So....... anybody looked at these three or something else lately. I am thinking about getting a radar detector but don't know much about them and I have not found a post comparing all 3. Thoughts?
Adaptiv TPX, Valentine K1 or Escort/Passport 9500
- Thread starter 60HzShuffle
- Start date
drrod
Site Supporter
Motogeezer
Team Colorado
I'm still using the Valentine One I bought in 1993. In 2001 I bought a second V-1 so I would not have to swap quite so often between 2 cars and the bike.
I flat love the V-1 detectors. They are totally reliable and trustworthy and have been worth their cost in tickets avoided 100 times over!
The threat direction arrows are absolutely indispensable.:yes: Trust me in this.
'Geezer
I flat love the V-1 detectors. They are totally reliable and trustworthy and have been worth their cost in tickets avoided 100 times over!
The threat direction arrows are absolutely indispensable.:yes: Trust me in this.
'Geezer
jfheilman
Site Supporter
I have the Adaptiv TPX. It tested well, although not the best. But it has one major advantage, it's waterproof.
Other advantages are: it has a single cable connection, designed to interface with the bike, controls can be operated with gloves.
Anything else you will have to put it in a plastic box or bag or take the chance of it getting wet.
9500ix here. With the GPS function, it will learn the false alarms from the grocery stores and others so you don't hear them all the time. Great feature. Plus it tells you how fast you are going when it goes off. Also it is loaded with red light camera information. Not always accurate but pretty darn close.... Not waterproof but hey, if it's raining I take it off since I'm not going to be worried about my speed.....Have it sitting on a Turbo Tom Side Dash mount, plugged into my Autocom so I get all the alerts in my helmet. Very nice....
sherob
Old Herder of cats.
I had a 9500... got caught in a 300 mile rain storm in BFE nowhere... it was in a ziplock... it still got a bit wet... it now sits in a box 
While it was working, it was great. I rode with a friend that used to be a member here that had a V1... they would go off at the same time, pick up the same signals.
My next one will be a TPX, if I even bother buying one. I've learned to blend in with traffic and find rabbits over the years on the highways. I don't fly on city streets.
While it was working, it was great. I rode with a friend that used to be a member here that had a V1... they would go off at the same time, pick up the same signals.
My next one will be a TPX, if I even bother buying one. I've learned to blend in with traffic and find rabbits over the years on the highways. I don't fly on city streets.
lddave
been there
Valentine 1 is the radar detector of choice for the majority of contestants at mileage/endurance rallies.
Have several of them scattered among the various vehicles in my household.
Have several of them scattered among the various vehicles in my household.
Highrider
Part time mechanic
The only feature my Escort 8500 X50 is missing is being water proof. I come close to killing it a few times in some heavy rain storms. Now I have to remove it and store it away when I approach a storm. Water resistance is a feature that you need to look for if you plan to do a lot of traveling.
I've had a Valentine 1 for nearly 10 years and love it. Swap it back and forth between the bike and the cage. With the custom plastic "rain box", it's done fine through a number of wet days.
That said, if I were getting a new radar detector today, I'd give some serious thought to that 9500ix. The whole GPS, learning false alarms feature seems very cool. First detector that's made me even consider cheating on the V1.
That said, if I were getting a new radar detector today, I'd give some serious thought to that 9500ix. The whole GPS, learning false alarms feature seems very cool. First detector that's made me even consider cheating on the V1.
bdalameda
PaleoCyclist
I have had my Valentine One for several years and it has been great. What is nice about the Valentine is that they will upgrade it to the latest technology as it becomes available. I also really like the way it displays where the radar is coming from, front, back or from the side. Mine has been stone reliable and very accurate. It has saved me a lot of money over the years. I have upgraded my unit twice now.
bdalameda
PaleoCyclist
Here is a link to a very unbiased Radar detector testing organization. You will find that most of the Radars detector tests that are on the internet are somehow connected to the sale of particular brand units.
http://www.guysoflidar.com/index.html
Dan
http://www.guysoflidar.com/index.html
Dan
wjbertrand
Ventura Highway
Escort has a new model called the redline that claims to be the most sensitive detector ever. No GPS though. I have both an 8500x50 and a 9500ix. Both great detectors. I often ride with guys using the V1 and there's really no difference in sensitivity. Some times I get the alert first and sometimes the V1 does, most of the time they are the same. The only advantage I've seen are the V1's directional arrows.
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lddave
been there
The directional arrows have saved me from a few tickets. Once passing thru a small Alabama town the V1 picked up a signal from a patrol car coming at us. Slowed down patrol car passed. V1 indicated a signal in front then along side then behind us. Rear signal got week then started increasing in strength. He had turned around and was following us hoping for us to resume cruising speed . If I had not known he was behind us we most likely would have received a ticket. Thanks Mr Valentine.
wjbertrand
Ventura Highway
The directional arrows are nice but for me they wouldn't make the difference between getting a ticket or not. My first order of business is to slow down to the speed limit (if necessary) immediately on receiving an alert. I then worry secondarily where he is. As long as I'm receiving an alert I keep a check on speed.
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