Concealed radar/laser detector

[motochick]

I took the cover off of my passport, put it in a heavy zip lock bag, folded it, taped it, and velcroed it under the headlights in my '06. I'm a firm believer that LIDAR gives a ton of false replies and the real ones just let you know that you ARE getting a citation, so I don't care that my Passport can't "see". But it "hears" radar just fine.

Yeah I think the LIDAR detection is not dependable especially if there are few cars on the road. Once you're tagged its too late. There is a particular stretch I280 here in CA that they stand out in the open with their guns only to call a parade of Beemers to chase down after they get you. In these situations I've had some warnings on my Escort because they were shooting often at cars in front of me.

I did not know they had "detector detectors". I find that funny with all the other danger I see on the road, they spend their money on catching radar detectors! Yeah that benefits the public safety...

jen

 

[SkooterG]

Even without a 'detector detector', a skilled LEO will know you are using a radar detector most of the time from your behaviour when he hits you with the instant on.

 

[FJRocket]

Even without a 'detector detector', a skilled LEO will know you are using a radar detector most of the time from your behaviour when he hits you with the instant on.

You mean as your tires smoke and you start to eject over the bars with the deceleration G's? :lol:

 

[ionbeam]

Even without a 'detector detector', a skilled LEO will know you are using a radar detector most of the time from your behaviour when he hits you with the instant on.

My brother is a cop in CT where radar detectors used to be illegal. When he was a patrol cop I used to ride with him sometimes. He thoroughly demonstrated that he could tell the speed of any car by eye, usually within ± 2 mph. One day he mentioned that his RDD said that someplace among the sea of cars someone has an illegal radar detector on, the trick is to figure out which car it is. My brother says, "Watch this", then blipped his radar gun and sure enough, a set of brake lights came on. Blip, flash, blip, flash. Gotcha. My brother pulled up along side the car that was flashing its brake lights then made as if to look up at the driver's sun visor. Immediately the driver flashed a big ol' guilty type grin, reached up and switched the detector off and disappeared into the sea of cars just as fast as he could.

 

[Moosehead]

I have some pics of a Gen2 front cowl that might be helpful.

 

[FJRocket]

I took my Passport out of it's case so it would slip under the headlights inside the nose cowling without having to resort to Moosehead's extremes. :dribble: No disassembly required. Not of the bike, anyway.

Those pics just scare me!

 

[FJR919]

Moosehead, thanks for posting those pictures. The Gen II nose is a lot more crowded than my '05 was. As for the LEO comments about knowing who has radar detectors, my police officer friends said pretty much the same thing. So..... maybe I'll reconsider this project. Thanks to all who shared their thoughts and especially those who PMed me for the time they took with details of their experiences. Chris

 

[Happy Dog]

For those who have powered tank bags, can't you just put the escort in the tank bag with the starcom?

 

[gr8eyes]

Thats where my V-1 resides. Beneath the false floor of my tank bag. Along with all my other goodies. The tank bag is powered by a sinlge cord going to a BMW type outlet in the front right D panel. Its worked great for years, Although I didn't realize they could detect my detector before I could detect them.

 

[Happy Dog]

I didn't either.

But I wonder how much it really matters, since its fairly popular to have one.

I take mine on every trip, no matter what I'm driving.

 

[cctxfjr]

I took the cover off of my passport, put it in a heavy zip lock bag, folded it, taped it, and velcroed it under the headlights in my '06. I'm a firm believer that LIDAR gives a ton of false replies and the real ones just let you know that you ARE getting a citation, so I don't care that my Passport can't "see". But it "hears" radar just fine.

Yeah I think the LIDAR detection is not dependable especially if there are few cars on the road. Once you're tagged its too late. There is a particular stretch I280 here in CA that they stand out in the open with their guns only to call a parade of Beemers to chase down after they get you. In these situations I've had some warnings on my Escort because they were shooting often at cars in front of me.

I did not know they had "detector detectors". I find that funny with all the other danger I see on the road, they spend their money on catching radar detectors! Yeah that benefits the public safety...

jen

all Texas state troopers have detector detectors as do a lot of other states because of federal law which forbids all,(regardless of state) commerical (DOT) trucks and other DOT classified vehicles from having them-as stated earlier they are using federal highway grant money to purchase them

 

[Stephen]

In the US radar detectors are only banned in the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia, Washington D.C.

That is correct. There's really no need to hide a detector except maybe for theft. Oh, and there is no such thing as a laser scrambler... unless the NSA or DOD has released the technology to the general public.

Once your laser alarm goes off, you're toast. FYI. (discounting any weird signal reflection off mirrors or the like.

Also, interestingly enough, detection by POP radar is inadmissable in court as the sole basis for a speeding ticket. Hmmmm... learn sumpin' every day.

 

[FJR919]

Laser scrambling or "shifting" as it's more commonly refered to DOES exist and is a fairly reliable tool unlike radar scrambling. Check out the SRX system by Escort/Passport and the Radar Roy sites for reviews and explanations.

 

[Hiller]

It has been noted above that a detector can hear RADAR through plastic. I have painted the inside of my windscreen and was wondering what effect that would have on the RADAR detector.

It would seem that there would be no ill effects.

Mike

 

[FJR919]

It has been noted above that a detector can hear RADAR through plastic. I have painted the inside of my windscreen and was wondering what effect that would have on the RADAR detector.It would seem that there would be no ill effects.

Mike

My research showed that unless the paint has a high metallic content it shouldn't pose a problem.

 

[FJR919]

It has been noted above that a detector can hear RADAR through plastic. I have painted the inside of my windscreen and was wondering what effect that would have on the RADAR detector.It would seem that there would be no ill effects.

Mike

My research showed that unless the paint has a high metallic content it shouldn't pose a problem.

 

[2006FJR]

Can you put it in your tank bag and would it work well enough?

 

[Checkswrecks]

In the US radar detectors are only banned in the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia, Washington D.C.

That is correct. There's really no need to hide a detector except maybe for theft.

Technically true. However, the State Troopers and County types who I know are pretty unanimous that seeing a radar detector usually removes their asking themselves whether a speed stop will end with a warning. When they see it the ticket's pretty much a done deal and they have mentally moved on to seeing what else they'll come across. Drugs in the car? Smell? Seatbelts? Expired registration? etc

Also, interestingly enough, detection by [some types of radar in some places] is inadmissable in court as the sole basis for a speeding ticket. Hmmmm... learn sumpin' every day.

Again, technically true, but there is an eyeball behind the device. The LEO's estimate of speed and description of circumstances are sure admissible.

 

[KeithB]

I run my passport inside a tank bag, in the map window, under the maps. That puts it just above the handlebars. I have a wired speaker in the helmet so I can hear what's going on. It's loud enough to work even with earplugs. I've done this for about 15 years now.

For around town, I have a very small tank bag for the same purpose. It's just large enough for the Passport, car keys, tire gauge, and the Widder thermostat. With the quick disconnects for the power chord, I take it off when the bike is parked.

I agree that giving up laser does not hurt me since it doesn't alarm until it's too late.