrewed" and looked it. That's OK, but if you have a nice bike a crude mount does detract a little.

This range (there are others) seems to cover most mounting options:

http://www.saeng.com/cockpit.htm

Then again you can always put it in the top of your tank bag :-)

**Lou Girardin** · 14th June 2005, 10:31

Tinted screens will affect the laser sensor.

**XTC** · 14th June 2005, 10:43

There is an add in motorcycle trader for detectors and waterproof cases......

**Gixxer 4 ever** · 14th June 2005, 11:06

Originally Posted by pritch008

Then again you can always put it in the top of your tank bag :-)

true but it can't see behind you. Mr Plod sits up side roads and zaps you after you go passed. I have no problem hitting the brakes hard to reduce the damage. They are not illegal and Mr Plod has to live with that fact. You are unlikely to get any leniency shown to you with one but I have not seen any anyway.

**dangerous** · 14th June 2005, 17:34

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Tinted screens will affect the laser sensor.

Can you explain that one for us thanks........ I have had several false alerts of 'laser' strike and I have a double buble dark tint screen, I cant figer out why this is as the unit will only pick up lida light beams, my only thoughts are that at a certin angle the sun can cause this by deflecting through the screen but why a 'tinted' one makes the differance I dont know.

**RiderInBlack** · 14th June 2005, 18:49

So, in theory, you could easily make a waterpoof perpex housing for your radar dectector, thereby solving the water issue. This you could mount anywhere on your bike that has a clear view forward. So you could mount it between your forks just above the front wheel guard, which would not be so obvious to anyone looking to see if you have one

If you made this housing so that you could easily remove it or the detector out of it, then you could take it with you when you parked the bike (thereby stopping the detector from being stollen). Just an idea