Radar Detectors

[Pennys Dad]

Hi

 

Any opinions on radar detectors? I am thinking about getting the Escort Passport 9500ix Radar Detector.

 

Thx!

[EffBee]

I've heard fairly good reports about the 9500ix. However, I used to be an Escort guy. Had several, starting with the first big black box. Then someone loaned me a V-1. Game over. Again, that's not to say that one is bad and the other good. Both are very good. One, however, is far better.

[Pennys Dad]

What makes the V 1 better?

[Whip]

What makes the V 1 better?

 

Still the only way to get a new one.....I think.

 

http://www.valentine1.com/

[Lmar]

At least to me it doesn't seem like the V1 has changed much over the last couple years? Is the V1 getting behind the rest i.e. Bell and Passport?

[Whip]

At least to me it doesn't seem like the V1 has changed much over the last couple years? Is the V1 getting behind the rest i.e. Bell and Passport?

 

It doesn't look different, but it is and you can get your old model updated.

 

 

[Pennys Dad]

Is there anything I need to consider for placement of the device?

[Paul Mihalka]

With any motorcycle radar detector what you need is something that alerts you when it goes off. Connected helmet speakers, Marc Parnes' Visual Alert, there is a wireless light device you put inside your helmet shield, but you need something. You can't count on seeing or hearing the detector by itself.

[Effjay]

Is there anything I need to consider for placement of the device?

I nearly bought an Escort but chose the V1 based on positive comments here plus front/rear bogey indicators. +1 also on Paul's comments. Unless you rely on audio alert in your helmet, mounting the radar unit where visual alerts are within line of normal vision is imperative. That was a key reason I chose a BMR shelf. The V1 requires extra cost Valentine remote audio device to plug Parnes' visual display whereas Escort has an audio jack built in. All these things together do add up to substantial cost.

 

Jeff

 

[10ovr]

I've heard fairly good reports about the 9500ix. However, I used to be an Escort guy. Had several, starting with the first big black box. Then someone loaned me a V-1. Game over. Again, that's not to say that one is bad and the other good. Both are very good. One, however, is far better.

I run with a Passport,I have had a lot of people tell me that my brake lights were on way before they got a signal from there V1,So your right,,One is far better then the other

[barryNmarin]

I've been running with a V-1 for the past 5 years with great success over almost 80K miles. Yes the V-1 and accessories are expensive but they pay for themselves in very short order. I can't speak to the quality of competing detectors but none of them are a panacea. One has to develop a good technique and know when to slow down when line of sight is compromised particularly in areas where the LEOs run with instant on radar, etc. IMHO an audible alert is a necessity as it is too difficult to pay attention to the road and the visual alert on the radar detector.

Which ever you choose it will be a good investment you won't regret.

[Paul Mihalka]

I went through this discussion before I bought mine. I accept that the Valentine might be even better, and that the direction arrows may come in handy some times. But I'm frugal or call me cheap if you want, I don't mind. So I got a factory checked/refurbished/warrantied Escort 8500 for $149.-.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Escort-PASSPORT-8500-Radar-Detector-w-Full-Warranty_W0QQitemZ220416018490QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3351d1883a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

It has excellent range IMHO, very few false alarms, and a direct plug-in for the Marc Parnes Visual Alert. I'm happy with my choice. It did save my butt a couple of times.

[EffBee]

I've heard fairly good reports about the 9500ix. However, I used to be an Escort guy. Had several, starting with the first big black box. Then someone loaned me a V-1. Game over. Again, that's not to say that one is bad and the other good. Both are very good. One, however, is far better.

