Radar Detector made for Bikes

[Orange Power]

Radar Detector made for Bikes anyone?
Anyone have one of these?
http://www.radarforbikes.com/
http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35863

[Eric]

I am more concerned out the functionality of a radar detector than the fact that the company made fancy mounting hardware. I would do some searches for the company to read product reviews and test comparisons. That is why I chose the Escort Passport 8500 X50.

[Diggers1300]

Valentine 1 for me. Love the fact that it is upgradeable instead of becoming obsolete! Oh yeah. Works great too.

[Blue STreak]

Me three. The V1 works great. And since in my state forces me to keep in hidden anyway, the fact that it isn't waterproof doesn't matter.

[RideTN]

Valentine One The arrows work

[MLRickards]

I had a special motorcycle radar detector years ago, but now wouldn't go with anything but my trusty Valentine One. Mounts perfectly to the turbocity shelf and allows the rear facing antenna to do it's job.

[crazykz]

I really like the idea of one being designed for a bike. If the functionality can match an Escort or maybe a V1 then I think I would be interested. Although I hide mine in a box on the dash so it doesn't attract the attention of people interested in obtaining a radar detector.

I haven't heard of anyone using this yet. I've seen this before so it's been out for a little while.

You'll have to give it a try and write a review. :)

Curt

[Orange Power]

The company had a group buy with Pashnit.com (a California-based internet group).

Here are the links:
http://www.pashnit.com/product/adaptiv_radar.html

http://www.hayabusa.org/forums/?act=ST;f=59;t=88995;#top

There is review coming out soon from RadarRoy.com

A quote from
http://www.k-bikes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12638&page=2&pp=10

i have the test results. ...the test results are not that great. There is no pop protection it is not RDD proof and the laser test only pased when they pointed the laser at the detector so I am not so sure it is the best unit out there. It is water proof and shock resistant but you can put a V1 or any other top radar in a water proof case and use it in the rain if you need to. I am not sure it is worth the $$$$ any response i welcome it.

[Diggers1300]

Valentine One The arrows work


Yes they do!

Today, I was in the cage, traveling a four-lane hwy at a decent clip with this guy following me. My V1 sounded on Ka band so I slowed. He slowed then went around me. Then his detector must have went off cause he slammed the brakes. Past a state trooper about 1/2 mile later. He took off again but I continued at posted speed cause my arrow was still pointing ahead. Next thing I see is a county sherriff pass me, do a u-turn, pass me and pull in behind the guy that took off and light him up.

Works so well I didn't want to be without it while having it upgraded for POP protection so I bought another one. The wife gets it when it gets back!

It's like American Express. I never leave home without it.

[jfheilman]

I have been considrering the purchase of a detector for some time. There are several reasons but lets just say I like gagets. I have read lots of reviews and comments on detectors and the need or lack of a need for one. Clearly the most common units in use are the Valetine 1 and the Escort. Both of these appear to be excellent units. However, for me, they have two specific drawbacks. First they are not water proof. You have to either put the device in a box or plastic bag both of which are very functional but these units were never deisgned to be used on a bike exposed to the elements.

Second, both units have some weird power and external audio connectors. And depending on where you run the wire, the wire could direct water into the waterproof enclosure and into the unit. Not probably but possible.

Another issue I had to come to grips with was the size of these units. Every time I looked at the Escort in the store the size struck me as being overly large for the job. Maybe it was just an impression.

So I took a long hard look at the thread on the pasnit site and the response from the company Adaptive Technologies. Ever question asked was answered. That is the company's officer readliy responded to the questions. I also had a long hard look at the company's website. Knowing that it's just their point of view but none the less information of any sort is valuable

Based on this information and what I wanted and did not want, I purchased a unit last week. It arrived by Fedex about three days later.

First impression is that it is nicely made. The buttons are easily to see and are backlit if needed. The power connector is like a PS-2 jack on the side of the unit. The power cable is robust and has a right angle connector so that the cord hanges down from the unit very nicely.

The power cord itself appears to be well made and strudy, deisgned to run down the frame of a bike. The cord is long enough to reach from the shelf on the dash all the way to the rear of the bike were the fuse block and autocom are installed.

The size of the unit is very satisfatory. It fits easily into a jacket pocket.

The mounting bracket is smaller than the base of unit. Raised rails on the lower part of the unit slide into mating edges on the mount. The unit locks in place with a plastic release lever at the back of the unit. The lever does not extend beyond the back of the unit.

The only drawback that I can see is the display size seems a little small. But then you only need the display to see what mode you are in and the unit backs up the mode with a double beep when placed in the highway mode.

The only real way to tell how senstive the unit will be put some miles on it. I have put about 200 miles on the unit, on local roads and interstates and about the only thing I have detected appears to be intrusion detection devices, or that's what I assume they are since they have been noted in rural areas near homes.

