Anyone using a radar detector?
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 394
Likes: 29
From: Georgia
With LIDAR (laser), by the time your detector goes off and you can react and slow down, I already have your speed and I'm starting my bike. RADAR is even faster believe it or not, but with RADAR, it's up to the OFFICER to figure out who the RADAR is striking. So, it can buy you a few seconds. I say it's FASTER at times, because if you're the only one on the road, then it's clear who it's picking up. But like one of the other responders said, if i SEE the RADAR/LASER detector or jammer on your dash or in the grill/license plate, you get ZERO breaks. You knew the game when you bought it.
No warnings with a detector. Keep that in mind. Both LIDAR and RADAR travel at the speed of light. How fast are you?
Ben
No warnings with a detector. Keep that in mind. Both LIDAR and RADAR travel at the speed of light. How fast are you?
Ben
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
From: Bakersfield
I use a cheap one from Walmart that seems to work well, it's saved me several times. I bought the mount off of eBay and hard wired it into my bike.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/E0193-Slipst...3e1580&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/E0193-Slipst...3e1580&vxp=mtr
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 203
From: Fischer, Texas
As a retired LEO let me speak up.
'Instant on' just means the radar unit is on but not putting out a signal until the officer see's a target and then turns it on and gets an instant read. So radar detectors are useless if you are the target vehicle.
Cities and counties where I live do make some 'revenue' off of speeding and other citations, but not as much as one might think. Stop and think of all the salaries it takes to process the citations. There is revenue from these citations built into the budgets, but there isn't enough to run the city/county.
Where I worked there was no 'quota', as it is against the law for departments to set quotas. Now with that being said, as an officer you must justify what you did all day long or you may find yourself out of a job. Either write tickets/warnings, catch burglars or answer calls for service. In other words do something or get lost.
I personally wrote a lot of warnings instead of tickets but, let me see a radar detector going off and it was a ticket. Part of a game of sorts for me. I looked at it like if you had a radar detector on you were out there to speed and needed to pay the piper.
So my answer to this is stay at the speed limit and you won't need a detector
'Instant on' just means the radar unit is on but not putting out a signal until the officer see's a target and then turns it on and gets an instant read. So radar detectors are useless if you are the target vehicle.
Cities and counties where I live do make some 'revenue' off of speeding and other citations, but not as much as one might think. Stop and think of all the salaries it takes to process the citations. There is revenue from these citations built into the budgets, but there isn't enough to run the city/county.
Where I worked there was no 'quota', as it is against the law for departments to set quotas. Now with that being said, as an officer you must justify what you did all day long or you may find yourself out of a job. Either write tickets/warnings, catch burglars or answer calls for service. In other words do something or get lost.
I personally wrote a lot of warnings instead of tickets but, let me see a radar detector going off and it was a ticket. Part of a game of sorts for me. I looked at it like if you had a radar detector on you were out there to speed and needed to pay the piper.
So my answer to this is stay at the speed limit and you won't need a detector
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 16
From: Roseville, CA
Valentine One for a long time now, highly recommended but I wouldn't bother on a bike unless I commuted.
As far as slowing down, many road surveys are so out of date that speeds 10-20mph over the limited are easily justified.
And yes, you still have to be smart with a detector.
As far as slowing down, many road surveys are so out of date that speeds 10-20mph over the limited are easily justified.
And yes, you still have to be smart with a detector.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: south of Nashville
Like the rest have said- if you are the target; your caught. That being said, my passport 8500 paid for itself with one save. I was riding through Birmingham and my detector sounded off. As I crest the hill, LEOs were lined down an entrance ramp to I-65 S five cars deep waiting to pull out on targets. I cruised on past the entrance ramp @ 65MPH and passed four ticket writing parties in progress within 1.5 miles.
I do not believe the detector 100% shields me but it sure as hell helps.
The best mount for me is the handlebar mounted Techmount with Velcro and my wife's elastic pony tail holder around the mount platform and detector for added insurance. I paid $79 two years ago...the rectangle platform is much better than the round one.
I do not believe the detector 100% shields me but it sure as hell helps.
The best mount for me is the handlebar mounted Techmount with Velcro and my wife's elastic pony tail holder around the mount platform and detector for added insurance. I paid $79 two years ago...the rectangle platform is much better than the round one.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,516
Likes: 103
From: Massachusetts (NE)
I have a few ... I drive about 1000 miles a week
the vette & HD I use a cordless Escort S2 & switch it back & forth (OK quality)
also have a Belltronics in the HD truck (low quality) hard wired
Thing Is
If you plan on speeding regularly you WILL get tickets
It can warn you of highway traps in advance - even instant on - but you got to know why you got a VERY Quick warning when away from business & homes .... (it was the cop shooting someone else for 1 second) thats where a high quality one works best
Cops in Mass use BOTH front & rear instant on at speed - so they can blow by you at 85 then about 1 mile ahead of you shoot back at 85 mph ... They shoot lazer alot - even at night and miss me alot (bad aim) but I usually do 75 in a 65 which they allow ...
