Anyone Running A Radar Detector?

[JTJersey]

I've had a radar detector in every vehicle I've owned except my motorcycles, but I'm thinking of getting one for my '21 Freewheeler. Any recommendations?

 

[rhino 2]

I've had a radar detector in every vehicle I've owned except my motorcycles, but I'm thinking of getting one for my '21 Freewheeler. Any recommendations?

Not since 1973….…

 

[Jack Klarich]

Nope, I use my cruise control

My brother( a retired Sheriff told me a long time ago to not worry about a speeding ticket, tho that was when I was riding a FLHT)

He claimed the radar could not get a good fix on motorcycles, they were too small a target compared to cars and trucks

I dunno if it is true, but I never have had a speeding ticket in over 50 years of riding

 

[cScjhb]

Nope, I use my cruise control

My brother( a retired Sheriff told me a long time ago to not worry about a speeding ticket, tho that was when I was riding a FLHT)

He claimed the radar could not get a good fix on motorcycles, they were too small a target compared to cars and trucks

I dunno if it is true, but I never have had a speeding ticket in over 50 years of riding

I also heard that rumor too about bikes not lighting up radar. But then, my golf cart gets a hit when going through the neighborhood speed indicator. And how about radar telling the speed of a baseball.....? I think LEOs have equipment at least as good as pitching cages.

Not sure I would have much confidence in detectors trying to save my butt...... Jim

 

[Old Road Dog]

Made my living on the road. Never needed one. CB was more effective.

 

[paws]

In 1992 I knowingly was 10 mph over the speed limit on my Kawasaki Voyager 1200.. when I got close enough to put eyes on the oncoming car’s ID (lights on top) the sheriff’s deputy put his hand out the window and made a fast down-pushing motion then shook his finger at me.. but did not turn around and pull me over. It was an early Sunday morning, no traffic, and I was in the lead a ways ahead of my group heading home to west Texas after a long weekend in the Texas hill country. :Shrug:

 

[rhino 2]

I was coming back late one night from a NRA Dinner in upstate NY… And as I cross the border into New Jersey I went by a state trooper I looked down at my speedometer and I was going 50 ‘ He comes out lights flashing and pulls me over so I started arguing with him I said why are you stopping me? Im only going five over the limit all I was doing was 50 after he checked my license registration insurance and get out of jail card he just smiled and said in case you’re interested the speed limit here is 35 ! I said I thought it was 45 he just let me go with a smile ..I guess it gave him something to talk about over coffee and donuts with his buddies…

 

[hardwickbv]

Ran one for years when I was younger.

Figured out that if I slowed down and ran the speed limit there was a lot less stress and I didn't need it.

Bob

 

[Red sport.]

anyone Running a Radar Detector?

In 1992 I knowingly was 10 mph over the speed limit on my Kawasaki Voyager 1200.. when I got close enough to put eyes on the oncoming car’s ID (lights on top) the sheriff’s deputy put his hand out the window and made a fast down-pushing motion then shook his finger at me.. but did not turn around and pull me over. It was an early Sunday morning, no traffic, and I was in the lead a ways ahead of my group heading home to west Texas after a long weekend in the Texas hill country. :Shrug:

When I had my Sportster they have turned on there lights when meeting them & setting in the grass as a warning to slow down & them speed checks setting on side of road picks me up.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Nope, I use my cruise control

My brother( a retired Sheriff told me a long time ago to not worry about a speeding ticket, tho that was when I was riding a FLHT)

He claimed the radar could not get a good fix on motorcycles, they were too small a target compared to cars and trucks

I dunno if it is true, but I never have had a speeding ticket in over 50 years of riding

Not true. It will give a solid return on the strongest signal. If you are near alone on a highway, that's likely gonna be YOU. If passing or in a group of trucks, then likely he'll just have visual and a brief tone maybe.

31 years as a Trooper, I taught use of radar to basic classes, I worked radar "a lot", both moving opposite, moving same, and stationary. I never wrote a ticket just because radar indicated something was speeding, only after I had a visual estimate independent of the radar reading, the radar just was used to accurately corroborate what my experience and observation already told me. I liked that hold button.