I will provice more feedback when I have some real road miles on the device. So far, it was what I was looking for. Built for use on a motorcycle.

Jim

[jfheilman]

Just as a follow up, in case someone might be intrested in the future, I made a semi permanent install for the Apativ Radar Detector.

There are some photos attached. There are two issues. The first I have semi dealth with. That is the J&M CB on the left handlebar interfers with the detector. I slide it as far forward as possible but the detector, in that position, interfers with lowering the stock windscreen all the way. I saw that some else added a step up shelf and I'll either do that or use some spacers to get the unit up a little higher.

That will also resolve the second issue. As installed on the shelf, the unit's laser detector sits directly behind the windscreen mount. Moving the detector up an inch will cure that problem as long as the windscreen is not raised all the way, which I don't expect to do. In reality that's not all that bad since laser detection, I have been told, is just a way of notifying you that you have been tagged. Another option is that Adaptiv has a place on the power cable to plug in an external laser detector (which they don't yet offer). It is designed to be used for the rear of the bike but adding it to the front could be done to increase the sensitivity of the device to laser.

Wiring the unit was easy. I connected the power to the Centec fuse panel in the tail section, used a patch cord to interface the audio with the Autocom and the unit was ready to go.

Still no real life road tests to see how well the unit performs, but I'll have to just wait and see.

Jim

[Big Red]

Valentine 1 for me. Love the fact that it is upgradeable instead of becoming obsolete! Oh yeah. Works great too.
+ 1 on the Valentine 1

[GRN]

The sensitivity of the 8500 (like the V1) is what has saved my bacon many, many pigs over (forgive the unintentional pun :p:). It's that first little blip of some stray radar bouncing around that buys you a second or two to warm the rotors a bit. My 8500 pays for itself weekly.

[alan]

Hey Jim, Those rusty bolts on the left bar really stand out. Most local hardware stores sell stainless metric bolts, that's what I use on mine.

[nm6r]

I don't care to have a radar detector out in the open for a few reasons.

1. No distracting lights or indicators.
2. Out of sight, out of mind. No problems with theft.
3. Out of the weather. No concern for it getting ruined.
4. The LEO doesn't see it when you do get tagged with the instant on or laser. That would add insult to injury.

I keep my 2-piece unit in the glove box and the antenna behind the plastic of the front fairing. It speaks to me through my Autocom in plain english so I know what band is being detected. Signal strength is determined by the intensity of the beeps. This arrangement has saved me countless times.

Ray

[GRN]

My 8500 is hidden under my map pocket on my 21L bag, and has a clear line of sight forward over the dash to max the sensitivity and still pick up lidar, which will save your butt if the initial target is in front of you, which I have experienced a few times. For bad weather the bag cover keeps it dry but takes the lidar off the table. It is not easily detected visually, and what limited opportunity there would be once stopped is negated with deliberate placement of my gloves. It's piped into the autocom with the rest of the toys that live on/in the bag, and moves as a complete system from bike to bike with only the power connection provided by my tender lead to connect/disconnect.

[Raven]

I really like the Beltronics STi Driver. It's saved me a number of times now.

Technically it's not waterproof but..... I got caught in a gully-washer in West Texas with no ill effects. It's quite sturdy without being overly huge and has magnesium shielding (so RDD's don't detect it).

I like the idea of the Adaptiv (from first post) but unless their detector is made by either Beltronics or Valentine, I doubt it's state of the art detection.

As an alternative, the VizAlert (http://www.phoenixbikers.com/visalert.htm) looks like a good add-on to either a Valentine or Beltronics (although a bit pricey).

[Reiner Kappenberger]

+1 on the STi Driver.

Having used it for a while and it has saved my sorry *** numerous times (and I know if the signal comes from the front or rear, no need for arrows).

Reiner

[jfheilman]

Hey Jim, Those rusty bolts on the left bar really stand out. Most local hardware stores sell stainless metric bolts, that's what I use on mine.

At the time, I could not find them in stainless. There is a website that handles stainless. I guess if they stand out that much I'll have to replace them :D

Update on
I have used the Adptive since May of this year. I have used it daily when I compute back and forth to work (about 25 miles each way) and on several road trips.

It does exactly what it was inteneded to do. I can't judge how senstive the uint is. It has warned me of radar many times. I some times I would have never seen the guy until it was too late (one parked under a tree in full shade). What I have yet to be able to do is to find a full on radar and approach it from various angles so see what kind of sensitivity it really has.

Besides the fact that it doesn't car if it gets wet, it is easy to use and you don't have to worry about finding the controls with or without gloves. I rarely touch the unit on the road, just a glace down every once and a while to make sure it's still on (not a problem at night).

Would I buy it again, yes.

Jim