I run with a Passport,I have had a lot of people tell me that my brake lights were on way before they got a signal from there V1,So your right,,One is far better then the other

 

For anyone to see your brake lights, you'd have to be ahead of them. :rofl: :rofl:

[bobbybob]

I went through this discussion before I bought mine. I accept that the Valentine might be even better, and that the direction arrows may come in handy some times. But I'm frugal or call me cheap if you want, I don't mind. So I got a factory checked/refurbished/warrantied Escort 8500 for $149.-.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Escort-PASSPORT-8500-Radar-Detector-w-Full-Warranty_W0QQitemZ220416018490QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3351d1883a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

It has excellent range IMHO, very few false alarms, and a direct plug-in for the Marc Parnes Visual Alert. I'm happy with my choice. It did save my butt a couple of times.

 

++ on above. I also bought the $149 disc. model Escort and am very happy with it (thanks for the tip Paul). Has saved my butt many times and has alerted me when the radar was around a curve over a mile ahead.

[Fightingpiper]

I also have the Escort 8500 and has paid for itself many times over. I use a Radar Screamer for my audio alerts I highly recommend the screamer. My buzzer is mounted where the right side speaker would go so it isn't visible and the hi/low/off switch located on right bar within easy reach of my right thumb.

[Redbrick]

Have a Passport 8500 and it has worked well as I too have been saved from an unscheduled stop on the shoulder a few times......Had one of Marc's visual alerts and used it for a while...After getting Arizona Al's ear phones/plugs and an Aerostitch retractable extention cord I plug into the detector most of the time and removed the visual alert..Still have the visual from the detector itself, of course.....More comfortable for me to hear the tone rather than having to see the signal.....There are different tones for Ka and K bands so it's easy to discern what is setting it off rather than having to visually interpret the readout (K-mart door opener of CHP radar?)........

No reflection on the Marc's visual alerts....They are very good units and very bright, just my choice to use the detector aurally..........

[94aero]

I'm running the 8500 thru a autocom system, so far it has not let me down. Yesterday, while riding on a flat superslab in Kansas it let me know what was up ahead by a good 3/4 mile.

One thing though, It needed to be in line of site for best reception. In the tank bag it did not have the range it does now.

[tallman]

I used the HARD wireless helmet alert system.

Worked well.

Several years ago I took the radar detector out of the bag.

Guess I don't ride fast enough to need one.

[Effjay]

...Guess I don't ride fast enough to need one.

Interesting comment. Generally, neither do I except when riding in a group and especially when in sweep position. Too many times I'd be guessing what the lead rider saw and back off when there looked to be an oncoming bogey. False alarm - now I speed to catch up again. Too much stress - the detector provides a better sense of all but instant-on detection. Truth be told, I'm more inclined these days to ride my own pace rather than that of the group leader.

 

Jeff

[stubble!]

Escort 8500 X50 here. Recognizing that the V1 is well-regarded by many, but not wanting to drop the dough, I chose the passport and I'm very happy. Built-in audio port is a clincher, run it through the autocom and I can hear what type of signal it's seeing and how close. Also like the detailed readout that shows the quantity and strength of bogies on each band at once.

 

I run it in the map pocket of my tank bag. Has paid for itself 10x over.

 

[Rocer]

Reading the replies it's not clear to me if any of these units are undetectable by the sending unit. I would think this would be an important consideration when deciding which unit to purchase.

 

What do you do when you ride through the states (4 I think) where radar detectors are illegal? Is it sufficient to just turn it off or disconnect it in that state? If the detector is observed related to an infraction other than speeding is it seized even if it's turned off / disconnected? With this in mind do all these models work inside a tank bag?

 

 

[Mike05]

What do you do when you ride through the states (4 I think) where radar detectors are illegal?

 

Got curious, found this on Wikipedia: (In the U.S.) "Illegal in all vehicles: Virginia, Washington D.C., U.S. military bases" Otherwise, o.k. to use.

 

Other countries, additional info. here:

 

 

 

 

[allikanbe]

Reading the replies it's not clear to me if any of these units are undetectable by the sending unit. I would think this would be an important consideration when deciding which unit to purchase.

