I'm ridin a ticket magnet

[Bungie]

I've been toying with picking up an escort but the issue is, RD's are illegal in most of Canada.

The thing is, I'm not going to use it in Canada. I'm in the U.S. travelling enough that it'd probably be a wise idea. Especially given the difference between the cost of the RD and the cost of a ticket.

Any other Canuckians here have anything to say about this? I've done some googling and it appears the law regarding *transport* of a RD is open to a lot of interpretation. Some say if it's in package and not wired to anything and not accessible while driving, your fine. Other say if they find it, they'll confiscate it with a $170 fine.

Meh maybe I'll just use my wits about running a 'pace' like I've always done. I've never been pulled over in the U.S. (though I have been tailed by a Statie in Maryland - not cool when he does a Dukes of Hazzard style U-Turn when he passes you to catch up to you).

 

[gixxerjasen]

The V1 seems to win comparisons based on the directional indicator (which, no doubt, is useful), but at the non-discountable premium price they get, I'll just slow down whenever my Escort goes off, regardless of the direction. I can get 3 of the refurb Escort Passports for the price of any single V1.

Just curious, simply because I've never seen it, but does Escort provide software and hardware upgrade options?

 

[Fred W]

The V1 seems to win comparisons based on the directional indicator (which, no doubt, is useful), but at the non-discountable premium price they get, I'll just slow down whenever my Escort goes off, regardless of the direction. I can get 3 of the refurb Escort Passports for the price of any single V1.

Just curious, simply because I've never seen it, but does Escort provide software and hardware upgrade options?

Not the simple ones, like what I have (passport 8500), there is really no need for any sort of updates. The passports are pretty simple devices. They just make noise whenever they detect radar in one of three bands (X, K or Ka) or laser (which most people realize is folly).

The more expensive Escort models (like the passport 9500iX) that do GPS type false alarm memorization and filtering are firmware upgradeable. But those are way more RD than I feel a need to pay for.

 

[Top_Speed1]

One of my riding Buddies said someone came up to him and asked "what kinda bike is that?" He replied, "It's a ticket magnet" :rofl: Well, I can attest to that.

So I have been looking for something to help me pay attention instead of pay-a-performance award. This Passport iQ looks like a pretty good tool and a GPS as well.

Kinda expensive, but if it helps me avoid two tickets it paid for itself.

The reviews look good. I'm curious if anyone here has one and can tell me what they think of it before I take the plunge?

The big neg (besides the mid 600 price range) on it is that there are no map updates and when available you have to pay more$

 

[FJR Freak]

One of my riding Buddies said someone came up to him and asked "what kinda bike is that?" He replied, "It's a ticket magnet" :rofl: Well, I can attest to that.

So I have been looking for something to help me pay attention instead of pay-a-performance award. This Passport iQ looks like a pretty good tool and a GPS as well.

Kinda expensive, but if it helps me avoid two tickets it paid for itself.

The reviews look good. I'm curious if anyone here has one and can tell me what they think of it before I take the plunge?

I may be a little late joining this dicussion, but wanted to throw my 2 cents in. I own the Passport IQ (bought it after my 9500ix got stolen). I haven't used it on the bike yet, as I just got the bike 2 weeks ago, and haven't figured out a good mount for it yet.

I almost never use the GPS functionality on it, as Google Maps on my phone is much better. But it is a great piece of tech to avoid redlight cameras, speed cameras, and radar. It is a stand alone unit, and doesn't require, nor even work with, other units on the road, as the 2nd poster suggested. That's a different product from Escort.

So, I've had both the 9500ix, and the IQ, and I'd recommend either, depending on your tastes. After my 9500ix got ripped, I search a lot on craigslist, hoping to find the sucker that stole it, and there were a few of them out there. Both the IX and IQ have a 3.5mm jack for audio out, so you can tie that into your audio system somehow, and hear the warnings.

 

[allrider]

I may be a little late joining this dicussion, but wanted to throw my 2 cents in. I own the Passport IQ (bought it after my 9500ix got stolen). I haven't used it on the bike yet, as I just got the bike 2 weeks ago, and haven't figured out a good mount for it yet.

I almost never use the GPS functionality on it, as Google Maps on my phone is much better. But it is a great piece of tech to avoid redlight cameras, speed cameras, and radar. It is a stand alone unit, and doesn't require, nor even work with, other units on the road, as the 2nd poster suggested. That's a different product from Escort.

So, I've had both the 9500ix, and the IQ, and I'd recommend either, depending on your tastes. After my 9500ix got ripped, I search a lot on craigslist, hoping to find the sucker that stole it, and there were a few of them out there. Both the IX and IQ have a 3.5mm jack for audio out, so you can tie that into your audio system somehow, and hear the warnings.

I've had an 8500 x50 for a month or more now and like it, but want to upgrade to a 9500xi when i find one for a good price.

I'm interested in this new "Escort Live" service that you add to your 8500x50 or 9500ix and works with your mobile phone to do what your Passport does, tracks speed limits, remembers camera locations and reports it to the database, points out locations of threats on the phone if they are way ahead. It's an extra cost of course, but looks like a good combo. My current 8500x50 is not new enough to work with Escort Live.

Like you, I was thinking about where to locate the passport and how. I already have the phone in place for tunes and GPS, and I have a good spot for the RD, on the front brake resevior, so i think i'll leave it there. I really like this X mount for the phone. It would work with your Passport as well.

I bought 2 direct wire power cords with mute button and LED alert light, one for the car and one for the bike. I mounted the mute button on the throttle housing, and the LED is above the left guage in the rubber gasket.

If I look at the gauges I can see the LED, but it doesn't catch my attention alone while riding along. I need the audio piped into the intercom.

An unintended benefit of the LED being there is it can be seen reflecting off the windshield as it flashes. Only really applicable at night though.

Anyone know of something to magnify the LED so it would be bigger and more noticeable? I wonder if these jelly lenses would work? Only $6.