Volt Meter and Radar Detector Install

Got a voltmeter and Valentine One Radar detector installed on my 06, thanks to the wiring diagram for installing a relayed fuse block I found on one of these VFR forums. Original mounting location for the valentine one was inside the right fairing, strapped to the ECU. I wanted a little more peace of mind knowing that it would be protected from moisture, so I ordered a radar box from a certain legal speeding website. Since there wasn't room in the right hand fairing, I moved it to the left. I wasn't worried about LIDAR detection, as typically I know I'm getting hit with laser just by seeing the cop just as quickly as what the detector would tell me. Works great for Radar, though I may have to adjust the current positioning to get better front response. Might have some metal in between the radar antennae and the front fairing that may be blocking some signal, but still seems to work quite well.

 

:thumbsup:
Might want to hide the radar under the head light by the oil cooler pointing forward.

 

Just my thoughts on the radar detector. I too bought and mounted a radar detector on my VFR. I rode carefully while I learned the detectors capability. What I ultimately found was that the only time it gave me an advantage was when a driver ahead of me was targeted by radar, and then only when the driver ahead of me was within a certain range. Many cops now use instant on type radar, you get alerted at the same time you have been measured. I did find that I rode in a more aware state of looking for cops, and watching my speed, and it was somewhat entertaining. I never got to where I felt that I could speed with any amount of security. Give it a try, and let us know how it works out.

 

In NY and I believe most places now they use laser. The laser doesn't reflect around like radar so basically unless it hits you you'd have no idea one is targeting traffic ahead of you. Then of course if you get hit you're already nailed.

I had a Bel unit in my car 10 years ago. The automatic doors at drug stores used to set it off at quite a distance. The one time I could have used it I had it switched off. And the officer wasn't kind when he saw it.


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I know it's not total security, it more helps remind me to keep aware of my surroundings. I definitely would have mounted under the headlight, but I was more afraid that I might end up doing some sort of damage to the front fairing or the fender under heavy compression on the suspension on a fast corner. Plus, having the detector lens visible only allows for laser detection, which is useless since they already have your speed when it goes off. It's the cop's that are moving that get me more often than the ones sitting on the side of the road with laser. Stateys here still use x band, and I've already seen some ka band usage. I do believe that it might have detected a little better when I had it mounted or the right side, so I may still need to play around with the positioning

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There might be enough room to tuck the detector into the nose of the front fairing. Access is easy, you'd have to remove the windshield and the panel in front of the dash cluster. I doubt this is exposed to any water, since that's where the front relays are.

 

When I rode up in NJ/NY I too had a Valentine radar unit. I had a problem when I ran it from the spare fuse access for the clock, which my bike does'nt have. Seemed I was getting lazer falses, upon speaking to the engineers there, they told me to run it directly to the battery posts. This solved the problem and I used it for years without incident and it did help me at times riding on those remote roads. You definately need an ear phone jack from them, another $50 to hear anything.

Far as mounting goes, I used to run a tank bag and used velcro with the unit riding on top. I never had a problem with losing it, even after a low side fall. It did get wet a few times and I did have to send it back to be repaired. I moved to South FL and stopped using it though, as the radar nazis are not as bad as up North, plus we get fast rain storms here.

I did have an occasion to use it in a rental car in TX and it worked at 100mph or so with plenty of warning. I sent my old unit back to them with a trade in allowance and they sent me the latest upgraded unit. The german cars and some of the other cars oot there use this radar/blind-spot :bs: which sets off the Valentine, you need to hold the button in while you boot up the unit and toggle to a mode that will ignore this K-band false. Anyway, I use it selectively in rental cars/my own car and if I traveled on the bike up state, I would wire it up. Good luck

 

Near freezing, that would have been my preferred spot, but the Gen 6 has enormous headlights that eat up any space where I could fit the detector. To be honest. I think it would have been far easier to install this sucker when I had my 4th gen

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And it isn't just about "seeing it", either. Radar detectors [used to] work on the principle of creating a radar signature signal and then matching it against other signals it read. When a match was found, it alerted. Because the detector was actually CREATING a radar signal, the cops can pick that signal up from you. And they are less than pleased when they pick it up because they immediately presume you are actively trying to speed without getting caught.

I do not know if laser works in the same manner.

Your best bet is to forget the detector and ride responsibly. On the off chance that you get tagged, be polite and respectful, and hope that your charm might just get you out with only a warning.

 

Funny at the amount of people just trying to tell me "Do not use a radar detector". Sorry, but that's not going to happen. This thing has already alerted me to the presence of some cops playing around with their instant on radar, and though at that time I was not going over the limit, I was still happy to know that they were nearby. I am happy with the unit, which is much better than the $90 Cobra detector I bought from best buy some 13 years ago. (When I got rid of my CRX, and got a vehicle that I didn't like to go as fast in, I gave it to a friend). It has also alerted me to the presence of a Statey coming towards me just over a bridge on my commute home one day. It's possibly already half way to paying for itself already.