 

What do you do when you ride through the states (4 I think) where radar detectors are illegal? Is it sufficient to just turn it off or disconnect it in that state? If the detector is observed related to an infraction other than speeding is it seized even if it's turned off / disconnected? With this in mind do all these models work inside a tank bag?

 

 

The Bel STi is undetectable by RDD. If you ride in Virginia or DC, then it's "safer" to have the STi. Mine is in my tankbag and it works very well to the front and rear. It always surprises me when I pick up radar that is behind me. There are plenty of riders and drivers in VA who openly display thier detectors in the windshileld, but I just don't think it's a smart thing to do. I don't think the police seize detectors any longer. It's too much of a pain to get them back to the owner.

[Kinsley]

What do you do when you ride through the states (4 I think) where radar detectors are illegal?

 

Got curious, found this on Wikipedia: (In the U.S.) "Illegal in all vehicles: Virginia, Washington D.C., U.S. military bases" Otherwise, o.k. to use.

 

Other countries, additional info. here:

 

 

 

 

Word is that only the VA State Troopers have radar detector detectors and that they don't use them much because they have a tendency to overheat.

[Don M]

Check these guys out, http://www.adaptivtechnologies.com/

I bought one of their units a while back and have been pleased with it. It's waterproof, easy to used with gloves on and it works.

[Pennys Dad]

i saw a write up on these in a moto mag. I was curious about them as well.

Personally I am still tossed between the V1 and an Escort 9500ix.

[Huzband]

A radar detector is like any other tool. You have to know how to use it.

 

I use a V1 because I believe it to be the best. But again, I must know how to use it.

 

I have to know how to read false alarms, which to the contrary of Valentine's site, the unit can give, but I also have to have a rabbit or three in front of me if intend to exceed the legal limit, which I never do. It's just good prudence to be informed.

[Foot]

I also have to have a rabbit or three in front of me if intend to exceed the legal limit, which I never do.

 

Now that's funny!!

[mrzoom]

V1 let me know where the LEO's were today.

Holiday weekend and enforcement is of course way up.

I was on a long section of state road when I started to get pinged

with rear indicator. Low level but every 10 to 20 seconds.

I maintained the limit and sure enough the level got stronger and stronger. Way back I could just make out a car that was slowly getting closer. A fast moving vehicle went past me in the opp. direction and bingo, steady alert and then lights and a turn around.

Next one was all kinds of alerts that came on coming up on farm buildings with a giant cell tower in the back yard. Sure enough a county vehicle was pulled back next to the barn working the road.

I had 3 more hits in the next hour all out in the open country so the LAW was out which is good thing as long as I know where.

Has anyone of us strapped a Pastport,Bell etc on top of their V1 and done a real comparison.?? That would be interesting.

 

[Indy Dave]

I guess perhaps the better question is . has either the Escort or V1 NOT saved you??

 

About 14 years ago I got a ticket in MI with my V1. I was in a van. If I remember correctly, I was alone on the road - so no one was being 'shot' ahead of me to pick up the signal.

 

I've had both, been happy with both - last one was stolen and haven't replaced it. The bike (in the country) is the only place I might need it given the speed limits of today.

[russell_bynum]

I've heard fairly good reports about the 9500ix. However, I used to be an Escort guy. Had several, starting with the first big black box. Then someone loaned me a V-1. Game over. Again, that's not to say that one is bad and the other good. Both are very good. One, however, is far better.

 

Yep.

 

I know quite a few folks who switched from Escort/Passport to V1, but I can't say I've heard of anyone going the other way.

 

I've used both...I've got a V1 and I used a friend's Passport when I borrowed his bike. It's good unit and I think anyone who has one would be happy with it. But the bogey counter and directional arrows of the V1 are a hands-down winner.

 

What you want from a radar detector is useful information.

1. Is there radar somewhere

2. How strong is it

3. What band? (helps with deciding if it is a false or real threat)

4. Where is it coming from

5. How many

 

If you've got the first three, you're in decent shape, but knowing where and how many is tremendously valuable.