Was a day I saw a tractor trailer coming about normal, then I spied a MC in the left lane just whipped out from behind the truck. Was a car further back that the MC whipped out in front of. By the time the MC was on me, he was well ahead of the truck. I knew was 100 plus just watching. When he was close, I popped the button, high squeal doppler tone as he passed so close still in his left lane, 108 mph. Then he was past me and there was that truck still, lower tone, numbers dropped into the 60s. Here, anything from 100 up was an arrest (per Circuit Ct. Juge's letter) and hold until seeing a judge, if no passenger to operate a vehicle, we called a rollback. If on a Friday, they could see a Judge Monday when courts opened. He was a constable from way up north too.

Another tale of woe ... One day in the mid '90s, I was out of my car with a disabled motorist just at the 191mm sb, my police car was a dark green-grey Caprice, no bar light, just one little blue strobe in back window. Was a bright clear day. As was my habit while talking, I positioned myself so I could watch approaching traffic. Slight down grade for a mile prior to me. Suddenly, a lone tractor trailer popped into view a half mile or so away. I could see instantly that it was balling jack ... easily running flat out, likely near 100. I walked quickly after excusing myself, back to my car, excitement building, but I did not want to run and draw this fast approaching driver's attention to me or my car. I dropped into the driver seat and hit the button on rear pointed antenna before my butt hit the seat. 97 mph, high tone, then he laid on the brakes and went by me a smoking, rubber smelling, mess. Was his bird dog woke him up. His lawyer wanted all my records, went all the way to state supreme court, he didn't get them though. I'll bet that driver is still revoked here.

Once ... I merged on the Interstate at night as a car passed fast, I fell in behind it, I saw by the backlighting of the car's headlights ahead and by the orange light, was a Passport under the driver's visor. I released hold, it lit up, then the driver put both hands up there to pull it down from the visor, was a station wagon, it went left into the median, man bounced out of back tailgate as the glass was down, he landed in heavy brush, his wife had been told by him that if it went off hard, to jerk it down. He was mostly OK, bruised. Car was even OK after a tow truck got it back to the road. Was a Va. couple headed home from vacation.

As to radar detectors, for my whole career they were "out there". I worked knowing they were there, I set up to counter them, ther introduction of the KR-11 and FR-10sp with the hold button was huge help compared to the continuously operating MR-7 or MR-9, Later the Hawk with dual antennas and in vehicle switching between front / rear / moving / stationary all in one little hand control on a wire came out. With the release of the hold, a radar detector could only tell a driver he was zapped if he was the target for when that dog barked, the operator of the radar was looking at a reading. Radar signals travel at 186,000 mps, the speed of light.

Any reaction (like brake lights in response to the hold button at night for example) or visual sighting of a radar detector resulted in a second charge and let me know it was no "accidental in excess of the limit" driver. Sometimes in the wee hours, just for giggles ... maybe ... I'd hit a long straight, see several cars ahead, as far as a mile plus ahead (maybe I had just got on the Iterstate with coffee in hand or cup holder even?). Reach over, hit the button on front antenna, look for brake lights. Good indicator. Put radar back on hold. Ease up behind them, follow a couple miles, see they get brave again, suddenly I'd be pacing one at high speed, hit the button again, brake lights ... even going up hill.

Radar Detectors were outlawed here in the late late '50s when the first "Radar Sentry"s powered by flashlight batteries came out. Truck's drivers often asked "Why can you buy them at truck stops but not use them?" I'd challenge them to tell me something legal or illegal that they couldn't buy in a truck stop. No, they were not legal to offer for sale.

I got long "winded" in this post, my bad.

 

[Gorilla]

Today's Stalker DSR DUAL X2 radar kicks butt. In a good operators patrol vehicle it's hard to beat by radar detectors. Detectors react to the radar signals. If the operator is operating, it correctly by the time the detector goes off you has already been had.

 

[ultrafxr]

Ran one for years when I was younger.

Figured out that if I slowed down and ran the speed limit there was a lot less stress and I didn't need it.



Bob

Amen to that. I ride for enjoyment and for me there is nothing enjoyable about hauling down the super slab at 70+. Much rather be on highways doing a more sedate 60 or thereabouts.

 

[JTJersey]

Good points all. Does seem like a fruitless en-devour. Think I'll spend my money on a new chrome something instead.