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Best radar detector?

5K views 32 replies 13 participants last post by  OydnaR 
#1 ·
After a spendy ticket last year I have been thinking about a radar detector. Just wondering what people are using? I would like something small. How well do they work? Will they really save you a ticket? I'm guessing if you get stopped with one on your dash its a guaranteed ticket.
 
#5 ·
I have an Escort passport, had it for maybe 10 years with no problems. I like the fact that it gives me a good Moment by moment voltage reading. I have it connected to a splitter that also has my GPS thus I get the signal in my earbuds. My friend that I have ridden with for 20 years has a Valentine, we get the warning at about the same time. His gives direction, I figure if I am being zapped I don't care about the direction from whence comes the radar. His Valentine also was much more expensive, and he has sent it back for upgrades. He swears by his radar unit. I had a Valentine unit that was stolen and if I were to replace my present unit I would stick with Escort.
 
#27 ·
Splitter ?

I have it connected to a splitter that also has my GPS thus I get the signal in my earbuds. .
I've got an earphone jack on my Garmin Nuvi 750 and an earphone jack on my 9500ix.

How do you intergrate the sounds of the two through a splitter so the sounds of both come out through one set of earbuds ? How much does the splitter cost ? What brand and model is it ? Is it the same thing as a mixer ?
 
#6 ·
I've owned a Cobra and V-1

the Cobra with exception of directional capability was every bit as good as my Valentine that I replaced it with at 25% the price

would I buy a V-1 again, no, but the price to get it serviced when it gets wet is less than a new Cobra

I'm not sure what all the hype about V-1 false alarms is, its easy enuf to adjust the sensitivity of each band



 
#9 ·
I'm not sure what all the hype about V-1 false alarms is, its easy enuf to adjust the sensitivity of each band
It's not a problem in the boonies, if that's where you live. I don't -- and every small town now has patrol car moving radar, front AND rear in many cases. I can't leave town without getting painted three times. The V1 has been seriously leapfrogged in the past 5 years. I don't want to reduce sensitivity, I want to completely block out false alarms and the Escort is the only receiver that does that.

It also has crowd sourcing with an iOS or Android app to let you know about issues miles down the road.
 
#7 ·
A radar detector does not give you diplomatic immunity. Modern radar is very good. If you are the targeted vehicle on the road, and the operator knows what they are doing, it will get you. The detector may give you warning of someone being gunned down ahead of you and allow you enough time to slow down. That being said, it has saved me on numerous occasions. I use a V1 and have for many years. From what I have seen and read, it is a coin toss between it and the Escort 9500ix as far a defence against police radar goes. The 9500 has the GPS feature and it can be programmed to ignore known false signals (eg. Door openers at the supermarket) and memorize locations of red light cameras. The V1 has the directional arrows which I find usefu. Both are about the same price.

Rod
 
#8 ·
I wanted a low key approach so I chose a Whistler 3450. The 3450 has a small control head and a remote antenna unit.

The control head resides under the sun/rain shade.




The remote antenna is mounted out of sight behind the fairing on top of the headlight housing. Sorry, but I don't have a picture of that.

Ron :mrgreen:
 
#11 ·
Laser is the tough one to detect. If the detector finds the laser on you, you've already been nabbed by the LEO. There is a chance that the detector will read a laser aimed at a different vehicle, but don't count on it.
 
#12 ·
Laser can be beat with a frequency shifter, but they're expensive and they are starting to be outlawed. I don't worry about LIDAR, only the state cops have it where I live, and I'm seldom the fastest target on the highway.

So far, they can't use it from a moving vehicle, another good thing.
 
#13 ·
#15 ·
I am interested in WHistler 3450
The last Whistler I had sat mute on the dash while I rode through a roadside police trap a mile from my house. Couldn't return it, it went promptly in the trash. Granted that it was close to 20 years ago, but they're still considered low end devices. Escort has also made some crap over the years, their battery operated receivers included.

The other thing to consider is that the same companies who make the police radar transmitters make the consumer receivers.

The only receivers the big dogs use are Beltronics, Escort, and Valentine. The rest are wannabes.
 
#18 ·
All my past radar detectors have been escorts. The last one I mounted on the bike. In short order the outer housing got destroyed from jars and bumps, guess I didn't cushion it well enough.
My present one is the best bang for the buck Beltronics 955. It's no frills detects everything, so lots of false alerts, I've got'n used to it in my local. Never tried it on the bike due to what happened to the last one.
For me, radar detectors have probably returned more % on investment than all others combined.
No wonder some states outlaw them ... states I've never been to, and no intention to visit.
 
#19 ·
All my past radar detectors have been escorts. The last one I mounted on the bike. In short order the outer housing got destroyed from jars and bumps, guess I didn't cushion it well enough.
I tuck it in the map pocket of the tank bag. You'd think it would be useless for laser, but it still goes off occasionally.
 
#20 ·
I got 10 years of my escort 8500 on a pc sheet metal on velcro tape

Probably figure out how to cushion it better next one

I have a cobra in my car and it IS very sensitive but it talks and has a video display which cant be seen on the bike so useless

I have a radar screamer so maybe should just get another 8500

Would you trust ones on fleabay looks like they can be had for less than 150
 
#25 ·
I have been using the Adaptive TPX radar detector. Had some trouble with the plug into the unit, would cut out sometimes hitting bumps. Called Adaptive but it was out of warranty so I messed with it a little bit and got it working. Kind of expensive but it's the only radar detector I know of that is built for motorcycles. You check out this page...Radar Roy's OFFICIAL Radar Detector Review site! they do reviews.

 
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