 

The V1 is an incredibly tough device. Mine fell off the bike at speed a couple of times and still worked. It even fell off the bike once and was run over by a 1-ton dually pickup towing a horse trailer. It still works.

 

Also: Valentine's customer service is top notch.

 

 

[Pennys Dad]

Ok, I am sold. I will get the V1. I will want audio alert, what is needed?

 

Thx for the help and great comments.

[Heck]

I also have to have a rabbit or three in front of me if intend to exceed the legal limit, which I never do.

Now that's funny!!

Naw, not funny.....HILARIOUS!!!

 

 

For what it's worth, I use both the 8500 Passport and the V1, though not in the same vehicle. Performance is close enough between the two that I don't think one will save you when the other one won't. As posted above, you must interpret what the detector is telling you for it to do you any good. Having said that, the V1 directional arrows are great for letting you know the direction of the strongest signal (ie either direct or reflected) and make it faster to recognize where the threat is coming from. The V1 is more susceptable to water than the Passport, though the Passport is more susceptible to dash heat on hot days.

Flip a coin- they're both good.

 

 

Guess I'm late...Good choice (either way).

 

 

 

[stubble!]

What you want from a radar detector is useful information.

1. Is there radar somewhere

2. How strong is it

3. What band? (helps with deciding if it is a false or real threat)

4. Where is it coming from

5. How many

 

If you've got the first three, you're in decent shape, but knowing where and how many is tremendously valuable.

 

Just a confirmation, the Passport 8500 X50 gives all the above except number 4. Which is the patented feature of the V1 so no one else CAN offer it.

 

It even fell off the bike once and was run over by a 1-ton dually pickup towing a horse trailer. It still works.

 

Now that's a testimonial!

[BeemerLover]

Just thinking, how do you protect yourself from radar from the rear, either a LEO from behind or a LEO that has passed but has rear facing radar? Do these units protect you? I've never used one before.....

 

[bobbybob]

Ok, I am sold. I will get the V1. I will want audio alert, what is needed?

 

Thx for the help and great comments.

 

Well, for starters, you'll have to also order the V1's audio module which costs another $50 and is another gadget to monkey with. Another reason I went with the Escort Passport instead--it is "audio-ready".

[stubble!]

Just thinking, how do you protect yourself from radar from the rear, either a LEO from behind or a LEO that has passed but has rear facing radar? Do these units protect you? I've never used one before.....

 

My Passport, in the tank bag map pocket, seems to register rear radar just fine, based on various situational observations. But being anecdotal I can't really comment on just how effective its sensitivity is to the rear. I have no experience using a V1. The V1 is the only one that will tell you specifically that a hit is front or rear of your position.

 

As others have mentioned, any detector is only as good as your 'reading' of it. For example, you learn to tell the real hits from the false alarms, obviously by band but also by pattern or surroundings. And the change in frequency of the tones will typically tell you if a signal is oncoming or not. You just get a feel.

 

I really use it to augment my situational awareness. I don't see it as a free pass, you still have to be very aware of terrain, traffic patterns, likely trap spots, etc. A radar signal is often more of a confirmation of a situation one already suspects.

 

[Tetz]

Comparison test....

 

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

 

Escort wins.

[10ovr]

Comparison test....

 

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

 

Escort wins.

[pokorskij]

Yeah, check the date, 2006, a little bit old for today's world, but believe what you want.

[wolcott]

Yeah, check the date, 2006, a little bit old for today's world, but believe what you want.

 

If you go down the page to the Escort Passport 8500, you will see Editor's Note: See our recent test of the Escort Passport 8500 X50, this model's successor. Click on the hyperlink. This test, Shootout: Bel vs. Escort vs. Valentine is dated 7/28/2008.

[jakfrost]

I really like the new Bel STi Driver which is supposed to be the most 'undetectable' detector out there today. A mandatory feature here north of the border, especially since the fines exceed $500.00 AND they keep your unit.

