[daxdaway]

I'd say save the money and just look as far up as you can. Detectors just can't do anything but detect radio energy in that one band, and if you had the best one god could build, it'd still not save you 90% of the time because of things like instant-on, line-of-sight limitations, false alarms covering up real signals or annoying you so much you turn it off, and the fact that cops can tell your speed a bunch of other ways. I bought a Valentine One several years ago, and its got to be the best out there. It shows the direction the signal is coming from, number of "bogies" and has all kinds of neat features but aside from being a cool gadget for a tech lover, its pretty much useless. It sits in my glovebox somewhere rotting away. I HATE false alarms!! I'd rather just haul ass and take my chances. So if you want one let me sell you my valentine 'cause it works great and I sure don't want it anymore. Good luck

 

[wwalkersd]

I'll second that. Maybe I hadn't chosen the proper settings, but my V1 was a really good shopping center detector, apparently triggering on the gizmos they use to open the door for you. Drove me nuts. And that's in a cage! On a bike, I think it'd be a dangerous distraction.

 

[5227]

Instead of a laser/radar detector...

Kpaul,

Did you say anything to the cop (i.e. admit to anything)?

You're in the Puget Sound area, right?

Try www.mucklestone.com

 

[pdad13]

Next time you take the controls and let your wife ride pillion.

 

[Buzglyd]

As Nelson on the Simpsons says, "HA ha!"

 

[4940]

My guess is that he accidentally found second gear and was busted for 35mph in a school zone. VWW

 

[Winger4Life]

Huh? I have a Valentine One and it has saved me four times now. I NEVER ride the highway without it.



If all you do is ride in the city, then yeah, you will get a lot of false alarms from any detector...but if you are riding in the city...what is the point of having a radar detector?



A radar detector works on the premise a cop looking to dole out speeding tickets is going to be clocking cars ahead of you...that is how you detect them. If you are the first person they shoot...you are screwed.



You have to learn how to play the game when the odds are in your favor. Light to moderate traffic. And be very alert. When that sucker goes off...hit the brakes.



My Gold Wing tops out at about 132mph under radar protection

 

[30874]

Instant On Laser

The cops around her all use that new instant on laser. When you detector goes off you might as well pull over and get your ticket.

 

[kjam68]

I have a Passport 8500 mounted on my 999 and it has saved my butt plenty of times. You still need to follow basic speeding rules (i.e. take it easy if you are on a road alone, try and stay in the right lane,etc.)but a good radar/ laser detector is a lifesaver. Lasers are a bit tougher to detect, however, they only work when the officer is stationary. They cannot be used through a windshield and are more expensive. Driving down the highway you usually get "Ka" band radar which is ALWAYS the man. Ka is the toughest to detect and requires a Passport or Valentine to get the best detection. The others are a waste of money. Check out radartest.com

 

[gt750]

Yes, go buy one. It has paid for itself, in my case, for sure. For motorcycle use I have found that I need a Detector with an ear phone. On the highway it is usually "K" Band that the police use. Any good detector will make different noises for different bands. False alarms are eusually "X" Band. Real Alarms are "K". Pretty easy. My detector has picked up a pulsed signal a mile and a quarter away! He must have pulsed the guy in front of me, because it came up on my rader as a weaker "K" Band signal. Then you know to slow down until you can figure out where the threat came from.

Radar Detectors do NOT always work, but if you speed it'll quickly pay for itself. As for "False Alarms". If on a regular route, you learn where to expect the false alarms. On the highway, it is fairly rare to even get false alarms.

 

[westcork]

Janklow Detector?

Who needs a radar detector when your not alive to use it? What I need is a Janklow detector. Something that warns me of drivers with too many tickets or accidents. Or better yet, drivers who don't have a license or insurance... Hell, Cops don't scare me. It's stupid people that I am afraid of!

 

[33992]

Haven’t tested a new V1 lately but the original model was subject to false alarms. The Passport 8500 is the way to fly.

 

[Betamax]

buy a V1 or the new Passport 8500 x50



My old detector was OK but had tons of false alarms. Still, the worst that can happen is you slow down unnecessarily...better than a ticket.



My brand new x50 is so silent I began to wonder if it was even on...then it went to full alert on K-band. There was tons of traffic going the other way, so I never saw the cop, but I slowed down and I'm sure the new detector just paid for 25% of itself right then.

 

[CSidler]

I am not sure which isthe best brand. I can tell you as a RADAR operator that I have actually seen the detector not responding with a unit right in front of the detector. Also depending on the units within an agency, the unit may only pick up certain units and not others. The LASER unit is very hard to beat, on the road or in the court room. The best bet is active driving: looking for tailights, slowing down near blind spots. Also watch the weather. If it is a nice day after a few crappy ones, we like to get out of the car too, you know what that means. Also stay out of the fast lane if you can. We like to do point and pull from that lane.

 

[gpzer]

Escort solo 2 has saved my butt no less then fifty times in the last three years. I did just got nailed when he threw on his radar a short distance from me. I still was able to slow from 115 to 78 for a huge savings on the ticket. So yes I will not ride without one.

 

[JOE420SHMO]

you were speeding wernt you ? (snicker)

 

[33129]

Keep to the side roads and keep your eyes open and pray for good luck. I don't know of a single sport bike rider who obeys all traffic laws. You could always sell the Ninja and get a nice Honda Shadow 750 and ride the highway at legal speeds.



I don't own a detector. Too many of my friends have them for their cars and bikes and are too stupid to pay attention to them.



And you should have that "speaking of yourself in the third person" looked into. You sound nuts.

 

[rav]

I agree completely. A radar detector can be very useful if used properly. That means making sure you have traffic in front of you before you exceed the speed limit. I make it a point not to be the first one in line. I wait until at least one vehicle passes me, and then follow behind. You are then in a good position to detect the radar signal being aimed at the guy in front of you.

 

[44890]

Radar detectors are just one more distraction to take your focus off of looking at the road and traffic. But then, I generally stay close to the speed limit.

 

[35244]

I'm approaching this from a bit of a different angle: I drive a cage ~35 k miles per year - sorry....work, you know. Instant on Ka band used off axis, you are dead meat - period. Even the 2ed string detectors do great with on axis X band, but only the small town local yokels use that now...mostly as a "sleeping policeman" as you enter the small towns. Re Laser...what is left to discuss?

Bottom line, cordless is not as effective...don't cheap out...don't expect miracles and DON't ride out front on the interstate....and slow to an affordable ticket speed when you can't see ahead such as around a corner, etc.

I think someone already posted the great advice about getting you head up and looking farther down the road. This is such an obvious tip that is underutilized by most all of us.

When at work, I'm a determined speeder...I do NOT get paid by the hour if you get my drift. I think it was Brock Yates (or maybe Pat Bedard) who called speeding tickets a "tax on the productive". In the last 15 years of 35 to 40 K miles/year, I've had exactly one ticket here in my SE territory...using my "no out ft" and "slow for lack of forward vision" rules. I quit bothering with my detector 4 or 5 yrs ago as my strategy made it redundant.