radar detection

Kawabuser,

My lovely wife bought me a V-1 for Christmas this past year and I love it. It's worked great in the Camaro and already saved me twice so far after only one month! I'm going to install it on my bike and am curious about the remote audio - how does it work? Is it a unit/speaker that mounts in your helmet? Any help much appreciated.
 
the V1 is the only way to go. Since I got it I have no tickets now all my buddies let me lead cause they know they will be safe...............
 
I installed a BEL 880 DETECTOR, front &
center on the coppertop; am looking for
feedback on same
 
jc----see for yourself https://store.valentine1.com/store/

I just bought a Bel 945IM (discontinued model) it's battery operated and has a pocket mount option and earphone for motorcycle use. It costs about one half of what the V1 costs. I know I'll get flamed for not buying a V1 because everyone here worships the V1. BTW I also have the Escort-Solo and I like it just fine as long as I'm running stock pipes. Race pipes would require a headphone I believe.
 
V1 remote audio is a small box with a control knob that controls the V1 itself - on/off, volume -- I leave the volume on my V1 turned to lowest setting so no external sounds to give it away in traffic.

The remote audio also has two jacks, a 3/32 and a 1/8. You have to supply your own earpiece for the helmet. I use a 6.95 mono earphone from radio shack stuck inside my Arai where the cheek pad and the wrap-around pad meet. Cord dangles down to a cord I run from the remote audio (in my tail storage space) and exiting at front lower corner of the seat. When I'm not using the earphone (riding another bike etc) I coil up the cord and tuck into the back of the helmet at the base. It stays in there between the helmet and the pad with no problem.
 
SlowHand, can you post a picture of your setup? I just ordered a V1 and it seems your setup is pretty versatile. Does putting the V1 on the screen obstruct your view in any way? Thanks.
 
Utahrider, no, I have the ZG Sport Tour screen, and the clip mostly is under the screen with only the spring portion above the screen. I glued some neoprene from an old wet suit to the inside of the spring and the top of the clipholder where they would contact the screen. Not noticeable, and hasn't scratched the screen in almost 9000 miles. I can still clearly see all of my instruments when the unit is in the clip. If you are still running the stock screen(yuk!) the unit will block your view of the instruments a bit more. Hell, I couldn't see mine with the stock screen, anyway. My wife does real estate, and she is always using the digital camera, like today. If this isn't clear, I'll try to get it long enough to post a pic.
 
I just ordered a ZG touring screen yesterday. I hope to have and install it this weekend, unless all the snow melts...in which case I might be too busy riding. I think I understand your instructions on setting up the clip on the wind screen, but post a picture if you get the time. Do you think pieces from an old mouse pad would work in place of the neoprene? Thanks.
 
UtahRider, the mouse pad might even be better. By the way, the screen installs in 5 minutes. Pull the 2 wellnuts and out the old one comes. Slide the ZG in, reposition the wellnuts, tighten a bit. That's all.

[This message has been edited by SlowHand (edited 02 February 2000).]
 
I bought my wife a Val one for Christmas. I can try it out on my bike. Slowhand, will I hear the audio adequately at speeds above 80mph, when it's just clipped to my windscreen? I have stock pipes and wear earplugs.
 
Richard, I can't hear it at high speed. I wired a helmet with a tiny speaker, and got the module to plug into. Still couldn't hear it reliably at more than 100mph. Some guys apparently can. My ears have been abused by a lot of loud noises, so maybe I'm not the ideal judge. At lower speeds, like around town, I hear it fine, even without the earplug. I gave up on the earplug, but it might work for you.
Regardless, when the unit is mounted as I described, it's highly visible, and I can usually spot the light instantly. When I'm at really high speed, I'm crouched even more, so the unit is hard to ignore.
 
Hey slowhand, wire an open ciruit to your battery then to your a.s.s. everytime the detector goes off have it close the circuit and shock your a.s.s. I guarantee you you'll hear it then...............lol
 
Ouch! Good idea, VegasDude, but it might cause me to open the throttle rather than close it. Do a big wheelie for the cop's benefit.

[This message has been edited by SlowHand (edited 02 February 2000).]
 
I agree with all who recommend the V-1. I have used one for 2 years. Got one ticket on the Iron Butt, and I was stupid on that one. When you use it for about a week you will understand that having a detector that does not tell what direction the signal is coming from is is pretty useless.

When using the remote display, where do you mount the unit on the Hayabusa? On my present bike I have it mounted to the dash. it does not appear to have enough room to put it there on the Hayabusa.

Tom Melchild
 
I owned a Bel. As the Radar guns change from year to year and get better, Bel just brings out a new model. You have to buy a new one, or take a chance on getting nailed without warning as I did. (he let me go) The Valentine is a one-time purchase. You can send it in from time to time and they will upgrade it for cost. My V1 is 4 years old, has some upgrades, and will likely last me another 4 to 5 years. Cheaper than the Bel, in the long run, and there is no contest on performance.
Buying a Bel is like buying a Honda Nighthawk 'cause it's cheaper than the Busa.
 
Forget Beltronics. They were bought out by Whistler not too long ago. Most likely I'll end up buying a V1 in the future. If I could actually test one for a day I could probably justify spending $400. Meanwhile, I need a unit I can transfer between 4 cars and 2 motorcycles. If I went balls out V1 it would cost me $2400 to put one in each of my vehicles. I'm far from a cheapo when it comes to my scoots. I just want to easily/quickly transfer the unit between my vehicles at will.

[This message has been edited by Squid Vicious (edited 02 February 2000).]
 
I too, have a BEL 945im. I didn't know that they were discontinued, but I'm not surprised. I got it in October and by December, I was getting WAY too many false signals. I called the US warranty 800 number and still got someone in Canada (home office).

She told me it would be 4 to 6 weeks for the "repairs". 1 TO 1 1/2 MONTHS? I asked her if they were going to "extend" the warranty a month, since I was going to be without it for so long. She didn't think it was very funny (neither did I - I was SERIOUS!).

I asked her why it took so long and she said that I'd be shipping it to the Niagra Falls, NY office. Twice a week, the NY office ships warranty claims to the Canada office. I guess they have to wait for the "barrel" to come back over the falls! THEN, the Canada office will ship it to the "repair facility"! Why couldn't I ship it direct to the "repair facility"?

I went ahead and shipped it. 2 1/2 weeks later, I got it back. No note, no repair ticket... nothing. Just a box (not ever the "original" box I sent) and a detector. Haven't had a chance to test it.

I wish I had got a V1, but the cost is still prohibitive. I can PROMISE, there's only ONE choice when it comes time to replace the BEL (and with BEL that time WILL come)... that the V1!

[This message has been edited by redelk (edited 02 February 2000).]
 
Got strange error codes. Sorry about the triple post!

[This message has been edited by redelk (edited 02 February 2000).]
 
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