Marc Parnes Visual alert radar detector

[JCorwin]

I use the Marc Parnes visual alert with my Escort. It works great, I mounted it under the dash with velcro. It blocks a little of the top of my speedo, but it's no problem. I have the detector on top of the dash with a combination of velcro and the suction cup/windshield mount. I plan on permantenly mounting the detector under fairing in the future.

 

[jdpfms]

I'm leaning towards purchasing the Marc Parnes visual alert system that display 6-12 very bright lights connected to the radar detector. I believe the radar detector itself can go in the left storage compartment and the lights do not require any additonal electrical wiring.

This is after considering the HARD in helmet light system as well as in helmet speakers which are also great alternvatives.

See http://www.marcparnes.com/Visual_Alert.htm

Anyone out there with experience with these?
Where did you mount the lights?

Thanks

Eric
93 ST1300
St. George UT

Eric, I have both of these. I found the HARD easy to forget to turn the unit off at the headset and run the battery down. Also, it works fine in daylight, but at night when that LED goes off in the lower part of the full face, it can scare the Crap out of ya, hehe. I mostly use the Marc Parnes visual alert with my passport 8500. I put a small strip of the 3M dual loc on it and on the inside of the windscreen just down below eye level so I can easily see it when driving and find that works better for me. BTW, I use a ram mount on a MCL clutch/brake cover with ball mount for the detector and have a 12 Volt radio shack receptor mounted and zip tied underneatht the left handlebar so didn't have to drill a hole for it--works fine for that and cell phone charger etc.

JDP

 

[Blue STreak]

I've used both. The HARD unit eats batteries like there's no tomorrow. It's too easy to forget to turn it off, AND too easy to forget to turn it on.

I've got the Marc Parnes unit with 2 rows of 5 LEDs. I like it very much. The only problem is that at night it's TOO bright. Mine has a switch to turn off 1 row of lights (which his current units don't seem to have), but it's still too bright. I don't ride much at night, but it would probably be a good idea to cover all but 1 or 2 LEDs with electrical tape at night.

I've got my V1 mounted in the left hand storage compartment (ST1100). It works fine. No Laser, obviously, but I still get good front and rear coverage on radar.

HTH,

 

[zoomzoomzoom]

I simply use Dual Lock to attach my 8500 blue to the dash. If you?re not familiar with Dual Lock, it the stuff that is used to attach your trans pass to the wind shield of your car. It?s like Velcro on steroids. 3M makes it. I use it for my GPS too.

I can hear and see the detector fine in fact at night I have to lower the LED settings to be less conspicuous to the Leos.

Mike

 

[Rob Hephner]

I've got the Marc Parnes unit with 2 rows of 5 LEDs. I like it very much. The only problem is that at night it's TOO bright. Mine has a switch to turn off 1 row of lights (which his current units don't seem to have), but it's still too bright. I don't ride much at night, but it would probably be a good idea to cover all but 1 or 2 LEDs with electrical tape at night.

A simple piece of tinted plexi would do wonders in front of the LED's, in could be made as a cover or just a lens. I think I will be getting this setup, but it might be a while.

 

[dannyk]

Another night time option would be if there is a flat face on the lights to take a small piece of the limo black plastic used for windows on cars, (static cling) cover the lights for night remove for day. I use it on an offending light for a gear indicator that is to bright at night.

 

[sherob]

Just a quick FYI... if you're not using the audio on the RD, turn the volume down, it will dim the light

 

[Booger Man]

I've had so so luck with this item. Sometimes it flashes and sometimes I don't think it does. It's bright enough at night but I still think it's hard to see in the daylight. I've tried different angles with less than good results.I've got the Escort 8500. Any help out there on this problem:biker:

 

[sherob]

I have a 8500 as well. I have the led mounted on my dash in front of me at a slight angle so the sun behind me won't sit on the led's. I have no problem seeing it blinking at all. Make sure you have the volume turned all the way up, it affects the brightness of the leds.

I can take a pic for you if you want.

 

[Booger Man]

I have a 8500 as well. I have the led mounted on my dash in front of me at a slight angle so the sun behind me won't sit on the led's. I have no problem seeing it blinking at all. Make sure you have the volume turned all the way up, it affects the brightness of the leds.

I can take a pic for you if you want.

That would be geat.Thanks Sherob:biker:

 

[sherob]

Here are 2 pics... I have mine mounted differently than I've seen, Blumax has his mounted straight up and down... mine is at an angle.

HTH

 

[zoomzoomzoom]

Here are 2 pics... I have mine mounted differently than I've seen, Blumax has his mounted straight up and down... mine is at an angle.

HTH

That's were I put the 8500. I can see it and hear it fine under all conditions.:mcrider:

 

[Blue STreak]

Just a quick FYI... if you're not using the audio on the RD, turn the volume down, it will dim the light

Nope. At least not with the unit I have. The directions specifically say it's on-off. With the volume above a certain level, the LED's light full brightness. Below that level, they're off.

 

[teglasscock]

Resurrecting an old thread here - looking for some advice on a bit of a puzzle.

I have a V1 with the audio adapter and the Marc Parnes visual alert (the ultra bright with two rows of LEDs).

The V1 audio adapter is wired into the quartet harness and sits on top of the V1, which sits on a dash shelf.

Unfortunately, the visual alert doesn't flash. V1 works fine except for the occasional inexplicable false alarm.

Here's the puzzler - when I hook everything up in the car, the visual alert works fine.

Can anyone think of a reason that the visual alert would work in the car and not on the bike?

Signed,

STumped.

 

[bdalameda]

I have had the Marc parnes unit now for about a year on my Valentine 1. It works great. Very visible in even the brightest sunlight and blinding at night. I find I need to turn it down at night because it is so blinding. It even scares the drivers that are next to me when it goes off.

Do you have bothe the audio adaptor and the V 1 turned all the way up? Does the quartet harness change the wirning from the adaptor to the V1 in any way?

 

[teglasscock]

I have had the Marc parnes unit now for about a year on my Valentine 1. It works great. Very visible in even the brightest sunlight and blinding at night. I find I need to turn it down at night because it is so blinding. It even scares the drivers that are next to me when it goes off.

Do you have bothe the audio adaptor and the V 1 turned all the way up? Does the quartet harness change the wirning from the adaptor to the V1 in any way?

Yep, both turned all the way up. Even tried wiring it to the Fuzeblock, thinking maybe it wasn't getting enough juice off the quartet. Still no dice. Detector works fine. No LED. unplug the unit, walk it over to the car, LED makes with the flashing. Back to the bike, no LED :censored

Maybe there's some kind of break in the wire I'm using on the bike? Bu then if that's the case, why is the detector working ok? Would using a heavier gauge wire make a difference?

 

[bdalameda]

Weird - sound like a voltage drop happening somewhere. Did it just start happening or has it alway been like this? What state of charge is the bike battery in? Maybe the car has a good charge and the bike battery is low? Can't think of any other reason.