Radar detectors anyone?

I did a whole lot of research on this before I bought my Escort Passport 8500. The V1 is a really nice unit, but the Passport 8500 is almost as good, with the almost being only in one area really. The 8500 did not score as high on Laser sensitivity as the V1 did, but given the price difference I really didn't care, and this is why. Only like 2% of all speed detection devices sold in the US annually are laser. I've had my 8500 for almost 5 years, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've had it catch laser. It stays glued to my windshield all the time when it's not on the bike. So it gets used daily. The auto mode also has good fuzzy logic that monitors RF noise continually and filters out signals that aren't radar. I used it in Highway and City mode and switched around a good bit when I first got it, but now I just leave it in auto all the time, and it works remarkably well.

As far as why I like it, on straight roads it will pick up Ka band easily over a mile out when they're on continuous mode. When they're using Instant On / RF Hold, it will pick it up well, but you have to know what to look out for. It's sporadic blips every few seconds, rather than a steady ramp up to full signal. In expert mode it will track up to something like 7 signals at once, showing you a bar graph for each one. This is nice when there are stationary speed signs that always have radar on. The LEO can't hide behind it, and think that just because you see Ka band, you'll think it's the one that's always there. The 8500 will show you both signals with a strength meter for each one. Different from the V1, which only shows you the strength of the strongest signal (which is typically the stationary device since they're set to high output usually) On the motorcycle though, this isn't really too useful b/c you may or may not be able to see the display, depending on how / where it's mounted. It has a headphone jack, so you can run an earbud up under your helmet. Mine's saved my @$$ enough in my car that it's more than paid for itself, so I've been a 100% satisfied customer. I still haven't been ballsy enough on the bike to speed much, although I have used it on there, and it works well. I'm thinking about getting the new 8500 X50 for the Monster, so I don't have to keep taking mine in and out of my car.

In Massachusetts the speed traps are everywhere.

I never operate a vehicle without a radar detector. A ticket and insurance surcharges are very expensive in the peoples republic of Massachusetts.

There is a new ticket quota system that the Troopers are unhappy about
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=167677&format=text

I own and use both an 8500 and V1. The V1 is more sensitive, but the 8500 has always done the job. I think the 8500 is better for a motorcycle: 1) much smaller and easier to mount 2) has a built in headphone jack 3) it automatically mutes after a few beeps. The headphone jack is important. I have helmet speakers and never miss a warning. The auto-mute is really nice. If you have a warning that lasts a while, you don’t have to mess with the 8500.

One ticket would pay for either box