This is what happens when work is slow

[BambamXB12r]

Well work was slow tonight and I had already had some coffee so I decided to finish up a couple things on my bike. I had previously purchased a GPR V4 steering stabilizer from Lowkey and got around to mounting it a couple weeks ago. The knob was pretty faded and I have been wanting to do something about it but had no time. It also mounted where I previously had my radar so I needed to relocate it. What do you guys think about the rattle can job and new radar placement? Does anyone have a better radar mount for a firebolt?
Old set up

Pre paint

Prep

Paint

Finished product

 

[Matteson]

Radar detectors seem to be useless on a motorcycle from my experience with them. Every time I got nailed it was too late. I believe the bike has too small a surface area to be effective in giving any kind of advanced warning. Meaning they send a signal and you are cruising getting ever closer and by the time your detector gets wind of it you are to close to slow down.
For example, I was on a two lane highway approaching a town and a highway patrol passed me and targeted me. By the time I heard the detector (very hard) or noticed the light and reacted to then slow down he was already turning around with his lights on to be right on my ass ready to give me a citation. He then saw my Escort and laughed.
Good luck with that. I always try to pay attention and mind the speed limits. The xb is a cool street bike and has a very fun power band usually right around most posted speed limits. Much above and it's excessive and should be saved for the track or very quite back roads.

 

[BambamXB12r]

Not sure where you live but out here in Vegas my radar has saved me more money than I can count. My radar detects the cops so far down the road I think it's BSing me sometimes. Maybe it's the long flat straightaways in the desert or the fact that all cops out here use Ka band but I'm not complaining either way. I put tons of miles on both my buells in most states from Cali to New Mexico and never had a ticket because my radar has saved me everytime. Sorry for your crappy luck with the radar detectors you have gotten, I know quality of detector has a lot to do with it so it could be that too. Either way though my questions were about my rattle can job and the placement of my radar/if anyone has a better one not if a radar was effective. But your opinion is appropriate anyway.

 

[Tork]

Radar detectors on bikes are a mixed bag. They can be useful in cities with smaller police department funding that prevents them from using laser speed speed detection. In contrast to radar, which has a wider beam and has enough spillage to alert you from a distance with a good detector, laser is extremely focused and has no extraneous spillage or emissions that your detector can pick up and give you advance warning. If you're hauling ass and your detector goes off because LEO tagged you with laser, you might as well just pull over and have your credentials in hand.

I don't normally run my detector setup when riding local, but when doing long-distance runs, I usually run my detector (Escort Passport 8500) mounted on a magnetic plate looking through my windscreen. I've even used it while hidden in the top pouch of my tank bag when I don't want my detector easily seen. I don't have any empiral data to show the reduction in effectiveness in the pouch, but it works and has saved my ass on several occasions.

I also have the audio out linked to my earbuds via bluetooth so that I don't have to be staring at a visual indicator for warnings. I also have a pretty cool wireless Vizalert system that I picked up years ago that fires off led indicators in a small piece that mounts in my helmet off to the side in my peripheral vision that not only gives me visual warning, but also uses color to indicate what band I'm picking up. No longer in production, but it was pretty cool at the time and still works.

 

[BambamXB12r]

Now a company called legal speeding makes one that goes in your helmet. It's what I use so I can have my radar set on mute. Wish I could have my hidden but mine connects to satellites to mark the location of false signals so needs a clear view of the sky but is nice because no more false signals.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Does it have to lay flat? if not how about clamping it to the outside of the fork leg between the triple trees? or make a shelf for it in the fairing, you could rig up something that fits on both mirror mounts maybe? we get busted using them in the Uk!

 

[Matteson]

I run the 8500 escort. It is a very good unit. I had it wired up with an led velcroed to the tip of the fairing. Worked well. But laser is what got me. So... Sold the Ninja to go a little slower.