Radar/ Laser Detectors

[SteveH]

Hi Gang ..... not that I need one but I have been considering installing a radar / laser detector. If you have experience with these devices please respond to this post with your experience  and a recommendation for " the best bang for the buck" as well as the best protection .

Cheers .... Steve

[Pete]

I have been using Escort's for 30+ years.
Excellent product and very reliable, and long lived.

No detector is totally fool proof and over the years I have gotten 2 or 3 tickets while using a detector.
I used to average at least 1 ticket per year before getting an Escort, since 2 or 3 tickets in 30 to 40 years.

No good radar detector is cheap. Today I would look at Valentine or Escort. The cheap ones do not work well or long. Plan on spending several hundred dollars.

Be aware that some states prohibit their use (Virginia for one) and will ticket you for using one and take the detector with them.

If a speed enforcement officer has his equipment turned off and turns it on as he sees you, your detector will alert, but it is to late - you are caught.

[Jess from VA]

My wife has a top of the line Escort, and I borrow it from time to time (only on long trips).  It works good and talks to you.  Soothing female voice saying K BAND, or X BAND, or other things, and it beeps (faster as you get closer to the radar).  If you let off the gas instantly, it's hard to get a ticket.  It goes off when the cop is clear around the corner, and out of sight.

But, the number of SUVs and trucks/semis with back up cameras and rear facing radar is huge now, so you get a lot of false positives (not really false, it's radar, it's just not cop/ticket radar).  And all the electronic speed control and script warning devices/signs they set up temporarily here and there (esp on freeways) also set it off, and so do all the toll booths on pay freeways.  BUT, with time and practice, you learn to mostly separate the wheat from the chaff.  And taking your foot off the accelerator (when speeding) by mistaken identity from time to time is made up for when you do it for a trooper writing tickets.  

Only prohibited in VA and DC.  VA cops have detector detectors, so unplug it or lose it (and get a ticket).  

Lidar (laser) is often not left on, but used like a rifle and scope by a guy on the side of the road.  He puts the sights on your car and pulls the trigger, and no warning will be fast enough to save you; he gets an instant speed on your car, and that's that.  I've seen it being used by a guy where it looks like he is keeping the trigger down and just moving it from car to car, so a detector might help there. But if you come at him alone, and he lights you up, you are caught detector or not.

As I travel the turnpikes from time to time, I discover that you pass more cop radar in and around population centers and big cities (and if you have a lead foot like me, it's best to lighten up in these areas on general principle, detector or not).  Though the State troopers may sit out in nowhere.

I do not know how they work with speed cameras.  

If I was going to buy one for $4-600, I suppose I would be doing a lot of reading of consumer reviews and write-ups.

I do not know for sure, but it is my general impression that the cops do not like them (even though legal).  So I don't stick it on my windshield or dash in plain view, but run it underneath a folded up sun visor and only the cord can be seen (up close).  I think being as stealthy as you can, even if legal is a good plan.  It's my impression that people who never speed, never buy them.  So when they see one, they know you are a habitual speeder.  

I've never been pulled over with mine running, but if I was, I'd yank the plug out of the cigarette lighter so the female voice shut up before he walked up to my window. Depending on how fast you were going, you can always get a break or warning, but with a detector plugged in in plain view, I'd think your chances of getting a break just went to zero.

If I had a CDL, I'd probably never leave home without one.    



 
 

[98valk]

https://radartest.com/      more and more towns want free money so more and more unmarked radar cars and police vehicles in general. and ones with stickers are using this new type whereas can only be seen at a certain viewing angle.

[SteveH]

Thanks for all the excellent input ..... I ended up going with a  Uniden R3 . It had excellent reviews and is about half the size and weight (and lower price ) than other high end detectors , which it outperformed . It is easily transferred between vehicles .
It picks up a ton of "K" band signals from all sorts of stuff as discussed above . Once you identify a non threatening source (ie automatic doors at Walmart)  you can "mute" them permanently because it has built in GPS and can recognize the location .
Unfortunately , no radar detector can save you from laser . If you get a laser warning from your detector , you have already been tagged  .  There are, however, laser jammers ..... I think these make more sense for a car . It is slightly harder to target a motorcycle because of it's smaller frontal area and lack of flat surfaces to reflect the laser back to the gun ( is that wishful thinking  )
There are a couple of detectors which are stealth .... meaning a radar detector detector can't detect them... but they are twice the weight and twice the size and pose an "out of sight" installation problem for a motorcycle.

[msb]

That's why you make the Perfect ride leader, Steve... always thinking about the rest of us. Easily visible nice white Wing, fully engineered wind deflection system which creates a nice pocket for the rest of us to draft behind, that bionic deer whistle of yours scaring off the forest rats, and now a new high tech radar detector to take the "oh crap, hope I don't get nabbed" thought out of our heads during our more spirited rides. 

[Beardo]

With your engineering prowess, I’m actually surprised, and a little disappointed really,  you didn’t go the route of stealth-ifying your bike. Radar absorbing paint, etc.  

[Jess from VA]

I had not had a speeding ticket on a motorcycle my whole life, until I got a 20 over (10 years ago with Lidar/laser).  Believe me, bikes can be caught on radar too.

There were probably two other times I was warned (radar), but let off with a warning (and lecture). 

I've only run a detector in a car/truck. 

On the bikes, I go commando.     (And I live in VA where they are illegal)

[msb]

On the bikes, I go commando.     (And I live in VA where they are illegal)

Jess, too much information there buddy...in my opinion "going commando" should be illegal in EVERY State/Province. 

[SteveH]

Mike ... ha ha, with your freshly greased rear end , it's your turn to lead  ( just don't go commando ) 

Beardo .... the thought crossed my mind to go stealth  after reading up on laser detection . It might be an interesting project