Anyone using a radar detector?
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Garner, NC
Unfortuantely speeding tickets are not to make the roads safer. They are to bring in income for cities and states. Don't let anyone tell you any different. If everyone were to go the speed limit, cities and counties would start to implode from the lack of revenue. I know this first had, as my best friend is a motorcycle LEO. He will be the the first to tell you, "It's all about the quota!"..........anyway, I have the new Escort Passport Max. It came out in July I beleive. It has already saved me twice. In my truck not on my bike. Seems as LEO's around here don't mess with bikes much unless you are on a crotch rocket or acting really stupid. The detector works great and has incredible range. Also like that it auto blocks false readings. Pretty much if it goes off, you better be slowing down.
To elaborate on someone else's comment, you are correct. If you are the lead speeder or on the highway by yourself.....you will be zapped by instant-on. The best you can hope for is that someone ahead of you gets buzzed by the radar so that you can pick it up and have time to slow down. If it's laser, it doesn't matter. There is a very low spread on a laser gun. So if your detector goes off and says laser.....you are caught.
To elaborate on someone else's comment, you are correct. If you are the lead speeder or on the highway by yourself.....you will be zapped by instant-on. The best you can hope for is that someone ahead of you gets buzzed by the radar so that you can pick it up and have time to slow down. If it's laser, it doesn't matter. There is a very low spread on a laser gun. So if your detector goes off and says laser.....you are caught.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,887
From: Newcastle, OK
I got caught doing 71 in a 55, got a stinking ticket! Any you guys using a radar detector? I'm going to have to get one now. I should have been using my c.c. I was shocked when he pulled me over! I didn't know what was going on, but I'm sure it's possible cause I was watching for debris from recent construction. Anyway can't be getting anymore tickets, so I'm in need of a good detector to remind me.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
if you get hit with K, Ka or X band and dump your speed within 2 seconds your good. Anything else your probably going to get a ticket. I chose the Passport 8500 over the Valentine because it was le$$ and I could care less about what direction the signals coming from. Unless it starts off really faint when it goes off I slow down. I dont use it on my bike, if it picked up deer I would lol It has served me well in a supercharged Cougar XR7 I owned
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 930
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville, FL
Most of the time, at least in the Florida and Georgia, they very rarely use radar. Most LEO have laser (lidar) and getting any early detection from it almost pointless. The laser has no residual for the detector to find. Almost all detectors that claim laser detection will simply tell you when you have targeted. When you see them stationary and looking through the gun like a scope, that will be laser. It can be very selective in regards to what or who they target, and obtain a speed reading in less than a second.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 418
From: South Carolina
A radar detector won't keep you from getting tickets, but it sure as hell will reduce the number of tickets you get.
As others have said, laser or instant-on and you're probably caught. I got one laser warning in the cage and sure enough, got a ticket. I've gotten scatter from instant-on and slowed down, and was going the speed limit when I got the full-on beam. Paid for the detector right there.
I, too, use the Escort 8500i - somewhat pricey but fantastic range and great features. V-One is also good, and the new Escort Max looks great, too.
But I have the same dilemma - use the detector all the time in the cage, haven't found a good mount method on the bike. Was thinking Velcro but don't like the thought of it on my bike when I'm not using the box...maybe that's a good project to play with this winter.
As others have said, laser or instant-on and you're probably caught. I got one laser warning in the cage and sure enough, got a ticket. I've gotten scatter from instant-on and slowed down, and was going the speed limit when I got the full-on beam. Paid for the detector right there.
I, too, use the Escort 8500i - somewhat pricey but fantastic range and great features. V-One is also good, and the new Escort Max looks great, too.
But I have the same dilemma - use the detector all the time in the cage, haven't found a good mount method on the bike. Was thinking Velcro but don't like the thought of it on my bike when I'm not using the box...maybe that's a good project to play with this winter.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 2
From: the frozen tundra of the "Windy City"
Ok! I wasn't going to chime in, but after Kebo's comment I decided to. Do Cities make money off of speeding tickets yes, to they tons of money NO, the town I work for in Illinois makes roughly $5 per ticket, the county is the one making all the money with court costs ect ect. For example, a average speeding ticket in Illinois is a $120 fine if you plead guilty, of that $120 the city that wrote the ticket gets $5-$8, the county takes the rest. If you plead not guilty and go to court and are found guilty then the cost is $120 +court costs which in the county I work in is $180-$250. Again all the city that wrote the ticket gets is $5-$8. So is the city making money, yeah, but they are getting rich over your ticket. Although I think the county is!
As far as radar detectors go, they work, if you cross paths with a lazy officer that drives around with the radar transmitting all the time, most officers do not do this. By the time that radar detector goes off your caught. It's cheaper just to slow down, but who am I to say....
As far as radar detectors go, they work, if you cross paths with a lazy officer that drives around with the radar transmitting all the time, most officers do not do this. By the time that radar detector goes off your caught. It's cheaper just to slow down, but who am I to say....
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,920
Likes: 77
From: dallas
I have used a radar detector for years. The newest ones track your whereabouts via gps and via user posts warn of radar traps ahead of time.
Typically I have gotten usable warnings with mine. You still may get nabbed but the radar detector will pay for itself. GUARENTEED
Typically I have gotten usable warnings with mine. You still may get nabbed but the radar detector will pay for itself. GUARENTEED
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 17
From: PA
Yes, even with a radar detector you have to be careful if you are the only vehicle
on the road because of the instant on radar guns.
I have a Valentine one on my bike and it saved me once at night with a trooper
approaching from the rear. The Valentine told me which direction it was coming
from and I ducked into some car cover in the right lane. He passed in the hammer
lane and made a U turn right afterwards.
I also have a Blinder laser jammer on the bike that I use for IBA rides where we
try to complete 1000 miles in 24 hours. It is hooked into my audio system's headset
and even announces the make of the laser gun, wheather it be Stalker, 20/20,
Scientific Atlanta, etc. After it jams the laser gun for 7 seconds it turns off. This
gives you plenty of time to slow down to the speed limit. It has saved me especially
when traveling in South East where laser is prevalent.
on the road because of the instant on radar guns.
I have a Valentine one on my bike and it saved me once at night with a trooper
approaching from the rear. The Valentine told me which direction it was coming
from and I ducked into some car cover in the right lane. He passed in the hammer
lane and made a U turn right afterwards.
I also have a Blinder laser jammer on the bike that I use for IBA rides where we
try to complete 1000 miles in 24 hours. It is hooked into my audio system's headset
and even announces the make of the laser gun, wheather it be Stalker, 20/20,
Scientific Atlanta, etc. After it jams the laser gun for 7 seconds it turns off. This
gives you plenty of time to slow down to the speed limit. It has saved me especially
when traveling in South East where laser is prevalent.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 11
From: Oroville,Washington.
Cheaper to tuck in behind a mine sweeper,and let them get the cite. I find it a lot more relaxing to ride within the limit. If I wanna' get freaky,and bust into 3 digit speed,I have plenty of spots where I can get away with it.Don't need no steenkeen detector.