They work best for me when entering a new to me small town - where I don't know the speed limits and the locals are WAITING for suckers, thats where I really watch it and really helps ...
also in Mass we have areas with constant radar on (built into a highway sign) just to slow down the highway traffic (No tickets given) which if you don't know the area it bites
also in Mass the State Police run 2 traps in a row about 1-2 miles apart, so you think you made it by and speed up & BANG - another trap
It helps but if you drive like an *** you will pay
the vette & HD I use a cordless Escort S2 & switch it back & forth (OK quality)
also have a Belltronics in the HD truck (low quality) hard wired
Thing Is
If you plan on speeding regularly you WILL get tickets
It can warn you of highway traps in advance - even instant on - but you got to know why you got a VERY Quick warning when away from business & homes .... (it was the cop shooting someone else for 1 second) thats where a high quality one works best
Cops in Mass use BOTH front & rear instant on at speed - so they can blow by you at 85 then about 1 mile ahead of you shoot back at 85 mph ... They shoot lazer alot - even at night and miss me alot (bad aim) but I usually do 75 in a 65 which they allow ...
They work best for me when entering a new to me small town - where I don't know the speed limits and the locals are WAITING for suckers, thats where I really watch it and really helps ...
also in Mass we have areas with constant radar on (built into a highway sign) just to slow down the highway traffic (No tickets given) which if you don't know the area it bites
also in Mass the State Police run 2 traps in a row about 1-2 miles apart, so you think you made it by and speed up & BANG - another trap
It helps but if you drive like an *** you will pay
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 10
As a retired LEO let me speak up.
'Instant on' just means the radar unit is on but not putting out a signal until the officer see's a target and then turns it on and gets an instant read. So radar detectors are useless if you are the target vehicle.
Cities and counties where I live do make some 'revenue' off of speeding and other citations, but not as much as one might think. Stop and think of all the salaries it takes to process the citations. There is revenue from these citations built into the budgets, but there isn't enough to run the city/county.
Where I worked there was no 'quota', as it is against the law for departments to set quotas. Now with that being said, as an officer you must justify what you did all day long or you may find yourself out of a job. Either write tickets/warnings, catch burglars or answer calls for service. In other words do something or get lost.
I personally wrote a lot of warnings instead of tickets but, let me see a radar detector going off and it was a ticket. Part of a game of sorts for me. I looked at it like if you had a radar detector on you were out there to speed and needed to pay the piper.
So my answer to this is stay at the speed limit and you won't need a detector
'Instant on' just means the radar unit is on but not putting out a signal until the officer see's a target and then turns it on and gets an instant read. So radar detectors are useless if you are the target vehicle.
Cities and counties where I live do make some 'revenue' off of speeding and other citations, but not as much as one might think. Stop and think of all the salaries it takes to process the citations. There is revenue from these citations built into the budgets, but there isn't enough to run the city/county.
Where I worked there was no 'quota', as it is against the law for departments to set quotas. Now with that being said, as an officer you must justify what you did all day long or you may find yourself out of a job. Either write tickets/warnings, catch burglars or answer calls for service. In other words do something or get lost.
I personally wrote a lot of warnings instead of tickets but, let me see a radar detector going off and it was a ticket. Part of a game of sorts for me. I looked at it like if you had a radar detector on you were out there to speed and needed to pay the piper.
So my answer to this is stay at the speed limit and you won't need a detector
During your years of service, what would the speeding offender do, besides possess a radar detector, to sway your decision to issue a money citation vs a warning?
Thanks
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 2
From: Indiana
Not having a detector didn't help me. Nor was I aware that I had been speeding when I got pulled over. Just saying that if I would have had a detector I would have been alerted that I was approaching a trap.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
I've had detectors for almost all my driving life and they do work. As others have said though if using instant on and you are the only guy, you're going to get pulled over. I also have a couple friends that have the LIDAR jammers and they work every time.
I have found that most of the time in my areas, LEO are not using instant on as they are writing reports or drinking coffee while monitoring speed. In these cases, the detectors go off long before you are caught. And the new detectors even let you mark locations of false alerts so the unit stays silent.
I have found that most of the time in my areas, LEO are not using instant on as they are writing reports or drinking coffee while monitoring speed. In these cases, the detectors go off long before you are caught. And the new detectors even let you mark locations of false alerts so the unit stays silent.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 286
Likes: 23
From: Ma
I use a Redline and have great luck with it. If the signal doesn't "bounce" back then they can't get your speed or at least gives you time to slow down. On most bikes there is very little to cleanly reflect the signal. The fiberglass Bat wing and lowers absorb more than reflect. If your not stupid you should be fine.