 

BUT....how to disguise the unit when it is sitting on top of your clutch reservoir? I can just imagine the conversation when a 'non radar' LEO comes up behind me in normal traffic, or one of the occasional roadside checks for DUI or seatbelts...goodbye detector and hello ticket.

 

This is the challenge! Anyone been down this road, so to speak? Maybe an elasticized shower cap painted black, ha, ha. Waterproof to boot!

 

Jim

[Redbrick]

Yeah, check the date, 2006, a little bit old for today's world, but believe what you want.

 

If you go down the page to the Escort Passport 8500, you will see Editor's Note: See our recent test of the Escort Passport 8500 X50, this model's successor. Click on the hyperlink. This test, Shootout: Bel vs. Escort vs. Valentine is dated 7/28/2008.

 

Makes me appreciate my Passport 8500 even more..I've always felt it did a good job and few falsies.....Thanks for the detailed tests.....

[Shaman97]

Comparison test....

 

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

 

Escort wins.

 

The results of this test may be tainted:

 

 

[russell_bynum]

Comparison test....

 

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

 

Escort wins.

 

V1 scored slightly lower in radar sensitivity. Slightly higher in laser sensitivity. OK, fair enough. That hasn't been my experience on rides...the V1 guys almost always call "Radar" over the FRS before anyone else. But...if this test was done scientifically, then that's fine and I'll take it at face value.

 

WAY lower in "features and ergonomics"listing it's lack of features that don't add to the unit's ability to tell you what's going on. It doesn't have a tutorial mode....so what? No auto-mute...is that even something I want? I LIKE making a decision to "ignore that one". No voice alerts. GOOD. Simple beeps are more effective than a voice anyway. Simple controls and display is a good thing, IMO but they counted off for it not having enough buttons.

 

It scored lower for sound level, which is irrelevant for a motorcyclist because we need the sound piped into headphones anyway. I've had my V1 in the car with the windows down and the radio on pretty loud and I haven't had trouble hearing it. It might be true that it isn't as loud, but as long as it is loud enough, that's irrelevant.

 

It also says "Truth is, radar to the side poses no threat at all and radar from behind is scarcely worthy of more attention."

 

If the radar is behind you, and getting closer, it damn well IS worthy of more attention. If it's behind you and getting father away, then no, it doesn't deserve more attention. And without the directional arrows, you won't know if it's ahead, behind, or from the side, so you have to treat every alert as a possible threat.

 

So...they mark off for features it doesn't have that it doesn't need and they mark off for stuff that it is better off without.

 

IMO, the downsides of the V1 are:

1. Price

2. You have to buy the remote audio box in order to get a headphone-out (I like that we can have remote audio and remote display units...that's a GREAT feature, but I wish we got a 3.5mm headphone jack built into the base unit.)

3. The connectors and the unit itself are not waterproof, so if you put it on a bike you either have to put it somewhere waterproof, or remove it when it rains.

 

And again...don't get me wrong...the Passport 8500 is a great unit. I used one and liked it. But...I was constantly frustrated to not know where the threat was coming from. For me...that information is worth having to shell out for a more expensive unit and the remote audio box.

[smiller]

It also says "Truth is, radar to the side poses no threat at all and radar from behind is scarcely worthy of more attention."

 

If the radar is behind you, and getting closer, it damn well IS worthy of more attention. If it's behind you and getting father away, then no, it doesn't deserve more attention. And without the directional arrows, you won't know if it's ahead, behind, or from the side, so you have to treat every alert as a possible threat.

Exactly. The 'truth is' that you don't know whether the radar is to the front, the side, or behind you without the arrows so you won't know which alerts are worthy of attention. That one factor alone separates the V1 from all the others, and in a big way.

[russell_bynum]

It also says "Truth is, radar to the side poses no threat at all and radar from behind is scarcely worthy of more attention."

