Best radar detector

[FloydV]

The two I've seen the most ads for are Escort and Valentine. A working setup seems like it's expensive: $330 for the detector + $200 for a helmet display. Still, a 100mph+ ticket would probably more than pay for the setup.

So, what do you guys use, or do you?
Maybe you don't think they work well enough to be worth the expense?

 

[cutter]

Escort X50 Blue (hard-wired)
HARD helmet display

Wouldn't leave home without either one

 

[FloydV]

Escort X50 Blue (hard-wired)
HARD helmet display

Wouldn't leave home without either one

Where did you attach it on your bike? Was it hard to find a power wire?

 

[dudewizr]

I have mine hardwired just inside the nose. there is a plug that is listed in the schematic as "position indicator" nothing is connected to it and its activated by the ignition.

 

[Rhythm]

There are some good radars dectors out there "but for the few more dollars I would go with the Valentine.

The Valentine offers a directional marker to let you know if a LEO is in front or behind. Which really helps when you just pass one sittn in the bush with his partna waiting for you just ahead.  

With other radars you would have thought the threat was behind and ignored your radar beeping and been smacked across the lipz with a coupon by his partna down the road .
Beside having high marks across the board the Valentine offers future upgrades so you dont have burn a hole in your pocket keeping up with the lastest radar,photo etc. tech  by buying a whole new unit as you will with other radars/lazer dectors.

Just my .02

Holllaaaaaaah

TY



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[Rhythm]

Tucked behind the windscreen as you can see .

 

[Rhythm]

With lazer dection onboard I picked a clear view to pick up any stray rays passing through the vehicle windshield ahead to warn me cuz once I'm hit directly thats it. Hopefully I'll be in the positon I just stated if my lazer dection starts chime'n in and I'm speeding.



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[Rhythm]

For power I just use the cigarette lighter plugged into my homemade stemstand that has a weatherproof cigarette lighter that holds my phone,Gps etc.

This way I can just remove it and use in my other vehicles at will.



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[FloydV]

I have mine hardwired just inside the nose.  there is a plug that is listed in the schematic as "position indicator"  nothing is connected to it and its activated by the ignition.

So, your unit is out of sight and you rely on the HARD display. Sounds like a neat installation. I would have to have the remote display. I don't notice a turn signal indicator half the time.

 

[FloydV]

For power I just use the cigarette lighter plugged into my homemade stemstand that has a weatherproof cigarette lighter that holds my phone,Gps etc.

This way I can just remove it and use in my other vehicles at will.

It doesn't want to vibrate loose from the windshield?

 

[Rhythm]

Nope !  It is fasten by screws, covered with blackcaps screwed into a rubber expandable nut similar to the rubber expandable nut used in our windshield. This replaces the cheesy azz suction cups that came with the Valentine unit.  All that is needed is to do after you have screwed the bolts into the expandable nut is press the opposite side wide portion of the expandable nut into where the suction cup use to go.

Now the unit is locked and ready to go and easy to remove for use in your truck or car.



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[Rhythm]

I cant find the spare expandable nut but heres a photo of the bolt and bolt cap cover

 

[zukracer]

regardless of which detector you go with, the new MC2 from Sportvue is the way to go for the helmet display.... its just a bad anus gadget to start with but then they mix in the signals from the detector's output and flash radar & your current speed in the display

 

[FloydV]

Nope !  It is fasten by screws, covered with blackcaps screwed into a rubber expandable nut similar to the rubber expandable nut used in our windshield. This replaces the cheesy azz suction cups that came with the Valentine unit.  All that is needed is to do after you have screwed the bolts into the expandable nut is press the opposite side wide portion of the expandable nut into where the suction cup use to go.

Now the unit is locked and ready to go and easy to remove for use in your truck or car.

Thanks for the pics. Really helps.

 

[FloydV]

regardless of which detector you go with, the new MC2 from Sportvue is the way to go for the helmet display.... its just a bad anus gadget to start with but then they mix in the signals from the detector's output and flash radar & your current speed in the display

Ouch, $400. It looks really great, but it must have a lot of connections to gather the speed, tach, radar, etc. Right?

 

[HayaVegas]

IN my opinion, if you are using the valentine one on a sportbike, and you are putting a significant amount of emphasis on the bogey directional counter...you are running a risk of being fooled.

If a passport or Beltronics or Valentine goes off..you should slow down until the alarm stops....or until you see the cop with your own eyes. Either way its only for a couple minutes.

If you are using the valentine one in the windshield area and it reads a bogey "behind" you...it is very possible that the radar detector is picking up a bounced signal that came from in FRONT of you...as it bounced off your chest and into the detector.

In a car, - there is a clear line of sight to the back of the vehicle as well as the front.

Radar detectors pick up bounced signals, and that includes signals from the front of the bike that bounced off you since you are in the detector's rear line of sight on a bike.

 

[Toyz]

I have the same mount as Rhythm but went with the Escort 8500 x50. Read a lot of reviews and that's what made my decision...that and saved 100 dollars...I do think the arrows on the V1 are way cool so you know where he is.

 

[Rhythm]

HayaVegas
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Location: Vegas     Posted: Aug. 15 2005,14:25  

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IN my opinion, if you are using the valentine one on a sportbike, and you are putting a significant amount of emphasis on the bogey directional counter...you are running a risk of being fooled.

If a passport or Beltronics or Valentine goes off..you should slow down until the alarm stops....or until you see the cop with your own eyes.  Either way its only for a couple minutes.

If you are using the valentine one in the windshield area and it reads a bogey "behind" you...it is very possible that the radar detector is picking up a bounced signal that came from in FRONT of you...as it bounced off your chest and into the detector.

In a car, - there is a clear line of sight to the back of the vehicle as well as the front.

Radar detectors pick up bounced signals, and that includes signals from the front of the bike that bounced off you since you are in the detector's rear line of sight on a bike.  [/QUOTE]



I didnt know that absorbant material such as clothing reflects radar

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Well in my firshand experience !</span>

I can say for sure that when traveling through construction areas lined with the concrete walls  do  reflect signals from  radar quite well as you stated and are especially helpful when going into a wide turn and you cant see around the turn which has help me avoid a Hiway Coupon a few times (knock on Valentine

 ).   I can personally say from first hand experience I nevered recieved false radar  signal bouncing off my body giving my Valentine a false reading. When I have been hit from the front or rear with a radar signal it was the only reading my Valentine registered .

 

[Rhythm]

Also I cant say how effective or accurate the rear detection on the Valentine picks up with a motorcycle rider sitting in direct line of sight as state by HayaVegas. But I will say that it does register a signal from behind and will let you know that you have past a LEO and the threat is behind.

 

[cutter]

IN my opinion, if you are using the valentine one on a sportbike, and you are putting a significant amount of emphasis on the bogey directional counter...you are running a risk of being fooled.

+1

These detectors (V1 and X50) are exquisitely sensitive and will detect reflected signals from the front or rear. I wouldn't count on the directional arrow either.

A nice feature of the X50 is that X-band detection can be disabled, thereby avoiding most of the false alerts.