radar detector

I would like to purchase a radar detector for my '06 VFR, does anybody have many recomendations as to which would be the best for a motorbike application. I have heard that there are some out there that use an ear piece to hear the "warning" sounds but because I also use an mp3 player I don't think this is the best set up for me. I think I would like a corded set up as I have a great install guy who can wire it into my ignition for me. Any recomendations would be great.

 

Valentine One, hands down.

For notification, you can get a little LED light that flashes inside your helmet to alert you from legalspeeding.com . Works well, but I find setting everything up a pain for anything but long trips.

Spike

 

Thanks for the recomendation, I will look into that model.
I saw a radar detector on a VFR this past summer that was mounted onto the bars but it had an extention arm of some sort so it was actually raised up 6" or so making it easier to view. I wasn't able to check it out to close as we were on the road but if anybody knows about this set up let me know.

 

Forget a radar detector unless you want to be guaranteed to receive a ticket EVERY time you're pulled over. If a cop sees that thing on your bike, he's never going to believe: "I wasn't paying attention to my speed officer".

He's any interesting story detailing the subject.

WARNING!!! THIS SITE IS NOT WORK/KID SAFE...

http://www.ehowa.com/mythoughts/nospeeding.shtml

Last time I got pulled over for speeding, I was let off with a warning for 77 in a 50. How? I was honest and cordial to the officer. I won't lie, I freaking hate 95% of cops but when your license is on the line, you have to play by their rules.

KC-10 FE out...

 

There are a few provinces in Canada that radar detectors are NOT illegal, I live in one of them, so this is not an issue. Of course if I am not allerted by the detector than you are probably right, the chances of being let off are slim to none and slim left town. But out here where I live getting let off once pulled over just doesn't happen anyway.

 

radar

Got nailed@98mph radar,wrote up for 85(traffic school),was120 before I saw law.Looking for a detector also.219$ for the ticket.The investment for a detector should payoff in the long run.400$at least for a decent setup.I'm shopping and will keep you posted.Don't speed on eh vfr ,give me eh break eh!:llama:

 

Im thinking about buying one of the cordless models, maybe the Bell express 942 or Escort Solo S2. I only mention these because I know they are cordless, my concern though is how or where to mount it. It looks like I would have to use the suction cup bracket and put it on the windshield. Is there a better way?

 

As far as a detector goes, I say Valentine 1. I've used one in my car for a couple of years now and it works very well. It tells you in what direction the radar is located, which is quite useful. They also have an add-on unit for use with headphones:

"Motorcyclist? Headphone user?
Here's a way to move V1's audio warnings anywhere you want them. Compact module has a speaker and two headphone jacks (one mini, 3.5mm; and one micro, 2.5mm). You also get remote control of all Control Knob and Lever functions including mute and computer modes; handy when you've mounted V1 out of reach. Connects with standard V1 power cords. "

I've been wanting to mount it on my VFR, but I've been a bit lazy lately
I checked out legalspeeding.com and they have solved one of my issues which was keeping the detector dry in case of wet weather. They sell two enclosures that resolve this problem.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do...

Mike

 

I have a Valentine 1 mounted on my Interceptor and I have mixed feelings about it. I love the detector while driving, it's the best out there, but not so much on the bike. I have the headphone adapter set up, and I use a headphone extension cable to run under the seat where I plug in a set of ear bud head phones in my helmet.
Cons:
Probably not a good idea to have my head tethered to the bike in the event of an accident. (can't afford the wireless set ups).
Distracting! Sometimes it's no fun to ride when you're constantly listening for the beeping and flashing...

 

Valentine One has unbelievably good customer service. You can get the H.A.R.D. system.

If you don't want the detector and your MP3 competing in your ears, get a Mixit2 and have both in your helmet but when the V1 goes off it shuts off the music leaving you with only the V1 sound.

Read the yearly redar detector comparisons that are on the internet. They show which one will "reach" the farthest.

If your detector shows that there is radar out there somewhere and you chose not to slow down when you discover this.... oh well. Mine will see radar several miles away.

If the radar is the instant on kind and you are alone on the road, you may have trouble.

 

Beltronics 940 and Mio 310x gps on a GSXF Katana. 150 for the detector with earplug. Works great, plenty of warning at < 110.

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Fast forward a few months and I have purchased and have been using the Solo S2 for some time, it works great in my car and had seemed to work fine on the bike untill the suction cups let go at 140km, wow is this thing strong, other than a couple scratches it still works great, is there a better way I could mount this detector on my '06.

 

SOLO S2 Just buy it. You'll love it.

 

I have not purchased it yet, but other posts have said the RAM-B-231Z (don't use the "U" bolt, replace with longer tank screws) ball mount will fit where the gas tank front mount screws are on a 6th gen. VFR. You can then buy the arm and the mount for your gizmo from the RAM site.

http://www.ram-mount.com/

There are lots of other ways to mount it too, but I had the RAM number on a yellow sticky.

 

I had an Escort 8500 with a screamer hooked up to it all from a super cool site called motorcycleradar.com. It never let me down. I wouldn't ride if I had to constantly worry about a ticket because I can't ride a bike the speed limit. It would alert me 1-2 miles away sometimes. So far away I thought it was malfunctioning and then I'd see the cop hiding in the bushes.
The screamer is a little 1inch diameter 3/4 inch high speaker that is incredibly loud. I had no trouble hearing it give any warning and I ride with earplugs in. Motorcycleradar has nice package deals. I was thoroughly pleased with the service and product. Called the guy and had him walk me through the installation and it was installed in about 1 hour.
I have no motorcycle right now. My beautiful FJR1300 got totalled and I'm looking at Interceptors while I heal up. Does anyone know if they are making them next year??
See ya,
Mike in Ohio

 

I understood announcement should be on the 7th of Sept. if they are or are not...

 

Thanx for the info. I really like the the riding position of the VFR nice and sporty and still comfortable.

 

I don't have one but a friend who rides a TON does. She has a Valentine 1 and swears she would never own anything else.

 

The Valentine 1 is great. When I researched them on the net, at this site I now forget, they were doing unbiased tests of all popular detectors. The cheap ones {audiovox, Cobra etc.} were all about the same but the Escort 8500 and Valentine 1 blew them away!!! The difference between the Escort and Valentine wasn't much at all they almost declared it a tie. They could pick up a weak ka band from like 4 miles !! The Valentine will work with a screamer just as well as an escort does. When I bought mine from motorcycle.com they had both of them in kits with screamers mounts and wiring. I do like the way Valentine points at the signal for you, that's cool.

Happy trails,
Mike

 

I had a detector many years ago when I lived in Calgary Alberta Canada. One thing it did not do well was to detect radar that was "flashed" at you. If you were over the limit and they turned the gun on you, you would get a huge warning on the detector, but were nailedby the officer. I've been out of the "detector" mode for the last 10 years since moving to Ontario. What would you recommend as a the unit to get.....if your governement allowed it?