 

If the radar is behind you, and getting closer, it damn well IS worthy of more attention. If it's behind you and getting father away, then no, it doesn't deserve more attention. And without the directional arrows, you won't know if it's ahead, behind, or from the side, so you have to treat every alert as a possible threat.

Exactly. The 'truth is' that you don't know whether the radar is to the front, the side, or behind you without the arrows so you won't know which alerts are worthy of attention. That one factor alone separates the V1 from all the others, and in a big way.

 

Another thing...he commented that the V1 was more chatty than the others. The V1 is definitely more "chatty" than the Passport, but that is intentional. Rather than letting the computer guess what's real and what is false, it tells you everything (depending on what mode it is in), and lets you decide. People are much better at that sort of thing than computers, so it makes sense to have a person make those decisions.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

My Sprint has a great big old headlight cover and very little of the real estate is taken up by lights since all 3 are projector beams.

 

My nefarious plan is to mount the V1 in there between the lights and use both the remote audio and remote visual. I'll mount the audio remote in my tank bag and the visual into one of the little side panels where it is basically under my left hand and I can reach down and turn it off at need.

 

This way, I don't lose forward looking laser. Ideally the visual should be up near my line of sight but, having used a V1 for years, I rely mostly on the various tones it puts out to distinguish threat levels with a glance at the visual to later tell me where the threat originates.

 

Actually, I'd love to mount the thing atop my helmet for greater "over the horizon" sensitivity but, that being impractical, I'll settle for a little stealth.

 

I've been runnin' "barefoot" for the last couple of months and staying to <10 over is really cramping my style and, I think, my overall average speed.

[Jerry Johnston]

I see the test is now 3yrs old. And rreading between the lines I'd say that the author Craig Peterson may work for or get a kick-back from BuyRadarDetectors.com which would color the test. Valentine only sells direct which means none of the stores can make money recomending a V1 or even sell one. As far as radar from the side being worthless I'm not sure he thought it through. If a police car sits off to the side hidden from view, you may not even se it until you're well past it. Once passed he'll pull out behind you (based on a judgement call) and follow you to give that ticket. I'd like to know where a police car is no matter where he sits.

[RocksforBrains]

Jim:

 

Yes, I have my V1 mounted in a hidden location and it works just fine having saved me a few tickets in the 18 months I have had it mounted. I have a R1200RT.

 

I mounted the unit inside my right front fairing in the space in front of where the speaker would go if I had the radio. I had to hand make a bracket, but that was easy. I also put the unit in one of those clear plastic radar covers (Legal Speeding Radar Cover for Valentine 1) just to make sure it was waterproof. Velcroed the unit to the bracket to make it easy to remove. Is is a couple or three hours of work as you need to remove the dash cover to access it well enough to mount the detector. I have the visual remote mounted in a little zip pouch mounted an the front of my tank bag. I have the audio remote inside my tank bag and have it hooked into my autocom system so I get the audio alerts. It works great. An added benefit is that I don't have to worry about theft when I park the bike. The V1 is completely enclosed in the fairing.

 

It's field of view to the front is through the plastic fairing above the headlight. Apparently the plastic fairing does little to attenuate the radar signals as I get plenty of warning. I also get alerts to the rear and indeed it did save me a ticket last summer as a county sheriff was coming up from behind. The field of view to the rear is through the speaker grill and is to one side of the bike (and rider) so apparently I don't block the signal too much. Would I get alerts earlier if I mounted it higher on the bike? Probably, I haven't tried that but I assume you would get a slightly better line of sight.

 

One comment to add to the discussion of use and common sense. The advice about using a rabbit is dead on. It has saved me as well. Other notes: I have been zapped by cars that look nothing like an LEO vehicle. I have also been zapped by radar by an approaching car AFTER the rabbit passed said car. So the tactics are getting more refined. Even using judgement, if you speed often you will get caught eventually. That is whay I typically do the 5 to 10 over and don't sweat it. The police stay busy all day pulling over the car and bikes doing 15-20 over the limit.

 

Kurt