Over ten years ago I wrote a reply in another non-motorcycle forum and saved it. It is my opinion on driving (or riding) and using a radar detector safely. Some of this info may be obsolete (locator arrows). Also, I do use a detector in my cage but not my bike. Here goes:

>>>To All:

Ok, I have to chime in on this thread. I enjoy driving and sometimes driving in a "spirited" way! I've subscribed to Car & Driver" and other car mags for years. For the purposes of this post, in my opinion there are 3 kinds of drivers: 1) Thinking drivers, 2) "Lackadaisical" drivers and 3) Dangerous drivers (DUI, texting, angry). I'll say no more about #3.

I think most drivers are #2. They are safe drivers but don't give it a lot of thought.

First, I want to echo what an earlier poster said, get a GPS. My Garmin shows the current speed and next to it the speed limit (SL). If you're on a road and you haven't seen a SL sign in a while just look at the GPS and there it is! Yes, the SL info is amazingly accurate. In the rare instance where it shows the wrong SL you can actually update it in the GPS. By the way, the GPS speed is much more accurate than your speedometer.

Second, I use a radar detector. It is just a tool! Not an excuse to speed without thinking! Most of the car mags prefer the "Valentine One", a radar "locater". 400 bucks, but how much do speeding tickets cost? Why does Valentine call their detector a "locater"? It has arrows on the display (protected by a patent, no other detector has them) that show where the radar/laser beams are coming from. Is the officer in front of you, behind you or off to the side?

Almost all the radar out there is "instant on". In other words the officer will have the radar off until he points it and pulls the trigger. If you are alone on the road, the only car he will "shoot" will be YOURS! The detector only tells you you are about to be pulled over! Now if you're in moderate traffic the chance is good the other cars will get "radared" before you. This gives you a chance to slow. Don't slam the brakes, just coast. Watch your rear view mirror for a #2 driver who does not know what you know! I've been in quite a few situations like this where my Valentine "chirps", I kick off the cruise to a safe speed and a short while later a cruiser zooms by me and pulls a car that was ahead of me.

An earlier poster said they were on Hwy 64 west of Manns Harbor (NC). It is a 2 lane road all the way to Columbia (NC). Usually a 2 lane road with no turning lane will be a maximum of 55 mph. I've driven this road many times, I'm usually at 62, 63 max ready to kick off the cruise if the detector "chirps". If I look way ahead and there are no other cars I may set the cruise even slower, remember the "instant on"!

And finally you may notice from my profile photo I also ride motorcycles (and bicycles). On two wheels defensive driving is not an option! The "cages" (cars) are always trying to kill us! In my opinion an experienced motorcycle rider makes him/her a safer "cage" driver too! <<<